SPEAK ARMENIAN FLUENTLY
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MASTER ARMENIAN GRAMMAR
Understanding grammar is key to achieving fluency in any language, and our Armenian Grammar Section is designed to make this process clear and approachable. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this section provides comprehensive explanations and practical examples to help you grasp the rules and structures of Armenian grammar.
Our step-by-step approach ensures that you build a strong grammatical foundation, allowing you to speak, write, and understand Armenian with confidence. As you progress through the lessons, you’ll gain the skills needed to express yourself accurately and effectively in any situation.
Our goal is to make learning Armenian grammar intuitive and engaging. Each section comes with examples, explanations, and practical tips to help you apply what you learn in real-life conversations.
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Armenian Alphabet and Pronunciation
The Armenian alphabet is a unique writing system created in 405 CE by Mesrop Mashtots. It consists of 39 letters (originally 36) and is used to write the Armenian language in its two major dialects: Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian. Our course focuses on the Eastern Armenian alphabet and its pronunciation as it is the official language or the Republic of Armenia.
Overview of the Armenian Alphabet
The Armenian alphabet is phonetic, meaning each letter corresponds to a specific sound. This makes learning to read Armenian straightforward once you master the alphabet. The alphabet includes 7 vowels and 32 consonants, and it is written from left to right.
The alphabet consists of the following letters:
ա բ գ դ ե զ է ը թ ժ ի լ խ ծ կ հ ձ ղ ճ մ յ ն շ ո չ պ ջ ռ ս վ տ ր ց ու փ ք և օ ֆ
Vowels
Armenian has 7 vowels:
ա (a) as in "father"
ե (e) as in "bed"
է (ē) a longer "e," as in "air"
ը (ə) a schwa sound, as in "sofa"
ի (i) as in "machine"
ո (o) as in "note"
ու (u) as in "moon"
Examples:
արև (arev) sun
երեք (yerek) three
իր (ir) his/her/its
սունկ (sunk) mushroom
Consonants
Armenian consonants are divided into three categories: voiced, voiceless, and aspirated. These distinctions are important for proper pronunciation.
Voiced consonants produce a vibration in the vocal cords:
բ (b), գ (g), դ (d), ժ (zh as in "pleasure"), ձ (dz), ձյ (dzy), ջ (j as in "juice").
Examples:
բան (ban) thing
գիրք (girk) book
դպրոց (dproc) school
Voiceless consonants are pronounced without vocal cord vibration:
պ (p), տ (t), կ (k), ս (s), շ (sh), չ (ch), ց (ts), ցյ (tsy), ֆ (f).
Examples:
պար (par) dance
տուն (tun) house
սեր (ser) love
Aspirated consonants are pronounced with a burst of air:
փ (pʰ), թ (tʰ), ք (kʰ), ծ (tsʰ), ծյ (tsʰy).
Examples:
փոքր (pʰoqr) small
թութակ (tʰutʰak) parrot
քար (kʰar) stone
Special Characters
և (yev) is a unique letter that means "and" but can also appear within words.
Example: ևրո (yevro) euro.օ (o) is used to represent the "o" sound, particularly in stressed syllables.
Example: օր (or) day.
Stress
In Eastern Armenian, stress usually falls on the last syllable of the word. This is different from Western Armenian, where stress is more variable.
Examples:
գիրք (girk) book (stress on the last syllable)
ընկույզ (ənkuyz) walnut
Common Pronunciation Challenges
Aspiration vs. Voiceless Stops:
English speakers often confuse aspirated and unaspirated consonants. For example:փատ (pʰat) fact vs. պատ (pat) wall.
Schwa Sound:
The vowel ը (ə) is often tricky because it does not exist in many languages. It’s a neutral, unstressed sound similar to the "a" in "sofa."
Example: ընկեր (ənker) friend.The "rr" sound:
The letter ռ (rr) is a rolled "r," which is distinct from the simple ր (r).սար (sar) mountain vs. սառ (sarr) cold.
Punctuation and Writing Rules
The Armenian script uses unique punctuation marks, including:
։ (verjaket) full stop, equivalent to a period.
․․․ (mijaket) ellipsis.
, (storaket) comma.
՞ (hartaket) question mark, which appears above the last vowel of a word.
Example:
Ինչպե՞ս ես։ (Inch’pes es) How are you?
Sample Words and Sentences in Armenian
Here are some examples of words and sentences to practice pronunciation:
Բարև, ինչպե՞ս եք։ (Barev, inch’pes ek) Hello, how are you?
Ես գիրք եմ կարդում։ (Yes girk em kardum) I am reading a book.
Եղանակը լավ է։ (Yeghanakə lav e) The weather is nice.
Դուք ունեք հեծանիվ։ (Duk’ unek hetsaniv) You have a bicycle.
Armenian Nouns
Armenian nouns reflect both number and, to a lesser extent, gender. Understanding these concepts is fundamental to mastering the language, as they influence other grammatical components, such as adjectives, verbs, and pronouns.
Number of Nouns
Armenian nouns can be singular or plural. The distinction between singular and plural is typically expressed through specific suffixes added to the noun.
Singular Nouns
Singular nouns refer to one person, thing, or concept. In Armenian, the singular form of a noun is considered the base form.
Examples:
գիրք (girk) book
սեղան (seghan) table
լեռ (lerr) mountain
Plural Nouns
The plural form is usually created by adding the suffixes -ներ (-ner) or -ներք (-nerk) to the singular noun.
Examples:
գիրք (girk) book → գրքեր (grker) books
սեղան (seghan) table → սեղաններ (seghanner) tables
լեռ (lerr) mountain → լեռներ (lerrner) mountains
Special Notes on Plurals
If the noun already ends in -ն, the plural suffix -եր (-er) is typically used instead of -ներ (-ner):
կամուրջ (kamurj) bridge → կամուրջներ (kamurjner) bridges.
Some nouns are irregular and do not follow the typical rules for forming plurals:
մարդ (mard) person → մարդիկ (mardik) people.
Abstract nouns often remain in the singular even when referring to a general concept:
սեր (ser) love (no plural form in this context).
Gender of Nouns
Unlike many other languages, Armenian does not have grammatical gender for all nouns. Nouns referring to animate beings (people and some animals) can indicate natural gender, but for inanimate objects, gender is irrelevant.
Masculine Nouns
Masculine nouns are typically used for male individuals or animals. These nouns often take specific suffixes when referring to male counterparts.
Examples:
տղա (tgha) boy
արու գայլ (aru gayl) male wolf
տղամարդ (tghamard) man
Feminine Nouns
Feminine nouns are used for female individuals or animals and sometimes use specific suffixes to indicate the female counterpart.
Examples:
աղջիկ (aghjik) girl
իգ գայլ (ig gayl) female wolf
կին (kin) woman
Neutral/General Nouns
For inanimate objects, there is no distinction between masculine and feminine forms. These nouns are considered gender-neutral.
Examples:
գրիչ (grich) pen
սենյակ (senyak) room
ծաղիկ (tsaghik) flower
Gender Suffixes for Animate Nouns
When the natural gender needs to be specified, Armenian sometimes uses suffixes or changes in word forms to distinguish between male and female.
Adding -ուհի (-uhi) for Feminine Nouns
Many professions and roles use the suffix -ուհի (-uhi) to form the feminine version.
Examples:ուսուցիչ (usutsich) teacher (male) → ուսուցչուհի (usutschuhi) teacher (female)
դերասան (derasan) actor → դերասանուհի (derasanuhi) actress
Using Separate Words
Some nouns use completely different words to distinguish between masculine and feminine.
Examples:տղա (tgha) boy vs. աղջիկ (aghjik) girl
հայր (hayr) father vs. մայր (mayr) mother
Interaction Between Number and Gender
In Armenian, number and gender generally function independently of one another. For example, plural forms do not change based on the gender of a noun.
Examples:
տղաներ (tghaner) boys (masculine plural)
աղջիկներ (aghjikner) girls (feminine plural)
սեղաններ (seghanner) tables (neutral plural)
Examples in Sentences
Տղան գիրք ունի։ (Tghan girk uni) The boy has a book.
Աղջիկները ծաղիկներ են հավաքում։ (Aghjiknerə tsaghikner en havakum) The girls are picking flowers.
Սեղանները մեծ են։ (Seghannerə mets en) The tables are big.
Հայրն ու մայրը տանը չեն։ (Hayrn u mayrə tanu chen) The father and mother are not at home.
Armenian Cases
In Armenian, nouns change their forms depending on their grammatical role in a sentence. This change is called declension, and the various forms are known as cases. Armenian has seven cases, each serving a specific function.
The Seven Cases in Armenian
Nominative Case (Ուղղական)
The nominative case is the base form of a noun, used to indicate the subject of a sentence.
Examples:Տղան խաղում է։ (Tghan khaghum e) The boy is playing.
Ծաղիկը գեղեցիկ է։ (Tsaghikə geghetsik e) The flower is beautiful.
Accusative Case (Հայցական)
The accusative case marks the direct object of a verb. In Armenian, the accusative form is often identical to the nominative form, but when the noun is definite (e.g., "the book"), it takes the definite article -ը (-ə) or -ն (-n) at the end.
Examples:Գիրքը կարդում եմ։ (Girkə kardum em) I am reading the book.
Ծաղիկը ջրում եմ։ (Tsaghikə jrum em) I am watering the flower.
Genitive Case (Սեռական)
The genitive case indicates possession or relationships between nouns. It is often translated as "of" or "'s" in English. The genitive suffixes are -ի (-i) for singular nouns and -ների (-neri) for plural nouns.
Examples:Տղայի գիրքը նոր է։ (Tghayi girkə nor e) The boy's book is new.
Ծաղիկների բույրը հիանալի է։ (Tsaghikneri buyrə hianali e) The scent of the flowers is wonderful.
Dative Case (Տրական)
The dative case shows the indirect object, often translated as "to" or "for" in English. The dative suffixes are -ին (-in) for singular nouns and -ներին (-nerin) for plural nouns.
Examples:Ես գրիչը տվեցի տղային։ (Yes grichə tveci tghayin) I gave the pen to the boy.
Նամակը ուղարկեցի ընկերներին։ (Namakə ugharketsi unkernerin) I sent the letter to the friends.
Ablative Case (Բացառական)
The ablative case indicates motion away from something or the source of an action, often translated as "from." The ablative suffixes are -ից (-its) for singular nouns and -ներից (-nerits) for plural nouns.
Examples:Տունից դուրս եկա։ (Tunits durs eka) I left the house.
Գրադարանից գիրք վերցրի։ (Gradaranits girk vertsri) I took a book from the library.
Instrumental Case (Գործիական)
The instrumental case indicates the means by which an action is performed, often translated as "by," "with," or "using." The suffixes are -ով (-ov) for singular nouns and -ներով (-nerov) for plural nouns.
Examples:Գիրքը գրիչով գրեցի։ (Girkə grichov gretsi) I wrote the book with a pen.
Նրանք ծաղիկներով զարդարեցին սենյակը։ (Nrank tsaghiknerov zardaretsin senyakə) They decorated the room with flowers.
Locative Case (Տեղական)
The locative case specifies the location of an action. The locative suffixes are -ում (-um) for both singular and plural nouns.
Examples:Տղան սենյակում է։ (Tghan senyakum e) The boy is in the room.
Ծաղիկները այգում են։ (Tsaghiknerə aygum en) The flowers are in the garden.
Definiteness and Noun Cases
In Armenian, definite nouns are marked with the definite article -ը (-ə) or -ն (-n). This marker is added after the case suffix if the noun is definite.
Examples:
Տղայի գիրքը սեղանին է։ (Tghayi girkə seghanin e) The boy's book is on the table.
Ծաղիկները ջրում են այգում։ (Tsaghiknerə jrum en aygum) They are watering the flowers in the garden.
Interplay Between Cases and Adjectives
When a noun is modified by an adjective, the adjective must agree with the noun in case. However, adjectives do not take explicit suffixes to show case; the agreement is implied.
Examples:
Գեղեցիկ ծաղիկը այգում է։ (Geghetsik tsaghikə aygum e) The beautiful flower is in the garden.
Տղային նոր գիրք տվեցին։ (Tghayin nor girk tvecin) They gave the boy a new book.
Examples of Cases
Singular Example with գիրք (girk) book:
Ուղղական: Գիրքը նոր է։ (Girkə nor e) The book is new.
Հայցական: Գիրքը գտա։ (Girkə gta) I found the book.
Սեռական: Գրքի գույնը գեղեցիկ է։ (Grki guynə geghetsik e) The book's color is beautiful.
Տրական: Գիրքը տվեցի ընկերոջս։ (Girkə tveci unkerj’s) I gave the book to my friend.
Բացառական: Գիրքը վերցրի սեղանից։ (Girkə vertsri seghanits) I took the book from the table.
Գործիական: Գրքով հիանում եմ։ (Grkov hianum em) I am admiring the book.
Տեղական: Գիրքը գրադարանում է։ (Girkə gradaranum e) The book is in the library.
Armenian Adjectives
Adjectives in Armenian are an essential part of speech used to describe nouns, providing more detail about their qualities, quantity, or characteristics. Below is an in-depth overview of how adjectives function, agree, and change in Armenian grammar.
Placement of Adjectives
In Armenian, adjectives typically precede the noun they modify. However, they can also follow the noun for stylistic or emphatic purposes. The default order is:
Adjective + Noun
For example:
գեղեցիկ տուն (geghetsik tun) beautiful house
լուսավոր սենյակ (lusavor senyak) bright room
When the adjective follows the noun, it often carries a poetic or emphatic tone:
տունը գեղեցիկ է (tune geghetsik e) the house is beautiful
Agreement with Nouns
Adjectives in Armenian agree with the noun they describe in number (singular or plural) and case (nominative, accusative, genitive, etc.). However, adjectives themselves do not inflect for gender since Armenian nouns and adjectives do not have grammatical gender.
In the singular:
մեծ ծառ (mets tsar) big tree
սովորական օր (sovorakan or) ordinary day
In the plural:
մեծ ծառեր (mets tsarer) big trees
սովորական օրեր (sovorakan orer) ordinary days
Adjectives as Predicates
Adjectives can function as predicates in sentences, typically linked to the subject by the verb "to be." In this case, the adjective remains uninflected.
For example:
Տունը գեղեցիկ է։ (Tune geghetsik e.) The house is beautiful.
Սենյակը մեծ է։ (Senyake mets e.) The room is big.
In the past tense, the verb changes accordingly:
Տունը գեղեցիկ էր։ (Tune geghetsik er.) The house was beautiful.
Degrees of Comparison
Adjectives in Armenian can express degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
Positive Degree
This is the base form of the adjective, used to simply describe a noun:
արագ մեքենա (arag mekhyena) fast car
հին գիրք (hin girk) old book
Comparative Degree
To form the comparative, the prefix ավելի (aveli) meaning "more" is added before the adjective:
ավելի արագ մեքենա (aveli arag mekhyena) faster car
ավելի հին գիրք (aveli hin girk) older book
The construction ավելի...քան (aveli...qan) is used to compare two items:
Այս մեքենան ավելի արագ է, քան այն։ (Ays mekhyenan aveli arag e, qan ayn.) This car is faster than that one.
Superlative Degree
To form the superlative, the prefix ամենա (amena) meaning "most" is added to the adjective:
ամենաարագ մեքենա (amenaarag mekhyena) the fastest car
ամենահին գիրք (amenahin girk) the oldest book
Intensification of Adjectives
Armenian has a rich system for intensifying adjectives, often to convey emphasis or exaggeration. This can be achieved through the use of prefixes, suffixes, or intensifying adverbs.
Common intensifying prefixes:
գեր (ger) meaning "super-" or "extremely":
գերհարուստ մարդ (gerharust mard) extremely rich person
գերշքեղ տուն (gershkeg tun) super luxurious house
Common intensifying adverbs:
շատ (shat) meaning "very":
շատ գեղեցիկ աղջիկ (shat geghetsik aghjik) very beautiful girl
շատ դժվար առաջադրանք (shat dzhvar arrajadrank) very difficult task
Adjective Formation
Many adjectives in Armenian are derived from nouns, verbs, or other roots. This derivation often involves specific suffixes.
From nouns:
մարդ (mard) person → մարդկային (mardkayin) human
գարուն (garun) spring → գարնանային (garnanayin) spring-like
From verbs:
գրել (grel) to write → գրված (grvats) written
թարգմանել (targmanel) to translate → թարգմանված (targmanvats) translated
Adjectives as Nouns
In some cases, adjectives can function as nouns in Armenian, particularly when the noun being described is implied by the context.
For example:
մեծերը (metserə) the adults (literally "the big ones")
փոքրերը (p’oqrerə) the children (literally "the small ones")
This usage is common in both formal and colloquial Armenian.
Adjective Order
When multiple adjectives describe a single noun, they usually follow the order of importance or emphasis. For example:
մեծ, գեղեցիկ տուն (mets, geghetsik tun) a big, beautiful house
However, in some cases, the order may vary for stylistic purposes.
Common Adjectives and Their Usage
Here are a few frequently used adjectives in Armenian, along with examples:
հասարակ (hasarak) simple:
հասարակ խնդրանք (hasarak khndrank) a simple requestհետաքրքիր (hetak’rkir) interesting:
հետաքրքիր պատմություն (hetak’rkir patmutyun) an interesting storyհարմար (harmar) comfortable:
հարմար աթոռ (harmar ator) a comfortable chair
Armenian Pronouns
Pronouns are an essential part of Armenian grammar and are used to replace nouns, making communication more efficient and avoiding repetition. Pronouns in Armenian vary by person, number, and case, and they perform various roles in sentences, such as subjects, objects, or possessives.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns in Armenian refer to the speaker, the listener, or others. They vary by person (first, second, and third), number (singular and plural), and case (nominative, genitive, dative, etc.).
Examples in the nominative case (subject pronouns):
ես (yes) I
դու (du) you (singular, informal)
նա (na) he/she/it
մենք (menk’) we
դուք (duk’) you (plural or formal)
նրանք (nrank’) they
Usage in sentences:
Ես ուսանող եմ։ (Yes usanogh em.) I am a student.
Դուք հոգնած եք։ (Duk’ hognats ek.) You are tired.
Նրանք դպրոցում են։ (Nrank’ dprotsum en.) They are at school.
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or belonging. They are derived from personal pronouns and agree with the noun they modify in number and case.
Examples:
իմ (im) my
քո (k’vo) your (singular, informal)
նրա (nra) his/her/its
մեր (mer) our
ձեր (dzer) your (plural or formal)
նրանց (nrants’) their
Usage in sentences:
Իմ տունը մեծ է։ (Im tune mets e.) My house is big.
Քո գիրքը սեղանի վրա է։ (K’vo girke seghani vra e.) Your book is on the table.
Նրանց դասերը երկար են։ (Nrants’ daserə yerkar en.) Their lessons are long.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns in Armenian emphasize that the subject of the verb is also the object. They are formed with the root ինք (ink) combined with possessive suffixes.
Examples:
ինքս (inks) myself
ինքդ (inkd) yourself (singular)
ինքը (inke) himself/herself/itself
ինքներս (ink’ners) ourselves
ինքդ ձեզ (ink’d dzez) yourselves (plural or formal)
իրենք (irenk’) themselves
Usage in sentences:
Ես ինքս դա արեցի։ (Yes inks da aretsi.) I did it myself.
Նա ինքն իր գործն ավարտեց։ (Na ink’ ir gortsn avartets.) He finished his work himself.
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific nouns. In Armenian, they distinguish between objects that are near and far.
Examples:
այս (ays) this (nearby)
այդ (ayd) that (closer to the listener)
այն (ayn) that (far away)
Usage in sentences:
Այս գիրքը հետաքրքիր է։ (Ays girke hetak’rkir e.) This book is interesting.
Այդ խնդիրն բարդ է։ (Ayd khndirn bard e.) That problem is complex.
Այն տունը շատ հին է։ (Ayn tune shat hin e.) That house is very old.
Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns are used to form questions. They vary depending on whether they refer to a person, object, or quantity.
Examples:
ով (ov) who
ինչ (inch) what
որ (vor) which
որտեղ (vortegh) where
ինչպես (inch’pes) how
երբ (yerb) when
Usage in sentences:
Ով է նա։ (Ov e na?) Who is he/she?
Ի՞նչ ես կարդում։ (Inch’ es kardum?) What are you reading?
Որտեղ ես գնում։ (Vortegh es gnum?) Where are you going?
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to nonspecific people or things. In Armenian, they are often formed by adding the prefixes որ (vor) or մի (mi) to interrogative pronouns.
Examples:
որեւէ մեկը (voreve meke) someone
մի բան (mi ban) something
որեւէ տեղ (voreve tegh) somewhere
Usage in sentences:
Մի բան պատմիր։ (Mi ban patrir.) Tell me something.
Որեւէ մեկը չի եկել։ (Voreve meke chi yeke.) No one has come.
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns connect clauses and refer back to a noun mentioned earlier. The most common relative pronoun is որ (vor) who, which, that.
Usage in sentences:
Մարդը, որը նստած է այգում, իմ ընկերն է։ (Mardə, vore nstats e aygum, im ungern e.) The person who is sitting in the garden is my friend.
Գիրքը, որ դու կարդում ես, հետաքրքիր է։ (Girkə, vor du kardum es, hetak’rkir e.) The book that you are reading is interesting.
Negative Pronouns
Negative pronouns are used to indicate the absence of people, things, or places. They are often formed with ոչ (och) meaning "no" or "not."
Examples:
ոչ մեկը (och meke) no one
ոչինչ (ochinch) nothing
ոչ մի տեղ (och mi tegh) nowhere
Usage in sentences:
Ոչ մեկը այստեղ չէ։ (Och meke aystegh che.) No one is here.
Ես ոչինչ չեմ լսել։ (Yes ochinch chem lsel.) I didn’t hear anything.
Armenian Prepositions and Postpositions
Prepositions and postpositions are an integral part of Armenian grammar, used to establish relationships between words, primarily nouns, pronouns, and other parts of speech. In Armenian, prepositions are more common, but postpositions also play a role in certain constructions.
Prepositions in Armenian
Prepositions in Armenian are words placed before a noun or pronoun to indicate a relationship of direction, place, time, cause, or manner. They require the noun or pronoun they govern to appear in a specific case, most commonly the dative or genitive.
Examples of common prepositions:
ի (i) to, into
դեպի (depi) towards
մեջ (mej) in, inside
վրա (vra) on, upon
կողքից (koghk’its’) beside
տակ (tak) under, beneath
Usage of Prepositions with Examples
Location and Place Prepositions often describe where something is located or where an action occurs.
Նա սենյակի մեջ է։ (Na senyaki mej e.) He/She is in the room.
Գիրքը սեղանի վրա է։ (Girkə seghani vra e.) The book is on the table.
Նրանք ծառի տակ են։ (Nrank’ tsari tak en.) They are under the tree.
Direction and Motion Many prepositions express movement toward a specific destination.
Ես գնում եմ դեպի դպրոց։ (Yes gnum em depi dprots.) I am going towards the school.
Նա մտավ սենյակի մեջ։ (Na mtav senyaki mej.) He/She entered the room.
Time Prepositions are used to specify the timing of an action or event.
Հանդիպումը ժամը վեցին է։ (Handipume zhamə vetsin e.) The meeting is at six o’clock.
Մենք կգանք երեքշաբթի։ (Menk’ k’gank’ yerek’shabti.) We will come on Tuesday.
Cause and Manner Prepositions can also convey reasons or methods behind actions.
Նա ուրախ է քո պատճառով։ (Na urakh e k’vo patjarhov.) He/She is happy because of you.
Նա խոսեց մեծ հպարտությամբ։ (Na khosets mets hpardutyamb.) He/She spoke with great pride.
Prepositions Requiring Specific Cases
In Armenian, the case of the noun following a preposition depends on the specific preposition used. Some prepositions govern the genitive, while others require the dative or ablative case.
Examples:
առանց (arrants) without + genitive:
Առանց նրա մենք գնացինք։ (Arrants nra menk’ gnatsink’.) Without him/her, we left.համար (hamar) for + dative:
Սա քեզ համար է։ (Sa k’ez hamar e.) This is for you.մոտ (mot) near, at + dative:
Մենք նրա մոտ ենք։ (Menk’ nra mot enk’.) We are at his/her place.
Postpositions in Armenian
While prepositions dominate, Armenian also uses postpositions, which are words that follow the noun or pronoun they relate to. These are less common but are an important feature of the language. Postpositions often combine with the genitive or dative forms of nouns.
Examples of common postpositions:
հետ (het) with
առջև (arrjev) in front of
հետևում (hetevum) behind
շուրջ (shurj) around
Usage of Postpositions with Examples
Accompaniment The postposition հետ (het) is used to indicate accompaniment and translates to "with."
Ես նրա հետ գնացի։ (Yes nra het gnatsi.) I went with him/her.
Մենք քո հետ ենք։ (Menk’ k’vo het enk’.) We are with you.
Position Postpositions like առջև (arrjev) and հետևում (hetevum) describe spatial relationships.
Մեքենան տան առջև է։ (Mekhyenan tan arrjev e.) The car is in front of the house.
Նա ծառի հետևում էր։ (Na tsari hetevum er.) He/She was behind the tree.
Proximity շուրջ (shurj) is used to describe something surrounding or around another object.
Նրանք զբոսնում էին այգու շուրջ։ (Nrank’ zbosnum ein aygu shurj.) They were walking around the garden.
Combining Prepositions and Postpositions
In some cases, Armenian combines prepositions and postpositions to add clarity or emphasize relationships. For example:
Դեպի ինձ մոտ (depi indz mot) towards me
Տան շուրջը (tan shurjə) around the house
These combinations often strengthen the spatial or directional meaning.
Idiomatic Expressions with Prepositions and Postpositions
Prepositions and postpositions are frequently used in idiomatic expressions, adding depth to the language.
Examples:
առաջ գալ (arraj gal) to come forward
Խնդիրները պետք է առաջ գան։ (Khndirnə petk’ e arraj gan.) The problems need to come forward.հետև ընկնել (hetev ynknel) to fall behind
Նա հետև ընկավ դասերին։ (Na hetev ynkav daserin.) He/She fell behind in the lessons.
Armenian Adverbs
Adverbs in Armenian play a key role in modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing more detail about actions, qualities, and circumstances. They describe how, when, where, and to what extent something happens or exists.
Types of Adverbs
Adverbs in Armenian can be classified into several categories based on their function in a sentence: manner, time, place, degree, frequency, and cause or reason.
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed. They answer the question "How?"
Examples:
լավ (lav) well
Նա լավ է աշխատում։ (Na lav e ashkhatum.) He/She works well.արագ (arag) quickly
Նրանք արագ եկան։ (Nrank’ arag yekan.) They came quickly.ուշադիր (ushadir) carefully
Ուսանողը ուշադիր լսում է։ (Usanoghə ushadir lsum e.) The student is listening carefully.
Adverbs of Time
Adverbs of time indicate when an action takes place. They answer the question "When?"
Examples:
այժմ (ayzhm) now
Այժմ ես տանը եմ։ (Ayzhm yes tane em.) Now I am at home.հիմա (hima) now
Հիմա մենք չենք աշխատում։ (Hima menk’ chenk’ ashkhatum.) We are not working now.երբեմն (yerbemn) sometimes
Նա երբեմն զբոսնում է այգում։ (Na yerbemn zbosnum e aygum.) He/She sometimes walks in the garden.վաղը (vaghy) tomorrow
Մենք վաղը կգնանք։ (Menk’ vaghy k’gnank’.) We will go tomorrow.
Adverbs of Place
Adverbs of place indicate where an action takes place. They answer the question "Where?"
Examples:
այստեղ (aystegh) here
Նրանք այստեղ են։ (Nrank’ ay stegh en.) They are here.այնտեղ (ayntegh) there
Գիրքը այնտեղ է։ (Girkə ayntegh e.) The book is there.վերևում (verevum) above
Սեղանը վերևում է։ (Seghanə verevum e.) The table is above.ներքևում (nerqevum) below
Նա նստել է ներքևում։ (Na nstel e nerqevum.) He/She is sitting below.
Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree express the intensity or extent of an action, quality, or state. They answer the question "To what extent?"
Examples:
շատ (shat) very
Այս գիրքը շատ հետաքրքիր է։ (Ays girkə shat hetak’rkir e.) This book is very interesting.բավական (bavakan) quite
Այս դասը բավական բարդ է։ (Ays dasə bavakan bard e.) This lesson is quite difficult.կտոր-կտոր (k’tor-k’tor) little by little
Նա կտոր-կտոր ավարտեց գործը։ (Na k’tor-k’tor avartets gortsə.) He/She finished the work little by little.
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency describe how often an action occurs. They answer the question "How often?"
Examples:
միշտ (misht) always
Նա միշտ ժպտում է։ (Na misht zhptum e.) He/She always smiles.երբեք (yerbek’) never
Ես երբեք չեմ մոռանա դա։ (Yes yerbek’ chem morrana da.) I will never forget that.հազվադեպ (hazvadep) rarely
Նրանք հազվադեպ են հանդիպում։ (Nrank’ hazvadep en handipum.) They rarely meet.
Adverbs of Cause or Reason
Adverbs of cause or reason explain why an action occurs. They answer the question "Why?"
Examples:
ինչու (inchu) why
Ինչու ես ուշացել։ (Inchu es ushatsyel?) Why are you late?հետևաբար (hetevabar) therefore
Նա հիվանդ էր, հետևաբար չեկավ։ (Na hivand er, hetevabar cheka.) He/She was sick; therefore, he/she didn’t come.արդյունքում (ardyunkum) as a result
Աշխատանքը երկար էր, արդյունքում նա հոգնեց։ (Ashkhatankə yerkar er, ardyunkum na hognets.) The work was long; as a result, he/she got tired.
Formation of Adverbs
In Armenian, adverbs are often derived from adjectives or nouns. This transformation is typically achieved by adding specific suffixes or modifying the word.
From Adjectives Many adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -ով (-ov) or -որեն (-oren) to the adjective.
Examples:
արագ (arag) quick → արագորեն (aragoren) quickly
գեղեցիկ (geghetsik) beautiful → գեղեցիկորեն (geghetsikoren) beautifully
From Nouns Some adverbs are formed by adding suffixes to nouns.
Examples:
զորություն (zorutyun) power → զորությամբ (zorutyamb) powerfully
լույս (luys) light → լուսով (lusov) by light
From Reduplication Certain adverbs are created through the repetition of a root word.
Examples:
արագ-արագ (arag-arag) very quickly
սահուն-սահուն (sahun-sahun) smoothly
Placement of Adverbs
In Armenian, the placement of adverbs depends on the emphasis and function of the adverb. Typically:
Adverbs of manner, place, and time are placed after the verb they modify:
Նա խոսեց դանդաղ։ (Na khosets dandagh.) He/She spoke slowly.
Adverbs of degree and frequency are often placed before the verb or adjective:
Նա շատ է կարդում։ (Na shat e kardum.) He/She reads a lot.
In some cases, the placement can vary for stylistic reasons.
Armenian Present Tense Verbs
The present tense in Armenian is used to describe actions or states that are happening at the moment of speaking or are generally true. It is one of the fundamental tenses in the language and is crucial for everyday communication.
Structure of the Present Tense
In Armenian, present tense verbs are conjugated by taking the verb root and adding the appropriate endings for each personal pronoun. The verb endings depend on the conjugation group of the verb. Most verbs in Armenian fall into regular conjugation patterns, but there are also some irregular verbs.
Personal Pronouns and Verb Conjugation
The present tense endings are attached to the verb root, and the verb agrees with the subject in person and number. Here is how the personal pronouns align with conjugation:
ես (yes) I
դու (du) you (singular, informal)
նա (na) he/she/it
մենք (menk’) we
դուք (duk’) you (plural or formal)
նրանք (nrank’) they
Regular Verb Conjugation: Example with գրել (grel) to write
Present tense conjugation:
Ես գրում եմ։ (Yes grum em.) I am writing.
Դու գրում ես։ (Du grum es.) You are writing.
Նա գրում է։ (Na grum e.) He/She/It is writing.
Մենք գրում ենք։ (Menk’ grum enk’.) We are writing.
Դուք գրում եք։ (Duk’ grum ek’.) You are writing.
Նրանք գրում են։ (Nrank’ grum en.) They are writing.
In this example, the verb գրել (grel) to write follows a regular pattern, where the root գր (gr) is combined with the present tense endings.
Usage of the Present Tense
The present tense in Armenian is used in several contexts, including:
Actions Happening Now
Ես կարդում եմ գիրքը։ (Yes kardum em girkə.) I am reading the book.
General or Habitual Actions
Նա ամեն օր աշխատում է։ (Na amen or ashkhatum e.) He/She works every day.
Universal Truths
Արևը ծագում է արևելքում։ (Arevə tsagum e arevelkum.) The sun rises in the east.
Future Intentions (Context-Dependent)
Վաղը մենք գնում ենք Հայաստան։ (Vaghy menk’ gnum enk’ Hayastan.) Tomorrow we are going to Armenia.
Irregular Verb Conjugation: Example with լինել (linel) to be
The verb լինել (linel) to be is irregular in Armenian. Its present tense conjugation is as follows:
Ես եմ։ (Yes em.) I am.
Դու ես։ (Du es.) You are.
Նա է։ (Na e.) He/She/It is.
Մենք ենք։ (Menk’ enk’.) We are.
Դուք եք։ (Duk’ ek’.) You are.
Նրանք են։ (Nrank’ en.) They are.
Usage in context:
Ես ուսանող եմ։ (Yes usanogh em.) I am a student.
Դուք բժիշկ եք։ (Duk’ bjishk ek’.) You are a doctor.
Negative Form in the Present Tense
To form the negative in the present tense, the particle չ (ch) is added before the verb. The structure is:
չ + verb conjugation
Examples with գրել (grel) to write:
Ես չեմ գրում։ (Yes chem grum.) I am not writing.
Դու չես գրում։ (Du ches grum.) You are not writing.
Նա չի գրում։ (Na chi grum.) He/She/It is not writing.
Մենք չենք գրում։ (Menk’ chenk’ grum.) We are not writing.
Դուք չեք գրում։ (Duk’ chek’ grum.) You are not writing.
Նրանք չեն գրում։ (Nrank’ chen grum.) They are not writing.
Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense
Reflexive verbs in Armenian often end with the suffix -վել (-vel) in their infinitive form. Their conjugation follows the same patterns as regular verbs. For example, with վայելել (vayelel) to enjoy:
Ես վայելում եմ։ (Yes vayelum em.) I am enjoying.
Դու վայելում ես։ (Du vayelum es.) You are enjoying.
Նա վայելում է։ (Na vayelum e.) He/She/It is enjoying.
Մենք վայելում ենք։ (Menk’ vayelum enk’.) We are enjoying.
Դուք վայելում եք։ (Duk’ vayelum ek’.) You are enjoying.
Նրանք վայելում են։ (Nrank’ vayelum en.) They are enjoying.
Question Form in the Present Tense
To form questions in the present tense, the sentence structure remains the same, but the intonation changes. In written Armenian, a question mark is added at the end.
Examples:
Դու գրում ես գիրք։ (Du grum es girk’?) Are you writing a book?
Նրանք գնում են Հայաստան։ (Nrank’ gnum en Hayastan?) Are they going to Armenia?
Armenian Past Tense Verbs
The past tense in Armenian is used to describe actions or states that occurred in the past. It is one of the core tenses in the language and can express completed actions, habitual actions, or states that existed at a specific time in the past. Armenian verbs in the past tense are conjugated based on person and number, with variations depending on whether the verb is regular or irregular.
Structure of the Past Tense
To form the past tense in Armenian, the verb root is combined with specific endings that correspond to the subject's person and number. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, while irregular verbs require memorization of their unique forms.
The conjugation of past tense verbs involves:
Identifying the verb root.
Adding the appropriate past tense endings based on the subject.
Personal Pronouns and Verb Conjugation
Here are the personal pronouns in Armenian and their use with past tense conjugation:
ես (yes) I
դու (du) you (singular, informal)
նա (na) he/she/it
մենք (menk’) we
դուք (duk’) you (plural or formal)
նրանք (nrank’) they
Regular Verb Conjugation: Example with գրել (grel) to write
Present tense infinitive: գրել (grel) to write
Past tense root: գր (gr)
Past tense conjugation:
Ես գրեցի։ (Yes gretsi.) I wrote.
Դու գրեցիր։ (Du gretsir.) You wrote.
Նա գրեց։ (Na grets.) He/She/It wrote.
Մենք գրեցինք։ (Menk’ gretsink’.) We wrote.
Դուք գրեցիք։ (Duk’ gretsik’.) You wrote.
Նրանք գրեցին։ (Nrank’ gretsin.) They wrote.
Usage of the Past Tense
The past tense in Armenian is used in various contexts, including completed actions, habitual actions, and past states.
Completed Actions
Ես ավարտեցի աշխատանքը։ (Yes avartetsi ashkhatankə.) I finished the work.
Նրանք գնացին Հայաստան։ (Nrank’ gnatsin Hayastan.) They went to Armenia.
Habitual Actions
Մենք ամեն օր դպրոց էինք գնում։ (Menk’ amen or dprots einq’ gnum.) We used to go to school every day.
Նա հաճախ էր խաղում այգում։ (Na hachakh er khaghum aygum.) He/She often played in the garden.
Past States
Ես երջանիկ էի։ (Yes yerjanik ei.) I was happy.
Տունը մեծ էր։ (Tune mets er.) The house was big.
Irregular Verb Conjugation: Example with լինել (linel) to be
The verb լինել (linel) to be is irregular and conjugates differently in the past tense.
Past tense conjugation:
Ես էի։ (Yes ei.) I was.
Դու էիր։ (Du eir.) You were.
Նա էր։ (Na er.) He/She/It was.
Մենք էինք։ (Menk’ eink’.) We were.
Դուք էիք։ (Duk’ eik’.) You were.
Նրանք էին։ (Nrank’ ein.) They were.
Usage in context:
Ես ուսանող էի։ (Yes usanogh ei.) I was a student.
Նրանք այնտեղ էին։ (Nrank’ ayntegh ein.) They were there.
Negative Form in the Past Tense
To form the negative in the past tense, the particle չ (ch) is placed before the verb. The verb itself remains in its conjugated past tense form.
Examples with գրել (grel) to write:
Ես չգրեցի։ (Yes chgretsi.) I did not write.
Դու չգրեցիր։ (Du chgretsir.) You did not write.
Նա չգրեց։ (Na chgrets.) He/She/It did not write.
Մենք չգրեցինք։ (Menk’ chgretsink’.) We did not write.
Դուք չգրեցիք։ (Duk’ chgretsik’.) You did not write.
Նրանք չգրեցին։ (Nrank’ chgretsin.) They did not write.
Reflexive Verbs in the Past Tense
Reflexive verbs, which often end in -վել (-vel) in their infinitive form, are conjugated like regular verbs in the past tense. For example, with զգալ (zgal) to feel:
Past tense conjugation:
Ես զգացի։ (Yes zgatsi.) I felt.
Դու զգացիր։ (Du zgatsir.) You felt.
Նա զգաց։ (Na zgats.) He/She/It felt.
Մենք զգացինք։ (Menk’ zgatsink’.) We felt.
Դուք զգացիք։ (Duk’ zgatsik’.) You felt.
Նրանք զգացին։ (Nrank’ zgatsin.) They felt.
Question Form in the Past Tense
To form questions in the past tense, the sentence structure remains unchanged, but the intonation shifts to a questioning tone. A question mark is added in written Armenian.
Examples:
Դու գրեցիր նամակը։ (Du gretsir namakə?) Did you write the letter?
Նրանք գնացին Հայաստան։ (Nrank’ gnatsin Hayastan?) Did they go to Armenia?
Armenian Future Tense Verbs
The future tense in Armenian is used to describe actions or states that will occur after the present moment. This tense is straightforward in terms of formation, as it uses a consistent prefix attached to the verb root, followed by conjugated endings that align with the subject in person and number.
Formation of the Future Tense
In Armenian, the future tense is formed by adding the prefix կ (k) to the verb root, followed by the appropriate personal endings. This prefix remains constant across all verbs, making the future tense relatively simple compared to other tenses.
Regular Verb Conjugation: Example with գրել (grel) to write
Future tense root: Add կ (k) to the root գր (gr).
Future tense conjugation:
Ես կգրեմ։ (Yes kgre m.) I will write.
Դու կգրես։ (Du kgres.) You will write.
Նա կգրի։ (Na kgri.) He/She/It will write.
Մենք կգրենք։ (Menk’ kgrenk’.) We will write.
Դուք կգրեք։ (Duk’ kgrek’.) You will write.
Նրանք կգրեն։ (Nrank’ kgren.) They will write.
The future tense in Armenian is versatile and used in various contexts to describe different types of future actions or events.
Definite Future Actions
Ես վաղը նամակ կգրեմ։ (Yes vaghy namak kgre m.) I will write a letter tomorrow.
Նրանք երեկոյան տուն կգան։ (Nrank’ yerekoyan tun kgan.) They will come home in the evening.
Intentions and Plans
Ես կայցելեմ ընկերոջս։ (Yes kaytselem ungeroj’s.) I will visit my friend.
Մենք արձակուրդի կմեկնենք։ (Menk’ ardzakurd i kmekn enk’.) We will go on vacation.
Predictions and Expectations
Այդ խնդիրն շուտով կլուծվի։ (Ayd khndirn shutov klutsvi.) That problem will be solved soon.
Դուք հաջողության կհասնեք։ (Duk’ hajoghuty an khasnek’.) You will achieve success.
Irregular Verb Conjugation: Example with լինել (linel) to be
The verb լինել (linel) to be is irregular in Armenian but follows a predictable pattern in the future tense.
Future tense conjugation:
Ես կլինեմ։ (Yes klinem.) I will be.
Դու կլինես։ (Du klines.) You will be.
Նա կլինի։ (Na klin i.) He/She/It will be.
Մենք կլինենք։ (Menk’ klinenk’.) We will be.
Դուք կլինեք։ (Duk’ klinek’.) You will be.
Նրանք կլինեն։ (Nrank’ klinen.) They will be.
Usage in context:
Ես կլինեմ Հայաստանում։ (Yes klinem Hayastanum.) I will be in Armenia.
Նրանք կլինեն ուրախ։ (Nrank’ klinen urakh.) They will be happy.
Negative Form in the Future Tense
To form the negative in the future tense, the prefix չ (ch) is placed before the future tense prefix կ (k). The verb is then conjugated as usual.
Examples with գրել (grel) to write:
Ես չեմ գրեմ։ (Yes ch kgre m.) I will not write.
Դու չես գրես։ (Du ch kgres.) You will not write.
Նա չի գրի։ (Na ch kgri.) He/She/It will not write.
Մենք չենք գրենք։ (Menk’ ch kgrenk’.) We will not write.
Դուք չեք գրեք։ (Duk’ ch kgrek’.) You will not write.
Նրանք չեն գրեն։ (Nrank’ ch kgren.) They will not write.
Usage in context:
Ես չեմ մասնակցի ժողովին։ (Yes ch kmasnatsi zhoghovin.) I will not attend the meeting.
Նրանք չեն գնա դասի։ (Nrank’ ch kgna dasi.) They will not go to class.
Reflexive Verbs in the Future Tense
Reflexive verbs in the future tense are conjugated in the same way as regular verbs, with the prefix կ (k) and personal endings.
Example with զգալ (zgal) to feel:
Ես կզգամ։ (Yes kzgam.) I will feel.
Դու կզգաս։ (Du kzgas.) You will feel.
Նա կզգա։ (Na kzga.) He/She/It will feel.
Մենք կզգանք։ (Menk’ kzganq’.) We will feel.
Դուք կզգաք։ (Duk’ kzgaq’.) You will feel.
Նրանք կզգան։ (Nrank’ kzgan.) They will feel.
Question Form in the Future Tense
To form questions in the future tense, the structure of the sentence remains the same, but the intonation changes. A question mark is added in written Armenian.
Examples:
Դու նամակ կգրես։ (Du namak kgres?) Will you write a letter?
Նրանք Հայաստան կգան։ (Nrank’ Hayastan kgan?) Will they come to Armenia?
Key Notes on the Future Tense
Regularity: The future tense is relatively regular, with the prefix կ (k) consistently used across verbs.
Negation: Adding չ (ch) before the prefix կ (k) forms the negative.
Verb Agreement: As in other tenses, the verb agrees with the subject in person and number.
Clarity of Intent: Time adverbs like վաղը (vaghy) tomorrow or հետո (heto) later help specify the timing of future actions.
The future tense in Armenian is essential for expressing intentions, plans, and expectations. With its regular structure and consistent use of the prefix կ, it is one of the easier tenses to master in the language. By practicing regular and irregular verb conjugations and their negative forms, learners can confidently communicate about future events.
Imperatives in Armenian
The imperative in Armenian is used to express commands, requests, suggestions, or prohibitions. It is a versatile form that addresses the listener directly, often used to encourage, advise, or order someone to perform (or not perform) an action. Armenian imperative forms vary depending on the verb type and the level of formality.
The imperative in Armenian is typically based on the root of the verb, with specific endings added to indicate the subject (second person singular, plural, or formal). Unlike other tenses, the imperative primarily addresses the second person (singular դու and plural/formal դուք).
The base imperative form is derived from the root of the verb, which is obtained by removing the infinitive ending -ել (-el) or -ալ (-al) from the verb.
Personal Pronouns in the Imperative
դու (du) you (singular, informal)
դուք (duk’) you (plural or formal)
While the imperative mostly addresses the second person, suggestions or encouragements for the first person plural (մենք) can also be expressed using the subjunctive mood or the particle ե՛կեք (yekek’).
Regular Verb Conjugation: Example with գրել (grel) to write
Imperative root: գր (gr)
Singular Imperative (Informal):
Գրի՛ր։ (Grir.) Write!
This is the standard command directed at a single individual.
Plural/Formal Imperative:
Գրի՛րք։ (Grirk’.) Write!
This is used when addressing multiple people or someone formally.
Usage of the Imperative
The imperative in Armenian is used in several contexts:
Direct Commands
Գրի՛ր քո անունը։ (Grir k’vo anuny.) Write your name!
Խոսա՛։ (Khos a!) Speak!
Requests
Տո՛ւր ինձ գիրքը։ (Tur indz girkə.) Give me the book!
Օգնի՛ր ինձ։ (Ognir indz.) Help me!
Suggestions and Encouragement For the first person plural, ե՛կեք (yekek’) is often used before the verb to indicate "Let us" or "Let's."
Ե՛կեք գնանք այգի։ (Yekek’ gnank’ aygi.) Let’s go to the park!
Ե՛կեք միասին աշխատենք։ (Yekek’ miatsin ashkhatenk’.) Let’s work together!
Prohibitions To express negative commands, the particle չ (ch) or մի (mi) is placed before the verb.
Մի՛ ասա։ (Mi asa!) Don’t say it!
Մի՛ գրիր դա։ (Mi grir da.) Don’t write that!
Regular Verb Conjugation: Example with խոսել (khosel) to speak
Imperative root: խոս (khos)
Singular Informal:
Խոսա՛։ (Khos a!) Speak!
Plural/Formal:
Խոսացե՛ք։ (Khosatsek’.) Speak!
Usage in context:
Խոսա՛ արագ։ (Khos a arag.) Speak quickly!
Խոսացե՛ք ավելի բարձր։ (Khosatsek’ aveli bardzr.) Speak louder!
Irregular Verb Conjugation: Example with լինել (linel) to be
The verb լինել (linel) to be is irregular and forms its imperative differently.
Singular Informal:
Լի՛ր։ (Lir.) Be!
Plural/Formal:
Լի՛րք։ (Lirk’.) Be!
Usage in context:
Լի՛ր ուշադիր։ (Lir ushadir.) Be attentive!
Լի՛րք հանգիստ։ (Lirk’ hangist.) Be calm!
Negative Imperative
The negative imperative is formed by placing մի (mi) before the verb. The root and endings remain unchanged.
Examples:
Մի՛ գնա։ (Mi gna.) Don’t go!
Մի՛ լսիր նրան։ (Mi lsir nran.) Don’t listen to him/her!
Մի՛ խոսեք բարձր։ (Mi khosek’ bardzr.) Don’t speak loudly!
Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative
For reflexive verbs, the same imperative rules apply, but the reflexive suffix is retained.
Example with վայելել (vayelel) to enjoy:
Վայելի՛ր կյանքը։ (Vayelir kyank’ə.) Enjoy life!
Վայելե՛ք երեկոն։ (Vayelek’ yerekon.) Enjoy the evening!
Politeness and Emphasis in the Imperative
The imperative in Armenian can be softened to sound more polite by adding the particle խնդրում եմ (khndrum em) please before or after the command.
Examples:
Խնդրում եմ, տո՛ւր ինձ գիրքը։ (Khndrum em, tur indz girkə.) Please give me the book.
Արի՛, խնդրում եմ։ (Ari, khndrum em.) Come, please.
To add emphasis, -եք (-ek’) is often added to plural/formal commands, even when speaking to one person respectfully.
Question Form in the Imperative
To form a question in the imperative, the sentence remains the same structurally, but a questioning tone or context is used. In written Armenian, a question mark is added.
Examples:
Կգրե՞ս նամակ։ (Kgres namak?) Will you write a letter?
Կխոսե՞ք հայերեն։ (Kkhos ek’ Hayeren?) Will you speak Armenian?
Passives in Armenian
The passive voice in Armenian is used to express actions where the focus is on the recipient of the action rather than the doer. In passive constructions, the subject of the sentence undergoes the action rather than performing it. The passive voice is commonly used in formal writing, news reports, and situations where the agent (doer of the action) is unknown, unimportant, or implied.
Formation of the Passive Voice
In Armenian, the passive voice is primarily formed using two methods:
By adding the suffix -վ(-v) to the verb root
By using auxiliary verbs such as լինել (linel) to be or դառնալ (darnal) to become with the past participle of the verb.
The first method is the most common and involves a structural transformation of the verb itself.
Present Passive Voice
In the present tense, the passive is formed by adding -վում (-vum) to the verb root.
Example with գրել (grel) to write in the passive form:
Ես գրվում եմ։ (Yes grvum em.) I am being written.
Դու գրվում ես։ (Du grvum es.) You are being written.
Նա գրվում է։ (Na grvum e.) He/She/It is being written.
Մենք գրվում ենք։ (Menk’ grvum enk’.) We are being written.
Դուք գրվում եք։ (Duk’ grvum ek’.) You are being written.
Նրանք գրվում են։ (Nrank’ grvum en.) They are being written.
Past Passive Voice
In the past tense, the passive is formed similarly to the present tense, but the auxiliary verb conjugates in the past.
Example with գրել (grel) to write:
Ես գրվում էի։ (Yes grvum ei.) I was being written.
Դու գրվում էիր։ (Du grvum eir.) You were being written.
Նա գրվում էր։ (Na grvum er.) He/She/It was being written.
Մենք գրվում էինք։ (Menk’ grvum eink’.) We were being written.
Դուք գրվում էիք։ (Duk’ grvum eik’.) You were being written.
Նրանք գրվում էին։ (Nrank’ grvum ein.) They were being written.
An alternative past passive form uses the verb լինել (linel) to be with the past participle:
Գիրքը գրված էր։ (Girkə grvats er.) The book was written.
Future Passive Voice
The future passive is formed by adding the future prefix կ (k) before the passive verb form.
Example with գրել (grel) to write:
Ես կգրվեմ։ (Yes kgrvem.) I will be written.
Դու կգրվես։ (Du kgrves.) You will be written.
Նա կգրվի։ (Na kgrvi.) He/She/It will be written.
Մենք կգրվենք։ (Menk’ kgrvenk’.) We will be written.
Դուք կգրվեք։ (Duk’ kgrvek’.) You will be written.
Նրանք կգրվեն։ (Nrank’ kgrven.) They will be written.
Alternatively, the future passive can be formed with լինել (linel) in the future tense:
Գիրքը գրված կլինի։ (Girkə grvats klini.) The book will be written.
Usage of the Passive Voice
When the agent (doer) is unknown or unimportant
Հայտարարությունը կարդացվեց։ (Haytararutyunə kardatsvets.) The announcement was read.
Դուռը բացվեց։ (Durrə batsvets.) The door was opened.
When emphasizing the action over the doer
Հարցը քննարկվում է։ (Hartsə qnnark’vum e.) The question is being discussed.
Նոր օրենքը կվավերացվի։ (Nor orenk’ə kvaveratsvi.) The new law will be approved.
In scientific or formal contexts
Այս դեղամիջոցը օգտագործվում է բուժման համար։ (Ays deghamijotsə ogtagortzvum e buzhman hamar.) This medicine is used for treatment.
Negative Form in the Passive Voice
To form the negative passive, չ (ch) is placed before the verb.
Example with գրվել (grvel) to be written in the present tense:
Ես չեմ գրվում։ (Yes chem grvum.) I am not being written.
Դու չես գրվում։ (Du ches grvum.) You are not being written.
Նա չի գրվում։ (Na chi grvum.) He/She/It is not being written.
Մենք չենք գրվում։ (Menk’ chenk’ grvum.) We are not being written.
Դուք չեք գրվում։ (Duk’ chek’ grvum.) You are not being written.
Նրանք չեն գրվում։ (Nrank’ chen grvum.) They are not being written.
Reflexive Verbs and the Passive
Some reflexive verbs naturally have a passive meaning, as they describe actions that happen to the subject rather than being performed by the subject.
Example with փակվել (p’akvel) to be closed:
Դուռը փակվում է։ (Durrə p’akvum e.) The door is being closed.
Դուռը փակվեց։ (Durrə p’akvets.) The door was closed.
Passive with the Auxiliary Verb դառնալ (darnal) to become
In Armenian, the verb դառնալ (darnal) to become is sometimes used to express a passive meaning.
Example:
Նա հայտնի դարձավ։ (Na hayt’ni darjtsav.) He/She became famous.
Խնդիրը բարդ դարձավ։ (Khndirə bardr darjtsav.) The problem became complicated.
Negation in Armenian
Negation in Armenian is expressed through various means depending on the verb tense, sentence structure, and intended emphasis. The primary negation particle in Armenian is չ (ch), which is used to negate verbs, while ոչ (voch) is commonly used for negating nouns, pronouns, and standalone negative answers.
Negation of Verbs
In Armenian, negation is typically formed by placing չ (ch) before the verb. However, the way it is attached depends on whether the verb is in the present, past, or future tense.
Present and Future Tenses
In the present and future tenses, չ (ch) is placed directly before the verb without any additional modifications.
Ես չեմ գնում։ (Yes chem gnum.) I am not going.
Նա չի խոսում։ (Na chi khosum.) He/She does not speak.
Մենք չենք աշխատում։ (Menk chenk ashkhatum.) We are not working.
For future tense, the same rule applies:
Նա չի գալու։ (Na chi galu.) He/She will not come.
Դուք չեք մասնակցելու։ (Duk cheq masnakcelu.) You will not participate.
Past Tense
In the past tense, չ (ch) is still used, but the verb changes form accordingly. The conjugation follows the same structure as affirmative verbs in the past but with չ (ch) prefixed.
Ես չգնացի։ (Yes chgnatsi.) I did not go.
Նա չհասկացավ։ (Na chhaskatsav.) He/She did not understand.
Մենք չաշխատեցինք։ (Menk chashkhatetsinq.) We did not work.
Imperative and Subjunctive
For imperative and subjunctive forms, negation is done by adding չ (ch) before the verb.
Մի գնա։ (Mi gna.) Do not go.
Մի խոսեք։ (Mi khoseq.) Do not speak.
When negating a verb in a more polite or formal way, չ (ch) is used with the subjunctive.
Ուզում եմ, որ նա չգա։ (Uzum em, vor na chga.) I want him/her not to come.
Ավելի լավ է, որ մենք չգնանք։ (Aveli lav e, vor menk chgnank.) It is better that we do not go.
Negation of Nouns and Pronouns
When negating a noun, the word ոչ (voch) is used, meaning "no" or "not."
Սա ոչ գիրք է, ոչ էլ ամսագիր։ (Sa voch girk e, voch el amsagir.) This is neither a book nor a magazine.
Ոչ ոք չհասկացավ։ (Voch vok chhaskatsav.) No one understood.
Double Negation
Armenian allows double negation for emphasis, particularly in sentences that include words such as ոչ ոք (voch vok, "nobody") and ոչինչ (vochinch, "nothing"). These words already carry negation, but the verb must still be negated.
Ոչ ոք չեկավ։ (Voch vok cheka v.) Nobody came.
Ես ոչինչ չեմ տեսնում։ (Yes vochinch chem tesnum.) I do not see anything.
Negative Questions
Negative questions in Armenian are formed by using չ (ch) before the verb.
Դու չգիտե՞ս։ (Du chgites?) Don't you know?
Նա չասաց քեզ։ (Na chasats qez?) Didn't he/she tell you?
These are used either to express surprise or to confirm information.
Negation with Modal Verbs
Modal verbs such as կարող լինել (karogh linel, "to be able") and պետք է (petq e, "must") follow the same negation rules.
Ես չեմ կարող դա անել։ (Yes chem karogh da anel.) I cannot do that.
Դուք չպետք է ուշանաք։ (Duk chpetq e ushanak.) You must not be late.
Sentence Structure in Armenian
Armenian has a relatively flexible word order compared to many other languages. While the standard order in declarative sentences is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV), word order can change depending on emphasis, style, and sentence type.
Basic Word Order: Subject-Object-Verb (SOV)
The default word order in Armenian follows an SOV structure:
Ես (Yes) գիրք եմ կարդում։ (girk’ em kardum.)
I am reading a book.
Here, Ես (Yes) (I) is the subject, գիրք (girk’) (book) is the object, and կարդում եմ (kardum em) (am reading) is the verb phrase.
In simple sentences, this structure remains unchanged:
Նա (Na) հաց կերավ։ (hats’ kerav.)
He/she ate bread.
However, depending on the focus of the sentence, the word order can shift.
Variations in Word Order for Emphasis
In Armenian, placing an element at the beginning of a sentence gives it more emphasis. For example:
Գիրք (Girk’) Ես եմ կարդում։ (Yes em kardum.)
It is a book that I am reading.
Here, գիրք (girk’) (book) is placed first for emphasis, drawing attention to what is being read rather than the action itself.
Likewise:
Հաց (Hats’) Նա կերավ։ (Na kerav.)
It was bread that he/she ate.
This highlights "bread" as the key piece of information.
Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) in Questions
While the SOV order is standard, questions often follow a VSO pattern:
Գրում է (Grum e) նա նամակը։
Is he/she writing the letter?
Interrogative pronouns usually appear at the beginning:
Ո՞վ է (Ov e) գիրք կարդում։
Who is reading a book?
Object-Subject-Verb (OSV) for Contrast
When contrasting two elements, OSV order can be used:
Հացը (Hats’-ə) նա կերավ, բայց պանիրը՝ ոչ։ (Na kerav, bayts’ panire voch.)
He/she ate the bread, but not the cheese.
Here, հացը (hats’-ə) (the bread) is placed first to contrast it with the cheese.
Adjective and Noun Order
In Armenian, adjectives usually precede nouns:
Գեղեցիկ (Geghats’ik’) աղջիկ։
A beautiful girl.
However, placing the adjective after the noun adds emphasis or poetic effect:
Աղջիկն է գեղեցիկ։ (Aghjikn e geghats’ik’.)
It is the girl who is beautiful.
Placement of Adverbs
Adverbs typically precede verbs:
Նա արագ վազեց։ (Na arag vazets’.)
He/she ran fast.
However, for emphasis, an adverb may be placed at the beginning:
Արագ նա վազեց։ (Arag na vazets’.)
Quickly, he/she ran.
Negative Sentences
Negation in Armenian is formed by placing չ (ch’) before the verb:
Ես չեմ կարդում գիրքը։ (Yes ch’em kardum girk’-ə.)
I am not reading the book.
Negation follows the standard SOV structure but can shift for emphasis:
Գիրքը չեմ կարդում։ (Girk’-ə ch’em kardum.)
It’s the book that I am not reading.
Word Order in Complex Sentences
Dependent clauses often maintain the SOV structure:
Նա ասաց, որ ես գիրք եմ կարդում։ (Na asats’, vor yes girk’ em kardum.)
He/she said that I am reading a book.
Relative clauses follow the noun:
Աղջիկը, ով գիրք է կարդում, իմ ընկերն է։ (Aghjik’-ə, ov girk’ e kardum, im ynkern e.)
The girl who is reading a book is my friend.
Questions in Armenian
Questions in Armenian are formed in several ways, depending on the type of question being asked. Armenian does not use auxiliary verbs like “do” in English to form questions. Instead, questions are created using word order changes, question particles, or interrogative pronouns. There are different types of questions, including yes/no questions, wh-questions, alternative questions, and tag questions.
Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions in Armenian are often formed by intonation alone. In written Armenian, there is no need to change the word order or add an auxiliary verb—simply raising the intonation at the end of a sentence is enough.
Դու գիրք ես կարդում։ (Du girk’ es kardum.)
You are reading a book.
Դու գիրք ես կարդում՞։ (Du girk’ es kardum?)
Are you reading a book?
Here, the statement and the question have the same word order. The difference is in pronunciation: the question is spoken with a rising intonation.
In colloquial speech, ara (ara) can sometimes be added at the end of a question to make it sound more conversational:
Դու գիրք ես կարդում, չէ՞։ (Du girk’ es kardum, ch’e?)
You are reading a book, right?
Wh-Questions (Interrogative Pronouns)
Wh-questions in Armenian are formed using interrogative pronouns such as:
Ո՞վ (Ov) – Who
Ի՞նչ (Inch’) – What
Որտե՞ղ (Vortegh) – Where
Ե՞րբ (Yerb) – When
Ինչո՞ւ (Inch’u) – Why
Ինչպե՞ս (Inch’pes) – How
Որքա՞ն (Vork’an) – How much, how many
Ո՞ր (Vor) – Which
Wh-words typically come at the beginning of a sentence:
Ո՞վ է եկել։ (Ov e ekel?)
Who has come?
Ի՞նչ ես գրում։ (Inch’ es grum?)
What are you writing?
Որտե՞ղ ես գնում։ (Vortegh es gnum?)
Where are you going?
However, in informal speech, a wh-word may sometimes appear later in the sentence for emphasis:
Դու որտե՞ղ ես գնում։ (Du vortegh es gnum?)
Where are you going?
Alternative Questions
Alternative questions are used when offering choices. They are formed with the conjunction թե (te) (or).
Դու սուրճ ես ուզում, թե՞ թեյ։ (Du surj es uzum, te t’ey?)
Do you want coffee or tea?
Այս գիրքը կարդա՞մ, թե մյուսը։ (Ays girk’-ə karda-m, te myus-ə?)
Should I read this book or the other one?
Unlike English, Armenian does not require a repetition of the verb in both options.
Tag Questions
Tag questions are short questions added to the end of a sentence to confirm information. The most common tag is չէ՞ (ch’e?) (isn’t it? / right?).
Դու բժիշկ ես, չէ՞։ (Du bzhishk es, ch’e?)
You are a doctor, right?
Նա գնաց, չէ՞։ (Na gnats’, ch’e?)
He/she left, didn’t he/she?
Another form of a tag question uses այո՞, ոչ՞ (ayo?, voch’?) to explicitly ask for confirmation:
Դու նոր ես եկել, այո՞։ (Du nor es ekel, ayo?)
You just arrived, yes?
Indirect Questions
Indirect questions in Armenian maintain the structure of a declarative sentence but include an interrogative phrase within it.
Չգիտեմ, թե ով է եկել։ (Ch’gitem, te ov e ekel.)
I don’t know who has come.
Հարցրեցի, թե որտե՞ղ են նրանք։ (Harts’retsi, te vortegh en nranq?)
I asked where they are.
Unlike direct questions, indirect questions do not require special intonation.
Asking About Possession
To ask about possession, Armenian often uses the verb ունենալ (unenal) (to have) or a possessive structure:
Ու՞մ գիրքն է սա։ (Um girk’n e sa?)
Whose book is this?
Դու մեքենա ունե՞ս։ (Du meqena une-s?)
Do you have a car?
Possession can also be asked using ինձ մոտ (indz mot) (at me):
Քո մոտ գիրք կա՞։ (Qo mot girk’ ka?)
Do you have a book with you?
Expressing Politeness in Questions
To make questions more polite, Armenian often adds կարող եմ (karogh em) (can I) or կարո՞ղ եք (karogh ek?) (can you):
Կարո՞ղ եմ նստել այստեղ։ (Karogh em nstel aystegh?)
Can I sit here?
Կարո՞ղ եք օգնել ինձ։ (Karogh ek ognel indz?)
Can you help me?
Using խնդրում եմ (khndrum em) (please) also makes the question sound more courteous:
Խնդրում եմ, կարո՞ղ եք ասել, թե երբ է ավտոբուսը գալիս։ (Khndrum em, karogh ek asel, te yerb e avtobus-ə galis?)
Please, can you tell me when the bus is coming?
Relative Clauses in Armenian
Relative clauses in Armenian are used to provide additional information about a noun in the sentence. They function similarly to relative clauses in English, typically introduced by relative pronouns. However, Armenian has unique structures and variations that learners must understand to use them correctly.
Relative Pronouns in Armenian
Armenian relative clauses are introduced by the following relative pronouns:
ով (ov) – who (for people)
որ (vor) – which, that (for things)
ինչ (inch’) – what
ուր (ur) – where
երբ (yerb) – when
ինչպես (inch’pes) – how
որքան (vorkan) – how much, how many
Basic Relative Clause Structure
A relative clause in Armenian follows the noun it describes and provides additional information about it. The relative pronoun connects the main clause with the subordinate clause.
Տղան, ով կարդում է գիրքը, իմ եղբայրն է։ (Tghan, ov kardum e girk’-ə, im yeghbayrn e.)
The boy who is reading the book is my brother.
Here, ով (ov) introduces the clause that provides more information about տղան (tghan) (the boy).
Similarly, for inanimate objects:
Գիրքը, որ ես կարդում եմ, շատ հետաքրքիր է։ (Girk’-ə, vor yes kardum em, shat hetak’rkir e.)
The book that I am reading is very interesting.
Omission of the Relative Pronoun
In spoken Armenian, the relative pronoun is sometimes omitted, especially when the meaning remains clear:
Գիրքը ես կարդում եմ շատ հետաքրքիր է։ (Girk’-ə yes kardum em shat hetak’rkir e.)
The book I am reading is very interesting.
Although grammatically correct, omitting the pronoun is more common in informal speech.
Defining vs. Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Like in English, Armenian distinguishes between defining and non-defining relative clauses.
A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun:
Մարդը, ով նստած է այնտեղ, իմ ընկերն է։ (Mard-ə, ov nstats e ayntegh, im ynkern e.)
The person who is sitting there is my friend.
Without the relative clause, the meaning of the sentence would be incomplete.
A non-defining relative clause adds extra information, often separated by commas:
Իմ ընկերն, ով բժիշկ է, շատ է զբաղված։ (Im ynkern, ov bzhishk e, shat e zbaghvats.)
My friend, who is a doctor, is very busy.
In spoken Armenian, non-defining relative clauses are often clarified by intonation.
Relative Clauses Referring to Places, Times, and Ways
To refer to places, Armenian uses ուր (ur):
Այն քաղաքը, ուր ես գնում եմ, Երևանն է։ (Ayn k’aghak’-ə, ur yes gnum em, Yerevann e.)
The city where I am going is Yerevan.
For times, երբ (yerb) is used:
Այն օրը, երբ մենք հանդիպեցինք, հիշարժան էր։ (Ayn or-ə, yerb menk’ handipets’ink’, hisharjan er.)
The day when we met was memorable.
For manner, ինչպես (inch’pes) is used:
Այն ձևը, ինչպես նա խոսում է, շատ հետաքրքիր է։ (Ayn dzev-ə, inch’pes na khosum e, shat hetak’rkir e.)
The way he speaks is very interesting.
Relative Clauses with Possession
To indicate possession within a relative clause, Armenian uses ում (um):
Այն մարդը, ում մեքենան կարմիր է, իմ ընկերն է։ (Ayn mard-ə, um meqenan karmir e, im ynkern e.)
The person whose car is red is my friend.
Similarly, when referring to things:
Այն տունը, որի պատուհանները մեծ են, շատ գեղեցիկ է։ (Ayn tun-ə, vori patuhanner-ə mets en, shat geghats’ik e.)
The house whose windows are large is very beautiful.
Relative Clauses with Prepositions
When a preposition is needed, it is placed before the relative pronoun:
Գիրքը, որի մասին ես խոսում եմ, նոր է։ (Girk’-ə, vori masin yes khosum em, nor e.)
The book about which I am talking is new.
If referring to a person, ովի մասին (ovi masin) is used:
Աղջիկը, ովի մասին դու պատմեցիր, իմ ընկերն է։ (Aghjik’-ə, ovi masin du patmets’ir, im ynkern e.)
The girl about whom you told me is my friend.
Embedded Relative Clauses
Armenian allows for embedded relative clauses within a larger sentence:
Ես ճանաչում եմ այն մարդուն, ով երեկ մեզ հետ էր։ (Yes chanach’um em ayn mardun, ov yerek mez het er.)
I know the person who was with us yesterday.
This structure is common in complex sentences.
Relative Clauses in Colloquial Speech
In everyday conversation, Armenians often use shorter or simplified relative clauses:
Մարդը, որ նստած է, սպասում է։ (Mard-ə, vor nstats e, spasum e.)
The person who is sitting is waiting.
Instead of the more formal:
Մարդը, ով նստած է, սպասում է։ (Mard-ə, ov nstats e, spasum e.)
The person who is sitting is waiting.
In informal speech, որ (vor) is preferred over ով (ov) when referring to people.
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