9.1. Grammar

amaaá'má̰a̰conj.butA di ya amaa a ka tigɛ.he ate but he is not satisfied.9.1GrammarHau. amma, ult. Ar.
ani1à̰'nɩ̰̀dem. que. pron. who? whom? whose?Ani n di na'am la?who was made the chief?Fu nyɛ la ani?whom did you see?Ani ti fu dikɛ bo?whom did you give it to?Ani gɔŋɔ n gã kuka zuo?whose book is on the chair?9.1Grammar -ni
aŋa1á̰ŋá̰dem.that9.1Grammarkaŋa, -ŋa
ana2á̰na̰dem.these, those, esp. of casesYele ana ka suŋa.these cases, problems, are not good.9.1Grammar-na
balabàladem. pron.that, that thing, that matterA tara bala.he should continue that.Bala de ma'a.that's ok.Bala la...because of that...A iŋɛ la bala.he did that.9.1Grammarla 4, -la
balɛ1quant. que. pron.how many? Used to inquire about the number of personsBalɛ n wa'am?how many (people) came?2quant. que. dem.how manyNɛreba balɛ ti fu nyɛ?how many people did you see?asibetum duma balɛ?how many hospitals?9.1GrammarBAbàlɛ́
bamambá̰'má̰memph. pron.3rd pers. pl. subj., they. Gives the pronoun extra emphasis. Bamam wan kiŋɛ.they will go.9.1Grammarba
bana'bá̰'ná1dem.these, those. Primarily modifies words in the BA class, but sometimes modifies words that belong to other classes, eg. the TU (pl.) class.Nɛnɔ bana ka suŋa.this meat is not good.nɛreba banathese people.9.1Grammar2dem. que. pron. who, whom, referring to several individual persons. Bana ti fu nyɛ?who (pl.) did you see?BA-na, bani
bamiŋa'bá'mɩ̰́ŋa̰1intens. pron.themselves2reflex. pron.each other9.1Grammar-miŋa
banibà̰'nɩ̰́dem. que. pron. who?, referring to a group of people.Bani ti fu nyɛ?who, what group of people, did you see?9.1Grammar-ni
basɛbabà'sɛ́bàdem. pron.some of those, some of them.Basɛba kule ya.some of them have gone home.Nɛreba basɛba kule ya.some of those people have gone home. syntuseto9.1GrammarBA-se-
bembèmque. pron.used to ask for events, reasons, indefinite things.Bem ti fu nyɛ budaa la?why did you consult the man?Bem n daa iŋɛ kootum na?what happened at the court?Lɔgerɔ bem la bem n daa bɔi?what were the various things that got lost?Bem n boi fu puti'irɛn?what do you have in mind? lit. what are your thoughts?synbeni9.1Grammarbeni, bɛ
benibènḭque. pron.what? used to ask about things and events.Beni n asegɛ?what tore?Aduŋɔ beni n bɔi?what belonging to Adongo got lost?Beni n le pa'asɛ?what else is there? what else happened?Beni n sɔi ti fu ŋmɛ bia la?why did you beat the boy?synbem9.1Grammarbem, bɛ
bɛɛ1bɛ́ɛque. pron.which?, where? Occurs after the item being questioned.Nabuna bɛɛ n ki la?which cow died?A bɛɛ?where is he?9.1Grammar
bii1bíi1conj.or, joining alternativesFu we la zina bii beere?are you going today or tomorrow? Fu da' la naafɔ bii bua? did you buy a cow or a goat? A nan paam mɛ wa bii a paam ti la yue.he has just arrived or he arrived a long time ago.9.1Grammar2que. prt.or? or not? Can either precede or follow a statement, indicating that the speaker wants the listener to disconfirm it. Bii n parum mɛ?or am I lying?
dee1déeconj.and, but (Booni, Nankani)A wa'am dee kule.he came and left for home.A wa'am dee a kan kule.she came but will not go home.syngee 1gee 29.1Grammargee
dɛnadɛna̰v.be, is; copula verb. Used alone it is future or hortatory; used without a subject following the conjunction "gee/dee".A dɛna bunkatɛ.it should be, must be, a big one.A wan dɛna bunkatɛ.it will be a big one.A beere san dɛna pɔka....if she grows to become a woman....A de la bunkutɛ dee dɛna sukuu bia.He is an adult but (he) is a pupil.9.1Grammarde
dinadɩ́na̰dem. pron.this9.1GrammarDI-na
dinɛ2dɩ̰́nɛ̰dem.that, usually combined with nouns belonging to the DI classlodinɛthat car9.1GrammarDI
dinɛ3dɩ̰́nɛ̰conj.because of, as a result of, for that reason.A taregɛ mɛ dinɛ n sɔi ti a ka wa'am.because he was tied he didn't come.9.1Grammar
dumadʋ̀man.1owner, owners.A duma bɛɛ?who is its owner?2the people associated with a place or an institution; staff, inmates, inhabitants. Asibetum duma zagesi tuuma mɛ zina.the hospital staff refused to work today.3marks plural of many nouns that do not have the normal s. and pl. suffixes. Asibetum duma balɛ ti Asambuli mɛ?how many hospitals did the Assembly build?9.1GrammarBA
eŋaɩ̰ŋá̰emph. pron.3rd pers. s. subj., obj., poss., emphatic.Eŋa n wa'am kalam.she (and none other) came here.Ma nyɛ eŋa.I saw him.eŋa gɔŋɔ.his book.9.1Grammara, e
geegéeconj.1and; joins full clauses having the same subject, which is not mentioned in the second clauseA de la bunkatɛ gee dɛna girega.he is fat and short.syndee19.1Grammar2but; joins clauses, including the subject of each. Can also join a phrase to a clause; sometimes combines with 'ti' to join clauses, so that the first clause gives the context of the second.A de la bunkutɛ gee a ka zɛɛri zuo.he is grown up but he has no respect for anyone.Ba diti mɛ gee ti n paɛ A zuo gee n wa ŋmɛ ni fu.but for him, I would have beaten you.Ba diti mɛ gee ti n paɛ.they were eating when I arrived.syndee19Grammardee 2 (Booni, Nankani).
ii1pron. pl.3rd pers. pl. subj., obj.. Used when the noun referred to belongs to the I class.A da' nii. I boi la nagedene.he bought two cows. They are in the kraal.9.1Grammar2nom. pref.prefix to numeral or quantifier modifying an I class nominal.Ki'ini ilɛhow many guinea fowls?nii ita.three cows.9.1Grammar
inaʔínà̰1dem. pron.these, these ones. Usu. referring to things in the plural I class.Ina ka suŋa.these are not good.9.1Grammar2dem. que. pron. whichligeri ina?which money?ina nii?which cows?I-na
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