Verbs

The Kalabari form (Kf) for Verb is given as [Vabụ] and defined in Kalabari below:
◙ Vabụ anịẹ tombọ, nama anịanịa ye amịna oju kẹ mịyẹar' ye.

NB: Kalabari sentences always end in Verbs; there are, however, exceptions.

English Definitions Of A Verb

A word used to describe an action, state or occurrence

A word or phrase that tells what someone or something is, does or experiences.

A word which tells says or describes what happens or what is

Verbs are generally divided into:

(a)   Pure [or main] Verbs

(b)   Auxiliary [or helping] Verbs

(c)   Modal Verbs

Pure [or main] Verbs

These can be further divided into:

(i)   Acting verbs e.g    eat, run, write

(ii) Process verbs e.g grow, mature

(iii) Bodily sensation verbs e.g ache, feel, hurt, love

(iv) Transitional Events Verbs e.g arrive, depart, come

        NB: with –ing, they become “inceptional”

(v)    Momentary Verbs e.g jump, knock, kick

       NB: with –ing, they become “repetitional”

DIFFERENT FORMS OF A VERB (WITH AUXILIARY) IN KALABARI

Infinitive form ►kunoma nyanawa b’ra

Imperative (affirmative) form ► bẹrẹtọn mịyẹ b’ra e.g do!

Imperative (negative) form ► bẹrẹtọn mịyẹma b’ra e.g do not! (or don’t!)

Present Tenses

Present Simple (affirmative) form ► anị mịyẹ mịyẹ b’ra e.g do / does

Present Simple (negative) form ► anị mịyẹ mịyẹwa b’ra e.g do not / does not

Present Continuous (affirmative) form ► anị mịyẹar’ b’ra e.g am, is, are

Present Continuous (neg) form ►anị mịyẹ wa b’ra e.g am not, is not, are not

Present Perfect (affirmative) form ► mọkụ anị mịyẹ tẹ b’ra e.g has, have

Present Perfect (neg) form ► mọkụ anị mụ mịyẹ wa b'ra e.g has not, have not

Past Tenses

Past Simple (affirmative) form ► kiri ọkị tẹ b’ra e.g did

Past Simple (negative) form ► mụ kiri ọkị ya b’ra e.g did not (or didn’t)

Past Continuous (affirmative) form ► b’rọ tẹ sakị anị mịyẹar’ b’ra e.g was, were

Past Continuous (neg) form ► b’rọ tẹ sakị anị mịyẹwa b’ra e.g was not, were not

Past Perfect (affirmative) form ► mịyẹ b’rọ tẹ b’ra e.g had

Past Perfect (negative) form ► mụ mịyẹ b’rọ wa b’ra e.g had not (or hadn’t)

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