Basic Verbs

1. ir

   To go

   Usage

   The infinitive to go; present forms are jau vom, ti vas, el va, nus giain, vus giais, els van

   Grammar Note

   ir is irregular; the past participle is ì, with a grave accent

2. vegnir

   To come

   Usage

   The infinitive to come. Vegnir a + infinitive also forms the future (jau vegn a vulair)

   Grammar Note

   Present forms are jau vegn, ti vegns, el vegn, nus vegnin, vus vegnis, els vegnan

3. mangiar

   To eat

   Usage

   The infinitive to eat, for restaurants and meals

   Grammar Note

   Present forms are jau mangel, ti mangias, el mangia, nus mangiain, vus mangiais, els mangian

4. baiver

   To drink

   Usage

   The infinitive to drink, for ordering drinks

   Grammar Note

   Present forms are jau baiv, ti baivas, el baiva, nus bavain, vus bavais, els baivan (the stem changes)

5. cumprar

   To buy

   Usage

   The infinitive to buy, for shopping

   Grammar Note

   Present forms are jau cumpr, ti cumpras, el cumpra, nus cumprain, vus cumprais, els cumpran

6. vesair

   To see

   Usage

   The infinitive to see, for sightseeing

   Grammar Note

   Present forms are jau ves, ti vesas, el vesa, nus vesain, vus vesais, els vesan; the participle is vesì / vis

7. spetgar

   To wait

   Usage

   The infinitive to wait, for queues and vehicles

   Grammar Note

   Present forms are jau spetg, ti spetgas, el spetga, nus spetgain, vus spetgais, els spetgan; imperatives are spetga / spetgai

8. Jau vuless ir

   I want to go

   Usage

   A polite way to state a destination; follow it with a place name

   Grammar Note

   The conditional vuless of vulair (to want) + the infinitive ir; politer than vi (I want). Composed sentence; native review recommended

9. Jau vuless mangiar

   I want to eat

   Usage

   A polite way to say you would like to eat

   Grammar Note

   vuless + the infinitive mangiar. Composed sentence; native review recommended

10. Jau vuless quai

    I want it

    Usage

    A polite way to say you would like this one while pointing

    Grammar Note

    vulair can take an object directly; quai means this/that. Composed sentence; native review recommended

11. Jau n'hai betg basegn da quai

    I don't need it

    Usage

    Declines something offered; it means you do not need it

    Grammar Note

    The negative of avair basegn da (to need), with na ... betg around avair. Composed sentence; native review recommended

12. Jau tschertg quai

    I'm looking for it

    Usage

    States what you are looking for; you can follow it with a noun

    Grammar Note

    Romansh has no progressive form; the present tense tschertg covers "I am looking for". Composed sentence; native review recommended

13. Jau hai quai

    I have it

    Usage

    Says you have it; useful when checking lost items or going through procedures

    Grammar Note

    hai is the first person of avair (to have). Composed sentence; native review recommended

14. Jau n'hai betg quai

    I don't have it

    Usage

    Says you do not have it; you can add the reason afterwards

    Grammar Note

    Negation wraps avair with na ... betg; na becomes n' before a vowel or h. Composed sentence; native review recommended

15. Jau vuless prelevar daners

    I would like to withdraw money

    Usage

    Used at a bank or ATM when you want to withdraw cash. The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF)

    Grammar Note

    prelevar is the verb for withdrawing from an account; daners is a masculine plural noun. Composed sentence; native review recommended

16. Jau vuless reservar

    I would like to make a reservation

    Usage

    Tells a hotel or restaurant you want to book; follow it with the date or number of people

    Grammar Note

    vuless + the infinitive reservar; an object can follow, as in reservar ina maisa (to reserve a table). Composed sentence; native review recommended

17. Pudais Vus gidar a mai?

    Can you help me?

    Usage

    A polite request for help; Vus is the polite you

    Grammar Note

    The vus form pudais of pudair (can) is placed before the subject Vus, then gidar a mai (help me). Composed sentence; native review recommended

18. Pudais Vus dir a mai, per plaschair?

    Can you tell me, please?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask someone to tell you something; follow it with what you want to know

    Grammar Note

    The pattern pudais Vus + the infinitive dir + a mai (to me). Composed sentence; native review recommended

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