Is "-ya-" only omitted before a direct object? (Zulu)
I know that "-ya-" is omitted if a direct object is present, but is it when there is an indirect object, adverb, or other part of speech after the verb?

Would one say:
Ngihamba ebhishi.
or
Ngiyahamba ebhishi.

What other conditions could cause the dropping of the "-ya-"?

Question

Is "-ya-" only omitted before a direct object? (Zulu)
I know that "-ya-" is omitted if a direct object is present, but is it when there is an indirect object, adverb, or other part of speech after the verb?

Would one say:
Ngihamba ebhishi.
or
Ngiyahamba ebhishi.

What other conditions could cause the dropping of the "-ya-"?

Answer

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Answer

The verb -hamba (ukuhamba) means 'walk' or 'go', but there is another verb -ya (ukuya) which means 'go to' (I know, right! isiZulu does this a lot).
You are right though, the infix -ya- that is a present tense marker is not used when an object follows the verb. However, it is isiZulu after all and there are 2 exceptions:

ngiyagijima - I am running
ngiyagijima manje - I am running now/soon (*still use -ya- with time related words)
ngigijima ebhishini - I run on/to/at the beach

ngiyafunda - I am learning
ngifunda isiZulu / ngiyasifunda isiZulu - I am learning isiZulu (both are acceptable, but proper isiZulu will always link subjects and objects to the verb) *in this case, the -ya- is also present

(your example phrase would simply be - ngiya ebhishini)

Answers · 2

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