Contractions in Negative Clauses

Level 5

U + ma gives uma; ku + ma gives kuma; ka + ma gives kama.

How It Works

Negative ma follows preceding object pronouns, prepositions and indefinite-subject la, merging with them. It comes last in that contraction and causes no further sound changes. Thus uma, kuma, kama contain u, ku or ka plus ma. Lama can contain company la or indefinite-subject la; the full clause determines which.

Earlier changes remain in longer contractions: i + u + ma → iima. Negation applies to the predicate, while u retains its recipient relation. Present negative clauses without constituent focus use full subjunctive forms; negative past clauses use reduced subjunctives. Short subject pronouns are optional, so a past example may need context to identify its subject.

Compare Qalinka kuma qoro, “I do not write with the pen,” with interrogative Ma ku qortaa qalinka?, “Do you write with the pen?” Question ma precedes ku here and uses an affirmative verb form; it is a different particle.

Examples (4)

  1. Qoyska uma karinayo.

    I am not cooking for the family.

    Uma preserves beneficiary u; karinayo is a negative progressive.

  2. Qalinka kuma qoro.

    I do not write with the pen.

    Kuma combines instrument ku with ma; qoro is full subjunctive.

  3. Dugsiga kama iman.

    I did not come from school.

    First-person context supplies the subject; iman is a northern reduced subjunctive.

  4. Iima sheegin.

    He did not tell me.

    A contextually identified male subject supplies he; iima contains i + u + ma, and sheegin is negative past.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Contractions in Negative ClausesLevel 5

Learn This First

Recognize preverbal contraction order and the present-versus-past negative paradigms before interpreting preposition–ma contractions; basic predicate negation is inherited through negative past forms.

Words in This Pattern

u