Difference between revisions of "Language/Lingala/Grammar/The-subjunctive"
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Yes, Lingala has a subjunctive form, but it’s a bit limited compared with a lot of other languages. | Yes, Lingala has a subjunctive form, but it’s a bit limited compared with a lot of other languages. | ||
The subjunctive is commonly restricted to just three main verbs – kolinga (to want or to like or love), kozela (to wait for), and kosengela (to need). And then it is used in conjunction with a second verb whose conjugation is slightly modified. | The subjunctive is commonly restricted to just three main verbs – kolinga (to want or to like or love), kozela (to wait for), and kosengela (to need). And then it is used in conjunction with a second verb whose conjugation is slightly modified. | ||
In many ways, the construction is similar to the future tense construction, with a conjugated first verb and the infinitive form of a second. For example, ‘I am going to buy’. Using the standard form, this would be nakei (I am going) + kosomba (to buy). | In many ways, the construction is similar to the future tense construction, with a conjugated first verb and the infinitive form of a second. For example, ‘I am going to buy’. Using the standard form, this would be nakei (I am going) + kosomba (to buy). | ||
But with the subjunctive form, this changes slightly to ‘I want to buy’. To construct this, first conjugate the verb kolinga (to want): | But with the subjunctive form, this changes slightly to ‘I want to buy’. To construct this, first conjugate the verb kolinga (to want): | ||
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* balingi – they want | * balingi – they want | ||
* elingi – it wants | * elingi – it wants | ||
Next, create the subjunctive form you want to use, in this case, kosomba. | Next, create the subjunctive form you want to use, in this case, kosomba. | ||
To create the subjunctive form, drop the ‘ko-‘ at the beginning, but keep the ‘- a’ at the end. Then add the appropriate subject pronoun. So this becomes: | To create the subjunctive form, drop the ‘ko-‘ at the beginning, but keep the ‘- a’ at the end. Then add the appropriate subject pronoun. So this becomes: | ||
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* bo+somba – bosomba | * bo+somba – bosomba | ||
* ba+somba – basomba | * ba+somba – basomba | ||
Now combine the two to make the complete form: | Now combine the two to make the complete form: | ||
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* balingi basomba – they would like to buy | * balingi basomba – they would like to buy | ||
* elingi esomba – it would like to buy | * elingi esomba – it would like to buy | ||
And it will be the same for the other verbs. Here’s another example using komona (to see): | And it will be the same for the other verbs. Here’s another example using komona (to see): | ||
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* baling bamona – they would like to see | * baling bamona – they would like to see | ||
* elingi emona – it would like to see | * elingi emona – it would like to see | ||
The same approach is used when using kozela (to take) as the primary verb, in this case paired with kozua (to take) | The same approach is used when using kozela (to take) as the primary verb, in this case paired with kozua (to take) | ||
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* bazeli bazua – they wait to take | * bazeli bazua – they wait to take | ||
* ezeli ezua – it waits to take | * ezeli ezua – it waits to take | ||
And for kosengela (to need) as the primary verb, here paired with kosala (to work): | And for kosengela (to need) as the primary verb, here paired with kosala (to work): | ||
Revision as of 21:32, 4 October 2021
Yes, Lingala has a subjunctive form, but it’s a bit limited compared with a lot of other languages.
The subjunctive is commonly restricted to just three main verbs – kolinga (to want or to like or love), kozela (to wait for), and kosengela (to need). And then it is used in conjunction with a second verb whose conjugation is slightly modified.
In many ways, the construction is similar to the future tense construction, with a conjugated first verb and the infinitive form of a second. For example, ‘I am going to buy’. Using the standard form, this would be nakei (I am going) + kosomba (to buy).
But with the subjunctive form, this changes slightly to ‘I want to buy’. To construct this, first conjugate the verb kolinga (to want):
- nalingi – I want
- olingi – you want
- alingi – he/she wants
- tolingi – we want
- bolingi – you want (plural)
- balingi – they want
- elingi – it wants
Next, create the subjunctive form you want to use, in this case, kosomba.
To create the subjunctive form, drop the ‘ko-‘ at the beginning, but keep the ‘- a’ at the end. Then add the appropriate subject pronoun. So this becomes:
- na+somba – nasomba
- o+somba – osomba
- a+somba – asomba
- to+somba – tosomba
- bo+somba – bosomba
- ba+somba – basomba
Now combine the two to make the complete form:
- nalingi nasomba – I would like to buy
- olingi osomba – you would like to buy
- alingi asomba – he/she would like to buy
- tolingi tosomba – we would like to buy
- bolingi bosomba – you would like to buy (plural)
- balingi basomba – they would like to buy
- elingi esomba – it would like to buy
And it will be the same for the other verbs. Here’s another example using komona (to see):
- nalingi namona – I would like to see
- olingi omona – You would like to see
- alingi amona – he/she would like to see
- tolingi tomona – we would like to see
- bolingi bomona – you would like to see (plural)
- baling bamona – they would like to see
- elingi emona – it would like to see
The same approach is used when using kozela (to take) as the primary verb, in this case paired with kozua (to take)
- nazeli nazua – I wait to take
- ozeli ozua – you wait to take
- azeli azua – he/she waits to take
- tozeli tozua – we wait to take
- bozeli bozua – you wait to take (plural)
- bazeli bazua – they wait to take
- ezeli ezua – it waits to take
And for kosengela (to need) as the primary verb, here paired with kosala (to work):
- nasengeli nasala – I need to work
- osengeli osala – you need to work
- asengeli asala – he/she needs to work
- tosengeli tosala – we need to work
- bosengeli bosala – you need to work (plural)
- basengeli basala – they need to work
- esengeli esala – it needs to work
Source
https://lobalingala.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/23042014-loba-lingala.pdf