INFLEXION AND CONSTKUCTION OF WOKDS. 35 



not be set down as a definite past tense, because it is still frequently employed in 

 the present. ^ ■ j i j 



_ 4. The prefix ' i,' in the form ' emi iri,' denotes continuous or habitual action. It 

 IS not a usual form, except in the cases already stated (§ 146). 

 § 1 54. As to the negative and interrogative forms, observe : 



1. The particles 'ko' and '6' are exact equivalents. Before open vowels they 

 become ' ko ' and ' o.' 



2. Ki, iwf, is employed before verbs beginning in 'i,' as shown in the example 

 As_ the prefix 4' denotes continuation, 'ki ' generally has the sense of 7iever • as 

 emi ki doh ibf-, / never go there. This form is to be rendered by the present tense! 



3. The particle 'bi,' or its equivalents abi, tabi, is merely a sign of interrogation 

 and IS often omitted ; as, emi ri ? did I see ? ' 



4. K6, 'not, is used only in interrogations ; as, emi ri ko? do I riot see? and in 

 negations where the verb is not expressed ; as, 6q ko, it is not he. 



Aorist Imperfect. 

 emi qri. 



emmiqri, j^«"* oi' ^'-'"-^ *^^%. 



PASSIVE. 



d qri mi, ) ^ 



emiliAqri, ^ ««' o^' ^'^«* •^-^<^^'- 



Kemarks. 



§ 155. This tense needs but little elucidation ; still Ave may observe : 



1. That the first form is employed either in a present or past sense ; whereas the 

 second form more frequently refers to present time. 



2. This tense has no negative forms, and the interrogative forms difter from the 

 afiirmative only m the use of 'bi' or its equivalents (§ 154, 3) immediately after 

 the verb. 



Past Perfect. 



ACTIVE. 



emi w4 ri, I satv. 



emi ti ri, l ^ , 



emiliotiri, ^ ^^'«^^ ^^r /.«./ ^,,^. 



Remarks. 



§ 156. The verb w;\, to he, is used in all tenses; but there is a tendency to 

 restrict it to the past. When it is used as an auxiliary particle, it invariably 

 forms an mdefinite past tense ; as, emi w4 r\, I satv ; nwoq vfk li ele^e, they were 

 sinners. ' ' ' 



§ 157. A perfect tense is occasionally formed by other particles besides ti ; as 

 emi gbe e de {T brought it come), I have Ironght it; emi ^e taq {I did done), I 

 have finished. 



