Fulfulde/Fula/Peul/Pulaar/Fulani
Conjugating Regular Fulfulde Verbs
Infinitive verbs in Fulfulde generally (though not always) have one of two endings: -ude or -aade (though these endings change when using verb extensions). When conjugating either type of verb, the infinitive ending (ude or aade) is dropped and a different ending is added instead, which indicates the verb tense. Ude and aade verbs follow their own conjugation patterns, which do not (usually) change based on subject, but based on whether the verb is affirmative or negative. In general, the short forms of pronouns are used with conjugated verbs, with the large exception of the present (progressive) requiring the use of a long pronoun. Verb conjugations which take the long pronoun are noted with a * in the chart below.
Ude verbs
| Tense | Verb ending | Example in Fulfulde | Translation | Infinitive |
| Present (positive)* | -a | Eɓe ngolla ley ngesa. | They are working in the field. | gollude (ngoll- due to plural subject) |
| Present (negative) | -ataa | A ɲaamataa ɲeebe. | You are not eating beans. | ɲaamude |
| Imperative (positive) | -u (singular) -e (plural) |
Hallu!
Cooden maaro! |
Speak!
(Let’s) buy rice! |
Hallude
Soodude |
| Imperative (negative) | Patti + positive imperative | Patti soodu jaba! | Do not buy onions! | Soodude |
| Past /perfect | -ii | Mi yarii kosam. | I drank milk. | yarude |
| Past / perfect (negative) | -aay | Mo defaay hannde. | He did not cook today. | defude |
| Stative* (positive) | -i | Mido waawi yahde luumo. | I am able to go to the market. | waawude |
| Stative* (negative) | -aay or -aali | Naange wuulaay tafon. | (The sun) is not hot yet. | wulude |
| Future (positive) | -an | Demoowo aawan awdi lewru darotoondu. | The farmer will sow seeds next month. | aawude |
| Future (negative) | -ataa | A doomata faa lewru watta. | He will not wait until the new moon. | doomude |
Aade Verbs
| Tense | Verb ending | Example in Fulfulde | Translation | Infinitive |
| Present (positive)* | -o | Hamadoun leeylo law. | Hamadoun goes to bed early. | leelaade |
| Present (negative) | -ataako or -otaako | Mi ekkitaaki hallude Bambarakore. | I am not learning to speak Bambara. | ekkitaade |
| Imperative (positive) | – a (sing) – ee (plural) |
Daraa!
Ndaaree! |
(Sing) Stand up!
(Plural) Stand up! |
daraade |
| Imperative (negative) | Patti + positive imperative | Patti ɗaana! | Do not sleep! | ɗaanaade |
| Past /perfect | -ike | A reenike? | Are you protected? (Common question during greeting) | reenaade |
| Past / perfect (negative) | -aaki | Mi tilaakii. | I am not finished. | tilaade |
| Future (positive) | -oto | A sifoto kam. | You will explain it to me. | sifaade |
| Future (negative) | -ataako or -otaako | Mi suɓataako pade tiiɗi sanne. | I will not choose expensive shoes. | suɓaade |
It should be noted that, generally, -ude verbs are considered active voice verbs, whereas -aade verbs tend to be middle voice.
Conjugating in the Passive Voice
Both -ude and -aade verbs use -eede as the infinitive ending in the passive voice, with the new ending (eede) replacing the regular (ude or aade) ending.
| Regular verb | Translation | Passive | Translation |
| hokkude | to give | hokkeede | to be given |
| lootaade | to wash, bathe | looteede | to be washed (by someone) |
Passive perfect
The passive perfect (past tense/ completed action) is formed using the short pronoun and replacing the ending with -aama.
| Example | Translation |
| ɓe ndokkaama kaalisi keŋen | They were given money yesterday |
| So yimɓe waraama ana haani hokkeede yaraawo. | If people arrived, they should have been given a drink. |
Passive imperfect
The passive imperfect (ongoing/ future/ uncertain/ incomplete action) is formed using the short pronoun and replacing the ending with -ete. Note that the passive voice takes on a different meaning in the imperfect.
| Example | Translation |
| So a hokkikam biki, mi winndete. | If you give me a pencil, I will write. |
| So benndi njaaƳiike mi hollete nagge ma. | If the benndi (milk herd) return in the afternoon from the bush, I will show you your cow. |
