Nkwu: Difference between revisions

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====Predicative Prefixes====
====Predicative Prefixes====
Finite verbs in {{PAGENAME}} can carry one of four .
Finite verbs in {{PAGENAME}} can carry one of four predicative prefixes as show in the table below.
 
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg"
|-
!
! Independent
! Adverbial
|-
! Absolutive
| '''-i-'''
| '''-u-'''
|-
! Ergative
| '''-ai-'''
| '''-au-'''
|}
 
The independent forms are used in independent clauses and dependent clauses introduced by a complementiser. The dependent forms are used in adverbial clauses. For examble, the independent verb form '''''timbuda'''' means "it is a house" whereas the adverbial '''''tumbuda''''' is more equivalent to "(with) it being a house".
 
The absolutive and ergative forms of of the predicative prefixes indicate the case of the preceding personal prefix. Compare the following examples
 
:{|
|-
| colspan="9" | '''Nigu.'''
|-
| n- || i- || gu
|-
| 1- || PRED- || be.eaten
|-
| colspan="9" | "I get/got/will get eaten."
|}
 
 
:{|
|-
| colspan="9" | '''Naigu.'''
|-
| n- || a- || i- || gu
|-
| 1- || ERG- || PRED- || be.eaten
|-
| colspan="9" | "I eat / ate / will eat."
|}
 
The ability to indicate either the absolutive or the ergative argument on the verb allows either one to be emphasised.
 
:{|
|-
| colspan="9" | '''Tigu tembu langeu'''
|-
| t- || i- || gu || t- || e- || mbu || l- || a- || ngeu
|-
| 3E- || PRED- || be.eaten || 3E- || ABS- || bug || 3D- || ERG- || cat
|-
| colspan="9" | "The bug got eaten by the cat."
|}
 
:{|
|-
| colspan="9" | '''Laigu tembu langeu'''
|-
| l- || a- || i- || gu || t- || e- || mbu || l- || a- || ngeu
|-
| 3D- || ā- || PRED- || be.eaten || 3E- || ABS- || bug || 3D- || ERG- || cat
|-
| colspan="9" | "The cat ate the bug."
|}


===Morphology of Modifiers===
===Morphology of Modifiers===
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