Verb Extensions

Verb extensions, typically placed between a verb’s root and its ending, can alter the meaning of a verb and/or allow it to take an indirect object (typically by replacing prepositions as used in English). 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.

• haalude – to talk
  • haaldude e – to talk with (e= with)
• yahude – to go
  • yahdude e – to go with

-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

-ir-

This one is tricky to explain, but the meaning is clear in context. This extension adds the idea of the manner in which something is done / doing the action of the verb with an object (rather than a person)

• winndude – to write
  • winndirde biki – to write with a pencil (biki = pencil)
• taƳude – to cut
  • taƳirde laɓi – to cut with a knife

-oy-

This extension indicates that physical movement must take place in order for the action to occur; can act as future proche in narrative form (“subject is going to do the verb”)

• jaŋngude – to study / learn / read
  • jaŋngoyde – to go to study
• ɲaamude – to eat
  • ɲaamoyde – to go to go eat
• soodude – to buy
  • soodoyde – to go to buy

-an-

The -an-verb extension indicates that the subject is doing the verb for someone or something

• gollude – to work
  • gollande- to work for (someone or something)
• warude – to come
  • warande – to come for something

-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