Pronominal Prefixes

One of the early challenges in learning Kunwok is the pronominal prefixes. We'll break it down to make it easier to learn.

Pronominal prefixes are a bit like pronouns, such as I, you, she. However, they are attached to verbs. For example:

• ngare (I go) is made up of nga- (I) and re (go)
• yire is made up of yi- (you) and re (go)

Can you form expressions with bidbun (climb), mankan (fall), keyo (sleep), bebme (arrive), and nalkbun (cry)? When you're ready, click on "expand" to see the answers.

I climb	you climb	I fall	you fall	I sleep	you sleep	I arrive	you arrive	I cry	you cry
ngabidbun	yibidbun	ngamankan	yimankan	ngakeyo	yikeyo	ngabebme	yibebme	nganalkbun	yinalkbun

NB ngabidbun can mean any of: I climb (present simple), I am climbing (present progressive), I will climb (future simple), I will be climbing (future progressive). Context will usually make it clear which sense is intended.

Two kinds of verbs: Before getting started, it helps to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitive verbs transfer their action from the do-er to something/someone, from the agent to the patient (e.g. find, follow, deceive, look after). Intransitive verbs lack any object to receive the action (e.g. sleep, run, sit, return). Sometimes a given verb has a transitive sense and a related intransitive sense (e.g. play, grow, read, win). Read more about transitive and intransitive verbs.

Pronominal Prefixes with Intransitive Verbs

• Intransitive Verbs 1 (singular)
• Intransitive Verbs 2 (plural)
• Intransitive Verbs 3 (plural)

Pronominal Prefixes with Transitive Verbs

• Transitive Verbs 1 (singular, third person singular objects)
• Transitive Verbs 2 (first person subject, second person object)
• Transitive Verbs 3 (singular, third person plural objects)