LESSON 80

Objects with Causatives

Vocabulary

160. With causative verbs one is apt to have two objects, for in English two verbs are really involved: “to cause to” and “to work” (as for exammple in gukoresha). These two objects may be:

a. One a secondary subject and the other a true object. e.g. gukundisha Petero Yohana - to cause Peter to love John. Petero is really the object of “to cause to” and the subject of “to love”; thus it is a secondary subject, while Yohana is the true object.

b. The two objects may be one an instrument and the other the object. e.g. kwitemesha imbugita urutoke - to cut the finger with a knife. Imbugita is the instrument with which the finger is cut.

In both of these examples the true object comes last, with the secondary subject or the instrument immediately following the verb; However, you will hear and see examples where the true object comes first: e.g. Ukundishe Imana umutima wawe wose - love God with all your heart. If the secondary subject involves a group of words and the true object is only one word, the secondary subject will come last. One cannot make a definite rule about the order, for it may vary. Experience will teach you. This is also true of the following rule. Occasions are rare when this will be a problem to you.

161. The two objects may both be pronouns in the verb. e.g. bawumubohesheje - they tied him with it ( a rope).

When it is thus, the secondary subject or the instrument usually comes first with the true object following, except the pronouns: n - me, ku - you, and tu - us, always come second and only the context can determine the meaning. e.g. kumugukundisha - could be: to cause him to love you; or, to cause you to love him.

162. If one is a pronoun and the other is a noun, only the context can determine the meaning. e.g. Umwigisha amukundisha umukene - could be, the teacher causes him to love the poor man; or, the teacher causes the poor man to love him. However, in most instances the context will make it clear.

Exercises:

I. Translate into English:

1. Mama aratekesha ibishyimbo amazi menshi. 2. Umugabo yasakarishije inzu ye ubwatsi bwinshi. 2. Babagishije imbugita inkoko. 4. Imbuto mbi ziboza imbuto nziza. 5. Imana ifite ibyiza byinshi, Yesu arabiduhesha. 6. Amabuye ni manini cyane; yameneshe inyundo nini. 7. Abahungu barakubitisha inkoni imbwa; mbese ushobora kubayikundisha? 8. Ibiryo byiza bikuza abana. 9. Nyina wa Petero atangiye gukurikira inzira ya Yesu, ariko Satani ashaka Kumuyitesha. 10. Abakobwa bagiye kuvoma amazi mu kabande. Mbese bayavomesha iki?

II. Translate into Kinyarwanda:

1. The teacher causes the boys to read the books. 2. The man’s troubles make him sad (hurt him). 2. The old man’s anger made them laugh at him. 4. Let us praise God with our lives, not just words. 5. The bad meat will sppil all the food. 6. Peel the potatoes. What shall I peel them with? 7. The grass in the kraal is very tall. Do you have a machete? Cut it with it. 8. I want to build a house and I have (some) good, bricks. Come (pl.) help me build it with them. 9. My father’s anger hurts me very much in my heart. Jesus can save us from it. 10. You (girl) told your brother bad news. It makes him fight with you (verbally).