Are there languages that do not feature the verb, "to be"?

Question

I'm learning a constructed language called toki pona. I was reading a tutorial and the author said that like toki pona, there where other languages that didn't feature the verb, "to be", but he failed to say which languages these were,

Do you know which languages do not feature the verb "to be"?

Thanks.

Answer 1

This verb is called a "copula" or a "linking verb". There is a verb "to be" in Russian, but it's used only in Past ([sing.]был, была, было; [plur.] были) and Future Tenses ([sing.] буду, будешь, будет; [plur.] будем, будете, будут). It's not in use in Present Tense with the exception in very hight style, complicated scientific and juridical texts.



You can find more information about not using copula in different languages here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be#Zero_copula



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

It might sound weird but in Russian "to be" can function as "to have".

I have a book = У меня есть книга. - literally means " By me is book" . To say "Я имею (книгу)" is the most unnatural way possible within formal Russian grammar, it's extremely bookish and rare. Foreigners speak like that all the time. We understand what they mean and take it easy.

Answer 2

Ancient Hebrew and modern Russian are among the languages that usually dispense with a verb meaning "be" _in the present tense_.

Answer 3

Arabic has to be verb, but usually not used in sentences such as:

He is playing = هو يلعب , howa yala'ab = he playing.



Also, there are nominal sentences which don't contain 'to be' verbs:

The ball is red = الكرة حمراء = alkoora hamra'a = the ball red.

I am Sam = أنا سام , ana Sam = I sam.

Answer 4

Klingon. Seriously.

Answer 5

Russian.

For example: Vot dom = That is a house.

Answer 6

Russian. :]

Answer 7

no