Structure of the Sentence — Subject and Predicate

§213–250. SYNTAX §213. GENERAL ORDER The normal order of the Umbundu sentence is: SUBJECT — VERB — OBJECT — ADVERBIALS However, the MOST IMPORTANT or DOMINANT element tends to come FIRST, even if it is not the grammatical subject. This is a topic-prominent feature. Normal order (subject first): u-lume u-o-sola oku-tunga = the man he-likes to-build = this man likes to build Topicalized order (object of dominant interest placed first): ombua, u-a-i-teta enguni = the dog, he-it-cut the-throat = he cut the throat of the dog (the dog is the topic) §214. THE SUBJECT Subject may be: — A noun in any class — A personal pronoun (absolute form — used for emphasis only) — A pronominal prefix alone (when the noun is understood) — A verbal infinitive (as Class 9 noun) — An indefinite adjective (u-mue = someone, etc.) The subject normally PRECEDES the verb, but may follow for emphasis: hena ha-sapula chi u-a-ndi-sapuile osoma = tomorrow I will tell what the king told me (osoma follows for emphasis) Locative copulas (ku-li, pa-li, mu-li) place subject AFTER: k'ofeka iene ku-li omanu valua? = in your country there-are people many? = are there many people in your country? §215. SUBJECT — PREDICATE AGREEMENT The PRONOMINAL PREFIX on the verb (or attribute) MUST agree with the subject's class. This is the fundamental concordance rule. o-ngombe i-alia ou-angu = the ox (Class 5: i-) ate the grass olo-ngombe vi-tila = the oxen (Class 5 pl: vi-) flee u-lume u-aenda k'imbo = the man (Class 1: u-) went to the village a-lume va-aenda = the men (Class 1 pl: va-) went The copula verb (to be) does not exist as a separate word in Umbundu. It is represented by the pronominal prefix alone, or by the particles ha, li, kasi: u-lume u-nene = the man (is) large eie osoma = he (is) king (prefix u- elides before o-) ame ndi-'ngende = I am a traveler ha ukai uange = (she) is my wife