Habitual Equative
In the last section we looked at the present equative, which we use to say something is something currently, or is categorically, always something. What if we want to say that something tends to be something or is habitually something?
Habitual Equative Form
| Pers. | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | یم yum | یو yoo |
| 2nd | یې ye | یئ yey |
| 3rd | وي wee | وي wee |
This form is used to say that something is something (A = B) habitually, generally, or repeatedly.
⚠ Warning: For English speakers it take some time to get used to choosing between the present and habitual equatives. Standard English uses the same form for both, but in Pashto the forms change!
In English, we just say "is" in both situations. But in Pashto, you have to pick between the two forms. Use the present form for things that are something in the moment, and use the habitual form for things are generally or habitually something.
Interestingly, there is also a separate habitual equative or "habitual be" in Southern or African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Take this pun for example:
| Form | Standard English | AAVE | Pashto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | The grass is wet right now | The grass is wet | چمن لوند دی chaman loond day |
| Habitual | The grass is wet in the morning generally | The grass be wet in the morning | په سحار کې چمن لوند وي pu sahaar ke chaman loond wee |
🎮 Write the habitual equative
Fill in the blank with the correct habitual equative