LingoflyՊետք է, կարող եմ: have to, can, worth it
'I have to go', 'may I look?', 'it is worth trying' — three everyday frames. Each is followed by the same verb form: the future one, minus կ- — գնամ (gnam), գնաս, գնա (gna). For example: “Պետք է (petk' e) շուտ (shut) գնամ” (gnam) — I need to leave early. A rule from the Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
'I have to go', 'may I look?', 'it is worth trying' — three everyday frames. Each is followed by the same verb form: the future one, minus կ- — գնամ (gnam), գնաս, գնա (gna).
Պետք է (petk' e) is 'have to'. The words never change; the person sits in the verb: պետք է (petk' e) գնամ (gnam) (petk' e gnam), պետք է (petk' e) գնաս. The negative is պետք չէ (petk' che).
Կարող (karogh) եմ (em) (karogh em) is 'can'. Here the frame itself shifts: կարող (karogh) եմ (em), կարող (karogh) ես (yes) (karogh yes), կարող (karogh) է (karogh e). The verb behind it keeps its dictionary shape: կարող (karogh) եմ (em) օգնել (ognel) (karogh em ognel). On signs you will read չի կարելի (chi kareli), not allowed.
Արժե (arzhe) is 'it is worth': արժե փորձել (arzhe p'ordzel). Its negative չարժե (charzhe) doubles as a polite answer to thanks — 'don't mention it'.
Table
| Frame | What follows | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| պետք է (petk' e) | the -մ/-ս/-… form | պետք է (petk' e) գնամ (gnam) | I have to go |
| պետք չէ (petk' che) | the same | պետք չէ (petk' che) շտապել (shtapel) | no need to hurry |
| ինձ (indz) … է պետք (petk) | a noun | ինձ բժիշկ է պետք (indz bzhishk e petk') | I need a doctor |
| կարող (karogh) եմ (em) | the dictionary form | կարող (karogh) եմ (em) օգնել (ognel) | I can help |
| կարելի (kareli)՞ է | the dictionary form | կարելի՞ է ներս մտնել (kareli e ners mtnel) | may I come in? |
| արժե (arzhe) | the dictionary form | արժե փորձել (arzhe p'ordzel) | worth trying |
By example
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
have to, can, worth it: how does it work in Armenian?
'I have to go', 'may I look?', 'it is worth trying' — three everyday frames. Each is followed by the same verb form: the future one, minus կ- — գնամ (gnam), գնաս, գնա (gna).
What does it look like in a Armenian example sentence?
“Պետք է (petk' e) շուտ (shut) գնամ” (gnam) (petk' e shut gnam) — I need to leave early. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.