Serial verb constructions basically are a string of verbs having the same subject. In Kah, verbs can be juxtaposed in order to build an expression. In the following sentences there is more than one main verb:
Yunyo de weyun wa
they come see me
They came to see me
Literally: "They come see me"
Nubo naini de bandola
enter bus go town
They took the bus to town
Literally: "(They) entered the bus go town"
Simbu za champe janko senka
boy take pencil write name
The boy wrote his name with a pencil
Literally: "The boy took pencil wrote name"
Serial verb constructions express many things covered by prepositions in languages like English, like:
- location
- instrumental
- comparative
- finitive
- purpose
Locative serial verb constructions have a function that corresponds with that of prepositions in other languages. Compare the following Kah sentence and its English counterpart:
Ya nainu wi chu lau de Pilimas
it be far very leave here go Plymouth
It is very far from here to Plymouth
Bau gevu de wa
dog run come me
The dog ran towards me
Instrumental serial verb constructions indicate by or with which an action is accomplished. In short, it tells with what something is done:
Yu za tuya tu seki
she took knife cut meat
She cut the meat with a knife
Yu le simpe pomporo moso
she hold stick stir milk
She stirred the milk with a stick
Kah has no separate comparative or superlative form for qualifiers such as adjectives. Instead, a serial verb construction containing a qualifying verb is combined with the verbtunti "to surpass, be better than" is used:
Maik nenje tunti li
Mike be smart surpass you
Mike is smarter than you
Mul wan tunti me
cow be big surpass sheep
Cows are bigger than sheep
When a superlative meaning is expressed, the verb tio expresses the notion of "surpassing all".
Jan Sin wen tio
john little be tall surpass all
Little John is the tallest.
Finitive serial verb constructions express the action is carried out to the end. This usually is done by incorporating the verb bas to end, finish, but verbs like mimia to kill and kai to close also occur in this respect.
Bau kiza seki bas
dog eat meat finish
The dog ate up the meat
Winyo cheche yu mimia
crowd beat him kill
The crowd beat him to death
Yu bunche doki kai
he slam door close
He slammed the door shut
In many instances when two verbs are juxtaposed, this expresses purpose:
Yunyo de weyun wa
they come see me
They came to see me
Nuchu ka yu!
go tell him!
Go and tell him!
The very same idea could be expressed with the conjunctor eno in order to without making any difference:
Yunyo de eno weyun wa
they come to see me
They came to see me
Nuchu eno ka yu!
go to tell him!
Go and tell him!