Is the verb to be making you lose all your hair? Yes, indeed. Maltese isn’t easy. It’s always a good idea to start learning a language by learning the verb to be. So how is it exactly in Maltese?
To be or the pronouns?
Here’s the list:
- jien/jiena = I am
- int/inti = you are
- hu/huwa = he is
- hi/hija = she is
- aħna = we are
- intom = you are
- huma = they are
Actually, these are the pronouns: I, you, he, etc… So you have to think the verb to be with it. If there is another verb in the sentence, the pronoun is probably added to that verb.
- Huma jaħdmu f’dari = They work in my house.
This is to stress the fact that ‘they’ are working. Not someone else. So the pronoun is only used to stress who is performing the action in the sentence. If it’s not important to stress it, Maltese say:
- Jaħdmu f’dari
So if there is no other verb in the sentence, it’s to be.
Which one to choose?
Now: one more question. Is it jien or jiena? Int or inti? Well, the short version is used to stress the difference between the person as an opposition to someone else.
- Min jaħdem? = Who works?
- Jien! = I am (but the others aren’t)
Learn more conjugations in my book:
