Language/Lingala/Grammar/Time-adverbs
Welcome to our lesson on some of the most commonly used adverbs in the Lingala language. Lingala, a Bantu language, is widely spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. In this lesson, we will explore various adverbs that are essential in everyday conversation, helping learners to enhance their understanding and fluency in Lingala.
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing additional information about how, when, where, and to what extent an action occurs. Understanding these adverbs in Lingala will greatly aid in forming more complex and nuanced sentences. Each adverb will be presented with its pronunciation, English translation, and examples in sentences to illustrate its use in context.
Let's dive into the world of Lingala and expand our linguistic skills with these useful adverbs!
Lelo: Today
- Naza na mosala mingi lelo: I have a lot of work today
Lobi (ekoya): Tomorrow
- Esengeli tosangana lobi(ekoya): We need to meet tomorrow
Lobi (eleki): Yesterday
- Bakómaki na Kinshasa lobi(eleki): They arrived in Kinshasa yesterday
Sikoyo: Now
- Ozali kokende sikoyo(sika sikoyo)?: Are you going now (right now)?
Lelo: Today
- Akoya lelo te: He/She will not come today
Sima: After
- Benga ngai sima: Call me after
Sima lobi: The day after tomorrow
- Bandeko na ye bakoya sima lobi: His/Her siblings will come the day after tomorrow
Mbala eleki: Last time
- Tokutanaki te mbala eleki: We did not meet last time
Poso eleki: Last week
- Nasombaki biloko mingi poso eleki: I bought many things last week
Poso oyo: This week
- Poso oyo, Paul akobalana na Emilie: Paul will marry Emilie this week
Tongo: Early
- Bayé tongo lelo: They came early today
Natongo: In the morning
- Namelaka kaka mayi natongo: I only drink water in the morning
Lelo natongo: This morning
- Esengeli nasangana na Paul lelo natongo: I need to meet with Paul this morning
Lobi natongo: Tomorrow morning
- Benga ngai lobi natongo: Call me tomorrow morning
Napokwa: In the evening
- Tokokende na sinema napokwa?: Will we go to the cinema in the evening?
Na butu: At night
- Esengeli olala mingi na butu: You should sleep more at night
Lelo napokwa: Tonight
- Tozali na likita lelo napokwa: We have a meeting tonight
Lobi napokwa: Last night
- Namónaki ye lobi napokwa: I saw him/her last night
Tongo makasi: Very early
- Yaka tongo makasi: Come very early!
Tango nini?: When?
- Likita ekobanda tango nini: When will the meeting start?
Other Lessons
- Irregular verbs – kolia – to eat
- The Future Tense To Be
- Conditional Mood
- Adjectives
- Subject pronouns
- Negation
- The Past Tense To Be
- Plural forms
- Personal pronouns
- Present progressive tense