[ni-]
PREFIX
English: non-completed; progressive; ongoing; in the process of
The Boie’nen prefix ni- marks an action, event, or state that is ongoing, unfolding, habitual, or not yet viewed as fully completed. It commonly appears in actor-oriented verbal constructions and is one of the principal aspectual markers of the language.
In discourse, ni- frequently contrasts with completive forms marked by na- and completed-event forms containing -in-.
Part of Speech
verbal prefix
Semantic Domain
Grammar
Aspect
Verbs
Examples
Nikaen pa ako.
“I am still eating.”
Ni’padidien sira sa Buhi.
“They are coming to Buhi.”
Nigibo pa iya nin baxey.
“He is still building a house.”
Aspectual Note
The contrast between [ni-] and [na-] is fundamental in Boie’nen aspectual structure:
ni- = ongoing, progressive, unfolding event
na- = completed, realized, resultant event
Compare:
Nidereka’ pa.
“He is still tickling.”
Nadereka’ na.
“He has already tickled.”
Related Words
[na-]
[-in-]
[-omin-]