Kala Verbs

Verbs

tense / aspect

• 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’). However, one can easily clarify the temporal sequence of two actions by marking the earlier one with the adverbial tsa (‘already’).

voice

The passive voice is formed by attaching the accusative prefix e- to the pronoun or by placing the topic marker ke immediately before the patient of the verb.

• ena ina

ACC.1.S eat

I am eaten. / I am being eaten.

• eha anyaye

ACC.3.S see.PAST

She was seen. / He was being watched.

• ke mihu itsa

TOP cat love

The cat is loved. / The cat is being loved.

Index

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