Afaan Oromo/Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Prepositions and Conjunctions

Giving Directions (Karaa Agarsiisuu)
[Adapted from Geetaachoo (2011), pg. 52-53] Meetii: Akkami Kadir? ''Kadir: Fayyaa dha. Akkam jirta?'' ''Meetii: Homaa hin jedhu. Bor waaree booda hojii qabda?'' Kadir: Lakki, maaliif? ''Meetii: Gaarii dha. Laaqana mana kootti si affeeruun barbaade.'' Kadir: Dhufuuf baay'een gammada, garuu iddoo mana kee isa haaraa hin beeku. Meetii: Buufata konkolaataa kan cinaa mana bilbilaatti beekta? Kadir: Eeyyee, nan beeka. Meetii: Taaksii Lagahaaritti qabadhu fi bakka buufata konkolaalaatti bu'i. Kadir: Tole. Meetii: Sana booda, gara mirga gori hanga qaxxaamura karaa geessutti karumarra deemi. Kadir: Naaf gale. ''Meetii: Gara fuuldura qaxxaamura karaatti hanga daqiiqaa shaniif deemi. Messalemiyaan karaa mirgaa jira.'' Kadir: Gara mirgaa jette? ''Meetii: Eeyyee. Sirrii dha. Achitti sa'aatii kudha tokko fi walakkaatti wal agarra.'' ''Kadir: Tole. Kun gaarii dha. Wal agarra. Nagaatti.'' Meetii: Nagaatti.

[For translation see here]

Prepositions and Postpositions
A preposition links a noun to an action (e.g., “go from there”) or to another noun (“the pen on the table”). For the purpose of clarity, this chapter will divide Oromo prepositions into two categories: true prepositions and postpositions, with true prepositions coming before the noun and postpositions coming after the noun they relate to. Some Common Prepositions and Postpositions:

Examples: boqonnaarra [boqonnaa irra] – “on vacation” mana keessa – “in the house” waaree booda – “afternoon” irra deebi'i – “repeat” [lit. “return on it”] Yuunivarsitii Haroomayaatti barsiissaa – “teacher at Haromaya University” mana nyaataa kanatti – “at this restaurant” “waa'ee fiilmii sun natti himi” – “tell me about that film” “Chaaltuun akka Hawwiituu baratuu dha.” – “Chaltu is a student like Hawitu.” hanga torban dhufu – “until next week” gammachuu wajjin – “with pleasure” shaayee annan malee – “tea without milk” “Ani meetirii lama gadi.” – “I am below [shorter than] 2 meters.” “Keeniyaan Itoophiyaarraa (gara) kibbatti argamti” – “Kenya is located (to the) south of Ethiopia”

From the examples above, you may notice that the postpositions itti, irra, and irraa most often occur as suffixes, -tti, -rra, and -rraa, on the nouns they relate to.

Often with place names, no preposition or postposition is used to be mean “in”. Therefore, one can say “Finfinnee jiratta” for “you live in Finfinnee [Addis Ababa]”, or “hospitaalan ture” for “I was in the hospital”, using no preposition.

Personal pronouns are not used with prepositions. Instead, possessive pronouns are used as personal pronouns.

Examples: “toward me” &mdash; gara koo(tti) [not gara na] “like us” &mdash; akka keenya “according to him” &mdash; akka isaatti “about you” &mdash; waa'ee kee

Postpositions, on the other hand, take the accusative form of personal pronouns.

Examples: “at you” &mdash; sitti “from me” &mdash; narraa “under him” &mdash; isa jala

When an adjective modifies a noun, the postposition follows the adjective, as in “nama guddarraa” (“from the big man”).

Conjunctions
Whereas prepositions link nouns to other parts of the sentence, conjunctions usually link more complete thoughts together.

Some Common Conjunctions:

Conjunctions come between the two clauses they connect, though garuu and immoo (“but”) can also come after the first noun or nounal phrase in the second clause.

Examples: “Inni shee jaalata ta'us amanamaa miti.” – “Though he loves her, he is unfaithful.” “Daadhii moo biiraa dhuguu barbaadda?” – “Do you want tej [alcoholic honey drink] or beer?” “Ani kochee nyaadhe kanaafu gara kasan qaba.” – “I ate kitfo [raw meat] so I got diarrhea.” “Nyaatan barbaada sababiinsa nan beela'e.” – “I want food because I am hungry.” “Ani nan deema akka inni dhufuuf.” – “I will go so that he will come.” “Ittoo shiroon jaaladha garuu ittoo misira caalaa jaaladha.” or “Ittoo shiroon jaaladha ittoo misira garuu caalaa jaaladha.” – “I like shiro watt, but I like lentil watt more.” “Innis gara biyya isaa dhufe, sabni isaa garuu isa hin simanne.” – “And he came to his country, but his people did not accept him [John 1:11].”