The object prefix
Lesson 10 of 12≈ 15 min
Nisihushukuria
Nisihushukuria, « I thank you ». A whole sentence in one word: ni- « I », -si- « right now », -hu- « you », shukuria « to thank ».
The object prefix
| Object | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| me | -ni- | Koko asinivendza swafi — Grandma loves me very much. |
| you | -hu- | Mmangu asihusalimu — My mother sends you her greetings. |
| him, her (a person) | -m- | Fundi asimsaidia umwana — The teacher helps the child. |
| us | -ri- | Djerani asirilaliha hula — The neighbour invites us to eat. |
| them (people) | -wa- | Fundi asiwasomesa wana shindzuani — The teacher teaches the children shiNdzuani. |
-m- for a person, not for a thing
-m- goes before the verb when the object is a specific person: Dukutera asimzihira umwade, « the doctor treats the patient ». Wasimzuru koko means « they visit the grandmother »; without -m-, it means « a grandmother ».
With a thing, there is no -m-: Koko asihua nadzi, « grandmother grates the coconut ». With a person and a thing, the person decides the prefix: Mmangu asimnosa umwana maji.
-m- for a person
- Dukutera asimzihira umwade — The doctor is treating the patient.
- Dukutera asimvima umwana — The doctor is weighing the child.
- Fundi asimliva mfanyahazi — The boss pays the worker.
- Mmangu asimliva mlozi — My mother is paying the fisherman.
- Mama na ɓaɓa wasimlea umwana — Mum and Dad raise the child.
- Mmangu asimnosa umwana maji — My mother is giving the child water to drink.
- Koko asimnunulia mjuhu wahe manga — Grandmother is buying a mango for her grandchild.
In every tense
- Tsimsalimu mmaho vojana — I greeted your mother yesterday.
- Ritsomzuru ɓakoko Domoni — We will visit grandfather in Domoni.
- Karisimona mwananyaho — We don't see your brother (or sister).
- Kasimona ɓaɓa — He doesn't see Dad.
- Msaidiye mmaho ! — Help your mother!
- Mhire mwananyaho ! — Call your brother!
Me, you, us, them
- Koko asinivendza swafi — Grandma loves me very much.
- Djerani asinihira asubuhi — The neighbour calls me in the morning.
- Mmangu asihusalimu — My mother sends you her greetings.
- Nisihushukuria — I thank you.
- Djerani asirilaliha hula — The neighbour invites us to eat.
- Koko asiwahira wajuhu hula — Grandma calls her grandchildren to eat.
- Fundi wa madrasa asiwasomesa wana — The Koranic teacher teaches the children.
Practice
« I greeted your mother yesterday. »
Tsi___salimu mmaho vojana
« I thank you. »
Nisi___shukuria
Mini-quiz
« Grandmother loves me very much. »
Koko asi___vendza swafi
The verb is complete
Person, tense, object, root: you can read the whole verb. Next: pointing at things.