Past verb to be

The Amharic be verbs we use in the past tense are listed in the table below, along with their meanings and sample sentences. Try to read them attentively.

Past Verb “To Be” in Amharic

The past tense “be” verbs are listed below with their meanings and translations. Try to read them carefully.

1. First-person plural (We – እኛ)

Be verb = ነበርን (Nebern) → We were
እኛ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪዎች ነበርን። (Egna beza seat temariwoch nebern.)
At that time, we were students.

2. First-person singular (I – እኔ)

Be verb = ነበርኩኝ (Neberkugn) → I was
እኔ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪ ነበርኩኝ። (Ene beza seat temari neberkugn.)
At that time, I was a student.

3. Second-person singular male (You – አንተ)

Be verb = ነበርክ (Neberk) → You were
አንተ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪ ነበርክ። (Ante beza seat temari neberk.)
At that time, you were a student.

4. Second-person singular female (You – አንች)

Be verb = ነበርሽ (Nebersh) → You were
አንች በዛ ሰአት ተማሪ ነበርሽ። (Anch beza seat temari nebersh.)
At that time, you were a student.

5. Second-person plural (You – እናንተ)

Be verb = ነበራችሁ (Neberachihu) → You were
እናንተ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪዎች ነበራችሁ። (Enante beza seat temariwoch neberachihu.)
At that time, you were students.

6. Second-person singular formal (You – እርስዎ)

Be verb = ነበሩ (Neberu) → You were
እርስዎ በዛ ሰአት አስተማሪ ነበሩ። (Erswo beza seat astemari neberu.)
At that time, you were a teacher.

7. Third-person singular male (He – እሱ)

Be verb = ነበር (Neber) → He was
እሱ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪ ነበር። (Esu beza seat temari neber.)
At that time, he was a student.

8. Third-person singular female (She – እሷ)

Be verb = ነበረች (Neberech) → She was
እሷ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪ ነበረች። (Esua beza seat temari neberech.)
At that time, she was a student.

9. Third-person plural (They – እነሱ)

Be verb = ነበሩ (Neberu) → They were
እነሱ በዛ ሰአት ተማሪዎች ነበሩ። (Enesu beza seat temariwoch neberu.)
At that time, they were students.