Negative Forms and Verb Particles

§201–210. NEGATIVE FORMS NEGATIVE PARTICLES: ka- / ha- = negative prefix (ha- is a softer variant of ka-) -ko = negative enclictic suffix NOUNS and PRONOUNS take ha- prefix + -ko suffix: ha-'mbua-ko = it is not the dog (o- of ombua drops before ha-) h'-eie-ko = it is not he ha-iange-ko = it is not mine When noun + adjective form a unit, ha- prefixes the noun, -ko suffixes the adjective: ha-mi-kanda vi-ove-ko = these are not your letters ADJECTIVES take ka- prefix (rarely ha-) + -ko suffix: ka-chi-nene-ko = it is not large (Class 4 object) ka'-ua-ko = it is not good (Class 1, 2, 8 singular) INDEFINITE PRONOUNS have special negative particle la-: la-u-mue = nobody la-chi-mue = nothing la-ku-mue = nowhere §211. AUXILIARY / PARTICLE VERBS The following invariable particles function as auxiliary or copular verbs: ha = is, are, am (copula — most common): ha ukai uange = it is my wife ha-li = is/are here ha-ii = is/are there ha-io = is/are yonder These may be negated with -ko: ha-li-ko = is not here li = is, there is, there are (locative copula — used with locative prefixes): mu-li / mu-ni = there is here, it is in (mu- + li) pa-li = there is there, it is at ku-li = there is yonder, it is at (distance) With interrogative pi: u-lume o-li-pi? = where is the man? o-ngombe i-li-pi? = where is the ox? With enclictic locatives (-mo, -po, -ko): u-lume o-li-po = the man is there ka-li-po = he is not there kasi = is, are (alternative to li in locative expressions): u-lume o-kasi-pi? = where is the man? o-kasi-po = he is there na = (continuative particle — marks ongoing or progressive aspect in some dialects) §212. THE VERB oku-ti (TO SAY) — IRREGULAR This is the most important irregular verb, used chiefly as a subordinating conjunction. Most common forms: Present: siti (I say), hati (thou sayest / he says), tu-ti (we say), va-ti (they say) Past: hoti (thou saidst / he said), tu-ati (we said), vu-ati (ye said) As a conjunction (okuti = "that," introducing reported speech): u-akuniha oku-ti, m'onjila mu-kasi evita = he learned that in the road there is war For direct quotation, use hati (he said) or v'ati (they said): u-afuka, hati, u-akuatele ongombe = he confessed, saying (that), he had stolen the ox