Page:Hand-book of Volapük (Sprauge, 1888).djvu/40

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THE FREQUENTATIV FORM OR AORIST.

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.

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.

THE REFLEXIV.

The reflexiv form is the same as the activ voice with the addition of -ok.

Vatükob, I wash. Vatükobok, I wash myself.

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