Grammar: The independent pronouns , the possessive adjectives, and the use of “ko” and “Wonaa”

I.The independent pronouns: Singular: 1st person Min.................Me 2nd person An...................You 3rd person Kanko..............Him / Her Plural: 1st person Menen (excl.) / Enen (incl.)............Us 2nd person Onon............................................You 3rd person Kambe..........................................Them These pronouns can be called independent pronouns.When they occur with a verb they are subject pronouns. (This point will be discussed in later lessons) However pronouns can also occur by themselves either in answer to a question or for emphasis. Examples: An, ko honno innetedaa? You, what is your name? Min, ko Saaliw mi innetee! Me, I’m called Saaliw! Kanko, ko jannoowo. Her/Him, She/he is a teacher. Menen, ko men remoobe! Us, we are famers! Enen, ko en gollobe! Us, we are workers! Onon, ko on yeeyoobe! You, you are sellers! Kambe, ko be rewbe! Them, they are women! To introduce somebody in general the “Oodoo” is used. It means “this is” or “this one” Examples: Oodoo ko Pullo Fuuta! This one is Fulaani! Beedoo ko Fulbe Fuuta! These are Fulaani! *Oo is an emphatic form of the subject pronoun O, and bee of the pronoun be. II.The Possessive adjectives: Singular: 1st person An.....................................................................My 2nd person Maa..................................................................Your 3rd person Makko..............................................................His / Her Plural: 1st person Amen (excl.) / Men (incl.)....................................Our 2nd person Mon.................................................................. Your 3rd person Mabbe..............................................................Their The possessive adjective always comes after the noun and don’t vary. Two of these pronouns, men and mon, have lengthened forms as well, which are perhaps more insistent: me’en and mo’on. Examples: Beyngu an....................................................................... my wife Neene amen (excl); Neene men / Neene me’en (incl)............our mother Moodi maa.......................................................................your husband Baaba mon / Baaba mo’on.................................................your father (plural) Beynguure makko.............................................................his / her family Faybe mabbe...................................................................their children III. The affirmative and negative forms with “ko” and “ wonaa” “ko” has many other uses and meanings in pulaar. In this section it means “be”. It is used to introduce a person and is followed by the Short Subject Pronoun. Example: Ko mi Senegaleejo = I’m Senegalese Ko a Amerikenjo = you are American Ko o Gineyenjo = he/she is Guinean *Ko + SSP+ noun (occupation, gender, nationality)……………= Subject pronoun + to be + noun The negation of “ko” is “ wonaa” Example: Wonaa a Senegaleejo You are not Senegalese. Wonaa mi Amerikenjo I am not American. Wonaa o Gineyenjo He is not Guinean *Wonaa + SSP + noun……………………………………………………… = Sub Pronoun + to be not