Fulfulde/Fula/Peul/Pulaar/Fulani
Verb Extensions
Verb extensions can alter the meaning of a verb and/or allow it to take an indirect object (typically by replacing prepositions as used in English). They are formed by replacing the regular verb endings (-ude and -aade) with a new verb ending or by placing a letter between the verb stem and the ending). The following is a list of common verb extensions in Fulfulde:
-d-
This extension adds the idea of the preposition “with,” that the verb is done together with another person.
To use this verb extension, you place the d between the stem and the ending, and then conjugate the verb regularly. For example, haalude (to speak) becomes haaldude e (to speak with, e is added to represent the idea of “with” before the direct object).
| Fulfulde | English |
| Aissa ana haalda e jannginoowo o. | Aissa is speaking with the teacher. |
| Boubacar yahi e sukaaɓe makko. | Boubacar goes with his children. |
-inde
The -inde- verb extension “causes” the action of the verb to occur
- jaŋngude – to study / learn / read
- jaŋninde – to teach (to cause to learn)
- famude – to understand
- faminde – to explain something to someone
-irde
This verb extension is used to express the idea of doing a verb with a tool/implement/object, broadly speaking. The -irde ending replaces the -ude ending only (a note on using it with -aade can be found below). For example, winndude (to write) becomes winndirde X (to write with X) and then is conjugated regularly.
| Fulfulde | English |
| Sidibe ana gollira jalo. | Sidibe is working with a hoe. |
| Fatoumata ana defirta ƴulɓe. | Fatoumata is not cooking with charcoal. |
| Fati yahiri luumo mobile. | Fati went to the market in a car. |
-Aade verbs do not use -irde, but instead use -oraade (though there are relatively few verbs -aade verbs that need this extension).
| Fulfulde | English |
| Mido jakkoro kosam gallmare. | I measure milk with a (traditional) spoon. |
| Ba seforaaki micro. | Ba does not speak with a microphone. |
-oyde
This extension indicates that physical movement must take place in order for the action to occur; can act as near future in narrative form (“subject is going to do the verb”). -Oyde replaces the -ude or the -aade ending and then is conjugated normally. For example, jaŋngude (to study) becomes jaŋngoyde (going to go study). -Oyde can also be used to express the idea of habitual actions.
| Fulfulde | English |
| Keeŋen mo duroyi na’i. | Yesterday he went to herd cows. |
| Mido sokoya bafal. | I am going to go lock the door (implied to be imminent, action has begun). |
| Mido sokoya bafal jamma fuu. | I lock the door every night (habitual). |
| Ummu ana sommoyo. | Ummu is going to buy sauce ingredients (implied to be imminent, action has begun) |
| Altineere fuu, Madina ana yaha luumo somoyaade. | Each Thursday, Madina goes to the market to buy sauce ingredients. |
-ande
The -ande verb extension indicates that the subject is doing the verb for someone or something. -Ande replaces the -ude or the -aade verb ending, and then is conjugated normally. For example, defude (to cook) becomes defande (cook for someone).
| Fulfulde | English |
| Bollo ana gollana Corps de la Paix. | Bollo works for Peace Corps. |
| Mamadou sodanii Samba kadule keeŋen | Mamadou purchased fabric for Samba yesterday. |
| Mido laamndono ma coggu kosam. | I am asking you for the price of milk. |
| Fatoumata suɓonto Ba tuba. | Fatoumata will choose pants for Ba. |
-t- or -it-
This extension can either reverse/undo the action of the verb or indicate that the action is repeated, depending on context.
- sokude – to lock
- soktude – to unlock
- uddude – to close
- udditidde – to open
- warude – to come
- wartude – to come back / again
- fuɗɗude – to begin
- fuɗɗitidde – to begin again
*Note: When the extension is -it- the -ude ending becomes -idde
