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Locative / Instrumentalis nouns receive the ending ''-i''. | Locative / Instrumentalis nouns receive the ending ''-i''. | ||
When used as Locative, it indicates place or time: ''sue'' (in water), ''punseolani'' (in a forest), ''kokmihani'' (on an airplane), ''sorsunotei'' (yesterday), ''xortei'' (soon; lit. "in a short time"). Usually locative does not denote possession; e.g. compare ''Ku du | When used as Locative, it indicates place or time: ''sue'' (in water), ''punseolani'' (in a forest), ''kokmihani'' (on an airplane), ''sorsunotei'' (yesterday), ''xortei'' (soon; lit. "in a short time"). Usually locative does not denote possession; e.g. compare ''Ku du áthatta taoruolanu kai'' (Give me this book, i.e. for me to have) vs. ''Ku titta duit taoruolanu kai'' (Bring this book to me, i.e. to my place). | ||
If the location needs to be specified more precisely, e.g. "'''on''' the desk" vs. "'''under''' the desk", or "'''near''' the house" vs. "'''in''' the house", Cha uses a position indicator + Genitive to express that: ''dei taoruo'' (on the desk, lit. "on top of the desk"), ''deri taoruo'' (under the desk), ''neri huo'' (outside the house), '' | If the location needs to be specified more precisely, e.g. "'''on''' the desk" vs. "'''under''' the desk", or "'''near''' the house" vs. "'''in''' the house", Cha uses a position indicator + Genitive to express that: ''dei taoruo'' (on the desk, lit. "on top of the desk"), ''deri taoruo'' (under the desk), ''neri huo'' (outside the house), ''nertenxi huo'' (around the house), ''nei huo'' (in / inside the house), ''hui'' (at the house, home). As you can see, all these constructions follow the pattern "at" (expressed as Locative) "position" (e.g. top, under, outside etc.) "of" (expressed as Genitive) original word. The position indicators are grammatically nouns, although they are usually translated into English as prepositions. | ||
To form a sentence indicating an object / person location, e.g. "The boy '''is''' in the house", Cha speakers would use the verb ''nai / ná'' (vi: "be located", vt: "put"): ''Nunmen nai nei huo''. One can also say ''Nunmen nei hui'', using the root ''ne'' as a verb with meaning "be inside". | To form a sentence indicating an object / person location, e.g. "The boy '''is''' in the house", Cha speakers would use the verb ''nai / ná'' (vi: "be located", vt: "put"): ''Nunmen nai nei huo''. One can also say ''Nunmen nei hui'', using the root ''ne'' as a verb with meaning "be inside". | ||
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When used as Instrumentalis, the same form indicates a tool or object with which an action is done. This usage usually translates into English with the help of preposition "with", although not always: ''Nunmen kai lodani rur-e-xo-lodaniolai'' (This boy plays a violin). In Da, it is interchangeable with a phrase that includes the word ''lai'' (using): ''Damen tala saraotutirhonu seoruri'' (The master beats the dog '''with''' a stick) can be said as ''Damen tala saraotutirhonu lai seoruru'' (The master beats the dog '''using''' a stick). | When used as Instrumentalis, the same form indicates a tool or object with which an action is done. This usage usually translates into English with the help of preposition "with", although not always: ''Nunmen kai lodani rur-e-xo-lodaniolai'' (This boy plays a violin). In Da, it is interchangeable with a phrase that includes the word ''lai'' (using): ''Damen tala saraotutirhonu seoruri'' (The master beats the dog '''with''' a stick) can be said as ''Damen tala saraotutirhonu lai seoruru'' (The master beats the dog '''using''' a stick). | ||
Finally, a noun in this case can be used as the verb of a sentence to express the "is the" relationship (Essive): Ku meni du | Finally, a noun in this case can be used as the verb of a sentence to express the "is the" relationship (Essive): Ku meni du síssao sorsunotei! -- You are the man I saw yesterday! | ||
Although different uses of Locative / Instrumentalis share the same ending, it is usually quite obvious whether the place, time, or tool is meant in each given case. | Although different uses of Locative / Instrumentalis share the same ending, it is usually quite obvious whether the place, time, or tool is meant in each given case. | ||