Kala Verbs

• A typical verb denotes the occurrence or abandonment of an action (run, stop), a relationship (have, lose), or a state (stand, melt). Most verbs can be reused without change as a noun.

tense

A typical verb denotes the occurrence or abandonment of an action (run, stop), a relationship (have, lose), or a state (stand, melt). Kala does not distinguish perfect and imperfect aspects of the verb (e.g. "I ate", "I used to eat", "I have eaten", "I had eaten"). Almost any verb can be reused without change as a noun.

present tense

The present tense is unmarked in Kala.

• nam ina

1pl eat

We are eating. / We eat.

• ha moku

3sg sleep

She is sleeping. / He sleeps.

past tense

Past tense is marked by -ye from aye.

• kam hinaye

3pl here.pst

They were here.

• etla tanyaye

p4sg damage.pst

It was damaged.

future tense

Future tense is marked by -tli from atli.

• na'am tsala inatli

1pl.excl sauce eat.fut

We (but not you) will eat the sauce.

• tametla tanyatli

2sg-p-4sg damage.fut

You (all) will damage it.

modifiers

ability

• -pa from pala is used to signify ability or possibility. This does not indicate the permissive.

-

• na yalapa

1sg go-able

I am able to go. / I can go.

attempt

• -pya from upya is used to signify an attempt.

-

• na inapya

1sg eat-attempt

I am trying to eat.

negation

• -k from nke is used to signify negation.

-

• na yalak

1sg go.neg

I am not going. / I do not go.

initiate

• -mu from mula is used to signify beginning an action.

-

• na yalamu

1sg go-begin

I begin to go.

permissive

• -myo from myonta is used to signify permission or allowance.

-

• na yalamyo

1sg go-perm

I am allowed to go.

suggestive

• -ne from neya is used to signify something that should or ought to be done.

-

• ta yalamyo

2sg go-sug

You should go.

usage	suffix	from	example
need, necessity	-he	heya to need; require	na yalahe I need to go.
deintensify	-hi	ahi small; little	na inahi I am snacking.
appear, seem	-tse	tse'e to seem; appearance	ha yalatse He seems to be going.
want, desire	-ue	ueha to want; desire	na yalaue I want to go.
intention, volition	-ue	ueyo to intend to	na yalaue I intend to go.

conditional

• They would be happy if the sun were shining.

sama	a	yatli	kam	noya
sun	be	if-X-then-Y	3pl	happy

• We doubted he would go.

na'am	iya	ha	yala	ketsaye
1pl.excl	cond	3sg	go	doubt-pst

• she would have been a good musician

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