Kovol verb phrases can have negation, definitive mode or manner margins.
| +/- aspect | +/- negation | +/- definitive mode | +/- manner | + verb | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | . | heyg | salibe | "get up immediately!" | |
| mu | . | . | iligom | "I didn't go" | |
| . | ege | . | anggom | "I have spoken" | |
| mu | ege | . | obug | "We will not get" | |
| . | . | nosong | ndugule | "tie it tightly" | |
| . | ege | . | yanim | "I will go" | |
| mu | . | . | amot | "He did not speak" | |
| mu | ege | wi | tugenim | "I will not finish" | |
| hom | ege | nenim | "I will work again" |
hom is used to indicate the action is a repetition of a previous action.
The mu word negates the verb and with it the whole clause.
The ege word is for the definitive mode, communicating that something will or certainly did happen.
ege aminim "I will speak"
ege anggom "I did speak"
When used in the present or past tense, it seems to give prominence.
It is almost always used with the future tense, and so does not seem to be used for prominence in the future tense.
Adjectives or adverbs can be put before a verb to describe the action. Below are some examples: