Language/Lingala/Grammar/Using-infinitive-verb-forms

Using infinitive verb forms – Learn the Lingala Language

It’s also possible to construct sentences in Lingala using the infinitive form of any verb. As with most other languages, the infinitive form brings along its natural ‘to’ structure, as in ‘to be’, ‘to have’, ‘to like’, ‘to work’ and so on.

So the English, ‘It is necessary to work’, translates into essentially an identical construction in Lingala – ‘Esengeli kosala’ – esengeli (it is necessary) and kosala (to work). And ‘She is able to speak’ translates to ‘Akoki koloba’ – akoki (she is able to) and koloba (to speak).

With the small caveat that a few of these construction patterns will change slightly if you become more advanced and decide to start using the subjective tense later on, you’ll generally be fine starting to put together combinations of conjugated and infinitive forms of verbs. And you’ll be able to say quite a few things, hopefully without too much trouble.

• Nasengeli kosala. – I have to work.
• Olingi koloba malamu. – You want to speak well.
• Ndeko na nagi alingi koyeba. – My brother wants to know.
• Bayebi kosomba. – They know to buy.
• Tolingi kosomba ndunda. – We want to buy vegetables.

Source

https://lobalingala.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/23042014-loba-lingala.pdf