Traveling with Kids

1. Kaata nkera are

   I have two children

   Usage

   Talking about your family. Change the number word are (two) as needed

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. "Have" is the verb -ata, first person Kaata / Aata. Nkera is inkera, the plural of enkerai (child), with the initial i- dropped, which is the more common form in speech. The numeral follows the noun

2. Aaimina enkerai

   My child is lost

   Usage

   The first thing to say to people nearby when you have lost sight of your child

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. The verb aimin ("to get lost") takes aa- ("me"), so the literal sense is "the child has been lost to me". No separate word for "my" is needed

3. Egira enkerai ai aiguran

   My child is playing

   Usage

   Saying that your child is playing

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. The progressive is "Egira + subject + infinitive". Ai is "my" for a feminine singular noun; enkerai is feminine, so it takes ai (a masculine noun takes lai)

4. Kayieu nalo aiguran

   I want to go and play

   Usage

   What a child can say to ask to go and play

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. "I want to ..." is Kayieu followed by na- plus a verb ("that I ..."), and any further verb is an infinitive (starting ai- / a-)

5. Enkerai

   Child

   Usage

   A single child, meaning one who has not yet grown up

   Grammar Note

   A feminine-class noun (en-) used for boys and girls alike. The plural is nkera (also written inkera)

6. Nkera

   Children

   Usage

   Several children

   Grammar Note

   The plural of enkerai (child), inkera, with its initial i- dropped. This is the commoner form in speech; in writing inkera is also used

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