Language/Plateau-malagasy/Grammar/Irregular-Verbs
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Irregular verbs can be challenging for language learners, but they add color and variety to the language. In this lesson, we will explore irregular verbs in Plateau Malagasy, including their conjugation and common examples.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Nouns and Gender & Alphabet and Pronunciation.
Regular Verb Review
Before diving into irregular verbs, let's briefly review regular verbs in Plateau Malagasy. Regular verbs are predictable in their conjugation and follow a set pattern based on the tense and subject. Here are the basic steps for conjugating regular verbs in Plateau Malagasy:
1. Identify the verb root. The root is the base form of the verb before any suffixes are added. 2. Add the appropriate infix based on the tense and subject. 3. Add any necessary suffixes for agreement or negation.
Let's look at an example of conjugating a regular verb in the present tense with the subject "I" (ny):
- Root verb: manao (to do) - Subject: I (ny) - Present tense infix: a (ny manao becomes najao)
The conjugated form is najao, which means "I am doing."
Let's look at another example in the past tense with the subject "you" (i):
- Root verb: hoavy (to help) - Subject: You (i) - Past tense infix: nitsinjo (i hoavy becomes i nitsinjo hoavy)
The conjugated form is i nitsinjo hoavy, which means "You helped."
Irregular Verb Conjugation
Irregular verbs in Plateau Malagasy do not follow the same predictable pattern as regular verbs. Some have unique roots or infixes, which can make them challenging to conjugate. Here are some examples of irregular verbs in Plateau Malagasy and their conjugations in the present tense with the subject "I" (ny):
| Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| veloma | ve-loo-mah | Goodbye (used when leaving) |
| maninona | mah-nee-noo-nuh | Why |
| avy | ah-vi | Come |
| mandehana | mahn-deh-huh-nuh | Go |
| mitondra | mee-tohn-dra | Bring |
Conjugating Irregular Verbs
To conjugate an irregular verb in Plateau Malagasy, you must memorize the unique root or infix, as well as any necessary suffixes or changes in vowel length. Let's look at the conjugation of mitondra in the present tense with the subject "I" (ny):
- Arrange the verb and subject: ny mitondra - Root verb: tondra - Present tense infix: a (ny mitondra becomes najotondra) - The final -a in the root verb changes to -o
The conjugated form is najotondra, which means "I am bringing."
Let's look at another example with the verb mandehana, meaning to go. The present tense infix for this verb is -e, and the root verb is dehana. In the present tense with the subject "you" (i), the conjugation would be idehana, which means "You are going."
Practice Sentences
Here are some practice sentences using irregular verbs in Plateau Malagasy:
- Ny vadin'ny mpianatra mandehana amin'ny sekoly. (The student's wife is going to school.)
- Ilay vehivavy no mandidy toaka ho an'ny fianakaviana. (That woman brings alcohol for the family.)
- Inona no antony endrika hianao mitondra anao? (Why do you bring your clothes?)
- Ny rahalahiny mitia ny fitiavanan'ny mpanao politika. (His brother loves the politician's daughter.)
- Tsy afaka mazava amin'ny anaran'ny tompoko ianao. Inona no anamasinao? (I can't understand your name. What is your last name?)
Conclusion
Irregular verbs add a unique flavor and challenge to learning Plateau Malagasy, but with practice and patience, you can master their conjugations. As with any language, the more exposure and repetition you have, the easier it becomes. Keep practicing and you will soon be an expert in Plateau Malagasy conjugation.
Other Lessons
- Basic Sentence Structure
- Questions
- Pronouns and Their Usage
- How to Use Be
- 0 to A1 Course
- Negation
- How to Use Have
- Adverbs and Their Usage
- Regular Verbs
- Adjectives
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| ◀️ Regular Verbs — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Present, Past, and Future Tenses ▶️ |