13.3 Copying and Writing Simple Sentences

Getting Ready to Write Simple Georgian Sentences

In this chapter you practice moving from single words to full written sentences in Georgian. You already know the letters and can read short words. Now you will use that knowledge to copy and create very simple sentences by hand and on a keyboard.

The focus here is on practical writing skills, not on new grammar rules. You will mostly use grammar and vocabulary that appeared in earlier chapters, and connect them into clear, short sentences.

Principles for Writing Simple Sentences

When you write Georgian sentences, it helps to remember a few general principles.

From word to sentence

Start from what you know: a word, then a phrase, then a sentence.

Example steps:

1. Word:
• ბიჭი
• bichi
• “boy”
2. Phrase:
• პატარა ბიჭი
• patara bichi
• “a small boy”
3. Sentence:
• პატარა ბიჭი არის აქ.
• patara bichi aris ak.
• “The small boy is here.”

You can build many sentences in this way: add an adjective or a place word, then add the verb.

Simple sentence patterns

You will mostly use these patterns:

1. Noun + არის + place
• “X is in/at Y” or “X is here/there.”
2. Noun + არის + adjective
• “X is [adjective].”
3. Subject + Verb
• Very basic actions with a clear subject.

We will not deeply explain grammar here, only show patterns you can copy and adapt.

Copying Sentences Accurately

Copying sentences is a good way to train your eyes and hands at the same time.

Steps for copying

1. Look carefully at the whole sentence.
2. Say it aloud (or in your head) to connect sound and writing.
3. Copy slowly, letter by letter.
4. Compare your sentence with the original. Check:
• Every letter
• Every space
• Punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation mark)

Short practice sentences to copy

Below are very short, common sentences. Use them as copying practice. The last column gives a literal meaning in English.

Copy each sentence at least three times. Try to keep your letters the same size and the spaces clear and even.

Spacing and Punctuation

Even in simple sentences, correct spacing and punctuation help a lot.

Spaces between words

In Georgian you put one space between words, just like in English.

Correct spacing:

• ეს არის წიგნი.
  es aris tsigni.
  “This is a book.”

Incorrect examples:

• ესარისწიგნი (no spaces)
• ე ს ა რ ი ს წ ი გ ნ ი (spaces between letters)

When you copy, pay attention to where each space is.

Periods and question marks

Georgian uses:

• Period: .
• Question mark: ?
• Exclamation mark: !

The sentence normally ends with a period, unless it is a question or has strong emotion.

Examples:

You will learn more about questions in other chapters. Here simply notice that the question mark changes the sentence into a question.

Very Common Sentence Frames to Copy

You can use these frames to write many different sentences. First, copy them exactly. Then, replace one word.

“This is …” sentences

Pattern: ეს არის + noun.
Meaning: “This is [noun].”

Examples:

Copy each sentence. Then write new ones by changing only the noun.

For example:

• ეს არის სახლი.
  es aris sakhli.
  “This is a house.”
• ეს არის კალამი.
  es aris kalami.
  “This is a pen.”

“I am …” sentences

Pattern: მე ვარ + noun/adjective/place.
Meaning: “I am [something or somewhere].”

Examples:

Later grammar chapters explain why place can use special forms. Here you simply copy and remember the whole phrase.

“He / she is …” sentences

Pattern: ის არის + word.

Examples:

Again, grammar details will come later. For now, treat these as whole patterns.

Adding Simple Adjectives

You already know that adjectives come before the noun. Practice writing short sentences with an adjective.

Pattern with adjectives

1. Adjective + Noun
2. Then add “is / are” part.

Basic pattern:
[Adjective] + [Noun] + არის.

Examples:

To keep it simple, focus on the “ეს არის + adjective + noun” version:

• ეს არის დიდი სახლი.
  es aris didi sakhli.
  “This is a big house.”
• ეს არის პატარა მაგიდა.
  es aris patara magida.
  “This is a small table.”

Copy these and then change only the adjective or only the noun.

From Copying to Writing Your Own Sentences

After you copy, try to write your own short sentences, using only words you already know.

Step by step method

1. Choose a sentence pattern.
2. Decide what you want to say.
3. Write the sentence in Georgian without looking.
4. Only then check with a model or dictionary.

Example: using “This is …”

You want to say: “This is my book.”

1. Pattern: ეს არის …
2. Needed words: “my,” “book.”
• ჩემი, chemi
• წიგნი, tsigni
3. Put them together:
• ეს არის ჩემი წიგნი.
• es aris chemi tsigni.

Write it down. Then double check each letter.

Example: using “I am …”

You want to say: “I am at home.”

1. Pattern: მე ვარ …
2. Needed word: “at home.”
• სახლში, sakhlshi
3. Sentence:
• მე ვარ სახლში.
• me var sakhlshi.

Again, write first, then check.

Copying Simple Dialogues as Sentences

Dialogues are good for practice because they give natural language in context. Copy each line as a separate sentence.

Mini dialogue 1

A:

• გამარჯობა.
  gamarjoba.
  “Hello.”

B:

• გამარჯობა. მე ვარ ნიკა.
  gamarjoba. me var Nika.
  “Hello. I am Nika.”

A:

• მე ვარ ანა. სასიამოვნოა.
  me var Ana. sasiamovnoa.
  “I am Ana. Nice to meet you.”

Write each line on a new line in your notebook:

1. გამარჯობა.
2. გამარჯობა. მე ვარ ნიკა.
3. მე ვარ ანა. სასიამოვნოა.

Mini dialogue 2

A:

• ეს არის ჩემი მეგობარი.
  es aris chemi megobari.
  “This is my friend.”

B:

• ის არის სტუდენტი?
  is aris studenti?
  “Is he / she a student?”

A:

• ჰო, ის არის სტუდენტი.
  ho, is aris studenti.
  “Yes, he / she is a student.”

Copy and try to say the lines while writing.

Typing Simple Sentences

You already learned basic keyboard use in another chapter. Now apply it to short sentences.

Tips for typing

1. Type slowly but correctly. Accuracy is more important than speed.
2. Look at your hands as little as possible. Try to look at the screen and letters.
3. Use the same practice sentences you write by hand.

Example lines for typing:

• მე ვარ სახლში.
• ეს არის დიდი წიგნი.
• ის არის აქ.
• ეს არის ჩემი კალამი.
• მე ვარ სტუდენტი, ის არის მასწავლებელი.

Type each line twice. You can also copy and paste to compare with the original and see any mistakes.

Simple Writing Tasks to Practice

Here are small tasks that you can do now. They help you connect copying and free writing.

Task 1: Label your room

Look around and write very simple labels on paper or sticky notes:

• კარი
  kari
  “door”
• ფანჯარა
  panjara
  “window”
• მაგიდა
  magida
  “table”
• სკამი
  skami
  “chair”

If you want full sentences, write:

• ეს არის კარი.
• ეს არის ფანჯარა.
• ეს არის მაგიდა.
• ეს არის სკამი.

Task 2: Write about where you are

Write three short sentences about your location:

Example:

1. მე ვარ სახლში.
   me var sakhlshi.
   “I am at home.”
2. ეს არის ჩემი ოთახი.
   es aris chemi otakhi.
   “This is my room.”
3. ეს არის ჩემი მაგიდა.
   es aris chemi magida.
   “This is my table.”

Change “at home” to “at school,” “at work,” or “in the city” when you learn those words.

Task 3: My name and friend

Write a tiny self introduction with very basic sentences:

Example:

1. მე ვარ ლიზა.
   me var Liza.
   “I am Lisa.”
2. ეს არის ჩემი მეგობარი.
   es aris chemi megobari.
   “This is my friend.”
3. ის არის სტუდენტი.
   is aris studenti.
   “He / she is a student.”

Copy this, then replace with your name and your friend’s situation.

New Vocabulary in This Chapter

The meanings given here are simplified, only the most basic sense is shown.

Use these words in the sentence patterns from this chapter as much as you can. With repeated copying and simple writing, you will become much more confident with Georgian script and basic sentences.