Answers of exercises of lesson 4 of the Zarma (Djerma) language course.

Lesson 4

Exercise 1 Translate to English: intransitive verbs
Zarma	English
Suba iri ga koy Niamey.	Tomorrow we will go to Niamey.
Ni ga koy habu wiciri, wala?	Will you go to the market in the late afternoon.
A koy fu.	He went home. ^*
A ga kaa suba.	He will come tomorrow. ^*
Bi fo wiciri kambu araŋ koy kwaara.	Before yesterday afternoon you went to town.
Iri ga kaa ni do alula.	We will come to your place in the early afternoon.
Iri fuwo kaŋ.	Our house fell down.
A ne nga ga kaa subasi.	He said he himself will come the day after tomorrow. ^*
Boro fo koy Niamey.	Someone went to Niamey.

^{* In answers the male form is used. for "a" and "nga", obviously answers with 'she' and 'her' and sometime with 'it' are good as well}

Exercise 2 Translate to English: Transitive special verbs
Zarma	English
Bi ay maa r'a; hunkuna iri ga di a.	Yesterday, I heard him and today we will see him. ^*
Iri kande yo fo da hansi fo	We brought one camel and one dog.
A ga kande nga bariyo suba.	He will bring his horse tomorrow. ^*
A kande nga tasa; ay kande ŋwari.	He brought his dish and I brought food. ^*

^{* In answers the male form is used. for "a" and "nga", obviously answers with 'she' and 'her' and sometime with 'it' are good as well}

Exercise 3 Translate to English: being
Zarma	English
A wando go no.	His wife is there.
A go habo ra.	He is in the house. ^*
Ŋwari go tablo boŋ.	Food is on the table.
A izo alfaga no; iri izo hab'ize no.	His child is a priest and our child is a trader. ^*
Feji beri go Yantala kwaara; iri no ga di a.	A big sheep is in Yantala village and it is we who will see it.
Tasa no i kande.	It is a dish that they brought.
Hunkuna farka no ay ga kaaru.	It is a donkey that I will ride today.

^{* In answers the male form is used. for "a" and "nga", obviously answers with 'she' and 'her' and sometime with 'it' are good as well}

Exercise 4 Translate to English: Transitive regular verb
Zarma	English
Ay di boro fo; a ga jiney nera Niamey habu ra.	I saw someone and he will sell things at Niamey market (or: .... at the market of Niamey).
Iri ga bari fo nera.	We will sell one horse.
Iri ga day bari fo da feji hinza (or: Iri ga bari fo da feji hinza day)	We will buy one horse and three sheep.
Bi alasar ay na bari fo kaaru.	Yesterday (at) late afternoon (prayer time), I rode a horse.
Ay day yo hinka da yeji gu (or: Ay na yo hinka da yeji gu day)	I bought two camels and five sheep.
Suba susubey ay ga haw taci nera.	Tomorrow morning I will sell four cows.
Nga no na safari samba iri do.	It was he who brought medicine to our place. ^*
I na curo fo wi bi wiciri kambu, wala?	Did they kill a bird yesterday late afternoon?

^{* In answers the male form is used. for "a" and "nga", obviously answers with 'she' and 'her' and sometime with 'it' are good as well}

Exercise 5b Translate into Zarma: motion - they
English	Zarma
They went to Niamey yesterday	I koy Niamey bi.
They went to home this evening	I koy fu hunkuna almari.
They went to town	I koy kwaara.
They went to market	I koy habu.

Exercise 5c Translate into Zarma: motion - the woman
English	Zarma
The woman went to Niamey yesterday	Waybora koy Niamey bi.
The woman went to home this evening	Waybora koy fu hunkuna almari.
The woman went to town	Waybora koy kwaara.
The woman went to market	Waybora koy habu.

Exercise 5d Translate into Zarma: motion - five persons
English	Zarma
Five persons went to Niamey yesterday	Boro gu koy Niamey bi.
Five persons went to home this evening	Boro gu koy fu hunkuna almari.
Five persons went to town	Boro gu koy kwaara.
Five persons went to market	Boro gu koy habu.

Exercise 6 Translate into Zarma: possession
English	Zarma
He saw his own horse.	A di nga bariyo.
He saw your work.	A di ni goyo.
He saw someone's dish was on the table.	A di boro fo tasa go tablo boŋ.
He saw his own stuff.	A di nga jiney.
He saw eight sheep.	A di feji ahaku.

Last updated: 22 januari 2012

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