Three-Radical Verbs in /-a-/

This unit focuses on three-radical verbs in the /-a-/ pattern (Chart VII), and introduces /mikn1yatu/ with /sile-/ and /silemm(i)-/ for expressing reasons.

Basic Sentences (መሠረታዊ ዓረፍተ ነገሮች)

Amharic (Romanized)	English
isswo ballege.	He was clever.
isswa TalleTTeč.	She hated.
innya daffern.	We were bold.
mikniyatu yitaweqal.	The reason is known.
sile sira-w almeTTam.	He didn’t come because of the work.
silemmihed aTTirto, qeyyerew.	Because he didn’t go, he was changed/transferred.
sile dehna-nnet-u meTTa.	He came because of his health.
silemmibelash, gena izzih qeyyiri.	Because you (f.) didn’t eat, stay here still.
mikniyatu yeisswo sira new.	The reason is his work.
sile bizu sira, dek-imo aydelem.	Because of a lot of work, he is not happy.

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Key Vocabulary

Amharic	English		Amharic	English
ballege	was clever		TalleTTe	hated
daffere	was bold		Tallaq	great, big (alt.)
mikniyatu	the reason		sile	because of
silemm(i)-	because (neg.)		qeyyere	changed, transferred
lagere	was generous		waSSene	was decisive
faSSeme	completed		qarebe	approached

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Grammar Notes

1. Three-Radical Verbs in /-a-/ (Chart VII)

These verbs have an /a/ vowel pattern in the middle radical position. They often describe qualities or states:

Example: /ballege/ — “was clever”

Subject	Perfect	Imperfect
ine	balleg-ku	iballigalehu
anta	balleg-k	tiballigalehi
anči	balleg-š	tiballigiyaleš
isswo	ballege	yiballigal
isswa	balleg-eč	tiballigaleč
innya	balleg-n	inniballigallen
innante	balleg-aččihu	tiballigallaččihu
innassu	balleg-u	yiballigalu

Other verbs of this type:

Verb	English	Perfect (isswo)	Imperfect (isswo)
TalleTTe	hated	TalleTTe	yiTalliTTal
daffere	was bold	daffere	yidaffiral
lagere	was generous	lagere	yilaggiral
waSSene	was decisive	waSSene	yiwaSSinal
faSSeme	completed	faSSeme	yifaSSimal
qarebe	approached	qarebe	yiqarribal

2. /mikniyatu/ — “the reason”

/mikniyatu/ is a formal word for “the reason” (compare /meKnat/ from Unit 26). It is used in explanations:

Amharic	English
mikniyatu yitaweqal.	The reason is known.
mikniyatu yeisswo sira new.	The reason is his work.
mikniyatu min new?	What is the reason?
mikniyatu qelal new.	The reason is simple.

3. /sile-/ — “because of”

/sile-/ is a preposition meaning “because of” or “about.” It is attached to nouns:

Amharic	English
sile sira-w almeTTam.	He didn’t come because of the work.
sile dehna-nnet-u meTTa.	He came because of his health.
sile bizu sira, dek-imo aydelem.	Because of a lot of work, he is not happy.
sile min?	Because of what? / About what?

4. /silemm(i)-/ — “because (negative)”

/silemm(i)-/ combines /sile-/ with /m(i)-/ (negative) to express “because not”:

Amharic	English
silemmihed, qeyyerew.	Because he didn’t go, he was transferred.
silemmibelash, gena izzih qeyyiri.	Because you (f.) didn’t eat, stay here.
silemmimeTTa, inniqeyyirallen.	Because he didn’t come, we will cancel.
silemmisera, sira-w alqerrem.	Because he didn’t work, the work didn’t remain.

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Drills (ልምምዶች)

Drill 1 — Conjugate /-a-/ Pattern Verbs

Conjugate /TalleTTe/ (hated) in the perfect:

Subject	Perfect
ine	TalleTT-ku
anta	TalleTT-k
anči	TalleTT-š
isswo	TalleTTe
isswa	TalleTT-eč
innya	TalleTT-n
innassu	TalleTT-u

Drill 2 — Use /sile-/

Prompt	Response
because of work	sile sira
because of the weather	sile ayir huneTa
because of health	sile dehna-nnet
because of money	sile birr
because of education	sile timhirt

Drill 3 — Use /silemm(i)-/

Prompt	Response
because he didn’t come	silemmimeTTa
because she didn’t eat	silemmibelač
because they didn’t work	silemmiseru
because he didn’t go	silemmihed

Drill 4 — Translation

1. He was clever. — /ballege./
2. Because of work, he didn’t come. — /sile sira-w almeTTam./
3. The reason is his health. — /mikniyatu yeisswo dehna-nnet new./
4. Because she didn’t eat, she is hungry. — /silemmibelač, rabat./
5. She hated the work. — /sira-w-in TalleTTeč./
6. The reason is known. — /mikniyatu yitaweqal./

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Narrative

ato alemu tiru astemarri new. mikniyatu — isswo ballege inna laggare new. temariwoč-u sile issu desTa naččew. gina anddand gize sile bizu sira dek-imo aydelem. silemmiseru temariwoč, alemu yiTalleTTal. gina silemmiyaneTTib yidefffiral. mikniyatu — ye astemarri sira daffernnet yifellgal. isswo “sile timhirt hullu neger yiseral” yilal. temariwoč-u-m sile isswo bizu yimaralu.

Translation: Mr. Alemu is a good teacher. The reason — he is clever and generous. The students are happy because of him. But sometimes because of a lot of work he is not happy. When students don’t work, Alemu is displeased. But because they don’t give up, he is bold. The reason — a teacher’s work requires boldness. He says, “Because of education, everything is accomplished.” The students also learn a lot because of him.