Plurals Noun, and optionally adjective, plurals can be formed with
-a (
-ŋa after vowels): {{interlinear|indent=2|aldí → aldíŋá|"story" {} "stories"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|pira → piraŋa|{"(a certain species of) antelope"} {} "antelopes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|báin → báiná|"old" {} {"old (PL)"}|}} This suffix also gives the inanimate 3rd person plural of the verb: {{interlinear|indent=2|liíŋ → liíŋá, káliŋa|{"he bathes"} {} {"they (inanimate) bathe"} {"they (animate) bathe"}|}} Vowel-final adjectives can take a plural in
-lá, as well as
-ŋa: {{interlinear|indent=2|lúllá → {lúllála lúlláŋa}|"cold" {} {"cold (PL)"}|}} A similar suffix (metathesized and assimilated to become
-ól/-úl/-ál) is used for the plural of the verb in some tenses. A few CVV nouns take the plural suffix H
-ta; {{interlinear|indent=2|roo → {roota'wala gal rooŋa}|"river" {} "rivers"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|{ra̱yi' wala gal ra̱y} → {rǎ̱ytó'wala gal rǎ̱ytá}|"field" {} "fields"|}} At least two nouns take the suffix -i: {{interlinear|indent=2|kóór → kóórí|"spear" {} "spears"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|dʉ́tʉ → kʉ́ʉ́tɨ́|"mouse" {} "mice"|}} Nouns with the singular prefix
d- (>
n- before a nasal) take the plural
k-; these are about 20% of all nouns. In some cases (mostly body parts) it is accompanied by L; e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|dɨ́ló → kɨ́ló|"ear" {} "ears"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|nʉ́ŋɨ́ → kʉ́ŋɨ́|"eye" {} "eyes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|dági → kagi|"tooth" {} "teeth"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|dormí → kormi|"nose" {} "noses"|}} • In some cases, the singular also has a suffix
-ŋ, not found in the plural: {{interlinear|indent=3|daulaŋ → kaula|"shoe" {} "shoes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|dɨróŋ → kɨro|"egg" {} "eggs"|}} • Sometimes, a further plural suffix from those listed above is added: {{interlinear|indent=3|nʉ́nʉm → kʉ́nʉ́ma|"granary" {} "granaries"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|nʉ́ʉ́m → kʉ́ʉ́mɨ́|"snake" {} "snakes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|dɨwwô → {kɨwwóla'wala gal 'kɨwwóŋa}|"new" {} {"new (PL)"}|}} • Sometimes the suffix
-(n)ta, is added: {{interlinear|indent=3|dewer → kewértá|"porcupine" {} "porcupines"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|da̱wi → {ka̱wíntó'wala gal ka̱wíntá}|"tail" {} "tails"|}} • One noun, as well as the demonstratives and the interrogative "which", take a plural by simply prefixing
k-L: {{interlinear|indent=3|úú → kuu|"cow" {} "cows"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|á̱yɨ → ká̱yɨ|{"which (one)?"} {} {"which (ones)?"}|}} • Several syntactic plurals with no singulars, mostly denoting liquids, have
k-L-
a;
kewa "blood",
koro "water",
kona "name, song"
koonà.
Nouns The
locative case can be expressed by the suffix
-le or by reversing the noun's final tone, e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|tòŋ → toŋ|"house" {} {"at the house"}|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|loo + kàrrà → {loo kàrrà-le}|"place" {} "far" {} {"at a far place"}|}} The
genitive (English
possessive s) is expressed by the suffix
-iŋ (the
i is deleted after a vowel.) If the relationship is possessive, the possessor comes first; otherwise, it comes last; e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|nuum → {nuumiŋ tàbù}|"snake" {} {"snake's head"}|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|jùtà → {kàrabà jùtăŋ}|"forest" {} {"animals of the forest"}|}}
Pronouns Independent subject: The object pronouns are identical, apart from being low tone and having -ŋó added to the plural forms. Prefixed subject pronouns: Thus, for example, on the verb
bʉo- "tire":
gi, described as the "participant object pronoun", represents first or second person objects in a dialogue, depending on context. Possessives (singular; take k- with plural nouns):
Verbs The Fur verbal system is quite complicated; verbs fall into a variety of conjugations. There are three tenses: present, perfect, and future. Subjunctive is also marked.
Aspect is distinguished in the past tense. Derivational suffixes include
-iŋ (intransitive/reflexive; e.g. {{interlinear|indent=2|lii → liiŋ|{"he washes"} {} {"he washes himself"}|}} and
gemination of the middle consonant plus
-à/ò (intensive; e.g. {{interlinear|indent=2|jabi → jappiò/jabbiò|"drop" {} {"throw down"}|}}
Negation is done with the marker
a-...-bà surrounding the verb;
a-bai-bà "he does not drink".
Adjectives Most adjectives have two syllables, and a geminate middle consonant: e.g.
àppa "big",
fùkka "red",
lecka "sweet". Some have three syllables:
dàkkure "solid". Adverbs can be derived from adjectives by addition of the suffix
-ndì or L
-n, e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|kùlle → {kùllendì kùllèn}|"fast" {} "quickly"|}} Abstract nouns can be derived from adjectives by adding
-iŋ and lowering all tones, deleting any final vowel of the adjective, e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|dìrro → dìrrìŋ|"heavy" {} "heaviness"|}} ==Media in Fur language==