Language/Amharic/Grammar/Expressing-Obligation-or-Necessity

This lesson can still be improved. EDIT IT NOW! & become VIP

Rate this lesson:

5.00

(one vote)

Help - Comments

Expressing Obligation or Necessity in Amharic

Obligation (“has to”, “must”) can be expressed using አለ allä + person marker: መሄድ አለብኝ mähed alläbbïñ. I have to go./ I must go. መማር አለብሽ mämar alläbbïš. You (♀) have to learn./ You (♀) must learn. መታከምአለብህ mätakäm alläbbïh. You (♂) have to get medical treatment.

Forms of አለ allä + person marker

Another way to express obligation or necessity makes use of the verb ማስፈለግ masfäläg [አስፈለገ asfälägä], meaning literally “to cause to want or need”. This verb is derived from one you already know well, መፈለግ mäfäläg [ፈለገ fälägä] “to want or need”. (See grammar appendix for more information on passive verbs.)

መታከም ያስፈልገኛል፡፡ mätakäm yasfälïgäňal. I need to be examined (by a doctor).
ማረፍ ያስፈልጋችኋል፡፡ maräf yasfälïgaččïhual. You all need rest.

Literally, these sentences are saying something to the effect of: To be examined by a doctor is necessary for me. Rest is necessary to you all.

For this reason, the third person singular form (ያስፈልጋል yasfälïgal) is used, along with the object pronoun inserted. When the thing needed is plural, the third person plural form is used:

እነዚህ መጽሀፎች ያስፈልጉኛል፡፡ їnnäzih mäs’ïhafoč yasfälïguňal. I need these books.
እነዚህ ብርጭቆዎች ያስፈልጉናል፡፡ їnnäzih bïrč’ïk’owoč yasfälïgunal. We need these drinking glasses.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: “to be” and “to have”, Direct and Indirect Object Affixes, Comparatives and Superlatives & Give your Opinion.