As
said above (4.1 ) the structure of the verb in Lotha is
as follows :
Verb Stem + Tense marker
Tense marker occurs in the end. If there are other markers
like aspect, causative etc, they occur between verb stem
and the tense marker as shown below :
1.
causative verb has the following structure.
Verb stem + causative marker + Tense marker
2.
Verb stem with the aspect marker has the following structure
Verb stem + Aspect marker + Tense
marker
Compound
a.
Use of past tense and future tense markers is obligatory
when the aspect marker is used.
b.
present tense marker is absent in the present perfect when
the aspect marker is used.
3.
Structure of the verb in negation is as follows :
Negative marker + Verb stem + Tense marker
When
a verb is used in negation by prefixing a negative marker,
use of present tense marker is optional.
4.
Structure of the interrogative verb is as follows : + Verb + interrogative marker - Present tense marker
.
a.
In the present interrogative verb structure, there can be
a sentence with or without a verb and with or without a
present tense marker.
Examples
mp
sálò
lò
?
Is he here
he
here
Interrogative
mp
clò
lò
?
Is he there
he
there
interrogative
In
the above sentences, there is no verb ‘to be’ and no tense
marker.
b.
In the following example the verb is present but without
present tense marker.
Examples -n
nk
r-lò
?
I-nom your house come-interrogative
Shall I come to your house ?
4.1.1. Classification of Verbs :
Verb
stems can be classified into simple and compound.4.1.1.
(a) A simple verb is composed of a single root with or
without a suffix.
Examples
1. kh¡
read
2. ¡n¡
ts°¡-là
I-nom eat I
eat
3. kh¡-là
(I) read
4.1.1.
(b) A compound verb consists of mored than one root and
may include one or more suffixes.
Examples
1. sà-tà rule
2. z-à count (imp)
3. z-tà
look (imp)
4. c-tk
cause to eat
5. kh-tk
cause to read
Verb
stems can also be divided into three subclasses on the basis
of their morphological and syntactic function. They are
1. Intransitive 2. Transitive 3. Causative
4.1.1.
(c) Intransitive
Intransitive
verbs are those verbs which do not take a direct object.
lò
lò
? 
-tà
look (imp)
