Language/Agarabi/Grammar/Negation
Hi Agarabi learners! 😊
In this lesson, we'll be discussing the grammar of negation in Agarabi. We will learn how to negate a verb and a sentence. It is an intermediate level lesson, so make sure you have some basic understanding of Agarabi Grammar, before starting this lesson.
Negating a Verb[edit | edit source]
In Agarabi, negating a verb means adding "ay" or "aay" after the verb. It depends on the ending of the verb. If the verb ends with a vowel, add "ay" and if it ends with a consonant, add "aay". Let's look at some examples:
| Agarabi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sidanay | Si-dan-a-y | Not going |
| Payah | Pa-yah | Not eating |
| Wazirahaay | Wa-zi-ra-haa-y | Not understanding |
| Qaafay | Qaaf-a-y | Not standing |
Remember to pronounce the added "ay" or "aay" at the end of the verb. Now let's take a look at negating a sentence.
Negating a Sentence[edit | edit source]
In Agarabi, negating a sentence means adding "an" or "aan" at the end of the sentence. It depends on the ending of the verb in the sentence. If the verb ends with a vowel, add "an" and if it ends with a consonant, add "aan". Let's look at some examples:
| Agarabi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Meeyaadan maayo | Meey-aad-an ma-ayo | I'm not sure |
| Way kuntaan moosayso | Way kun-taan moo-say-so | He doesn't say anything |
| Saanbeh tahayn | Saan-beh tah-ayn | That's not true |
| Waa maxaynaanaysaa | Waa max-ay-naa-na-y-saa | What are you not doing? |
Make sure to pronounce the added "an" or "aan" at the end of the sentence. Now let's take a look at some examples in context.
Examples in Context[edit | edit source]
To help you understand negation better, let's have a conversation in Agarabi.
- Person 1: Beshaa waxaanan u baahanahay (I really need)
- Person 2: Maxaynaanaysaa? (What are you not doing?)
- Person 1: Waxaanan u baahanahay lacag. (I really need money)
- Person 2: Ma hubtaa inaad u tagtid dukaamada? (Don't you think you should go to the bank?)
- Person 1: Aanrasmi karno markay xanuunsan tahay rifada. (I can't go as I'm sick)
In this conversation, we can see that negation is used in different parts of the sentences. Sometimes it's used to negate a verb and sometimes an entire sentence. Now let's look at some interesting facts about Agarabi.
Interesting Facts[edit | edit source]
- Agarabi is a Cushitic language spoken by over a million people in Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.
- The Agarabi script was developed by Osman Yusuf Kenadid in the early 20th century.
- Agarabi is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch of a sound can change the meaning of a word.
Now that we've learned about negation in Agarabi, don't forget to practice it by forming your own sentences. To improve your Agarabi Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎