Are you learning Amharic and wondering how to form clear and correct sentences? In this guide, you’ll discover how to construct four essential sentence types—positive, negative, imperative, and interrogative—using real-life examples and common verbs. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up your skills, this lesson helps you speak Amharic more naturally and confidently.
1. Positive Sentences in Amharic
Positive or affirmative sentences state facts or actions clearly.
Structure: Subject + Verb + Object (if needed)
Examples:
- እኔ እሰራለሁ – I work.
- እሱ እንጀራ ይበላል – He eats injera.
Tip: Amharic verbs are often placed at the end of the sentence.
2. Negative Sentences in Amharic
Negative sentences express the opposite of positive statements. They typically begin with the prefix “አል-” or “አይ-” and change verb endings.
Structure: Subject + “አል / አይ” + Modified Verb
Examples:
- እኔ አልሰራም – I don’t work.
- እሱ አይበላም – He doesn’t eat.
Note: The structure is different in the past tense.
3. Imperative Sentences (Commands)
Imperative sentences give orders or make requests.
Structure: Verb (Imperative Form) + Object (if needed)
Examples:
- ተኛ – Sleep!
- ና – Come!
- እንጀራ ውሰድ – Take the injera!
Plural or polite commands:
- ተኙ – Sleep (plural)
- ኑ – Please come
4. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
These sentences ask for information or confirmation.
Structure: Verb + Subject + (Question word)
Examples:
- እሱ ይበላል? – Does he eat?
- አንተ ምን ትሰራለህ? – What do you do?
Yes/No Questions:
Use the same structure as positive sentences but with a rising tone.
Amharic Sentence Order Example Table
Amharic typically places the verb at the end. Review these examples:
| Amharic | English Translation |
|---|---|
| እኔ አማርኛ እየተማርኩ ነው። | I am learning Amharic. |
| አሁን እኔ እንቅልፌ መጥቷል። | My sleep has come now. |
| ነገ በጊዜ እተኛለሁ። | I will sleep on time tomorrow. |
| አንድ ነጭ ሰው መጣ። | A white man came. |
Bonus Practice: Using the Verb “መምጣት” (To Come)
Let’s explore how to use one verb — “መምጣት” — in all four sentence types:
| Positive | Negative | Imperative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|
| እመጣለሁ – I’ll come. | አልመጣም – I won’t come. | መጣ – Come! | ልመጣ ወይስ ልቅር? – Should I come or not? |
| እንመጣለን – We’ll come. | አንመጣም – We won’t come. | አንምጣ – Let’s not come. | እንመጣ ወይስ እንቅር? – Shall we come or not? |
| ትመጣለህ – You will come. | አትመጣም – You won’t come. | አትምጣ – Don’t come. | ትመጣለህ ወይስ አትመጣም? – Will you come or not? |
| ይመጣል – He will come. | አይመጣም – He won’t come. | አይምጣ – Don’t let him come. | ይመጣል ወይስ አይመጣም? – Will he come or not? |
Conclusion
Understanding how to build different types of sentences is the foundation of fluency in any language. Practice these sentence structures in Amharic daily and repeat them out loud to develop natural fluency.
About the Author
This lesson is created by Muhammed Umer, an experienced online Amharic teacher. He specializes in helping English-speaking learners master Amharic through practical lessons, live classes, and digital resources.
Want to learn more? Visit EasyAmharic.com or join my free video lessons on YouTube.