Lesson 2: Nouns and Verbs

Vocabulary

• KIKE (N): I/me.
• KIKU (N): You.
• PEKA (N): Person.
• PEPE (N): Animal.
• PAPA (N): Plant.
• PUDO (N): Water.
• DIZA (V): Be an instance of.
• DIPA (V): Have; own; possess.
• KASA (V): Say; speak; talk; tell.
• BIKI (V): See.
• SAKI (V): Hear.

DIZA

DIZA is the copula. It basically means 'be', 'is', 'am', or 'are'.

Nouns

Nouns are words that describe living things, non-living things, places, or ideas. Articles are not used on every single noun, so PEKA can mean 'a person' or 'the person'. There are two words that can be translated as articles, but you will learn those in a later lesson.

Verbs

Verbs are words that describe actions. All verbs are transitive, meaning that they can accept a direct object. Compare verbs like 'to eat' with verbs like 'to sleep'. You can eat food, but you can't sleep food.

Basic Sentences

A simple sentence consists of a subject followed by a verb.

KIKE BIKI.
I see.

An object may be placed after the verb.

KIKE BIKI PAPA.
I see a plant.

Practice

Translate the sentences below. When you come up with a translation, select the text in the black box under the sentence you translated.

I hear an animal.
KIKE SAKI PEPE.

You speak.
KIKU KASA.

The person has a plant.
PEKA DIPA PAPA.

I am a person.
KIKE DIZA PEKA.

PEKA SAKI PEPE.
A person hears an animal.

PEKA BIKI PUDO.
A person sees water.

PEKA KASA.
A person speaks.

KIKE BIKI PEPE.
I see an animal.

Lesson 3 Lesson 1