history Grammar made simple

The past in Fon with “ko”

In fɔ̀ngbè, the completed past (“have already done”) is formed with the particle ko. Here is the rule, some examples and the difference with the unmarked simple past.

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1
Rule

Subject + ko + verb

Un ko ɖù nǔ
I have already eaten
AI
kocompleted-past marker
ɖùto eat
nǔthing / food
2
Examples

5 sentences in the completed past

A ko wǎYou have already come
É ko yìHe/she has already left
Mǐ ko mɔ̀ éWe have already seen it
Yé ko ɖɔ̀They have already said it
Mi ko sí tɛ́nYou (plural) have already sat down

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3
Differences

With or without ko?

Without ko, the verb can be past OR present depending on context. ko emphasizes completion:

Un ɖù nǔI eat / I was eating
Un ko ɖù nǔI have ALREADY eaten (= emphasis)
Un na ɖù nǔI’m going to eat
Un má ɖù nǔ ǎI haven’t eaten
tips_and_updates

Tip

Think “ko = already”: ko always introduces the idea that the action is over and done. Comparable to “ya” in Spanish or “already” in English.

One particle for the past

Subject + ko + verb = completed past. Add this rule to na (future) and má…ǎ (negation), and you can handle 80% of tenses in Fon.

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