Grade 5 Verbs

Verbs in Hausa are categorized according to a system of grades. Grade 5 (v5 in dictionaries) is the grade that is sometimes referred to as the causative grade because it generally conveys a meaning of causing the object of the verb to do something.

The basic features of a v5 verb are as follows:

• All high tones
• Terminal –r plus the particle da
• Transitive

For example, the verb saya means to buy. The v5 verb derived from the same root is sayar da, which means to sell (to cause something to be bought).

Many v5 verbs have a short form. For example, the v5 verb ciyar da (to cause to eat) is sometimes shortened to ci da.

The causative effect will not always be as apparent as in the case of saya, and there are a number of exceptional cases. However, the general principles behind this grade are useful.