Copular and Possessive Constructions

The Copula


The basic order for declarative sentences is subject plus copula, plus predicate, as shown in the following examples. However, the copula is optional.
1. John tò' manè wi yùa.
   John is person treat sick
   
   'John is a doctor.'

2. John tò' manè mìp mòa.
   John is person happy one

   ' John is happy.'

3. John tò' manè mìp mìp.
   John is person happy happy
   
   'John is a happy guy.'

   In negative copular constructions mò'ng, meaning to exist or to live, is used in conjunction with the word hù'7, meaning not or no.

4. Kla'7 John hù'7 tò' yua.
   dog John not is sick

   'John's dog is not sick.'

5. John mò'ng hù'7 mìp.
   John exist/live not happy
   
   ' John is not happy.'

6. John hù'7 mòa tanày naw7.
   John not one right here

   ' John is not here.'

   The locative copula, nùm, is used when stating location or possession. This is illustrated in the following examples.

7. John kla'7 nùm mò'ng.
   John dog have live/exist

   'John has a dog.'

8. John kla'7 hù'7 mòa.
   John dog not one

   'John does not have a dog.'

9. **John kla'7 hù'7 nùm
   John dog not loc.cop.

   (*John does not have a dog.)

10. 7ua nùm tanày naw.
    I loc.cop. right here

    ' I am here.'

11. John nùm tanày te7.
    John loc.cop. right there

    ' John is right there.'

12. John nùm tanày naw7.
    John loc.cop. right here

    ' John is here.'

    Note: The usual SVO word order seems to be replaced with SOV word order in examples containing nùm. Also note that this word is never used in negative constructions containing the word hù'7.

    Possession

    
    In possessions, the word nùm is used as well. The literal gloss would be something to the effect of 'it exists' or 'there exists'. In negative examples, however, the negative marker, hù'7 is used.The following examples illustrate this.

13. Poi pu'ng nùm (mò'ng).
    we rice exist (live/exist)

    'We have rice.'

14. Cakaw pu'ng nùm mò'ng ha?
    you rice exist live/exist QM

    ' Do you have rice?'

15. Poi pu'ng nùm mò'ng.
    we rice exist live/exist

    ' We have rice.'

16. Poi pu'ng hù'7 mòa.
    we rice not one

    ' We don't have rice.'

17. John pu'ng hù'7 mòa.
    John rice not one

    ' John does not have rice.'

18. 7ua pu'ng nùm mò'ng.
    I rice exist live/exist

    ' I have rice.'

    As the subject, possessive constructions are always possessed plus possesser. This is illustrated in the following examples:

19. roa John
    friend John

    'John's friend'

20. *John roa
    John friend

    (*John's friend)

21. Càyng John
    foot John

    'John's foot'

22. Kla'7 John nùm padua hoa7.
    dog John loc.cop. in house

    'John's dog is in the house.'

23. Kla'7 John hù'7 mòa padua hoa7.
    dog John not one in house

    'John's dog is not in the house.'

24. Kla'7 John mò'ng padua hoa7.
    dog John live/exist in house

    'John's dog lives in the house.'

25. Kla'7 John hù'7 mò'ng padua hoa7.
    dog John not one live/exist in house

    'John's dog does not live in the house.'

26. Kla'7 kit càyng John.
    dog bite foot John

    'The dog bit John's foot.'

27. Kla'7 kit roa John.
    dog bite friend John

    'The dog bit John's friend.'

28. Kla'7 kit càyng 7ua.
    dog bite foot my

    'The dog bit my foot.'

Footnotes

1. 1Mò'ng means to exist or to live. It is also the progressive marker. In the examples I've given, it is optional.

2. 2Nùm is the verb meaning 'to have'. It is also the locative copula.