Present tense: կը + the verb form
The western standard builds the present with the particle կը (read "gə"; before a vowel — կ'): երթալ → կ'երթամ — g'ertam, I go; խօսիլ → կը խօսիմ — kə khosim, I speak. For example: “Ես կը կարդամ” — I read. A rule from the Western Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The western standard builds the present with the particle կը (read "gə"; before a vowel — կ'): երթալ (yert'al) → կ'երթամ (yert'am) — g'ertam, I go; խօսիլ (khosil) → կը խօսիմ (gə khosim) — kə khosim, I speak.
The endings change with the person: -մ, -ս, յ, -նք, -ք, -ն. The eastern standard says the same thing with a different construction, and this is the most audible difference between the two norms.
About the future the western speaker says piti + the form: piti yertam — I will go.
Table
| Verb | Stem | I … | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| երթալ — to go | երթա- | կ'երթամ | gertam |
| ուտել — to eat | ուտե- | կ'ուտեմ | gudem |
| խօսիլ — to speak | խօսի- | կը խօսիմ | gə khosim |
| կարդալ — to read | կարդա- | կը կարդամ | gə kardam |
| աշխատիլ — to work | աշխատի- | կ'աշխատիմ | gashkhatim |
By example
- Ես կը կարդամyes gə gartamI read
- Դուն կը կարդասtun gə gartasYou read
- Մենք կը կարդանքmenk' gə gartank'We read
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
What does gə mean in verbs?
The western standard builds the present with the particle կը (read "gə"; before a vowel — կ'): երթալ → կ'երթամ — g'ertam, I go; խօսիլ → կը խօսիմ — kə khosim, I speak.
Present tense endings?
The endings change with the person: -մ, -ս, յ, -նք, -ք, -ն. The eastern standard says the same thing with a different construction, and this is the most audible difference between the two norms.
How to build the present tense?
About the future the western speaker says piti + the form: piti yertam — I will go.
Gertam meaning?
About the future the western speaker says piti + the form: piti yertam — I will go.
What does it look like in an example sentence Western Armenian?
“Ես կը կարդամ” (yes gə gartam) — I read. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.