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LESSON XXVIII (CONTINUED).
81
Infinitive.
There is no distinctive mark of the Infinitive. The infinitive sense is to be learned from the connection. A few examples will suffice.
- i khṳ̀-bói-hue,
- he has gone to buy lime.
- uá hàm-i khie̍h-jī khṳ̀-Sùaⁿ-thâu,
- I told him to take a note to Swatow.
- i àiⁿ-lâi-chia̍h,
- he is coming to eat.
- i àiⁿ-kìⁿ thâu-ke,
- he wishes to see the master of the house.
- i àiⁿ-sǹg-siàu,
- he wants to reckon up.
- i àiⁿ hiah-kang,
- he wishes to stop work.
- nâng-kheh àiⁿ-tàⁿ-ūe,
- the guest wishes to speak (to you).
- hàm-i lâi-sàu-lōu,
- call him to come and sweep the road.
- i tõ tán-bói-mue̍h,
- he is waiting to buy something.
- chhiáⁿ-chhâi-chú lâi,
- ask the owner of the goods to come.
- kiè-i chò-pû-lâi,
- tell him to come along with (him).
- kiè-i sêng-thòa-bói,
- tell him to buy this also at the same time.
- i àiⁿ-chieh lân-ló-ngṳ̂n,
- he wishes to borrow a little money, i.e. he wishes his pay.
The Participle.
A participial sense is imparted by the use of tõ, which in such connection means, to be at (the doing of any thing), and sometimes, also by chiàⁿ, meaning, then; at the same time (with something else), and chò, in the sense of being. Liáu, and kùe, denoting past; gone through with; completed, help give the significance of a past participle.
- i tõ-chõ,
- he is sitting.
- i tõ-tán,
- he is waiting.
- i tõ-gu̍h huân-būe-chhéⁿ,
- he is sleeping and has not yet awakened.
- chhù hiēn-chãi sĩ-tõ-khí,
- the house now is being built.
- uá lâi i huân-tõ sie-mēⁿ,
- when I came they were still quarrelling.
- tõ-i tha̍k-chṳ kâi-sî-hāu,
- at the time he was, or is reading.
- i sĩ tõ-taⁿ-chúi,
- he is carrying water.
- sit-lo̍h--tiāu,
- lost.
- chò-kùe;
- done, finished.
- khie̍h--tie̍h-kâi,
- picked up.
- m̄-kìⁿ-khṳ̀--liáu,
- lost sight of.
- liēn-kú kâi-to-kiàm,
- a long tried sword.
- liēn-kú kâi-ke-húe,
- tested weapons.
