Learning Sinhala, the native language of the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, involves understanding its unique verb system. Sinhala verbs are characterized by their conjugation patterns, which reflect tense, mood, aspect, voice, person, and number. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of Sinhala verbs and their grammatical rules, including transliteration for pronunciation help.

Introduction to the Sinhala Verb System

Sinhala verbs are inflected to express various grammatical categories such as tense, mood, and aspect. A distinctive feature of Sinhala is the use of non-finite verb forms, including infinitives, participles, and converbs, to express complex ideas.

Verb Conjugation Overview

Present Tense

The present tense in Sinhala is used for current actions or habitual states. It is typically marked by specific endings attached to the verb stem.

• Conjugation Pattern for “කනවා” (kanavā – to eat):
  • මම කනවා (mama kanavā) – I eat
  • ඔයා කනවා (oyā kanavā) – You eat (singular)
  • ඔහු/ඇය කනවා (ohu/æya kanavā) – He/She eats
  • අපි කනවා (api kanavā) – We eat
  • ඔයාලා කනවා (oyālā kanavā) – You eat (plural)
  • ඔවුන් කනවා (ovun kanavā) – They eat

Past Tense

The past tense indicates actions completed in the past and is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem.

• Example: මම කෑවා (mama kævā) – I ate

Future Tense

The future tense in Sinhala is expressed by adding specific markers to the verb stem, indicating actions that will occur.

• Example: මම කන්නම් (mama kannam) – I will eat

Negative Form

To negate a verb in Sinhala, “නෑ” (næ) or “නැහැ” (næhæ) is used before the verb for present and future tenses, and “නැත්තා” (næththā) for past tense.

• Example: මම කන්නේ නෑ (mama kannē næ) – I do not eat

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood, used for commands or requests, is formed by using the verb stem.

• Example: කන්න (kanna) – Eat!

Mood

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood expresses wishes or hypothetical situations and is less commonly used in spoken Sinhala.

Conditional Mood

Conditional sentences often use “නම්” (nam) with the verb to express “if” scenarios.

• Example: ඔයා කන්නම් නම් (oyā kannam nam) – If you eat

Aspect

Aspect in Sinhala, indicating the nature of the action (completed vs. ongoing), is often implied through context or by using adverbs.

Voice: Active and Passive

Voice changes in Sinhala verbs indicate whether the subject performs or receives the action. The passive voice often involves the use of “වෙනවා” (venavā) as an auxiliary verb.

• Active Voice Example: මම ලිපිය ලියනවා (mama lipiya liyanavā) – I write the letter
• Passive Voice Example: ලිපිය ලියනවා (lipiya liyanavā) – The letter is written

Practice Exercises

1. Conjugate “ඉගෙන ගන්නවා” (igen ganavā – to learn) into its past, present, and future tense forms.
2. Create negative sentences using “එනවා” (enavā – to come) in the present tense.
3. Form imperative sentences with “බලනවා” (balanavā – to look) in both singular and plural forms.
4. Use “කියනවා” (kiyanavā – to say) to formulate sentences in the active and passive voice.

Understanding and practicing these conjugation patterns, moods, aspects, and voices are integral to mastering Sinhala verbs. Engaging in active listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises will significantly enhance proficiency in Sinhala, facilitating effective communication in various contexts.