Language/Lingala/Grammar/Time-adverbs
Welcome to our lesson on some of the most commonly used adverbs in the Lingala language. Lingala, a Bantu language, is widely spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. In this lesson, we will explore various adverbs that are essential in everyday conversation, helping learners to enhance their understanding and fluency in Lingala.
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing additional information about how, when, where, and to what extent an action occurs. Understanding these adverbs in Lingala will greatly aid in forming more complex and nuanced sentences. Each adverb will be presented with its pronunciation, English translation, and examples in sentences to illustrate its use in context.
Let's dive into the world of Lingala and expand our linguistic skills with these useful adverbs!
Lelo: Today[edit | edit source]
- Naza na mosala mingi lelo: I have a lot of work today
Lobi (ekoya): Tomorrow[edit | edit source]
- Esengeli tosangana lobi(ekoya): We need to meet tomorrow
Lobi (eleki): Yesterday[edit | edit source]
- Bakómaki na Kinshasa lobi(eleki): They arrived in Kinshasa yesterday
Sikoyo: Now[edit | edit source]
- Ozali kokende sikoyo(sika sikoyo)?: Are you going now (right now)?
Lelo: Today[edit | edit source]
- Akoya lelo te: He/She will not come today
Sima: After[edit | edit source]
- Benga ngai sima: Call me after
Sima lobi: The day after tomorrow[edit | edit source]
- Bandeko na ye bakoya sima lobi: His/Her siblings will come the day after tomorrow
Mbala eleki: Last time[edit | edit source]
- Tokutanaki te mbala eleki: We did not meet last time
Poso eleki: Last week[edit | edit source]
- Nasombaki biloko mingi poso eleki: I bought many things last week
Poso oyo: This week[edit | edit source]
- Poso oyo, Paul akobalana na Emilie: Paul will marry Emilie this week
Tongo: Early[edit | edit source]
- Bayé tongo lelo: They came early today
Natongo: In the morning[edit | edit source]
- Namelaka kaka mayi natongo: I only drink water in the morning
Lelo natongo: This morning[edit | edit source]
- Esengeli nasangana na Paul lelo natongo: I need to meet with Paul this morning
Lobi natongo: Tomorrow morning[edit | edit source]
- Benga ngai lobi natongo: Call me tomorrow morning
Napokwa: In the evening[edit | edit source]
- Tokokende na sinema napokwa?: Will we go to the cinema in the evening?
Na butu: At night[edit | edit source]
- Esengeli olala mingi na butu: You should sleep more at night
Lelo napokwa: Tonight[edit | edit source]
- Tozali na likita lelo napokwa: We have a meeting tonight
Lobi napokwa: Last night[edit | edit source]
- Namónaki ye lobi napokwa: I saw him/her last night
Tongo makasi: Very early[edit | edit source]
- Yaka tongo makasi: Come very early!
Tango nini?: When?[edit | edit source]
- Likita ekobanda tango nini: When will the meeting start?
Mokolo nyonso: Every day[edit | edit source]
- Nakendaka na mosala mokolo nyonso: I go to work every day
Mingi: A lot[edit | edit source]
- Ye alingi yo mingi: He/She loves you a lot
Malamu: Well[edit | edit source]
- Ye azali kosala malamu: He/She is doing well
Mbala na mbala: Often[edit | edit source]
- Nakómaka kuna mbala na mbala: I often come there
Noki: Quickly[edit | edit source]
- Salá noki: Do it quickly
Mbala mosusu: Sometimes[edit | edit source]
- Mbala mosusu nayokaka nzembo: Sometimes I listen to music
Kaka: Only[edit | edit source]
- Ye kaka azali moto malamu: He/She is the only good person
Makasi: Strongly[edit | edit source]
- Ye azali koloba makasi: He/She is speaking loudly
Ndenge nini?: How?[edit | edit source]
- Osalaka yango ndenge nini?: How do you do it?
Ntango nyonso: Always[edit | edit source]
- Nazali kolinga yo ntango nyonso: I always love you
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Irregular verbs – kolia – to eat
- The Future Tense To Be
- Conditional Mood
- Adjectives
- Subject pronouns
- Negation
- The Past Tense To Be
- Plural forms
- Personal pronouns
- Present progressive tense