28 



ETYMOLOGY AND SYNTAX. 



AOKIST. 



Past. 



Future. 



PkEvSENT. 



Future. 



SUBJUNCTIVE FORMS. 



^ Pci'f. bi emi ba ri, if I see or saw. 



X Impf. l)i emi rjba ri, if I am or toas seeing. 



^ Perf. bi emi ba ti ri, if I luive or liad seen. 



\ Impf. bi emi r)ba ti ri, if I have or liad heen seeing. 



5 First, bi emi 6 ba ri, if I shall or will see. 



\ Sec. bi emi 6 ba ti ri, if I shall have seen. 



with ki. 



ki q ri or ki em' ri, that I see. 



ki emi ki 6 ri, that I shall or tvill see. 



Auxiliar'y Particles. 



§ 127. Before exhibiting in detail tlie forms of expression in Yoruba wlaicli 

 correspond to our ideas of mode and tense, we will first examine into the nature 

 and uses of each of the particles by the help of which these various accidents are 

 denoted. 



indicative takticles. 



Particle of Continuance. 



I) or m. 



§ 128. 1. The i^article 'q,' sometimes exchanged for 'm' before 'b' or 'f,' is 

 probably a contraction of ni, to be. We have analogous formations in several 

 words ; as, nld, to he great., which is composed of ni, to luive, and ihi, greatness ; mbe 

 (colloquial), there., from ni, in, and ibe, that place. 



2. When ' q ' is attached to a verb, it may be prefixed to the accompanying 

 particles also; as, emi i}si i)soi'o, and I was speaking. 



§ 129. 1. The use of 'q' or 'm' in conjugation is to denote a continuing or 

 unfinished action, or one which was unfinished at the time referred to ; as, omo 

 qsiiq, the child is sleeping or is asleep ; nigbati awa mb5 lana, when tve were coming 

 yesterday. 



2. Although it is not customary to prefix ' q ' to verbs in the future tense, no 

 reason is apparent why this should not be done ; as, yi 6 qsise, he will he worhing. 



3. This prefix is very appropriately employed in makmg general propositions, 

 that is, in asserting that which always holds good ; as, keferi qbo okpe, the heathens 

 worship the p>alm-tree ; eni ti rjke omo ni qba omo di;e, he who indnlges a child 

 spoils ff child. 



Pant Particle. 



§ 130. This particle denotes that an action is, was, or will be finished at or before 



