first consonant or
consonant cluster of the last syllable is repeated. When the
syllable under discussion, begins with a vowel, -e by
itself expresses negation. The tense marker follows the negative.
|
| ne tumi klemlo |
‘I worked yesterday’
|
| ne tumi klemklelo |
‘I did not work
yesterday’
|
| ne non cobomlo |
‘I am eating now’
|
non ne cobombela |
‘I am not eating now’
|
| The tense is dropped
optionally if the time is indicated by adverbs. |
| |
| latum vavepo |
‘they will not come’
|
| halatum vavetahay |
‘they (Dist.) may not
come’
|
| penap ne kam klemkle |
‘I will not work
tomorrow’
|
| ne an coceako megjapo |
‘before I eat (when I do
not eat), I will sleep’
|
| ochomar an cothekthe |
‘the hcild does not know
to eat rice’
|
| ne pini vave |
‘I will not come today’
|
The negative in
imperative sentences (Prohibitive) is expressed by suffixing
-ri to the verb base. The
imperative can occur after the prohibitive.
|
damri
|
‘(you) should not go’
|
damritha
|
‘(you) should not go)’
|
| damrinon
|
‘(you) should not go’
|
vanritha
|
‘(you) should not bring’
|
| vanvanritha
|
‘(you) should not bring frequently’
|
| vaverri
|
‘(you) should not come always’
|
|
| Interrogative |
There are two kinds of
interrogatives, viz., wh- type and Yes-No type. Of
these, the former is formed with interrogative pronouns which
have already been discussed. The latter type of interrogative
elicits the answer ‘Yes or No’ and is formed by adding -ma
to the verb. The interrogative follows the tense if it is
present.
|
la tebul
|
‘it is a table’
|
la tebul ma
|
‘is it a table?’
|
ala
burup do
|
‘he has a basket’ |
| ala
burup doma
|
‘does he has a basket?’ |
la hemchi doma
|
‘is he at home?’ |
| la bajar damnajima
|
‘should he go to the market?’ |
| na copoma
|
‘will you (sg.) eat?’
|
|
