Language/Xhosa/Grammar/Adverbs

Xhosa → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives and Adverbs → Adverbs

Introduction

Adverbs are an essential component of speech that modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs, providing clarity and greater depth to any sentence. In this lesson, you will learn about adverbs in Xhosa, including the different types, their uses, and how to correctly use them in a sentence.

Types of Adverbs

Adverbs can be divided into several categories based on the type of modification provided to the word or sentence they are linked with. These categories include:

• Manner: How something is done
• Place: Where something is done
• Time: When something is done
• Frequency: How often something is done
• Degree: The intensity or degree of something
• Interrogative: Used in questions

Manner Adverbs

Manner adverbs describe how an action is performed or how something happens. In Xhosa, manner adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -nga to the stem.

For example:

Xhosa	Pronunciation	English
khwathi	/k͡xʷáːti/	slowly
ngqeshile	/ᵑǃʰɛʃíːle/	quickly
tsha!	/t͡ʃʰaʔ/	angrily

Place Adverbs

Place adverbs describe the location or position of an object or an action. Place adverbs in Xhosa are formed by adding the prefix ku- before the location.

For example:

Xhosa	Pronunciation	English
kuyaphuma	/kuːjápʰuːma/	it is coming out
kunomzimba	/kuːnóᵐziːᵐba/	there is a body
kuyeza	/kuːjɛ̄za/	it is coming

Time Adverbs

Time adverbs indicate when an action is occurring or occurred. In Xhosa, most time adverbs are formed by adding the prefix kwa- before the time.

For example:

Xhosa	Pronunciation	English
kwesokhulu	/kwɛ́sɔ́ːkʰúːlu/	yesterday
kwamalanga	/kwʰámaːlaŋá/	last year
kwasemhlabeni	/kwɛ́sɛ̀mɬàbɛ̀niː/	on earth

Frequency Adverbs

Frequency adverbs describe how often an action or event occurs. In Xhosa, frequency adverbs are formed by adding the prefix ngoku- before the frequency.

For example:

Xhosa	Pronunciation	English
ngokuphumelela	/ᵑǃú-ɠù-pʰùːmelela/	successfully
ngokukhawuleza	/ᵑǃú-ɠù-kʰawúleza/	quickly or speedily
ngokuyizolo	/ᵑǃú-ɠú-yìːzɔ̀ːlɔ̀/	currently or presently

Degree Adverbs

Degree adverbs describe the intensity or degree of the action or occurrence. In Xhosa, degree adverbs are formed by adding the prefix kwa- or the suffix -kude.

For example:

Xhosa	Pronunciation	English
kwasemnyango	/kwɛ́-sɛ̀ᵐɲàːŋɔ̀/	very close
kudala	/kú-dàːla/	very long ago
sixhenxe	/sì-ǀʰɛ́nxɛ̀/	very much

Interrogative Adverbs

Interrogative adverbs are used to form questions in Xhosa. Interrogative adverbs in Xhosa include:

• kodwa: why
• ukuthini: what
• phi: where
• nini: when
• ngenjani: how
• kanjani: how

For example:

Xhosa	Pronunciation	English
Kodwa ungenza kanjani?	/kòɟʷa ú-ŋǀènza kànǀàni/	Why did you do that?
Phi endaweni ezingafi?	/pʰi è-ndàwèni ᵉ-zìːnǀàɸi/	Where are the unexpected places?
Nini uzothenga incwadi?	/ní-ni ú-ᶢzoǀʰèᵑga ìnǀàdi/	When are you going to buy a book?

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned about the different types of adverbs in Xhosa and their uses. With practice, you will gain confidence in using adverbs to describe and add depth to any sentence. Keep up the good work!

Table of Contents - Xhosa Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Xhosa

• Pronunciation and Alphabet
• Basic Sentence Structure

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Greetings and Introductions

• Formal and Informal Greetings
• Common Courtesy Phrases

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Classes
• Pronouns and Agreement

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Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

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Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

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Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating and Drinking

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Xhosa Culture and Traditions

• Xhosa People and History
• Traditional Customs and Celebrations

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Adverbs

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Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

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Hobbies and Interests

• Sports and Activities
• Arts and Entertainment

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Xhosa Music and Literature

• Traditional Music and Instruments
• Xhosa Literature and Poetry

Other Lessons

• Present Tense
• Negation
• Pronouns and Agreement
• Give your Opinion
• Forming Questions
• Future Tense
• Basic Sentence Structure
• 0 to A1 Course
• Adjectives