“I’m wearing a hat”: The perfect “-me” tense as a state
The perfect tense is used to describe a state with some verbs. You read this as “I am” or “she is” rather than “I have”.
Examples of using the -me tense as a state:
| Verb | Present tense meaning | Perfect tense meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -vaa (to wear) | Anavaa kofia = He is putting on a hat | Amevaa kofia = He is wearing a hat |
| -simama (to stand) | Anasimama = She is (in the process of) standing up | Amesimama = She is standing |
| -kaa (to sit) | Ninakaa = I’m sitting, I’m staying | Nimekaa = I am seated |
| -vunjika | Kinavunjika = It breaks easily | Kimevunjika = it’s broken |
| -lala (to sleep) | Analala = She is falling asleep | Amelala = she is asleep |
| -potea (to be lost) | Ninapotea = we’re getting lost | Nimepotea = I’m lost |