Basic Verbs

1. Ho tsamaya

   To go

   Usage

   "To go, to walk". ho marks the infinitive

   Grammar Note

   Imperative "Tsamaya", plural or respectful "Tsamayang"; the farewell is "Tsamaya hantle"

2. Ho tla

   To come

   Usage

   "To come": "Tla mona" (come here)

   Grammar Note

   The imperative is the bare "tla". The future marker tla has the same form

3. Ho ja

   To eat

   Usage

   "To eat": "Ke a ja" (I eat)

   Grammar Note

   The perfect is jele (ate)

4. Ho nwa

   To drink

   Usage

   "To drink": "Ke nwa metsi" (I drink water)

   Grammar Note

   The object follows the verb (nwa metsi)

5. Ho reka

   To buy

   Usage

   "To buy"; "to sell" is rekisa

   Grammar Note

   "Ke reka dijo" (I buy food)

6. Ho bona

   To see

   Usage

   "To see": "Ke a bona" (I see)

   Grammar Note

   bona is also the independent pronoun "it"

7. Ho ema

   To wait

   Usage

   "To wait, stop, stand": "Ema hanyane" (wait a little)

   Grammar Note

   "Wait for" can also be expressed with emela

8. Ke batla ho tsamaya

   I want to go

   Usage

   Says that you want to go

   Grammar Note

   "batla ho + verb" means "want to …" (composed).

9. Ke batla ho ja

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Says that you want to eat

   Grammar Note

   batla means "want, look for, require" (composed).

10. Ke batla sena

    I want this

    Usage

    Point at what you want and say this

    Grammar Note

    The negative is "Ha ke batle sena" (I do not want this) (composed).

11. Ha ke hloke sena

    I don't need this

    Usage

    Used to refuse something you do not need

    Grammar Note

    The negative of hloka "need" ends in -e (composed).

12. Ke batla ho fumana sena

    I'm looking for this

    Usage

    Says what you are looking for

    Grammar Note

    batla alone can also mean "look for" (composed).

13. Ke na le sena

    I have this

    Usage

    Says that you have it

    Grammar Note

    "na le" literally means "be with"

14. Ha ke na sena

    I don't have this

    Usage

    Says that you do not have it

    Grammar Note

    The negative is "ha ke na …" with le dropped

15. Ke tla ntsha tjhelete

    I’ll withdraw money

    Usage

    Says you will withdraw money at a bank or ATM

    Grammar Note

    The future is "ke tla + verb" (composed).

16. Ke kopa o nthuse ka sena

    Please help me with this

    Usage

    A polite request for help with this

    Grammar Note

    "ke kopa o + verb in -e" forms a polite request (composed).

17. Ke kopa o mpolelle

    Please tell me

    Usage

    A polite request for information

    Grammar Note

    Follow it with "hore na …" and the question

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