Editing Chewa language (section)

===Verb extensions===
After the verb stem one or more extensions may be added. The extensions modify the meaning of the verb, for example:
*{{lang|ny|gul-a}} 'buy'
*{{lang|ny|gul-'''ir'''-a}} 'buy for' or 'buy with' (''applicative'')
*{{lang|ny|gul-'''ir'''-'''an'''-a}} 'buy for one another' (''applicative + reciprocal'')
*{{lang|ny|gul-'''ik'''-á}} 'get bought', 'be for sale' (''stative'')
*{{lang|ny|gul-'''its'''-a}} 'cause to get bought, i.e. sell' (''causative'')
*{{lang|ny|gul-'''its'''-'''idw'''-a}} 'be sold (by someone)' (''causative + passive'')

The extensions {{lang|ny|-ul-/-ol-}} and its intransitive form {{lang|ny|-uk-/-ok-}} are called 'reversive'. They give meanings such as 'open', 'undo', 'unstick', 'uncover':
*{{lang|ny|tseg-'''ul'''-a}} 'open (something)'
*{{lang|ny|tseg-'''uk'''-á}} 'become open'
*{{lang|ny|thy-'''ol'''-a}} 'break something off'
*{{lang|ny|thy-'''ok'''-á}} 'get broken off'
*{{lang|ny|mas-'''ul'''-a}} 'undo, loosen'
*{{lang|ny|mas-'''uk'''-á}} 'become loose, relaxed'

Most extensions, apart from the reciprocal {{lang|ny|-an-}} 'one another', have two possible forms, e.g. {{lang|ny|-ir-/-er-}}, {{lang|ny|-idw-/-edw-}}, {{lang|ny|-its-/-ets-}}, {{lang|ny|-iz-/-ez-}}, {{lang|ny|-ul-/-ol-}}, {{lang|ny|-uk-/-ok-}}. The forms with {{lang|ny|i}} and {{lang|ny|u}} are used when the verb stem has {{lang|ny|a}}, {{lang|ny|i}}, or {{lang|ny|u}}. ''u'' can also follow ''e'':
*{{lang|ny|k'''a'''n-'''ik'''-á}} 'fail to happen'
*{{lang|ny|ph'''i'''k-'''ir'''-a}} 'cook for someone'
*{{lang|ny|g'''u'''l-'''its'''-a}} 'sell'
*{{lang|ny|s'''u'''ngun-'''ul'''-a}} 'melt (transitive)'
*{{lang|ny|ts'''e'''g-'''ul'''-a}} 'open'

The forms with {{lang|ny|e}} are used if the verb stem is monosyllabic or has an {{lang|ny|e}} or {{lang|ny|o}} in it:<ref>Salaun, p.78.</ref>
*{{lang|ny|dy-'''er'''-a}} 'eat with'
*{{lang|ny|bw'''e'''r-'''ez'''-a}} 'repeat'
*{{lang|ny|ch'''o'''k-'''er'''-a}} 'come from'

Extensions with ''o'' are used only with a monosyllabic stem or one with ''o'':
*{{lang|ny|thy-'''ok'''-á}} 'get broken off' 
*{{lang|ny|t'''o'''n-'''ol'''-a}} 'remove grains of corn from the cob'

The extension {{lang|ny|-its-, -ets-}} with a low tone is causative, but when it has a high tone it is intensive. The high tone is heard on the final syllable of the verb:
*{{lang|ny|yang'an-'''its'''-'''its'''-á}} 'look carefully'
*{{lang|ny|yes-'''ets'''-á}} 'try hard'

The applicative {{lang|ny|-ir-, -er-}} can also sometimes be intensive, in which case it has a high tone:
*{{lang|ny|pit-'''ir'''-'''ir'''-á}} 'carry on, keep going'

Verbs with {{lang|ny|-ik-, -ek-, -uk-, -ok-}} when they have a stative or intransitive meaning also usually have a high tone:
*{{lang|ny|chit-'''ik'''-á}} 'happen'
*{{lang|ny|sungun-'''uk'''-á}} 'melt (intransitive), get melted'

However, there are some low-toned exceptions such as {{lang|ny|on-'''ek'''-a}} 'seem' or {{lang|ny|nyam-'''uk'''-a}} 'set off'.<ref>Hyman & Mtenje (1999b).</ref>