3. MORPHOLOGY
It is also expressed by certain pairs of numerals.
dao-ek do-ek one or two
dao-tIna do-ti:n about two or three
dsa-paMca das-pã:c about ten
saaO-savaa saaO sø- sava: sø about 125
Reduplication of a numeral denotes ‘... at a time,’ or ‘...per piece.’
dao-dao laD,ko do-do larke two boys at a time
ek-ek laD,ko kao tIna-tIna
iktabaoM dao.
ek-ek larke ko ti:n-ti:n
kita:bẽ doGive three books to
each boy.3.3.6.6. Aggregation
Aggregation is expressed by adding - AaoM -õ to a numeral. In the case
of dao do, -naaoM -nõ is added. (e.g., daonaaoM donõ ‘both,’ tInaaoM ti:nõ ‘all the
three,’ caaraoM ca:rõ ‘all the four,’ dsaaoM dasõ ‘all the ten,’ baIsaaoM bi:sõ ‘all the
twenty,’ etc.). Notice that -[yaaoM -iyõ is added to numerals dsa das or baIsa
bi:s to indicate an indefinite large number (e.g., disayaaoM dasiyõ ‘several
tens,’ baIisayaaoM bi:siyõ ‘several scores,’ etc.)
The suffix -AaoM -õ is also added to the nouns signifying duration,
measures, weight to indicate large and indefinite number or quantity.
(e.g., mahInaaoM mahi:nõ ‘a number of months,’ barsaaoM barsõ ‘a number of
years,’ baaoiryaaoM Anaaja boriyõ ana:j ‘sackfulls of grains,’ etc.
3.4. Verbs
There are two types of verbs: main and auxiliary.
3.4.1. The Verb hona:
The verb haonaa hona: ‘to be’ is used as a copula in simple predicative
sentences, as well as an auxiliary in different types of verbal
constructions. The verb haonaa hona: has four sets of verbal forms:
present, past, presumptive, and subjunctive.