Adverbs
I. Adverbs generally precede the verb which they modify. The exceptions are the interrogative na? (is it not so?) which always comes at the end of the sentence, and -ta (at first), which follows the verb.
Ex. aiti balava natsi, to-morrow bread I shall eat; aiti nu inditsi na? to-morrow I will give it you, shall I not? kuku neta, I eat the tobacco at first.
Note.—This ta appears to be almost a conjunction, and the phrase might be translated “when I shall have smoked (eaten) the tobacco.”
II. Adverbs of Place
do(le)? where.
a(le)), here.
va(ie), there.
ombatsi, underneath.
gisa(le), far.
ime(li)? far.
kugume, near.
tsi, inside.
val’enga, outside.
tu, on, over
ibe(le), down there.
o(me), up there.
yo(le), there above.
III. Adverbs of Time
The adverbs of time are not very definite. For example audati, “to-day, now,” means also “in a few days” or “a few days ago.” The latter meaning is also attributed to arima, and the former to aiti.
aida? when?
vomarima, day before yesterday.
arima, yesterday.
male(ke), formerly.
malieke), formerly.
audali), to-day, now.
aiti(me), to-morrow.
vomaiti, day after to-morrow.
talele, often, for ever.
dedi, just now, later (near).
ido(ve), not yet (with fut.) immediately.
ulsienga, later on, in the future.
utsimata, later on, in the future.
utsinenga, later on, in the future.
kelavalage, for a time.
-ta, at first.
vo(ye, again.
IV. Adverbs of Quantity
dovavemunge? how much? how many?
domamai? how much? how many?
avevemunge, as much, so much, as many, so many.
tale(le), many.
apa(le), enough.
kisiaka, few, little.
oko, few, little.
-ta, very.
ande, very.
boboi, entirely, quite.
gegeto, few.
Note. When apa is used with a numeral it precedes it. Ex. apa gegeto, two are sufficient.
V. Adverbs of Affirmation, Negation and Interrogation
e, yes.
akai(ge), truly.
g’akai, truly.
me! what! certainly!
ila! I who knows?
ua(ne), not, no.
nà? is it not (French, n’est ce pas?).
óuo! not at all, by no means.
andal’ai(me)? why?
Note. Me, óuo, and ila are almost interjections.
VI. Adverbs of Manner and Likeness
The adverbs of manner are often replaced by noun suffixes attached to the verb, with the final i. (See Verbal Suffixes, p. 323).
unoi, together.
akaumai(nge), further, beyond, besides.
uneke, only.
ende, also.
elele, quickly.
dedi, slowly
fidefide, continually.
kela, without reason, gratis.
Note. When ende modifies a verb with subject in the third person, it is preceded by the pronoun ove. Ex. nau fud’ ov’ ende fufuli, my bones (they) also ache.