Hand-book of Volapük/20

= THE FREQUENTATIV FORM OR AORIST =

When a verb refers to the habitual performance of an action, this may be indicated by adding the letter i (pronounced as a separate syllable) to the tense augment. Thus,

In English we have no special form for habitual action, but, on the other hand, we use the verb to be with the participle in -ing to express action continuing temporarily.

Fidob bodi, I am eating bread. Aifidob bodi, I eat bread (am in the habit of eating bread). &Auml;penob penedi, I wrote a letter, or I was writing a letter. &Auml;ipenob penedis m&ouml;dik, I used to write many letters. The form "to be ing" is adopted in Volap&uuml;k. Binob pen&ouml;l, I am writing. Ai- is also used as a prefix denoting universality with other words. Aikel, whoever; aikitim, whenever; aiki&ouml;p, wherever.