Lwuor 

Acholi Language

Verb

Grammar is a set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. It's the system or structure of a language, or languages in general, usually including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Grammar rules help to ensure that there's a common standard of understanding when people use a language. This allows people to communicate with each other more effectively and understand each other's messages more accurately. However, grammar rules can vary significantly among different languages and even among different dialects or varieties within the same language.
 

Verb
A verb is a word that describes an action, occurrence, or state of being. They're essential for constructing sentences as they provide the action that the subject is performing or link the subject to a complement that describes it. There are up to five forms for each verb: root, third-person singular, present participle, past, and past participle.

Acholi

English

BunyoSmile
kokoweep
wotowalk
Yiboimprove
werosing
ondocaugh
kwanyotake
puonyoteach
mielodance
nyerolaugh
ringorun
lwiyowhistle
riekoclever
dwarohunt
piemocompetition
agoroKind of termite
Bidosoak
BomoDeceive 
BoroCave
bwoyofoam


Third Person Singular Form of a Verb So, Third Person Singular Form of a Verb in Luo are words that ends in o. 

English

Acholi

watchesneno
shrinksjungo
doestimo
walkswoto
visitslimo


Present Participle Form of a Verb are identified by the word tye ka.

Acholi

English

Tye ka binohe/she is coming
Tye ka citohe/she is going
Tye ka wotohe/she is walking
Tye ka gwechohe/she is running


Past and Past Participle Forms of the Verb starts with O or A. When O is used it means that it is he/she but when A is used it means I/me.

English

Acholi

playedotuko/Atuko
boughtOwilo/Awilo
ranOringo/Aringo



an action

English

Acholi

runringo
hitodongo
travelwoto


an event

English

Acholi

rainkot
occurotime


a situation

English

Acholi

bebedo
seemnen calo
havetye


a change

English

Acholi

becomeobibedo
growdongo
developOyibo


Here are the different types of verbs:

Action verbs: These express physical or mental actions. For example, "run," "think," "eat," and "believe."

Acholi English 
runngwec
thinktam
eatcam
believeniye


 

Linking verbs: These connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject. They often describe states of being. For example, "is," "seem," "become," and “appear."

 

 

AcholiEnglish
Ni Is
CaloSeem 
Bino Become 
onyuteAppear

 

Helping (auxiliary) verbs: These are used with the main verb to express the verb's tense, mood, or voice. They include "be," "have," "do," "can," "will," "shall," etc.

AcholiEnglish
bedobe
tyehave
pedo
bedocan
romowill
bedoshall

 

Modal verbs: These are a type of auxiliary verb that express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. Examples include "can," "could," "may," "might," "shall," "should," "will," "would," "must," and “ought." 

AcholiEnglish
ndoCould
tyeroMay
 Might 
tweroShall
 Should
abiWill
 Would
tyeroMust


 


 

Transitive verbs: These are action verbs that have an object to receive the action. For example, in the sentence "She reads the book," "reads" is a transitive verb.


 

AcholiEnglish
Okwano niyaboShe reads the book


 

Intransitive verbs: These are action verbs that do not have an object receiving the action. For example, in the sentence "He sleeps," "sleeps" is an intransitive verb.

AcholiEnglish
en nindoHe sleeps


 

Phrasal verbs: These consist of a main verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). They often have idiomatic meanings that are not obvious from the individual words. Examples include "give up," "look after," "run out," and "wake up.”

AcholiEnglish
bwotigive up
pidilook after
ring okorun out
ocoowake up