Look and learn: verbless clauses part 1
satexankitolpas. àke!tiáxesêfussiòisetehnatis. àke!tiáfushne! nilákiskinyfekhnest. àke!siáfixstiskiỳfakkátankitapas. cirivz àke!fiétap fysake!. òiqykxiàke!tiỳfuxeèipashriàke!tinycyt ovz nykosshrake!tinykykêcicenycicxihnke!. sake!siòisetxiàke!ehnil evz sake!slacushne!
Genetives and copulas
As mentioned above, Ákat lacks an overt copula for assigning a modifier or modifying clause to an object, relying instead on modifier particles to demonstrate such relationships. Similarly, the language lacks a word equivalent to the Ramajal verb 'to have' (as in 'I have a dog', 'he had lunch'), again preferring to handle such phrases - alongside genetive phrases (Peter's dog, my lunch) - through the use of modifier particles.
- the ephemeral particle SI is most often used to indicate temporary or transitory posession, and does much of the work covered by the Ramajal verb 'have'.
- the temporary genetive particle NI is also used to denote temporary or transitory posession. There is some overlap between ni and si: the general distinction is that si handles the non-physical stuff - age, emotions, diseases, beliefs, etc - alongside less concrete modifying phrases; while ni will most often be used for the objects you can touch.
- the general genetive particle XI tells us that the modifying noun has posession of the head noun, though in this case the posession is routine, expected, more permanent.
- the inalienable genetive particle HRI - which combines with the object's class particle irregularly: hriw, hrij, thr, hrin, shr - is used to demonstrate an inalienable posession, for instance body parts or close family members.
- áxefqlykxisatexan
- Peter's shirt - general genetive
- ékuxnineityfxisatexan
- Those are Peter's shoes - general genetive
- áteflinypetnisatexan
- Peter has a red hat - temporary genetive
- neisoxliéxyfsisatexan
- Peter has good [useful] thoughts - ephemeral genetive
- ỳqykentaplinypetxisatexan
- Peter has red hair - general genetive
- ýposliỳqusfùxliàfekshratexan
- Peter has brown [chocolate-coloured] skin - inalienable genetive
- ýposshratexantiỳqusfùxliàfek
- Peter's skin is brown [chocolate-coloured] - inalienable genetive
- èipaslinycytshratexan
- Peter has blue eyes - inalienable genetive
- éca!flusehnitshratexan
- Peter has two siblings - inalienable genetive
The tense and mood of some genetive/copulative statements can be shifted, to some extent, by adding the appropriate existentiality clitics to the end of the word or clause:
- áteflinypetnisatexanhnust
- Peter never had a red hat
- áteflinypetnisatexanhneqs
- Peter might be getting a red hat
- áteflinypetnisatexanhnest
- Peter will have [is getting] a red hat
- áteflinypetnisatexanhne!
- Peter certainly has a red hat
- áteflinypetnisatexanhnoks
- Peter once had a red hat
- áteflinypetnisatexanhniqs
- Peter no longer has a red hat
Using the pro-verb for clause conjunctions
'Fact' constructions
More of something
