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Verb Extensions

As we have seen in looking at many of the tenses and forms of Lingala verbs, the prefix (beginning) and suffix (ending) of a verb changes to show who or what is doing the action, as well as the tense or time of the action.

Lingala contains additional elements to verbs called extensions or infixes. These are used in a similar way to how we insert –ko– into the future tense verb. They help to create more complex ideas that extend the meaning of the verb root.

For that reason, extended verb roots are listed separately in the dictionary, partly because the extension can change the meaning of the root quite dramatically, and sometimes it does so in ways that are not easily understandable in English.

The following is a list of the different extensions that are used in Lingala, each with a link through to the separate article that explains and discusses their usage:

Not every verb uses each form of extension, and some are rarely used. There is also no best order to learn these, though the causative form is probably the easiest to learn and use.

The following is the order in which they are extended on a verb when combined together:

PREFIX + ko + mi + ROOT + ol + is + el + an + am + SUFFIX

It must be said here that there are no Lingala verbs that would use all these extensions at the same time. But the above guide helps us understand the order in which we should add extensions as we learned how to use them.

Subjunctive ( -a )

Expressing whether something might or should happen within English is done by using these additional words (and other similar ones) and is the closest we have to creating a subjunctive tense. In Lingala we have a special form of verb that does exactly this:

nazala

We have the prefix (na-), the –zal– root and then the suffix which is an ‘a’. This means our word structure is:

PREFIX + ROOT + a

This subjunctive form indicates that something is not certain. It may happen, or it it should happen. This is different to using the future tense to express that something will happen, where it is certain.

Notice some examples of how we use this form of verb in Lingala:

LingalaEnglish (meaning)English (literal)
azala na nyonso oyo esengelihe/she may have all that is neededhe/she may be with all this it is needed
basala na mabɔkɔ na bango mosalathey may do their work with his handsthey may do with hands of them work
oyoka nzala mpe oliya limpayou may feel hunger and you should eat breadyou may feel hunger and you should eat bread
nasalisa binoI should help you (plural)I should help you (plural)

In most cases we can use the subjunctive to show whether something should or may happen, with context explaining it the meaning.

Note: This subjunctive tense can be confused with the distant past and plural imperative tense which both use a prefix, root and then ‘a’ to end the word. However, the other two tenses either use an accented/stressed prefix or suffix. The subjunctive doesn’t stress either end of the word. That can make it sound like the tones rises from the prefix into the root, then drops for the suffix.

Distant Past ( -á )

In English, expressing that something is in the past is relatively simple. Whether it was recent, or very distant, we use the simple past to show (I ran to work). If we wanted to show something was a long time in the past, we would add auxiliary words to show it was a a long time ago. In Lingala, we have a special form of past tense to show distant past (distal).

Here is an example:

nazalá

We see that we have the normal prefix (na-) followed by the –zal– root, then the suffix with an accented ‘a’ (-á). This means I was (a long time ago).

So our structure for this tense is:

PREFIX + ROOT + á

Here are a few more examples we can use to show how it can be used:

LingalaEnglish (meaning)English (literal)
ntango Nzambe azalisá mabelewhen God created the earthwhen God he created (a long time ago) earth
moto ata moko te amoná yenobody ever saw himperson even one not saw (from a long time ago) him
bapesamá mboka na bangothey were given their country/villagethey were given (a long time ago) village of them
bato basalemá na putulu ya mabelehumans were made from the dust of the groundpeople they were made (a long time ago) with dust of earth

The accent over the letter ‘a’ shows that we stress that letter, similar to the natural stress we have on the first syllable of the root of the verb. This sounds like we raise the tone from the prefix through the rest of the word. Be careful not to make it sound like a question.

Distant past is often used to show something that happened many years ago, or at the beginning of something. In general, it is normal practice to use simple past when referring to events that happened in the past within our life time.

There is also an easy confusion over the distant past with other tenses that use a similar spelling, such as plural imperatives and the subjunctive form. However, with the distant past, the final vowel (usually an ‘a’) is stressed, and show with an accent mark in traditional spelling, unlike the other two forms.

Recent Past ( -i )

Related to the present tense form is that of the recent past. In Lingala, the tense can look similar to the present tense (nazali) of some verbs, whereas in English it looks similar to the simple past (I was).

So we write this form using this structure:

PREFIX + ROOT + i

All verbs can be expressed in this way in Lingala, but it is especially important for regular verbs (that is, verbs that don’t express the state of something). So, for example, we can say:

nasali mosala na ngai

We have the root –sal– to show we are doing or working and then the word for job or work (mosala). This gives the meaning I did my job, indicating that the work is recently completed, but is not happening now. We could also translate it as I just did my job.

Notice the following examples:

LingalaEnglish (meaning)English (literal)
basololi na ngaithey just discussed with methey discussed with me
Ana amoni yeAnna just saw himAnna saw him
biso topesi yangowe just gave thiswe we gave it
okende kunayou just went thereyou went there

With verbs that express the state of something, they can be read both as present, or recent past, depending on the context.

Tip: When translating past events from English into Lingala, try to have clearly in mind if you need this recent past form, or if the action is further back and would be best said using the (simple) past (-aki) form.

Habitual / Continuous ( -aka )

In English, we often talk about something that repeats or is continuous using the same form as the present tense, with adverbs indicating how often it happens.

Notice how this is formed in Lingala. So now the verb –zal– is written as:

nazalaka

Breaking down the verb we notice first that we have the prefix na– meaning I, followed by the –zal– root and finally the suffix –aka. This gives the meaning of I always am.

Therefore, when looking at the structure of a future tense verb in Lingala we find:

PREFIX + ROOT + aka

This helps us with many expressions in Lingala where we would normally need additional adverbs in English, but in Lingala the idea is expressed completely within the verb:

LingalaEnglish (meaning)English (literal)
nalobaka LingalaI speak LingalaI speak (as a habit) Lingala
Jacques afandaka na ndako kunaJacques lives in that house thereJacques he (always) lives with house there
basalaka mosala na bangothey do their jobthey (always) do job of them
boyokaka baboti na bino teyou (plural) don’t listen to your (plural) parentsyou (plural) (always) listen parents of you (plural) not

Notice how when talking about speaking Lingala as a language (nalobaka Lingala), we use this –aka form of the word to show it is something we always do. In a similar way, we use this form for referring to where we live (afandaka na ndako kuna) to again show that it is ongoing, permanent and a habit.

Tip: Be careful when reading or listening to Lingala that you don’t confuse it with the similar sounding past tense (i.e. aki).

Imperative ( -á )

One of the most common forms of verbs that are used, especially between parents and children, are those that are commands. Many of these commands are in the imperative form. A parent might say ‘Come here!’ or ‘Listen!’ or ‘Go to your room.’ In Lingala we can do the same. Notice some examples:

LingalaEnglish
lobá yangosay it
teyá bangoteach them
pesá ngai yangogive me it

In these examples we can see simple commands or statements. These contain no subject, that is they have no prefix, and they usually contain an object. In imperative verbs, the subject of the verb is assumed. If mum says, “Give it me!” we assume that it’s the mum speaking to the child.

These imperatives are formed in this way:

ROOT + á

Notice we don’t have a prefix. The final ‘a’ has an accent over it showing that we stress that vowel (that is, the last syllable).

However, the above form works for only imperatives when addressing an individual, not a group of people. In Lingala, groups of people addressed with an imperative command (plural imperatives we could say) contain the prefix that we have learned before:

LingalaEnglish

What are you doing? (Lesson 3)

zal[a]be/am/are
nazaliI am
ozaliyou are
azalihe/she is
ezaliit is (they are, plural form)
tozaliwe are
bozaliyou are (plural)
bazalithey are
kozalato be
The verb ‘to be’ is ‘zala’ in Lingala
tozali koyekola Lingalawe are learning Lingala
nazali koyekola LingalaI am learning Lingala
azali koyekola Lingalahe/she is learning Lingala
nazali kokende ndako na ngaiI am going to my house
tozali kokende ndako na yewe are going to his house
ozali kokende ndako ya Mamayou (singular) are going to Mum’s house
bazali kokende eteyelothey are going to school
nazali koteya yoI am teaching you (singular)
bazali koteya bisothey are teaching us
bozali koliya bileiyou (plural) are eating food
yekolalearn
eteyeloschool
teyateach
liyaeat
meladrink
bileifood
zalabe (exist)

Me, you and them (Lesson 2)

ngaime, Ibisowe, us
yoyoubinoyou
yehe, shebangothey, them
yangoityangothey, them
The personal pronouns in Lingala
na ngai
ya ngai
my, minena biso
ya biso
our, ours
na yo
ya yo
your, yoursna bino
ya bino
your, yours
na ye
ya ye
his/her(s)na bango
ya bango
their, theirs
na yango
ya yango
it, itsna yango
ya yango
their, theirs
The possessive pronouns in Lingala
kiti na ngaimy chair
kiti na yehis/her chair
kiti na bangotheir chair
mesa na ngaimy table
mesa na yehis/her table
mesa na bangotheir table
Using possessive pronouns with the words for ‘table’ and ‘chair’
kiti ya mamamum’s chair
mesa ya papadad’s table
mesa ya HanaHannah’s table
kiti ya YoaneJohn’s chair
Using proper noun’s so show possession of something.
mesatable
kitichair
The new words
Igo tograndmother’s house
na--zali kokendendako ya nkoko
wego tograndmother’s house
to--zali kokendendako ya nkoko
Some simple sentences
na-Ito-we
a-he/sheba-they
o-youbo-you
e-ite-they
The pronoun prefixes (beginnings) for verbs in Lingala

Nazali kokende ndako ya nkoko
Tozali kokende ndako ya nkoko
Azali kokende ndako ya nkoko
Bazali kokende ndako ya nkoko
Ozali kokende ndako ya nkoko
Bozali kokende ndako ya nkoko
Ezali kokende ndako ya nkoko

Ozali kokende wapi?

Mbote! Hello!

Mbote!Hello!
Ozali malamu?How are you?You are well / good?
Nazali malamuI am well / greatI am well / good
Nazali malamu teI’m not well / greatI am well / good not
Nsango nini?What news? (What’s up?)News what?
Nsango malamuGood news (Everything’s OK)News good
Nsango teNo news (Nothing new)News no / not
Nasepeli komona yoI am happy to see you
Nasepeli komona yeI am happy to see him / her
Nasepeli komona binoI am happy to see you (plural)
Nkombo na ngai …My name is …Name of me …
Nkombo na yo nani?What’s your name?Name of you who?
Some greetings and questions in Lingala
TɛlɛmaStand upStand
FandaSit downSit
Fanda awaSit here
Fanda kunaSit there
YakaCome
Yaka awaCome here
KendeGo / Go awayGo
Kende kunaGo there
LiyaEat
Liya yangoEat it / them
Liya limpaEat bread
Liya losoEat rice
Liya nsosoEat chicken
Liya nsoso ná losoEat chicken and riceEat chicken with rice
MɛlaDrink
Mɛla yangoDrink it
Mɛla maiDrink water
TalaLook
Tala yangoLook at it / themLook it / them
Tala ngaiLook at meLook me
Tala yeLook at him / herLook him / her
PesaGive
Pesa ngaiGive me
Pesa yeGive him / her
Some commands (verbs or actions) in Lingala

How to use ‘-sil-‘ and ‘-silis-‘

Nazali kosilisa yangoI’m finishing it
EsiliIt’s finished

Note that in the two examples, the word –sil– and –silis– are both used, two new words for our vocabulary, meaning to finish and to cause to finish.

In Lingala the word –silis– is not normally used with something that is inanimate. This is because an inanimate object doesn’t finish something, it itself is finished. Whereas a person could cause something to finish.