INFLEXION AND CONSTKUCTION OF WOKDS. 35 



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

 the present. 



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). 



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



1. The particles 'k6' and '6' are exact equivalents. Before open vowels they 

 become ' k6 ' and ' 6.' 



2. Ki, not^ is employed before verbs beginning in 'i,' as shown in the example. 

 As the prefix ' i ' denotes continuation, ' ki ' generally has the sense of never ; as, 

 emi ki il6h ib^, I never go tlwre. 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 f 



4. K6, not^ is used only in interrogations ; as, emi ri k6 ? do I not see ? and in 

 negations where the verb is not expressed ; as, 6g k6, it is not he. 



emi 

 emi 



Aorist Imperfect. 



ACTIVE. 



i nri, ) j- 



. '. ' . Y I am or was seeinq. 



1 ni qri, j ^ 



PASSIVE. 



d nri mi, j ^ 



. -y. t • \ J- dfn or was seen. 

 emi li a qri, ) 



Remarks. 



§ 155. This tense needs but little elucidation ; still we 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 differ from the 

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

 the verb. 



Past Perfect. 



ACTIVE. 



emi wfi ri, I saw. 



. ,^ ' . . ? Iliofve or Tmd seen. 

 emi li o ti ri, ^ 



Eemarks. 



§ 156. The verb w&, to be, 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 indefinite past tense ; as, emi w^ ri, I saw ; nwoq w^ li el^^e, they tvere 

 sinners. 



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

 emi gbe e de {Ihrmight it come), I have hrovght it ; emi ^e tdq {I did done), I 

 liave Jmished. 



