wolof grammar pt. i
Dec. 11th, 2013 09:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonflower77i was also thinking that the words daara and naqtaara could come from his language, and would be used mostly by members of his ethnic group. the official majority language would have its own terms for these two states, along with the other phenomena related to the altered neurophysiology.
Stative versus active verbs
Wolof does not have adjectives and few adverbs of manner. Instead verbs and verb phrases are used to modify nouns and verbs. Thus there are two kinds of verbs in Wolof.
Active verbs are those which indicate an action or process, e.g. lekk to eat.
Stative verbs are usually verbs which indicate being in a particular state or static condition, e.g. baax to be good.
A small number of verbs can take either sense depending on the context. In the case where a verb carries both an active and a passive sense, the di indicates the active incomplete sense.
e.g toog to sit down (active), to be seated (stative)
Mu ngi toog. He is sitting down.
Mu ngiy toog. He is in the process of sitting down.
Maa ngi toog. I am seated.
Maa ngiy toog. I am in the process of sitting down.
The difference in meaning can sometimes be subtle. For instance: xalaat means to think about, ponder (active process, active verb), whereas foog means to think, or believe (state of being, stative verb).
One of the most concrete differences between these two kinds of Wolof verbs has to do with the use of the presentative -angi. Active verbs can be modified by -angi, while stative verbs ordinarily cannot. This provides the quickest way to tell where a Wolof verb is active or stative: Simply ask a native speaker whether one can say mu ngi x whe re “x” is the verb in question.
Damay liggéey. I am working.
Liggéey bi metti na. The work is hard.
2. The Wolof verbal system is more concerned with aspect than time. Even if one can distinguish the past, present or future, the verbal structures work around completed or uncompleted actions. It reveals whether an action is momentaneous or habitual; at its start or at its end; single or multiple; recent or far away; accomplished or unaccomplished.
3. There are three voices in Wolof: active; semi-active; passive.
a. The passive and semi-active are formed by adding the suffix -u.
Aali tëj na bunt ba. Ali closed the door.
Bunt bi tëju na. The door is closed.
Aali gaañu na. Ali is injured.
b. The passive can also be formed by using the 3rd person plural form with an active form. In this case it indicates the equivalent of the English structure “one ...”.
Ñoo ngi may gis. One has seen me. OR I have been seen.
c. The passive can also be indicated by the structure -ees / -eef.
Singular:
Verb + -al (if verb ends in a consonant, e.g. waxal) [+/- object pronouns]
Verb + -l (if verb ends in i, u or a long vowel, e.g. noppil)
Verb + -vowel + -l (if verb ends in any other vowel, e.g. booleel)
Verb + - wal (if verb is monosyllabic and ends in a vowel, e.g. jiwal)
Plural:
Verb + -leen (e.g. waxleen, noppileen, booleleen) [+/- object pronouns]
4. When the imperative singular is followed by an object pronoun, the mark -al/-l is dropped. The plural form does not change when followed by a pronoun.
Nuyul! Greet! c.f. Nuyu ma! and Nuyuleen ma! Greet me!
5. The suffix -al also can have the meaning “to do for someone else”.
Nuyul ma ko! Greet him for me! c.f Nuyu ma! Greet me!
6. When two commands are given one after another, only the first one takes the imperative suffix.
Demal toog! Go and sit down!
Toogal te noppi! Sit down and be quiet!
7. In a series of commands numbering greater than two verbs, the third verb will often be in the form of the minimum verb construction.
Ñëwal, toog te nga wax ak man! Come, sit and talk with me!
8. Exceptions to rule:
Kaay! Come here!
Am! Here, have this!
Indi! Bring!
9. The imperative also exists in a continuous form with di giving the sense of a commandment which one is to do continuously or habitually. In this case an object pronoun precedes the main verb, and the “l” of deel is dropped.
deel / deeleen / dee [+/- object pronoun] + verb
Affirmative Negative
Deel jàng Bul di jàng
Dee ko jox buy. Have the habit of giving him monkey bread.
The optative form (na nga dem) is also a form of imperative, as is the negative interrogative (doo dem?). All these imperative forms only have one negative form: bul.
10. Negative
2nd person singular is formed by bul [+/- object pronoun] + verb
Bul wax! Don't speak!
The “l” of bul is dropped before a pronoun object, fi or ci.
Bu ko wax! Don't say it!
2nd person pl ural is formed by buleen [+/- object pronoun] + verb
Buleen wax! Don't speak!
In Wolof, a negative imperative structure also exists for 1st and 3rd persons as a subjunctive negative.
Singular Plural
1st person buma [+/- object pronoun] + verb bunu / buñu [+/- object pronoun] + verb
2nd person bu(l) [+/- object pronoun] + verb buleen [+/- object pronoun] + verb
3rd person
bumu + verb
bu [+/- object pronoun] + subject + verb
buñu [+/- object pronoun ] + verb
Buñu wax! Let them not speak!
Bu Moodu ñëw! Let Moodu not come!
Bu xaj bi dugg! May the dog not enter!
Bu ko ñépp xam! May everyone know it!
Bu ma kenn tooñ! May no-one do me wrong!
In a series of negative verbs, the second is not marked. When the negative imperative is followed by a positive command, the imperative mark appears.
Bul yé eg toog! Do not climb up and sit down!
Bul dëféenu, jaaxaanal! Do not lie on your stomach, lie on your back!
Present Continuous/Presentative (Mu ngi)
Maa ngi koy jàng. I am studying it
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | maa ngi | nu ngi/ ñu ngi |
2nd person | yaa ngi | yeen a ngi |
3rd person | mu ngi /mi ngi | ñu ngi |
1. Some regions distinguish between nu (1st person plural) and ñu (3 rd person plural). Other regions make no such distinction using ñu for both cases. This is true for all the subject and object pronouns of all modes.
2. Usage:
a. When used with either a nominal subject or a subject pronoun with a verb, it indicates someone or something performing an action which is going on at the time of speaking. It is approximately equivalent to the English present continuous tense.
Job angi wax. Diop is speaking.
b. When used with either a nominal subject or a subject pronoun without a verb it indicates something or someone which exists at the time of speaking, i.e. “here is/there is”.
Kër angi. Here is a house.
Maa ngi. Here I am.
3. When used with nouns as subject:
a. When the definite article follows the noun, the “a” of angi is doubled and added to the noun class consonant.
Kër gaa ngi. Here is the house.
b. In the absence of the definite article the noun in indefinite. An indefinite plural subject is indicated by “ay” preceding the subject.
Kër angi. Here is a house.
Ay kër angi. Here are some houses.
c. When the noun without article ends in a non-geminated final consonant, then the consonant before the “a” of angi, is pronounced as it would be when the possessive -u is added.
e.g. Xaj angi baw. Here is a dog which is barking.
d. When the noun without article ends in a vowel the “a” of angi is fused onto the noun following the normal Wolof phonetical rules.
e.g. Kaalaa ngi. Here is a turban. (kaala)
Gunee ngi fo. Here is a child who is playing. (gune)
Sa jaaroo ngi lang. Your earring is falling. (jaaru)
4. The base -ang- has several suffixes which give spatio-temporal definition, often in combination with the f- and n- class auxiliaries. A doubling of the vowel or addition of the suffix -le indicates insistance; f- indicates nonvisibility; n- ind icates visibility; -i indicates proximity to the speaker.
Maa ngi bey.
Normally the mark of incompleteness, di, disappears when -i is used, but may be used when one wants to emphasize the difference between the completed and uncompleted.
Maa ngi liggéey oto. I am a mechanic.
Maa ngiy liggéey oto. Here I am repairing a car.
Mu ngi toog. He is sitting.
Mu ngiy toog. He is in the process of sitting down.
b. -a indicates that the action is remote. Then the form anga + di (or its variant y) is used. By definition, the remote form can only be used with the 3rd person singular or plural, as first and second persons cannot be remote.
Job angay wax. Diop is speaking (over there).
The range of possibilities is: anga; angale; angee; anga fa; anga fale; anga fee; anga nale; anga nee.
c. -u indicates an indeterminate position. This may be an imprecise location or somewhere between close and far away especially if there is a doubling of the -u:
Mu ngu fu. He is there somewhere (but I am not really interested).
Mu ngu nuu. Here it is (for example a village situated a kilometre away or a needle found some way away).
The range of possibilities is: angu; anguu; angu fu; angu fuu.
d. -oog indicates the resumption of a subject about which one has already spoken.
Job angooguley dem. Here is Diop (about whom we spoke) who is going.
Maa ngoog. Here I am (now you know who I am).
Mungoog! Exactly!
The range of possibilities is: angoog; angoogu; angoogule; angoogale; angoogee.
5. When there is an object pronoun one is required to use di (or its variant y).
Ñu ngi lay nuyu. They are greeting you.
Maa ngi leen di tàggu. I am bidding you (pl) farewell.
6. The presentative is only used with active verbs, not with stative verbs (although th ere are some exceptions, mainly being verbs which have both an active and a stative sense).
For verbs which can be both active or passive:
the accomplished indicates the passive sense.
the unaccomplished indicates the active sense.
Mu ngi toog. He is seated.
Mu ngiy toog. He is in the process of sitting down.
7. In its negative form the presentative only ever uses the -ul series suffixes on the verb.
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | -uma | -unu /uñu |
2nd person | -uloo | -uleen |
3rd person | -ul | -uñu |
Maa ngi wax. I am speaking.
Waxuma. I am not speaking.
Completion Marker (Na)
Formation: [+/-nominal subject] + verb + na [+/- object pronouns] [+/- nominal object]
Usual form Elongated form
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | ||
1st person | naa | nanu/nënu /nañu | 1st person | naa/ namaa | nanoo /nañoo |
2nd person | nga | ngeen | 2nd person | ngaa | ngeena |
3rd person | na/në | nañu/nëñu | 3rd person | naa | nañoo |
Impersonal: -ees na, e.g. jaayees na, jaayeesoon na one sold it.
1. With stative verbs
It represents a state or condition which exists at the time of speaking. It indicates literally that the coming into being of the state or condition has been completed. In a looser sense however, it can be considered as simply a present tense marker for stative verbs.
Ceeb bi neex na. The rice is good
2. With Active Verbs
It represents an action completed, achieved either in past or present. Sometimes this aspect denotes what would seem to be present action or a state of being but this has come to be a condition because of a completed action in the past. It is approximately equivalent to the English present perfect tense, but the idea has more of a sense of completeness than that of past/present distinction. In relation to the speaker the action could have been completed today or 100 years ago without changing the structure of the mode.
Wax naa. I have spoken.
Lekk nga. You have eaten.
3. Elongated form is used in double verb constructions when subject pronoun is last syllable before second verb.
War ngaa dem. You must go.
4. When usage causes ambiguity (1st & 3rd person plural; 1st & 3rd person singular elongated) the sentence may be restructured using independent pronoun + completed object predicator (see Wolof Object Pronouns).
5. Negative: conjugated negative suffix -ul/-wul (See negation notes: Section A)
Complement & Object Predicator (La)
Formation: Noun/noun clause/independent question word/adverb/number + la [+/- verb]
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | laa | lanu/lënu/lañu |
2nd person | nga /ngë | ngeen |
3rd person | la/lë | lañu/lëñu |
Fii lees ko gise. It is here that one saw it.
1. Function:
a. To predicate the noun, pronoun or question word. That is, to make the noun, pronoun or question words complement of the subject - “to be” in English.
b. Emphasize the object of a verb. It is the structure used in response to questions like: Lan ngay def? Foo jóge? etc.
2. Usage:
a. As complement predicator: [+/-nominal subject/pronoun], nominal object/noun clause/independent question word/adverb/number + predicator.
Man, Ameriken laa. Me, I am American.
Lii, cin la. This, it is a cauldron.
Ñan lañu? Who are they?
Fii la. It is here.
Benn la. It's one; it's one and the same.
b. As object predicator: nominal subject/pronoun + nominal object/independent pronoun + predicator (conjugated) [+/ di] + main verb.
Amerik laa jóge. It is from America that I come.
Cin laa bëgg. It is a cauldron that I want.
Ñan lañu dem Dakar? Who are they who are going to Dakar?
Moom la gis. It is him that he has seen.
Xale yi, ay tàngal lañu bëgg. The children, it is lollies that they want.
When the nominal subject is placed in front of the phrase as in the last example, then there is a short pause in speech between the subject and the complement or nominal object/pronoun + predicator (unconjugated) [+/- di] + nominal subject/pronoun + main verb.
When the subject appears directly before the verb, the neutral form i (i.e. unconjugated) is used.
Ay tàngal la xale yi bëgg. It is lollies that the children want.
Benn sagar la jigéen ji fóote bool yi. It is with a cloth that the woman has washed the dishes.
3. When di is used with main verb it is attached to the object predicator in the -y form. For the 2nd person plural (ngeen) di is used. Di cannot be used when it is acting as a complement predicator (i.e. no verb). When di is present, it indicates that the action is not yet accomplished (an action occurring at the time of speaking or about to happen in the near future). When di is not present, then the action has been completed at the time of speaking.
Tefes laay dem. It is to the beach I will go/am going.
Tefes ngeen di dem. It is to the beach that you (pl) will go/are going.
4. When the complement is preceded by an indefinite article, then the phrase is more precise.
Nit laa. I am human.
Ak nit laa. I am a human.
5. Negative
a. When acting as a complement predicator (i.e. no verb) the du negative form is used (see negation notes).
Lii téere la ± Lii du téere
This form is incompatible with the -ul n egative form.
b. When acting as an object predicator (i.e. includes verb) the -ul/-wul negative suffix is used, non-conjugated, with the rest of construction remaining unaltered (see negation notes).
Moom laa gis ± Moom laa gisul
Also du can be used before the complement.
Du moom laa gis. I haven't seen him.
Explicative (Dafa)
Formation: [+/- nominal Subject] + dafa [+/- object pronoun] [+/-di] + verb [+/ nominal object]
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | ||
1st person | dama | danu/dañu | 1st person | damaa | danoo/dañoo |
2nd person | danga | dangeen | 2nd person | dangaa | dangeena |
3rd person | dafa | dañu | 3rd person | dafa/daa | dañoo |
1. With Stative Verbs
a. Used to describe a state of being: character, color, weather etc.
Dafa tang. It is hot.
Dafa dof. He is crazy.
b. Used to give the explicative or causal sense. Often both functions b) and c) are present together. Hence it often is the appropriate response to a particular situation or question.
A asks B: “Doo génn tey?” Aren't you going out today?
B replies: “Deedeet, dafa tang.” No, (because) it is hot.
cf. A greets B and remarks: “Tang na lool tey.” It is very hot today.
Y asks X why he has stopped in the middle of his work.
X replies: “Damaa sonn.” (Because) I am tired.
cf. X walks into the house and flops down in a chair: “Sonn naa lool.” I am very tired.
For a small number of verbs dafa sometimes indicates a state which has always existed contrasting with the completive mode (na) which indicates a process which has been completed. However, often there is no distinction between dafa and na.
Dafa gumba. He is blind (from birth). cf. Gumba na. He is blind (has become blind).
c. Used to emphasize verb.
2. With active verbs
a. Used to emphasize verb
Damay liggéey. I am working (not playing) or What I am doing is working.
This is proper form to use after the question: Looy def?
c. Used in conjunction with di to indicate an action practiced habitually in the present, including professions, an action happening at the time or in the near future, e.g. damay xëy I go to work (every day).
3. Use with di
Di indicates the action is not yet accomplished. It appears as -y except after dangeen, where it appears as di. The absence of di indicates an event which has been completed or a present state.
a. When used with active verbs can indicate:
- an action in process of occurring
- an action just about to occur
- an action occurring habitually
damay dem I am in the process of leaving, I wil l leave, I am in a habit of leaving
Only context enables one to distinguish between the three. Note that dinay dem can only indicate a habitual action.
b. When used without a verb indicates “to be” with an explicative value
Damay tuurist. It is that I am a tourist ± explanation of something
Tuurist laa. I am a tourist ± statement
4. Elongated form
The elongated form is created by the addition of the suffix -a, which is a variant of di and indicates the action is not accomplished. If there is a pronoun object between the pronoun subject and the main verb, then the -a is added to the object pronoun which becomes elongated. When dafa appears directly before an active verb, the elongated form above is used.
Damaa liggéey. I am working.
5. Contractions
dafay may be contracted to day or daf di (day used but not daf di in Mbane)
Dafay nelaw. He is sleeping.
= Day nelaw. It's because he is sleeping.
= Daf di nelaw. He sleeps habitually.
Dañuy may be contracted to dañ (not used in Mbane)
6. In rapid speech, when followed by object pronouns, the following contractions may occur (used in Mbane):
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | dam | dan |
2nd person | dan | |
3rd person | daf | dañ |
Dam ko def (dama ko def)
a. negative of verb if accomplished
Dama jangul. It's because I haven't studied
b. negative of di if unaccomplished
Dama dul jang. It's because I am not studying
Future Tense (Dina)
Formation: di + completive aspect pronoun [+/-object pronoun] + verb [+/-complement]
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | dinaa | dinanu/dinañu |
2nd person | dinga | dingeen |
3rd person | dina | dinañu |
Dina ko dégg. He will hear it.
Du ko dégg. He won't hear of it.
Dinaa ko def. I will do it.
Dinga dem dëkk ba. You are going to the village.
Dinanu fanaan Ndakaaru. We will pass the day in Dakar.
1. Dina + di/y indicates an habitual action.
Ellég dinaa seeti Abdu. Tomorrow I will go see Abdu.
Dinaay seeti Abdu. I go see Abdu habitually.
cf. Ellég damay seeti Abdu. Tomorrow I am going to see Abdu.
2. Dina without a second di/y can indicate an habitual action or a future action.
Dina lekk. He (usually) eats. / He will eat.
3. Negative (see negation notes).
The negative of dina always take the du-form of negation.
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | duma | dunu/duñu |
2nd person | doo | dungeen |
3rd person | du | duñu |
Subject Emphasis Pronouns (Moo)
Formation: [subject nominal + a] or [subject pronoun] [+/- object pronoun] [+/-di] [+/- verb] [+/- object nominal]
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | maa | noo/ñoo |
2nd person | yaa | yeen |
3rd person | moo | ñoo |
1. Functions:
a. The function of this structure is to emphasis the subject (as English speakers would do by stressing the subject: “He did it”).
b. Thus it is the appropriate structure to respond to op en questions which enquire about the subject.
Ku dem? Who has left?
Sama xarit a dem. It is my friend who left.
c. Also used for forming open questions which relate to the subject [cf. la (complement/object predicator) which is used to form open questions relating to a complement or object].
Kan moo koy jaay? Who is it that is selling this?
Kan mooy jaay batik? Who is it that is selling batik? [Question about subject]
Kan moo ko def? Who is it that made it? [Question about subject]
cf. Kan ngay seeti? Who are you seeking? [Question about object]
cf. Lan lay def? What is he doing? [Question about object]
NB: kan moo can contract to ku, ñan ñoo can contract to ñu, lan moo can contract to lu, etc.
Ku ko def = Kan moo ko def Who made it?
Note: With open questions concerning the subject only 3rd person is possible, i.e. kan moo(y) or ñan ñoo(y).
d. The subject emphasis pronoun followed by a stative verb can be exclamative.
Yaa siiw! How you are famous!
e. It is used with certain structures such as: moo tax, loolu moo tax, looloo tax.
Aka Nekk milion eer, aka neex!
Maa ko ñaw. It is I who sewed it.
Yaa ma ko wax. It is you who said it to me.
3. They may be emphasised by an independent pronoun
Man, maa ko ñaw. Me, it's I who sewed it.
Yaw, mi goor, yaa wara dem ci këram. You, who are a man, it is you who should go to his house.
4. The element “-a” can be reinforced by the element ka.
Beñ e bi moo ka fun ki! How the beignet has swollen up!
5. With 3rd person singular or plural when subject is stated and:
a. If the subject ends in a consonant or a long vowel, moo/ñoo is usually contracted to a (rarely in Mbane):
Kan a ma woo? = Kan moo ma woo? Who calls me?
Kan a ko ko defaral = Kan moo ko ko defaral? Who made it for her?
Cey kii a rafet! Why how he is beautiful!
b. If the subject ends in a vowel, moo/ñoo is contracted to elongation of vowel
a + a ± aa
e,i + a ± ee
o,u + a ± oo
Faatoo ubbi bunt bi. = Faatu moo ubbi bunt bi. It was Faatu who opened the door.
Xale yee dugg. = Xale yi ñoo dugg. It is the children who entered.
6. When pronoun objects are used they follow the subject emphasis pronoun.
Yaa ko ñaw? Is it you who sewed it?
7. Subject emphasis pronouns are often used with the particle di (-y). The absence of di indicates that the action has been completed or the state acquired. When di is present is indicates that the action of the verb is incomplete or occurring in the near future. When followed by a noun and not accompanied by another verb, the di stands for the verb “to be”. The particle di usually appears in the contracted form -y.
Yaa disa mbindaanu boop? You are your own housegirl?
Maa di toggkat ci sunu kër. I am the cook at our house.
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | maay | nooy/ñooy |
2nd person | yaay | yenay/yeena di |
3rd person | mooy | ñooy |
Maay Moussa. I am Moussa. (yeenay used more commonly in Mbane)
8. Negative
a. The negative of the subject emphasis pronouns without di: The verb remains invariable with the addition of -ul while the subject pronouns changes as normal according to person and number.
Maa demul Dakar. It is I who did not go to Dakar.
b. The negative of the subject emphasis pronouns with di: The di is negated (dul).
Maa dul dem Dakar. It is I who will not go to Dakar.
9. When the subject is nominal it precedes the verb, and is followed by a emphatic marker -a (usually for the 3rd person plural & singular but can be found with the other persons plural)
Gàtt-geen, gàtt-geen a koy fey. It is with the goat that one must pay the goat.
Feebar a tax mu bàyyi liggéeyam. The sickness made him quit his work.
Man ak waa Waakam a àndoon nàppi. I and the inhabitants of Ouakam went together to fish.
10. The subject can be:
* an infinitive functioning like a noun, e.g. Noppee ko gën. To be quiet is better.
* a pronoun, e.g. Yaa di guy. It is you who are a baobab.
* an independent pronnoun separated by “rekk“, e.g. Moom rekk a ko man def. It is only him who can do it.
* a noun followed by independent pronoun, e.g. Guy moom moo di.... The baobab, it is that he....
Minimum Verb Construction Pronouns (Mu)
Formation: MVC pronoun or nominal subject + verb [+/- object pronoun or noun]
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | ma | nu/ñu |
2nd person | nga | ngeen |
3rd person | mu | ñu |
2. Used in following situations:
a. Narration (stories, historical accounts, fables, instructions)
Appropriate information regarding time setting is given in early sentences, then subsequent verbal constructions use MVC pronouns. Usually in this case, it indicates short-term events. May use many verbs in quick succession.
Benn bis, dama demoon lekool. Ma dugg, ma toog, ma jàng ba pare, ma ñibbi.
b. Subordinate Clauses
i. relative clauses
Xale bi nga indi..... The child whom you have brought.....
ii. temporal /conditional clauses
(1) temporal clause with bi/ba also laata/bala naka (as soon as), etc.
Bi mu deeyee.... After he had died/when he died.
Naka mu ñëw, ne ci sama kaw kilib. As soon as he arrived he came suddenly upon me.
Note: object pro nouns occur before verb in this structure.
(2) post temporal clause with bi/ba
Ba ma waxee ñu dem. After I had spoken, they left.
Note: can also use object predicator or dafa.
(3) post temporal clause with bu as conditioned
Bu ma waxee nu déglu. If I speak they will listen.
(4) clauses describing manner (ni)
Deful liggéey bina mu ko waree def. He did not do the work as he should have.
iii. lu (even though, however + adjective)
Lu say luupi ndey laxlax, ca ngay toog. However skinny are the thighs of your mother, you must sit there.
c. Subjunctive Clauses
i. Certain conjunctions
ngir, ndax = in order to
Jox na ma téere bi ngir ma man koo jàng. He gave me the book so that I could read it.
Note: When ndax has the sense of because then it uses the completive form.
Ñëw naa ndax am naa liggéey. I have come because I have work.
Ñëw naa ndax ma am liggéey. I have come in order to have work.
ba = until
Xaaral ba ma jox ko ko.
Bëgg naa nga dem jëndal ma mburu. I want you to buy me bread.
Tere naa ko mu ñëw. I forbade him from coming.
Ragal naa mu ñëw. I fear he is coming
Ne na nga ñëw. He said for you to come
iii. With fàww (must). This verb only indicates present/future. Always uses MCV pronouns.
Fàww nga teewe ndaje ma. It is absolutely necessary for you to attend the meeting
iv. As imperative (with future overtones). Has the idea of let me/let us.
Ma ñawal la benn? Shall I sew one for you?
Ma xaar la? Shall I wait for you?
Mu ñëw suba! Let him come tomorrow!
d. Neutral conjugation.
Ma ñëw. I am coming.
The form maa ngi ñëw insists too much on the duration of the action. Ma ñëw is more one off. It is almost like the completive of an answered verb.
Xaaral ma ñëw. Wait, I am coming.
e. In exclamative phrases.
Li ma la xalaal! How I have been thinking of you!
f. In combination with relative pronouns used as question word = relative pronoun + MVC + verb.
Foo dëkk? Where do you live?
Nu mu tudd? What is he called?
Fu may dem? Where am I going?
FU + MVC | NU + MVC | DU + MVC | |
1st Person Singular | fu ma | nu ma | du ma |
2nd Person Singular | foo (=fu nga) | noo (=nu nga) | doo (=du nga) |
3rd Person Singular | fu (=fu mu) | nu mu (not “nu”) | du (not “du mu”) |
1st Person Plural | fu nu /fu ñu | nu nu /nu ñu | du nu/ du ñu |
2nd Person Plural | fu ngeen | nu ngeen | du ngeen |
3rd Person Plural | fu ñu | nu ñu | du ñu |
g. after a phrase introduced by an adverb.
Léegi ma gis ko. Now I will see it/him.
Tuu ti ma gis ko. I almost saw him.
h. Consecutive verbs
Soowam dafa lamb, mu maye ko. Her milk was unsold (so) she gave it.
Waxaat ko, ma dégg. Say it again, I am listening
i. Proverbs
Ku muñ, muuñ.
Lëg dem. The hare has gone.
4. Place of Object Pronouns with the MVC.
narrative | object pronoun(s) follow(s) verb |
temporal bi/ba/bu | object pronoun(s) precede(s) verb |
5. The absence of the mark di indicates that the action of the verb has been completed. When di is present, it indicates that the action is in presently occurring or soon to occur.
Bu wowee, nga góob ko. When it is dry, you harvest it.
Bu wowee nga di ko góob. When it is dry, you harvest it.
The first is completed because the action is being considered in its totality. The latter is being considered in its outworking.
When used with conjugation with di the object pronoun is displaced before the verb. The particle di may precede or follow the object pronoun. A nominal object remains after the verb.
Mu di ko def. Mu koy def. Muy def liggéey bi. But: Mu def ko.
In relative clauses the MVC is negated by adding the suffix -ul to the verb, the rest of the structure remaining unchanged. For the other structures, anticipated or hypothetical events are negated with du conjugated, and simple negative construction when there is a reference to past or completed events.
Xale bi nu indiwul. The child whom he has not brought.
Bu ma waxee, duñu déglu. If I speak they will not listen.
Bi ma waxee, dégluwuñu. When I spoke they did not listen.
Benn bés, dama demoon lekool. Waaye duggu ma, jàngu ma. One day I went to school but I didn't go in, and I didn't study.
Obligation / Optative (Na nga)
Formation: na + [+/- object pronoun] [ +/- nominal subject] + verb
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | naa | nanu/nañu |
2nd person | nanga | nangeen |
3rd person | na | nañu |
Naa dem. Que je parte!
1. Functions:
a. This is a softer, more polite way of expressing a command or recommendation.
Nanga dem marse bi! May you go to the market!
b. Form used often in prayer.
Yàlla, na la Yàlla wéral! God, may God heal you!
c. to express permission.
Dafa bëgg ñëw seetsi la. He wants to come and seek you.
Na ñëw! Let him come.
d. to express a wish or desire especially when used with the 1st person.
Naa am xaalis! If only I had money!
e. Exhortation
Nanu moytu lu bon! May we avoid evil!
2. If there is both a nominal subject and a pronoun object, the pronoun object precedes the nominal subject.
Na nu sunu boro om fey! Let our master pay us!
Yàlla, na leen Yàlla barkeel! God, may God bless you all!
Goor gi, nanga koy def! Sir, may you do it continually!
3. When there is a series of verbs in theob ligative, the second verb is without marker and the third takes the MVC. Sometimes the second verb may take the MVC.
Nanga yiwi sikket bi, yóbbu ko ca kër ga, te nga yeew ko fi. May you release the ram, take it home, and tie it up here.
Nanu daje ajuma, te ngeen yobbaale ñaari fas yépp. Let us meet here on Friday, and you take both the horses away with you.
4. When used with a nominal subject whether singular or plural with 3rd person singular form “na” is used, e.g. Na xale yi noppi.
5. The subject can be:
* a noun, e.g. Na àdd ina si déglu sama wax!
The mark of an incomplete action does occur with the optative but it is rare. When used it indicates an action in the process of occurring or its repetition rather than the totality of the action.
Nangay bey. May you cultivate.
7. Contractions which exist before an object pronoun:
1st person plural: nan
2nd person singular: nang
3rd person plural: nañ
8. Negation (see negation notes):
Formation: bu + object pronoun + nominal subject + verb
Singular | Plural | |
1st person | bu ma | bu nu/ bu ñu |
2nd person | bul | buleen |
3rd person | bu mu | bu ñu |
If the subject is stated mu is dropped:
Bu Faal bey tool bi. That Fall won't cultivate the field.
Goor yi, buleen ko def. Men don't do it continually.