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→Predicate clauses
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===Predicate clauses=== | ===Predicate clauses=== | ||
Predicate clauses consist of a noun phrase introduced by the copula '''''i'''''. | Predicate clauses consist of nothing but a predicate, which itself consists of the copula (or predicate marker) '''''i''''' of a noun phrase introduced by the copula. The missing subject in these sentences can, without further context, be thought of as representing an unspoken "someone" or "something". They therefore often have an existential meaning. | ||
:{| | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | '''''I nivi.''''' | |||
|- | |||
| i || nivi | |||
|- | |||
| <small>COP</small> || problem | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | ''(Someone or something) is a problem.'' | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | I.e. ''There is a problem.'' | |||
|} | |||
:{| | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | '''''I nivi.''''' | |||
|- | |||
| i || nivi | |||
|- | |||
| <small>COP</small> || problem | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | ''(Someone or something) is a problem.'' | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | I.e. ''There is a problem.'' | |||
|} | |||
:{| | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="3" | '''''I gwa nwevwa.'''''. | |||
|- | |||
| i || gwa || nwevwa | |||
|- | |||
| <small>COP</small> || two.<small>E</small> || banana | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | ''(Someone or something) is two bananas.'' | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="2" | ''There are two bananas.'' | |||
|} | |||
Predicate clauses are often used rather like a passive construction. | |||
:{| | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="6" | '''''I mo zyi we dyenggi nga.'''''. | |||
|- | |||
| i || mo || zyi || we || dyenggi || nga | |||
|- | |||
| <small>COP</small> || consume.<small>AG</small> || <small>GEN</small>.<small>DEF</small>.<small>E</small> || <small>PL</small>.<small>E</small> || sago_cake || <small>GEN</small>.1s | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="6" | ''Someone (or something) ate my sago cakes.'' | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="6" | ''There is an eater of my sago cakes.'' | |||
|} | |||
Note the difference between this and a true passive formed with a prefixed '''''ne-'''''. | |||
::{| | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="5" | '''''We dyenggi nga i nemo.''''' | |||
|- | |||
| we || dyenggi || nga || i || ne-mo | |||
|- | |||
| <small>PL</small>.<small>E</small> || sago_cake || <small>GEN</small>.1s || <small>COP</small> || <small>PASS</small>-consume.<small>AG</small> | |||
|- | |||
| colspan="5" | "My sago cakes are/were/have been eaten." | |||
|} | |||
In context, the unstate subject may refer to a specific entity, generally whatever is topical at the time. | |||
===Subject predicate clauses=== | ===Subject predicate clauses=== | ||