28 ETYMOLOGY AND SYNTAX. 



SUBJUNCTIVE FOBMS. 

 Simple. 



. , J I*e)'f. bi emi ba ri, if I see or saw. 



\ I/npf. hi emi Tiha. ri, if I am ov was seeinff. 



p ^ I^eif. bi emi ba ti ri, if Iliave or Jtad seen. 



\ Impf. bi emi qba ti ri, if I have or Tiad been seeiiuj. 



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



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



with ki. 



Present, ki g ri or ki em' ri, tJmt I see. 

 FuTUKE. ki emi ki 6 ri, that I shall or will see. 



AiKdliary Particles. 



§ 12*r. Before exhibiting in detail the forms of expression in Yoruba wkich 

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

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

 denoted. 



INDICATIVE PARTICLES. 

 Particle of Continuance. 



I) or m. 



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

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

 words ; as, nM, to he great, which is composed of ni, to Imve, and ild, greatness ; mbh 

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



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

 particles also ; as, emi qsi r)s5ro, 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 

 qsuq, the child is slewing or is asleep ; nigbati awa mb6 lana, when we were coming 

 yesterday. 



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

 reason is apparent why this should not be done ; as, yi 6 qsi^e, he will be wo^'Mng. 



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

 that is, in asserting that which always holds good ; as, keferi r)bo 8kpe, the heathens 

 worship tlie palm-t/ree ; eni ti qke omo ni qba omo dze, he toho indulges a child 

 spoils a child. 



Past Particle. 



ti. 



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



