Basic Verbs

1. Go ya

   To go

   Usage

   The basic verb for going somewhere

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is go + stem. 193 occurrences in the Bible text.

2. Go tla

   To come

   Usage

   To come, or to ask someone to come

   Grammar Note

   The imperative is Tla kwano ("come here"). Do not confuse it with the future particle tla.

3. Go ja

   To eat

   Usage

   Talking about eating

   Grammar Note

   Do not confuse go ja "eat", go jala "plant" and go ya "go".

4. Go nwa

   To drink

   Usage

   Talking about drinking

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists nwa "drink".

5. Go reka

   To buy

   Usage

   Talking about shopping

   Grammar Note

   11 occurrences in the Bible text and 226 on tn.wikipedia.

6. Go bona

   To see

   Usage

   To see or to meet

   Grammar Note

   Same shape as the pronoun bona "them", but a different word.

7. Go leta

   To wait

   Usage

   Asking someone to wait

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists leta "wait; guard".

8. Ke batla go ya

   I want to go

   Usage

   Put before a destination (Ke batla go ya kwa ...)

   Grammar Note

   ke batla go + verb means "I want to ..." (54 occurrences in the Bible text). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

9. Ke batla go ja

   I want to eat

   Usage

   To say you want to eat

   Grammar Note

   The same form occurs once in the Bible text.

10. Ke a e batla

    I want it

    Usage

    When pointing at something wanted (a class 9 noun)

    Grammar Note

    The object concord e depends on the noun class (class 9 e, class 10 di). With a full noun the a drops (Ke batla metsi). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

11. Ga ke e tlhoke

    I do not need it

    Usage

    To decline an offer

    Grammar Note

    Negative = ga + subject concord + object concord + final -e. Ga ke tlhoke occurs 3 times in the Bible text. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

12. Ke batla metsi

    I want water

    Usage

    To say what you want directly (politer: Ke kopa metsi)

    Grammar Note

    No a is inserted before a noun object.

13. Ke senka

    I am looking for it

    Usage

    Name the thing after it (Ke senka selotlele)

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists senka, "same as batla: seek, look for". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

14. Ke batla go ntsha madi

    I want to withdraw money

    Usage

    At a bank or cash machine

    Grammar Note

    ntsha means "take out"; go ntsha madi occurs 20 times on tn.wikipedia. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

15. Ke kopa o mpolelele

    Please tell me

    Usage

    When asking for information

    Grammar Note

    The subjunctive of bolelela "tell" with n- "me" becomes mpolelele (b → p). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; native review recommended.

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