Language/Susu/Grammar/Na-used-as-To-be

Na is used with occupations and nationality.

Tele na n na	I am a tailor
Xaranderaba na i ra	You are a teacher
LaginE ka na i ra	He is Guinean
Amerikika na muxu ra	We are American
Dçktçri na won na	We are doctors
Xabui na wo ra	You are a blacksmith
tela  na e ra.	They are tailors.

• Why na n na and na i ra? 

The Susu people like contractions.

That is why the A has became B while speaking.

A	B
Tela na n na	Tela nan na
Tela na i ra	Tela ni ra
Tela na a ra	Tela na ra
Tela na muxu ra	Tela na muxu  ra
Tela na won ra	Tela na won  na
Tela na wo ra	Tela na wo ra
Tela na e ra	Tela ne ra.

This also occurs with the negation form:

For verb na the negation is :

Tela mu  na n   na

• C + Neg + to be at the affirmative form

• C  +  Neg + to be at the affirmative form

1	2
Tela mu na n na	Tela mu n na
Tela mu na i ra	Tela mu i ra
Tela mu na a  ra	Tela mu a ra
Tela mu na muxu ra	Tela mu muxu ra
Tela mu na won na	Tela mu won na
Tela mu na wo ra	Tela mu wo ra
Tela mu na e ra	Tela mu e ra.

The Nº 2 is frequently used during conversations.

N.B.:    When two vowels occur, the first one is dropped for the second : in an assimulation.

Example:        

• Tela mu a ra : tela ma ra
• Tela mu e ra : tela me ra