THE VERB.

1. Varieties of verbs.

a. Vowel verbs.

b. Consonant verbs.

2. Derivative verbs.

3. Alternative verbs.

4. Active and Passive verbs.

5. Conjugation of the verb.

a. The imperative.

b. The H-tense form.

o. The Na- tense form: subjunctive.

d. The Ha-form, past.

e. The G- form, negative.

f. The K- form, negative.

g. The Hag-form, negative.

h. The Hak-form, negative.

j. The Haig- form, negative.

k. The Haik- form, negative.

l. The Maig-form, negative.

th. The His- form, clrcumstantla'’.

n. The Hals-form, circumstantial past.

o. The Gris-form, circumstantial negative.

p. The Hagls-form, circumstantial negative.

q. The Halgls-form, circumstantial negative, past.

r. The Cha-tense form, future.

s. The Hacha-tense form.

t. The Haglch-tense form, negative.

u. The Halch-tense form

v. The Hach-cha tense form, future.

w. The Beni cha gl- form, ’not yet’.

x. The Participles.

!•- Varieties of Verbs,

We divide the verbs into two

b. Consonant verbs#

a. Vows’! verbs are formed on

abe: reoeive, believe.

ere; come, bring,

etda: know, understand*

1tde: destroy, lose.

1toj: desire, seek.

Glasses: a.Vowel verbs, and

the model V * C + V. For example

ophl: be born, bear

ogbwe: write

uoha: drive away

upl: sit, stay

ut.da: build

A few verbs are formed of vowel, semi-vowel, vowel; e.g. awu,

take away, forgive; ayi, uncover. uyi, hate.

The 1 nit lai vowe’’ Is stable, as a rule. An exception is found

in the imperative of o-verbs, the initial vowe1 changing to u.

For example: ogl. hear. imperative: ugt, heart

an-ug!* hear ye!

olo* go. imperative: ui o* go!

an-ulo, go yel

Compare the fo1’’owing:-

eoha, stand. imperative: eoha, stand!

Ido, save Ido mgue, aave thyself!

2

as will be seen later ( j there Is also a semantic

alternation of the initial vowel in certain verbs, e.g. odo,

be headed, saved; ido, heal, save.

b. Consonant verbs are formed on the mode1 C - V * 0 +• V

For example:-

(1jladj: pass.

(1jlafu: reach, leave.

(1jlagu: beware.

(ijtama: run.

(i)tasi: stretch out.

(i jtenj; speak.

(1)tona: ask for, pray.

(1jgbwaga: begin.

(1jkuba: be ab^e.

(1jfuga: possess.

These verbs have an unstable vowe1 at the beginning. This

appears in certain tense forms, e.g. a-h-jtoba, they followed

c.f. a-h-abe, they received.

Tn the verb-noun the i appears sometimes and at other times

is absent, e.g. ahosu itda llodu: they feared asking him.

mocha I tana: T have pity.

But: todi itdabayl: his teaching.

The X is dropped in the imperative singular: e.g.

Tona udu anlsosa lye: ask what you like!

Tana umwe: have pity on me!

Tasj nahldle: stretch out thy hand!

- 3 -

It Is dropped also when the verb Is preceded by the

connected form of the persona’’ pronoun, e.g.

mutona Mugue; I pray to God*

2. DERIVATIVE VERBS*

Does the Efe verb form derivatives ’’ike the Bantu verb -

causative, prepositional, reverslve, etc.?

Our materia’’ provides on^y one example, and that is of a

reverslve form made by suffixing -go to the simple verb: Itu,

tie, be tied becomes 1tu-go, untie.

11.4. Ba holo, ba hupa kalnagbwl ba-ltu a Itisl llpl na,

tumbi ahltugo, ba hele jtda: they went and found a colt tied by

the door outside; then they untied and brought it.

11.5. Achu bal bo cha na anjtugo kainagbwi. ale? What do ye

untying the colt?

4

3. ALTERNATIVE VERBS.

There Is more evidence of alternative forms of the verb,

made not by suffixes, but by changing the initial vowel of certain

vowel verbs.

Tn certain verbs 1- appears to give a causative, or

transitive sense, while o- gives a stative or intransitive sense.

Examples:-

lsi, to satisfy. osj. to be satisfied, of. Nyoro: lgusa,lguta.

8.4. Aiohl bo hana abl hutdu alalye bugati hikuba isj

hegbwe-lnie merl abuia~mba? How is a man to get the bread

able to satisfy the stomachs here in the desert?

8.8. Tumbj ahanu, ba hegbwe-jnl host; Then they ate and the

stomachs were satisfied.

avu is to drink; i vu, cause or offer to drink, of. Nyoro:

nywa, nywjsa.

16.18. Hapl oha besi ba ahavu udu a hisufu alye bapere: and

if they shall drink any deadly thing...

9.4i. ,i^ara.,.ab 1 ..baja.ax.fi. .ahu, ad5 d.hl.,aji.t...ah.ixu; for whosoever

shall give you to drink.

N.B. avu sometimes appears as uvu: 10,39. avu anjhuvu,

drinking ye shall drink; 14,25. ubu jdenj musuvu ait the uay

in which I drink. But this change in vowel is probably due

to assimilation.

atde is to be astray, be lost, quenched; jtde, throw away,

destroy.

12.27. Tholahola anihatde: you are altogether astray.

9.48. okpwe a hakjsatde ai ya: (where} the fire is not

quenched.

throws away hi 3 life.

1.24. Amu haitde hu be nere? Art thou come to destroy us?

On the other hand an a-verb may be active; e.g. aka is to

divide; uka Is ’separated*, ’parted’, ’parting’.

15.24. Ba haka ldegu kombe jtdaba haisocha: they parted

among thmseives his garments.

10.4. •« ahachogbwe uka nj balye tdo^e anl al bat: 1et

there be written (a document; of parting of your wife

and you.

There appears to be no semantic relation between vowe1 and

consonant verbs, that is to say, our materia*’ provides no

evidence that the first or second syllable of the latter is a

prefix or suffix to the former: gbwaga, ’begin*, has no

apparent connexion with aga, marry; nor logo, * choose*,

with ogo, ’come out*. There is, it is true, an apparent

similarity of meaning between 1ja and le ja, ’offend’and

’cause to stumb'*e* - both used to translate the Nyoro

esitaza. But the 1a (la+i -e; does not appear to modify the

meaning of JJa.

9.43. Besi nahedj hachlleja: if thy hand cause thee to

offend •..

9.42. Ab! bap ere best edf abj hlja atdl a Peko: whosoever em— im» i ii — mm muwmw— »11 u i ■ ■»miiw-i ■ 1wwi.ii

causes a little child to offend....

Another example is seen in the verbs lagbwu and ogbwu,

cast, throw,away.

9.18. hene tai hl.lagbpu it da: it casts him down.

9.22. abu ailka ha1lagbwu Itda: ofttlmes it casts him

10.50. Tumbl ni hogbwu kombe Itda: then he cast away his

garment.

Vowe1 changes appear not to take place with semantic effeot

in consonant verbs. The only possible exception is in the

verbs legbwj, change; lagbwi. be changed.

11.15. abj a ahajal legbwl feza: men who were changing money.

9.2. Tumbl hjlagbwi ide auwe: he was changed before them.

4. active and passive vebbs

There appears to be no passive form of the verb. This is

replaced by inversion; l.e. instead of saying, he was killed,

the Pygmies say, they killed him.

Examples:

Hapi edl ahlaadu Balabaj haooha.

And one they-oalled Barabas (rel. t he-was.

l.e. and there was one named Barabas. (Nyoro: ayetwa)♦

toohue ahaohitenj

word they-shel**-speak.

l.e. the Gospe’’ shall be preached. (Nyoro: erakagambwaga)

ayaga ohlallofu Ide al tai: (when) the bridegroom sha*’’* be

taken from them. (Nyoro: lhl’-wa) literacy: the

bridegroom they take.

.ljere abu abu a\ika ahurnba itda: for he had been often bound:

literacy: because time time many they bound him. (Nyoro:

Bakamuboha).

Sometimes the reflexive pronoun is used. Thus, instead of

the English ’he was manifested’, end the Yoro akolekwa ’he was

shown* (passive^, the Efe has hltodu aguwa. ’he showed himself*.

Some verbs oan be used with both an active and passive

sense. Awu, e.g. may signify both ’to take away’ and ’to be

taken away’.

e.g. To bo ha hawu uduitda Muguul? Who can forgive

(take away) sins but God?

Uduitda uibayl hawu ba na igbwa; thy sins are forgiven

Uduitda ulbayl hawu nimba: thy sins are taken from thee.

Hapl ahlsoto benl hlna hawu ni imegbwj: they saw that the

stone was rolled back, l.e. taken away.

(Nyoro has Ihirwe; kumblslbwe - passive)

(1)La1 a means both ’to tear* and ’be torn*.

e.g. Lotdl hl1ala Itda lholahola: the spirit tore him grievously.

... hl1 ala ku fuku ltdabalye: he rent his clothes.

Tumbl ukmidu yekalu bal hl1alas then the veil of the temple

was torn. (Nyoro has the statlve, temuka, ’become torn’.

(1jToso means both ’to gather* and ’be gathered, assembled’.

Tumbl ahi toso Imbumbwe: then they gathered the fragments.

Ba hltoso banyakatagala abltlrl ltdamba bapere:•..and al 1

the chief priests came together to him.

5. CONJUGATION of thb vkrb

The verb stems are inf Teo ted more m Sfe than in other

Eastern Sudanlc languages. The main conjugations! elements are

prefixes.

a.- The Imperative.

(1) A oonrand or request to the person addressed may be

expressed by the simplest form of the verb. Vowel verbs m o

have u <n the Imperative: consonant verbs drop the Initial 1.

adas- ada ide aholo: Tell them to go I

awu:- awu mumba: take away from me I

echa:- ec ha: - stand upI

ldo:- Ido nlgues- save thyself!

ugl:- ufll Tsai er 1 ye; Hear, o jsrae’’I

olo:- u'o na nulembe:- go in peace!

(l^tana:- tana umues- have pity on me!

(l;tasl;- tasl nahIdle: stretch out thy hand!

(l)tona:- Iona udu anlsosa lye; ask what you ’’ike!

(1'toba:- to ba umue: fo^ow met

(2j More frequently the command or request is formed by

prefixing the connected personal pronouns, n- in the singular,

and an- in the plural. Thia is always done when two imperative

verbs come together. This may be oaVed jussive.

Singular: n- prefixed to the verb.

aha:- naha: out it off.

tail:- eoha, nitall bulu nj: stand and take thy bed.

ere,soha:- nere, naoha umue: come and follow me.

Ido:- njdo amue: help us.

lhi:- njhl nauwehl: pluck out thy eye

itdl:- nitdl itda: touch her.

olo:- nolo: Got

o^o, opa:- u^o nop a udu: go and seV things

oio, todu:- uio nltodu njgue: go, show thyself.

Plural: an- prefixed My to verb.

aso: ana so muiembe: live together in peace.

(l)bala: anibala tub! gbwogbwou ltdabaiye; make his paths straight

ere: anere itda: bring him.

etdl: anetd! Ide anue: give ye them to eat.

ogi: anugl: Hear yeI

°1 o: anulo na hene: go mto the village.

otro: anutro anjhltona: watch and pray.

(ipagu: anjlagu ayogbwenini mba: beware oi* the scribes.

In form there is no distinction between the imperative

nadu, calll and the indicative nadu, thou callest; or between

anetdl, GiveI and anetdi, you give. Possibly the difference

may be marked by the tone, or by stress, in speech. When an

objective pronoun accompanies an imperative, its position is

norms'* ^y after the verb: with the indicative It usually precedes

the verb.

umue nadu Is: me you oa**l, you aa"*! me.

umue nobo Is: me you leave, you leave me

But nacha umue i s: you-fo^^ow me, Follow meI

nido amue is: you-help me, Help met

(5) The H.-form

imperative (see )

of the verb is frequently used as an

Possibly, here again the distinction from

the indicative would be marked by tone or stress

ote!~ tymbl anihote Itda: then take ye him, or, you take him

(Nyoro has the subjunctive here: mumukwatej

(ijtoba:- tumbj ha anj anlhitoba: Then fo^ow (him), or, you

follow him. (Nyoro subjunctive: mukuratlre)

(i)tona:- anutro anihltona: watch and pray: or, watch and

you pray. (Nyoro has both verbs In the subjunctive,

muroie, musabe j

(4) Certain suffixes appear to emphasize or modify the

imperative

-JI

ogo:- U&O-11 ltdamba: come out of him I

alls- anal!-11 urn? answer met (N.B. umu not umue)

(l)lagu:- anilagu-Jli take heedl

oses- amuse-11: let us cross over.

-BA

•Ils- n_Qll-ni-ba alyai hegbwe: return unto thy house

otos- uto-ba: see, beholdl (Nyoro: Doral)

upl:- aaup 1,- ba abu 1 a, , an 1 ho to: sit ye here and watch.

iya:* jya-ba na amuhoto: let be that we may see (Nyoro: Veka.

turot e)

£y_a-ba na atdi a hegbwe hoai: let the children be

satisfied.

-PS

oto:- uto-pe amuhtsobo: Behold we have left...

uto-pe: Beholdl (Nyoro: Doral)

(5) The Cohortatlve, expressing an invitation in which the

speaker includes himself, is formed by prefixing amu-, we, to

the verb.

afu:- anere na amuhaju: come, ‘‘et us klV (him;.

(6} A kind of Optative, expressing a desire or wish

or obligation, is formed by prefixing Hamb- to the verb.

Hamb- appears to be the H- form of a verb amba. in the

text It Is used with vowel verbs only.

afu:- afu na haxabafu: let him be put to death!

odo;- uwehlye hambodo: let (myj eyes be healed!

upl:- ahambup1-ba na he ne: let them sit on the ground!hambuhu

uhu:- a.Mka abi hosl ltda upl taattnr na: and many

rebuked him that he should be silent.

ere:- #11 ya hambere lebanas jHlaa must come first.

olo:- amuhambolo: are we to go?

aba:- help a lleko. al ahambaba ltda: that they should

bring him a little boat.

Some of theso instances show that this form Is used In

indirect as well as tn direct speech.

(7) A similar (If not identical optative Is formed by

prefixing hap- to the verb.

ogo;« Krlsto... hapogo upula ugbwa mba: Let Christ now

leave the cross.

ogi:- hapogl: let him hear!

Abt a ahisocha uplanl ant ahapogi Pemba: let men

who have ears hear well!

(8) 3oi.a imperatives are formed with na following the

verb, e.g. anulo na hens: go into the country (village).

The Nyoro here usee the subjunctive, Mugende omu kjka,

this being, as in other Bantu languages, a norma’’ way of

expressing a wish, or mild imperative. The na is

evidently employed for the sama purpose m ,>fe, and may

be regarded as forming the subjunctive,.

Other examples:*

eJi:- anal11 na: go away, depart.

upl:- Upl na mahedi agbwi: sit on my right hand.

adu:* ana du na: call ye (him) (Nyoro: Mumwete: subj.j

ldo:* an I do na Itda: leave her alone (Nyoro: Mumuleke:subj.)

ltdi:- anitdj na: take ye (ltj. (Myoro: Mukwate: subj.)

lju:* aniJu na: take ye your rest. (Nyoro: Muhumule: subj.)

(1>lube:* tube na ugbwa mba: crucify him (Nyoro: Mubambe

ha mutt: subj.)

(9) The Prohibitive, or negative imperative, is formed

in the singular, by infixing *agj* between the pronoun n*

and the verb. Tn the plural the infix la *hag» and the

pronoun is anl* Consonant verbs show their initial 1_*.

Singular:

afu:- nagafu: do not kill

ifo:- naglfo: do not accuse falsely.

osu;- nagosu: be not afraid

(l^hoka:- nagihoka: do not steal

(i)hobiya:- nagjhobiya: do not defraud.

(ijtochu:- nagit o^ohu-ha; do not tell.

Plural:

ibu:- anlhaglbu ekajje eslyate ekpwe: do not put on two

coats.

olo:- anjhagoio na udu: do not go with, l.e. oarry, a

thing.

osu:» anjhagosu: be ye^ not afraid.

(l)teni:- anjhagltenj: do not speak.

uhu:- anjhaguhu na: be not amazed.

Tn some rare instances -ak- takes the place of -ag­

in the singular.

apa:- nakapa ltdamba aHnje esiglte: never enter him again

aje:- hakajl musosa ohj: ^et it not be as I desire.

(10) A future or continuous imperative is formed by

infixing -ach- between the verb and pronoun

Singular i

aha: - nachaha: out (it; off.

osa:- naohoaa Maka feugunjbai: thuu shalt love the

Lord thy God.

osuj* naohosu ebe erne a: honour thy father and mother.

Tn the pluralt the pronoun ani.« is followed by -hao.h~

instead of -oh-

etdl:- anthaohetdl: give ye (constantly;.

Itetes- tumhl anlhaohltete: then shake off.

(11) One form of the negative future imperative 1s

farmed in the singular by infixing -agtoh- between the

pronoun and verb, in the plural the infix fa ha^ioh-

and the pronoun is ant♦

Singular:-

(ijlasi:- nagiohilaal: do not enter: thou sha^t not

enter.

Plural:-

(1)taiu:* anl a lgbwa haglohltalu: be ye your selves

not troubled.

(*»2^ A variant of the negative future imperative

Is formed by infixing -khagls- • This appears to be

very emphatic.

a b e: - Ubu ale bee! abt haohlten! ani lachl, "Kriato

hooha na abu la mba", use hschasi, "atdule na

hooha"t anjkhaglsabe eajyate: in that day if a

men shaM say to you, "Christ 1s here", or say,

"Christ is there", believe <t not at aV .

This Is the only instanoe in the text*

13. A clraumstant!al negative, with a future Implication’,

1s formed by infixing ~ha^1a~ . As the infix -s- indicates

this form means that in such an such conditions, a certain

course Is not to be foVowed.

31ngular:

(ijtute: ha&1al tute: let him not descend.

Ploral:

(1) gbwaga:- anihagl stbwaga 1Values do not begin to

be anxious.

(i/ta"»u:* &r4 hast at t tP u it da: do not rebuke him.

anlhaKlaltal.u 1de: rebuke them not.

An indicative form is identical with thia (see )

e.g. okpwe a hagl sat de a!: a fire that is not quenched.

ant a aha^ieahe: you who do not believe.

anjye ahagis~ogl alt if they do not listen to you.

14. Another oiroumstantiai negative is formed by

prefixing kt a- to the verb. Only one instance is given

in the text.

oji: kl sogi hjoht alinlye; let him not return back.

*»5. An imperative form is produced by reiterating the

verb, first in the substantive form and then with

prefixes, or without.

abet- abe n1 an1hac h a b e: believe ye, i.e. go on believing

or believe firmly.

abe ni abe: only believe.

abe a nabe atdl ^eko: allow the little children.

b. The H- tense form

This form states the action or Condition denoted by

the verb, with no definite indication of time. it is

used both of the present and of the past. It may also

be imperative.

H- is prefixed to the verb. Consonant verbs have the

initial vowel. This, in some verbs is changed, apparently

for the purpose of harmonisation: e.g. instead of

hllusj, ’he makes’, we get hulus*. Some o-vowe** verbs

change the o into u, e.g. hulo, for ho^ o; but this 1s not

always done.

The H- does not appear in the 1st and 2nd persons

singular. The normal form with the pronominal prefixes

appears thus:-

1 p. sing, m- with vowel verbs 1 p. pl. amuh-mu- with consonant verbs;

2 ’* w n-f 'H-t - vrvMu C-cXx,

2 ” " anlh-

3 " H -h- 3 ” ” ah-

In the 3rd per. sing, there Is no prononima*1 prefix:

hoto. he, or it, sees, in the plural the a- Is not always

written, but is absorbed in the preceding connective ba,

e.g. ba ho^o, ’and they went’, it would be better,

perhaps, to write this: ba aholo.

Examples of the 1st and 2nd persons, singular and

plural:*

1st person singular: m~ prefixed to the vowel

mu~ prefixed to the consonant verb; no h- .

verb:

tya: Mya: T do. Also: mays*

abe:- m-abej I believe.

ere: - mere: I come, I bring

osa: - mosa: I love, I desire

etdl:- metdi: I give

ltdj:- mltdi: I hold, I have held.

(I) teni mutenl: I say

oi o: - moi o: I go c to :

ocha: - mocha: I am

(1)lus1:- ant mulusl: I make for you

(1^1 ama: - mulama:

(ijrag*:- muragi:

(1) tapu:- mutapu:

I smite

T ki ss

I adjure, I swear

(1) tons: - lautona: ? pia y

(ijtuka:- mutuka: I beseech

2nd person singular: n- prefixed to the verb;

adu:~ umue nadu: you call me

obo:- umue nobo: you 1 eave me

no h

ochas- nooha: thou art

oto: - nuto: thou aeest.

(1)lusf:-- hllugI* you make

(1)teni:-• nitenf. you say

(f jkuba:*• nfkuba, you are able

(1 j todu: •• nltodu: you show

(ljtodf:-■ njtodf. thou teaohest

1st person plural: anu t h

osa:* agkuhosa: we desire, we love#

oto:~ amuhoto able: we saw a man

(tjta’u:- tumbl aauhltalu: then we rebuked him

otde:- b&ko aiauhotde: see, we are dying.

ooha:- amuhooha a1fka:wearw are many

aoha:- amuhacha fafe: we follow thee

(ljlusl: aauhulusi: we make

(l^kuba: amuhfkuba: we are able.

2nd person plural: an! f h*

osa: anfhosa: you desire

oto: anthoto: you see*

Itol: anlhjtoj: you seek

atde: Iholaho^a anjhatde: you ere very much astray

aftgFc* you come, you bring

(ijkubas anlkuba: you are well

(i/lual: anilusi: you do, you r.;ske

Tn our text we find the H* form used m these

ways:-

() 70 m d 1 o a xe the p re aer t

abe:- umue nl, ha be: he receives myself. (Nyoro:

atktrlze: perfect/

atdc- edt Marbo hatde: one th* ng thou laokeat.

ltes- Sabttt hi te t-t lbo huha nt <*: the Sabbath artists

for man*

yohtya:- umue am hlyohiya: you tempt me.

lema:- ah* lean anlye: they rule you.

(b j Tn questions:-

(tpupe:- zvQhudu bai bo eha ide anlhllupa? What are you

questioning them about?

og'owe:- taohl nt hapl hagbwe Magu ab! bat? How is It

written of the Son of man?

ooha; (1) 1 s'* 1 s- Ade ma hocha na omuhliaM hma alalye?

Who sha’’’’ ro11 ua away the stone?

ttdls- Ade hltdl a bo malfbwa? Who touched me?

awu:- To bo ha hawu uduitda ^ut^u nl? Who can forgive

sins but God only?

agi:- Anlhagl abule? Why think ye these things?

(1Huru:* Achudu bal be cha anihiiuru it da igbwa?

Why do you trouble her?

(o) As we have seen already ( ) the H* form is

sometimes used as an imperative* Some further

examples:*

osu- rya-ba na at di a hegbwe host: let the children be

sat!sfled.

1ta:* ...tumbl hit a agua 1gbwa: let him deny himself

o^o; abu;- ahoTo, ahabu ubo dehu; let them go and stay

elsewhere.

etda:- a bl a h 1 a 1 s om a I h e t d a: - ’’et the man who reads

understand.

(d) Sometimes, as the context shows, the action or state

expressed by the verb in the H* form 1s definitely In

the past; and sometimes, since its effect remains, it

wouM be translated in the perfect in English.

oto:* amuhote able: we saw u man

(l/taiu:~ tumbi amuhltaiu; then we rebuked (hlin)

ogbwe:- frtoa hogbwe amu laohi; Moses wrote unto us thus.

(1jhlka:» best ba 111 h1h!ke: for harvest has arrived.

(e) The H* form Is used often tn oondtttoml phrases,

following suoh conjunctions as Bestba: a be si; best;

betcha.

aka: Best be oka haka akugu oka itda naglkubauple

■sly ate: If a kingdom te divided ©g'inst Itself,

that kt ngdon cannot stand at aV.

11 d e: Abes! abt hl the a 1ghwaola itdabal...If a man

loses his life...

ata: Beal ab,i hats ur&ue ttoba: If a man desires to

follow me.

eba: Best ba idj hep a hodu u hodu: If the salt ’’oses

Its savour...

acha: pel- oha bari 1 tuoie huoha 1ya-agbwi-ye; If a

woman puts away her husband...

(d> The H* form 1s used frequently where the subjunctive

m’ght be expected.

oka: Ada Ide ahoiq nhebu ubo dehu, ahokal anue;

bld them to go and stay elsewhere, so that they ray buy

themselves food, (tfyoro: be gu * re ebyokulya; sub].}

(1 A as 1 j iunutlsu na tlkohihl, amuhU&al ide al ya:

send ub Into the swine that we may enter Into them

(Nyoro: tuzttahemuf subj.j

The following sections were not available at time of digitisation.

• Conjugation of the verb.

o. The Na- tense form: subjunctive.

d. The Ha-form, past.

e. The G- form, negative.

f. The K- form, negative.

g. The Hag-tense form: negative

The use of this form as a Prohibitive, or negative

imperative, has been illustrated (see ). It is also

employed where a subjunctive might be expected;

e.g. Anuto, anihitona, anjhagiiasi lupe-iupe hegbwe:

Watch and pray, that ye enter mt into temptation.

(Nyoro: Muro^e, musabe, mutataha omu kwohebwa)

Gabe abe abj bapere hagiiadt ha na Mbjdte: He did not

a1low that a man should carry a vesse’’. Note the na

in this instance (see ). The Nyoro here has the

infinitive okurabya, to carry.

••• tumbj harm bugati todu-ni baiye, uduX-adada bai ga

nj al abj a pesj haganu banyakataga^a-nj: then he eat

bread of showing, which by the ’’aw other men except the

priests should not eat.

It is a1so used indicatively, after idere, ’because1.

Aniketda bo udud bapere hjsocha tefu si ye besi hi^asj ab-*

a igbwa hegbwe hakjmagu able esiyaie, idere hagi^asi

bo^uhehj hegbwe...?

Do you hot know that anything which is outside if it enters

into a man cannot make a man bad at all, because it does not

enter into his heart?

And a1so in other ways:-

(ijkuba:- haglkuba: he cannot, is not ab^e.

abj bo mba ihu ate hagi kuba... idere bapere hikuba

h. The Hak-tense foim: negative

This alternative form of the negative Is used to

translate the Nyoro negative subjunctive formed with

the aid of the auxiliary verb ieka, e.g.

&up a: abel oha here jfofo ide ha/upa anlye ubu-a-nj

(so that) If he comes suddenly he should not find you

sleeping. (Nyoro: obwaluja bwango al eke okubasanga

mugwl j.agire;

Tike Hag- it is also used 1ndlcat!ve1y after ldere.

etda: jdere ahaketda tochu ale: for they did not

understand that saying.

With cha (see ) It may form a future tense:

avu: makavu cha, I will not drink.

aga: ahlsltu^u a otde ku a oha ahakaga cha:

When they are risen from the dead they will not marry.

It is also used as a prohibitive

anu: ahakapa cha anue: let them not eat again.

Mugu mb a: To man it is not possible, but a1! things

are possible to God.

eba:- 1gbwa o? a h age ba a: life which does not end.

jThe Haig-tense form: negative.

This Is another infrequent form. It appears to have

a condltiona’’ or potential sense, always in the past,

achu; anu: - Tumbi ahoto aitodi itdabadie dehu hanu

anue hedj_ 1 tda, ahajgachu ide a hecPe. Tdere Abafa^isayo

ini Bayudaya ina bapere ahalgachu tai ide a hecH e

Pemba aha^ganu. .. Ahalgtsachu e ide hecHe ahaiganu

eslyate: Then they saw some of his disciples eating food

(with) dirty hands, not having washed their hands.

For Pharisees wlxh a11 the Jews unless they have washed

the-’r hands weP do not eat... Unless they have washed

their hands they eat not anything.

osa:- Tumbj hpasl, halgosa abj bape hetda; Then he

entered (a house) and did not wish any man to know.

(1) tochu:- Tumbj ahere ltda abl uplhuna, halgltochu

f emba: Then they brought to him a deaf man (who) did

not speak well.

k• The Hajk-tense form: negative.

Tn one Instance the alternative form Halk- occurs.

etda: -> jdere hajketda htsall alye tochu na: for he

knew not what to say in reply.

1. The Maig-tense form: negative.

There is one instance m the text. Perhaps it 1s an

error in transcription.

u b e: - Maka haiglsube ha ubu ale malgo do ha tgbwa bapere:

If the Lord had not shortened that time nobody would have

been saved

m• The His-tense form: clroumstantlai

de can this the circumstantial form, because It Is used

in dependent clauses.

The H- appears in the "’st and 2nd person plural and

tn the 3rd person singular and plural. The singular is

not preceded by a pronominal prefix: e.g. h-< sadu:

*he opJM'; in the plura’’ the prefix is a-, e.g.

a-tHsadu, ♦ they ca^ed’. The a- 1s usua^y dlsnitshd

when tt is preceded by the connective ba, e.g.

or the relative particle a, e.g* abi a hlsanu ( = abt a

ahtsanu)

Examples of the st person singular: mu 4» s-:-

e t d 1: - udu a anjni muse t di al bapere: whatsoever T give.,

osa:- mamagu musosa ai: my son whom v love.

(ijteni:- ... musjtenl: .... I have said.

(1jtibu:- umusitjbu a mukwenda maiye:....T send my

messenger.

osu:- mususu aninl alufue eohimbu: when I broke for the

3,000.

Examples of the nst person plural: amu _ f__ his-

obo:- ... amuhi so bo o1 ue bapere.... We : ave left a’’"’,

use:- amuhlsuse Yerusaiemu a: ... we go up to Jerusalem.

Examples of the 2nd person singular; ni 4 s.

anu: - lbu a idem nisanu al ye lodi nl a: a place where

thou mayest eat the Passover.

klena:- ugbwa nlslklena le: the tree which thou

cursedst••••

(l)tenl:- .... nisitenj..... thou sayest.

upl:- Tlemba ga nlsupi tdo^e: Tt is not good that

you stay with the woman.

Examples of the 2nd person plural: anl this

asi:- abl ale anlhlsasl ^e: the man you mention.

ejl:- ... anlhlsehl.... you depart.

ogl:- ... udu anlhlsugi... things which you hear.

osa:- Tona udu anlsosa alye:- ask what you "Hke.

(ljtona:- anlketda udu a anlhisjtona le: ye know not

what ye ask.

NOTE

There are a few instances in which the H Is dropped:

these may be errors in transcription.

abe:- abl bapere 1sabe umu: every man who receives me.

(N.F. umu, not umue)

ere;- isere ma 1 ipo n1 al ltda: after me comes one...

ldere isere ai hl batlza: but one comes who

baptises.

The His- form Is used in various subordinate clauses:-

(a) Tn Relative Clauses.

These may be or frequently are not, introduced by a

and end with al or al ye (objective), or le (referencej,

or mba (postposl t« on).

abe:- Bapere hlkuba cha abl a In sabe al mba: A’’’’

(things) are possible to the man who believes.

abe: - atdl a jleko ^edl a #gbwa umue aahlsabe ^ede:

’’Itf’e ch^dren who believe tn me.

anu:- ... abl a hlsanu al lhehl: men who produce fruit.Ou

ere:- Hasanal ba ltda hetdl mugisa hlse^e Maka abe nl^al

Hosanna’. let blessing be given to him who comes in the

name of the Lord.

(ijlotde:- ... abl a hisl^otde nafugal mba: a man who

trusts in riches

(1 pubes- itda ga ahi silube ugbwa mba le: whom they

have crucified.

(ip.usi:- udu a hisl^usi aiye: the things which he did

obo:- abt a lusobo ai: a man who has left....

ogo:- udu ahjsogo abi mbai: things which come out of a man.

otde:- Yokana hitu^u hjsotde le: John is risen - he

who was dead.

oto:- udu ahisoto alye: The thing they had seen.

(ijsuna:- abi a Irsisuna kombe obu ajye: a man who sews

a new cloth.

There are other relative clauses on the mode’’ of

’the thing with which I did it’, or ’the place at which T

did it’. Tn such clauses ideni and the His- form are

emp’’ oyed.

(ijbatiza:- ibatiza a ideni umue ahjsibatiza; the baptism with

which T am baptized, i.e. they baptise me;

ere:- ubu a ideni aiubo hi sere aiye: the time at which

the master comes.

anu:- jbu a ideni nlsanu aiye: a p^ace in which you eat.

ajyai ideni aitodi hisanu a*: the house at which the

teacher eats

ocha:- tumb! ahere idem hai sacha abu a: the came

to the p^ace where he was.

ahitoao idenl halsocha abu a: they gathered to

the p^ace where he was.

avu:- kopo a Ideni 1 tda hl suvu nl a: the cup from which

he drinks.

11e:- uto-ba Ibu a idem ltda ahtslte: see the place

where they ^ajd him.

(bj Tn objective clauses.

a clause fo”1 lowing uto-ba, ’see, behold’, and

similar forms of oto, Is dependent because it stands

as the object of the principal verb, answering the

question, ’What am t to see?’ The H1s-form 1s used

in such Causes. It Is preceded, but not always, by

the particle na.

(1 ) 11 bu: - Uto-ba, umusltlbu a mukwenda mal: Beho*» d, T

send my messenger.

use:- Uto-ba na amuhisuse Yerusat emu a: Behold that we

go up to Jerusalem.

adu: - Uto-ba na hl sadu Ellya: Behold that he car's Elias.

o c ha:- Tnagoto bo cha tochu hisooha aMka jnt a

* ahisocha itjsu a? Dost thou not see that the

things are many of which they accuse thee?

Simper noun clauses, in which the His- form is

used, fo^ow the verbs etda, ’know’, ’understand’,

ogi, ’hear’; (l.P agu, ’take heed*, ’beware’, and

other verbs of mental action.

Following etda:-

aH:- aketda ahlsap ltda ni a: they knew not what to

answer him.

jdere halketda hisaij al ye tochu na: for he knew

not what word to say •’n rep^y.

ota:- ba hen hota benl cha ltda ketda hisota aiye:

the seed springs up, wh^e he knaws not how it

springs up.

ata:- Een< hetda udu a h^sata: knowing the thing which

had happened.

op a: - Ide re tumbi ahetda idem hlsopa mapa a^e a:

for he understood that he *»ikened them with that

parabie

Following ogi:-

(l)tenl: Anugj na apt musjteni al ye: Hear what I

say to you.

Following (1 P agu: -

ogi:- Anl^agu-ji udu anjhtsugi: Take heed what ye

hear.

(o) Tn Temporal clauses.

These are clauses which in English are introduced by

adverbs, such as ’when’, ’after’, ’until’, Tn Efe the

His- form is used usua^y without any adverb: the

adverb may fo^ow in the main clause. Tn Nyoro such

clauses are introduced by obu- which Maddox says marks

a participle.

ogi: - abj aMka hisogi alye udu a hisj^usl alye maha no,

tumbl ahitoba itda: many people (when; they heard

of the wonderful things which he did, then they

followed him.

agl:- Petero hlsag* a alye tumbi hjiaha oba: (when;

Peter thought thereon he wept tears. (Nyoro: kandi

obuyakitekerlze ya’ + a)

ata:- Hapi eslgl his^'ta ichl ni a abl a halsooha

adl Ja Petero nalo: And a Tittle (when) it

passed, a man who was standing there said to

Peter: (Nyoro: kandi akacu kake obukahlngulreho)

eba: - Hapl Isa jmaya hiseba, tumbl olu hosa hene bapere

and (when) the sixth hour passed, then darkness

covered the who1 e earth. (Nyoro: kandi esaha

eyomukaga obuyahikjre...;

1 b e: - Ahlsibe uwe ose ni a, tumbl aholo hene a

Genesal eslya: (when; they had crossed over, then

they came to the 1 and of G. (Nyoro: kandi

obubamazlre okwambuka...;

Hapi hlslbe lslma nl a, tumbl hube; and (when; he

had finished giving thanks, he broke... (Nyoro:

kandi obuyamazlre okusima...)

(1)1 afu: - Ahlspafu he^e hegbwe aiye, abuTelnanl ahetda

1tda:- (when) they came out of the boat,

iiijnedi ate*»y they knew him. (Nyoro: kand-^

obubarugire amu bwato...j

(1) 1 o d 1: - Hapl halsjiodl alye ba hoto left, magu

Allfayo batye: and (when) he was passing, then he

saw Levi, son of Alphaeus. (Nyoro: kandj obwakaba

naraba...;

Abuieinani ubu malya hisliodj nt a, tumbl:

Immediately the sixth day (when) it passed, then...

(Nyoro: kandi ebjro mukaga obubyahingujreho...)

oto:- hapj jtda hjsoto atye abuieinani lotdi hjiaiahe

itda iholahoia: and (when) $hey saw him immediately

the spirit tore him greatly (Nyoro: kandi

abuyamuboine...j

hlsjiafu itda ni a goto iheh^ye: (when) he reached

it, he saw no fruit. (Nyoro: obuyarozire when

he saw)

(i )ias1: ogo:- Hapi hisjiasi aitaiye hisogo abj aijka

maiye, tumbl aitodi itdabadj hjlodu itda: and when

he entered the house and left the multitude, h-’s

disciples asked him. (Nyoro: kandi obuyatahire

omu nju, arugire amu kjtebe...)

(d; in conditional clauses the Hl- form 1s

frequently used following certain conjunctions:

sometimes the H1s- form is used a^one.

Ido:- Ba hup4 ttda osiye hjsjdo sabltl ni a: they were

watching him (in case) he headed on the Sabbath.

n. The Hals-tense form: circumstantial past.

This Is the past tense of the circumstantial H4s-

Examp^es of Its use:-

(1) tod 1: - CPu hobu ko manpl aniya yekaiu hegbwe,

majsitodi a, to be umu anlhote: I was dapy with you

in the temple (whi^e) teaching, and ye took me not.

(Nyoro:......... nj nyegesa j

ahi:- Haisahl gbwogbwou aiye... (when) he was going on

the road... (Nyoro: obwakaba nagenda...)

oya: - Hapl abi a^lka hltatu beni ahooha ltona abe hoya na

bent Ide ha1soya chi: and the multitude went up and

asked him to do as he as wont to do unto them. (Nyoro:

akoie nkokuyabako* +■ aga)

(ljkuba:- ... ahalsikuba It da umba lyembt ediate: a man

whom they could not bind in any way.

(ipadl:... ahaisliadt afye: (when) they were passing...

(l)iegbwl:- ... abi a ahalsp egbwl feza: men who were

changing money.

(1)1odu: ... hlsogl ide a ahalsllodu nt ldegu aiye tde

kugu aiye... (when) he heard them questioning among

themse’’ ves...

(l)ilsa:- ... abi a ahajsliisa: men who were heKbng...

o^o:- ... halsolo misirt: as he went through the fields.

o. The Gls- tense form: circumstantial negative.

There are three forms of the circumstantial negative,

vtz: G1 s- Hagis-; Haigls-

The Gts- form occurs rarely in the text.

ab e: - bahupt jtana agisabe a jhoiahoia: he stayed

astonished (because; they did not believe greatly, i.e.

because of their great unbelief.

a t u: - abuieinanj anlhjsjiafu alye ahe^j cha kainagbwl ba1tu

abj glsatu cha ide a ichu nl at edlate at: and

Immediately when you arrive, you will find a colt tied

upon which a man has never sat.

(1)1emba:- Tdere best oha ba anihoto udu a ahjsuwi atye

htsjtde hocha becha tdenl abu glsjiemba, tumbl...

But if so be you see a thing which Is hated (which they

hate; existing and standing in a place which is not good

(t.e.) where it ought not to be;, then...

ofo:- Hapj uohu nj a bugatl agisihofo a1 ba, 1 dent abu

ahlsttl 1 lodt n< a: and on the first (day, of

unleavened (unrisen) bread, when they sacrificed the

rassover. .... u \

The adjectival sense of this form is seen «n some of these

exampi es.

p• The Hagjs-tense form: circumstantla’’ negative

The use of this form as a Prohibitive has already-

been illustrated. The following are instances of the

usage tn the Tndlcattve, showing how it occurs in

dependent Causes.

abe: ogi: - ibu hapere idem aniye ahagisabe al aniye

ahagjsogl al, best anihachejl ahehi, tumbj...

And an peaces in which they do not receive you, end do

not listen, when you leave there, then...

ant a ahagj sabe... you who do not be'’■’eve.

otde; atde: ideni abu titro ’deba’ haglsotde a, okpw-’

a hagjsatde at ya: in the p^ace where their worm does

not die, and the fire is not quenched.

(1>todhu:- Aitodle, nimba ko mere magu maiya lotdl a

hocha hagisjtochu al: Teacher, T brought my son who has

a spirit which does not speak.

q. The Hajgjs-tense form; circumstantial negative.

The usage is similar to that of the Hagls-form, but the

active is regarded as past.

a o h u: — ahaigis-achu le ^de hedie ahaiganu esiyate:

Unless they have washed their hands, they do not eat

anything.

ochl.: - Pemba cha haooha abjmba itda mb a haiglsochi ha:

food were it for that man if he had not been born.

ube: - Mak a hajgisube ha ubu a^e ma! godo ha 1 gbwa bapere:

if the lord had not shortened that time no body

would have been saved.

r. The Cha tense form: future.

Un** Ike the forms hitherto described, this is not made

by prefix or infix. The seif-standing parVtfe cha

is placed before or after nne of the verb-forms, e.g. cha

hi tui u, he wpi use: hakotde cha, he w1’i not die.

This cha evidently bears a significance of time. Tn

one place in our text (13,32) It 1s used to translate the

Nyoro akasum1, * time*,’season*: Tdere ubu a^e usa cha

abl ahidetda iyembj edlyate: ’but of that day and hour

knoweth no man*.

As an adverb cha mould mean ’now* or ’then’, and

perhaps ’ever’

Tn conjunction with one of the other verb-forms it

often makes a future tense, and 1t Is common'’y used to

translate the Nyoro far-future (a-*»i-tera; t-a-"11 te^af,

and near-future (a-ra-tera; t-a-terej.I

But sometimes the sense Is present or perfect, and

*£ it is used to translate the Nyoro ’never’ tense

(t-a-ka-tera-gay, and ’not yet’ tense (t-a-ka-t^rej•

Cha may either precede the verb, or come after It.

As a ru^e, it cores before the verb when It is

adjoined to other parties such as hap i, tumbl, abes-^ b

etc.

That the position of cha has ho semantic signi'icanc

may be gathered from these successive phrases, (13,12;:

lyabi hetj cha tyachue... hap! cha afo hetl mague;

brother sha^l deliver his brother... and a father sha’’ ’

deliver his son.

Examples of cha preceding the verb, clearly

showing the future;

atde; amu;- tumbj cha Q1 hatde, hap! cha rlmba

haglchamu: then the sun sha'1’’ fap and the moon

sha’’’’ not shine.

avu:- hapl cha bes-< ba ahavu...and If they shaP drink,

echo:- tumbl cha butama hecho bapere: and the sheep

sha*’*’ be scattered

ere:- tumbl cha anlhere abi: then you wi?’’ meet a man

(Nyoro: muratanganaj

eti:- abu ett cha anje aheti maka bo: then they sha*’’’

de** •’ver you up to kings.

’’afu:- hapi cha itda ^afu eba-pa-i: he that shaV readh

the end.

(ipadl:- abesl ba cha ubu echlna hl’’ad-’: when three days

sha’’1 have passed.

(1 p odu: - ilodu cha hapi anle umu^odu tochu g-* edi; T a*»eo

ask you one question.

ote:- tumbl cha ahute uwa: and they shall take up snakes,

oto:- otro ni cha hapi anihuto Magu abi balye: and you

sha*11 see the Son of Man.

(ijtu^u:- tumbl cha hitu^u: then he w-’’’1 arise

Examples of Cha fo^ lowing the verb,_ (Pear',y with a future

sense.

eba:- Mu^embe a^ai hageba cha esiyabe: this generation

sha’’’’ never pass..

Ha^uitda-ini heba cha, tochu mai hageba nia cha: the

Heavens wlJt pass, but my word wi’’’’ never pass away.

(1 i 11ore: - Usa ha abl bapere h^ore, magi?ore cha: though

a’*’’ are offended, J w’V not be offended.

o^o:- mo bo a’’at hiPo cha: and these s*gns sha*» ■» follow.

o t d e: - tadj a ahlsooha abu^a mba baeoho ’’adl dehu hakotde

oh a esiyaye... of those who are here s$and-?ng some

sha1’’ never die...

(1 jkuba;- Bapere hlkuba oha abi a falsabe ai mba: a"11 t hi ngs

sha’’’’ be possible to a man who believes.

Examples in which Cha, whether before or after the verb, does

not give a future sense:-

(ijsoma:- anigtsoma cba udu a hisogbwe nl a? have ye not

read what is written? (Nyoro: ’never’ tense)

anlgjsoma cha kltato Musa bai hegbwe? Have ye not

read in the book of Moses? (Nyoro: ’never’ tense’ )

etda:- enfketda cha udue ise? Do ye not yet understand?

(Nyoro: ’not yet’ tense). The paitlcPe ise is

evidently ’yet’.

oto:- To bo cha nuto udue? - To cha muto able...: Canst thou

see anything? - T see men. (Nyoro: Nokweza.. ?

Nlmpweza... pre se nt.?

abe:- Mabeoha, gate mat huha: I be11 eve, he^p my unbelief.

(Nyoro: Nlnyikiriza, present)

r. The Haoh-tense form

We have already noticed (see ) that this form makes

an Imperative: e.g. anlhaohtten!: speak and go on

speaking. Tn the Indicative it translates the present

imperfect, the near and fur future and occasions*• 1 y the

subjunctive.

The text provides no instances of the "‘st per on,

singular, and on^y few of the 2nd person singular, and

these are Imperatives: nachucha: cut If off; nuchosa,

love, thou sha^t love.

(I) Present and near future.

881:- Betcha ant ale hachasl ajle ablttrl: If any of

you w*sh to be great men.

ejl:- Best anihaohejl aheht; when ye depart thenee.

echa:- hapt anlhaohecha tona hlohl: and whensoever

ye stand praying....

(tjleja:- Best nahedt hachlleja...: If thy hand cause

thee to stumble.

ogbwe:- Musa.hada na ba^ua na ahachogbwe: I’oses

ordered that they write a document. N.B. na:

subjunctive.

ogt: - Hapt best anihachogl.and If you hear...

o t d e: - Belcha abl a itlba hachotde: If a nan’s

brother die...

(1)tana:- Anihachltana besl anihachocha tochu a abl mba:

forgive ye if ye have aught against a man.

(ijtenl:- abl hachlteni anl: if a man says to you...

(l^todu:- ... ahaohltodl udu: they are teaching th-’ngs.

‘ 3 • Hagloh- tense form; negative

This rarefy used negative form inserts the particle

-gl- before the -eh-.

etdi:- /jgiuhaohetdl bo etil amuhagiohetdl bo? are v/e to

give or are re not to give? perhaps: go on giving.

tt . t. Balch - tense form

This form is s'*so infrequently found in the text.

Tts meaning cannot be distinguished from the Hach- form:

it Is used to translate the indicative near future and

the subjunctive.

(1)kuba:- Abes! hapl anlhachosa i»luhobu

anjhaichikuba ide oya jlemba: and if you desire you

wi^l be able always to do them good.

obo:- anjiagu abi bapere haiohobo anie itde ilupe:

Beware that any man may lead you astray. (Nyoro:

aiekege okubahabjsa;

TA u. Hach-cha tense form: future.

The addition of the particle aha, either before or

after the verb, imparts a future sense.

(i jkuba:- Anjhagisi taiu itda, jdere abi a hachjohjlusi

udu a mani baiya embi ediyate mabe nj aj haohjkuba oha

jfofo pule: Do not rebuke him, because no man who

does any deed of strength in sen my name will be ab^e

to blaspheme easily (quickly)

(i)tochu: ahachjtochu cha tochu abu a: and they shaP

speak new tongues

s. Ths Benl oha-gl tense form: yNot yet*

We have seen that oha Is sometimes used 1n translating

the Nyoro *not yet tense*. Tn an adverbla’’ dependent

o^ause oha may be preceded by benl and followed by the

negative gl« to express this idea.

11 e: anuto-ba, ani mutant a benl oha. glte bap ere:

Behold, I have toM you before a1! things oome to

pass, (while aV things have not yet oome to pass).

Nyoro; bl~ta~ka~balre~ko<