Hand-book of Volapük/Frequentativ or Aorist

by Charles E. Sprague

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THE FREQUENTATIV FORM OR AORIST.

When a verb refers to the habitual performance of an action, this may be indicated by adding the letter i (pronounced as a separate syllable) to the tense augment. Thus,

ai-, pai-,

äi-, päi-,

ei-, pei-,

ii-, pii-,

oi-, poi-,

ui-. pui-.

In English we have no special form for habitual action; but, on the other hand, we use the verb to be with the participle in -ing to express action continuing temporarily.

Fidob bodi, I am eating bread.

Aifidob bodi, I eat bread (am in the habit of eating bread).

Äpenob penedi, I wrote a letter, or I was writing a letter.

Äipenob penedis mödik, I used to write many letters.

 

The form “to be ———ing” is adopted in Volapük.

Binob penöl, I am writing.

 

Ai- is also used as a prefix denoting universality with other words.

Aikel, whoever; aikitim, whenever; aikiöp, wherever.

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EXERCISE 24.

Lio-? how-? to what degree? as lio-gletik? how large? lio-mödik? how many?

Aispatob vädelo in gad obik. Li-aigebol spatini? No; spatins paigeboms te fa mans bäledik; li-tikol das binob bäledik? No nolob; binob yunik, ab aispatob ko spatin. Li-aifidol miti vädelo? No aifidob omi mälüdelo. Ven äbinobs in Flent, äidlinobs vini, ab nu ven binobs Melop aidlinobs vati. Du yels lio-mödik äbinols in Flent? Du yels kil.

Do you drink wine? I drink wine, but now I am drinking water. In France they drink [one drinks] wine and not water. In Belgium they speak the French and the Dutch languages. What language do they speak in Australia? They speak-English [one word]; wherever many Englishmen are, one speaks English.