Պետք 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, գնաս, գնա. For example: “Պետք է շուտ գնամ” — 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 գնամ (petk' e gnam), պետք է գնաս. The negative is պետք չէ (petk' che).
Կարող եմ (karogh em) is 'can'. Here the frame itself shifts: կարող եմ, կարող ես (karogh yes), կարող է (karogh e). The verb behind it keeps its dictionary shape: կարող եմ օգնել (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 | the -մ/-ս/-… form | պետք է գնամ | I have to go |
| պետք չէ | the same | պետք չէ շտապել | no need to hurry |
| ինձ … է պետք | a noun | ինձ բժիշկ է պետք | I need a doctor |
| կարող եմ | the dictionary form | կարող եմ օգնել | I can help |
| կարելի՞ է | the dictionary form | կարելի՞ է ներս մտնել | may I come in? |
| արժե | the dictionary form | արժե փորձել | worth trying |
By example
- Պետք է շուտ գնամpetk' e shut gnamI need to leave early
- Կարո՞ղ եմ փորձել այս կոշիկըkarogh em p'ordzel ays koshikə?May I try these shoes on?
- Արժե համտեսել, շատ համեղ էarzhe hamtesel, shat hamegh eWorth trying — it's very tasty
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, գնաս, գնա.
What does it look like in an example sentence Armenian?
“Պետք է շուտ գնամ” (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.