Morphology of Gorontalo Language

1. Simple Future Tense
Prefixes that are commonly used in the simple future tense are mo·-, mopo-, moti-, motiti'

Example;

wapo

wau ta mohepo oliyo

I will massage him/her

aku yang (akan) mengurut padanya

botulo

wau ta mopobotula oliyo

I will invite him to come

aku yang (akan) menyilakan dia naik

denelo

wau motitidenela to dingingo

I will lean against the wall

aku (akan) bersandar di dinding

tayango

wau tumayango

I will jump

aku (akan) melompat

This will be more specific if the verb is begun with a morpheme -ma

Example;

wau ma motuluhu

I am going to sleep

aku akan tidur

2. Simple Past Tense

In the simple past tense, prefixes such as lo-, loti-,  lotiti-, dan infix -il-, are commonly found.

example:

delo

wau lodelo buku ola:ngo

I brought a book yesterday

aku membawa buku kemarin

balato

wau lotibalata te:to

I lay there

aku berbaring di situ

denelo

tiyo lotitidenela to dingingo

He leaned against the wall

dia (telah) bersandar di dinding

hama

buku hilama Ii kaka

book was taken by brother

buku diambil kakak

Sometimes morfem ma- Is also used to indicate activity in the past

example:

wau ma Iolulade tuladu

I wrote a letter

aku sudah menulis surat


3. Simple Present Continuous 

 For simple present continuous tense, prefixs hemo-, hemopo-, hemoti-, hemotiti dan he- that attach to the verb.

Example:

daha

Wau hemodaha sikola

I am taking care of the school

aku sedang menjaga sekolah

                      

Ti pa:pa daha-daha sikola

Father is taking care of the school

ayah sedang menjaga sekolah

denelo

wau hemotidenela to wolihi

I am leaning on the pole

aku sedang menyandarkan diri di tiang

wau dene-denela to wolihi

I am leaning on the pole

aku sedang bersandar di tiang'.