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Celabrian: Difference between revisions
→Noun classes
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==== | ====Definiteness==== | ||
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There are three levels of definiteness in Celabrian: | |||
*Definite: Something known to both speaker and listener, usually either something that has been mentioned or that is unique. Equivalent to English "the" in "I saw '''the''' man." | |||
*Semidefinite: Something specific that may not be known by the listener. Equivalent to English "a" in "I saw '''a''' man." | |||
*Indefinite: Something non-specific. Equivalent to English "a" in "I did not see '''a''' man." | |||
Nouns unmarked for definiteness are semidefinite by default. The definite article is ''-<u>ə</u>n'' (added before case endings). | |||
The indefinite article for singular, countable nouns is ''m<u>ə</u>-''. For plural nouns and uncountable nouns, it is ''-<u>a</u>'' (equivalent to the ablative case ending). | |||
Nouns with possessive suffixes do not take the definite article, but can take the indefinite article. Possessive suffixes come before case endings and the plural/uncountable indefinite suffix. | |||
===Adjectives=== | ===Adjectives=== | ||
===Numbers=== | ===Numbers=== | ||