Action with Verbs in the Present Tense: Sinhala from Zero (Chapter 3)

It is finally time to add some action to our sentences! Let’s look at verbs in this lesson, which are words that show action:

Let’s learn how to talk about actions happening right now in the present tense. Most verbs in Sinhala in the present tense end with -නවා/-nawaa.

Here are some common verbs you will see in daily life:     

Common Verbs               

Eating

Kanawaa

කනවා

Drinking 

Bonawaa

බොනවා

Going

Yanawaa

යනවා

Coming 

Enawaa

එනවා

Doing  

Karanawaa

කරනවා 

Let’s look at some example sentences:

I drink water.

Mama watura bonawaa.

මම වතුර බොනවා.

I eat apples.

Mama apple kanawaa.

මම ඇපල් කනවා.

He goes.

Eyaa yanawaa.

එයා යනවා.

They come.

Egollō enawaa.

එගොල්ලෝ එනවා.

You are playing. (You are doing play.)

Oyaa sellam karanawaa.

ඔයා සෙල්ලම් කරනවා.

That’s all for this lesson! This lesson will be updated with exercises tomorrow. The next lesson will be available in two weeks (05/12/2025). See you then!