Conjunctions.
I. Copulative.
-u(ne), and, with; naga kitoval’ u kene’ ema, I killed a black and white parrot.
Une is generally only used to connect two nouns, and is placed between the two. But sometimes it comes after the second, especially when meaning “with,” and the first noun is then followed by the personal pronoun. There are a few doubtful examples of une joining two phrases: ake tale mu, Augustin’ un’ ando, many men are with Augustin.
II. Adversative.
-ta, yet, but: nuni safa’ ta nani kakava, you are weak but I am strong.
Ta, meaning “but,” precedes the phrase which it governs: nuni natsi, ta nani fema, you will eat, but I do not.
III. Sequence.
-ta, when (when a fact is accomplished, or will certainly happen), lest: aked’ indiota, dinoi gatsi, when the men arrive, we will go together.
Ta in this sense follows the verb, which is in the past if the action depends on the person who speaks or is spoken to, in other cases in the subjunctive: kuku neta, etsi gatsi, when I (or you) have eaten, I will (or you will) go to the village; mulamula angetota, gadiu, lest the medicine fall, tie it up.
-tamai, when (uncertain event): oki finolitamai, na natatsi, when the fire blazes, warn me.
Tamai always requires the subjunctive.
-mai, if: Augusto bubulimai, dimuku e gaditsi. If Augusto delays, we ourselves will build the house.
-umba, so, like: an’ umba ne i, give me (one) like that.