Pronominal Prefixes: Difference between revisions

From Kunwok
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Content added Content deleted
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
One of the early challenges in learning Kunwok is the [[Pronominal Prefixes|pronominal prefixes]].
One of the early challenges in learning Kunwok is the pronominal prefixes.
We'll break it down to make it easier to learn.
We'll break it down to make it easier to learn.


Pronominal prefixes are like pronouns (e.g. I, you, she) except they attach to the verb.
Pronominal prefixes are a bit like pronouns, such as I, you, she.
However, they are attached to verbs. For example:
⚫
Thus, we can say ''ngare'' (I go), with the ''nga-'' prefix (I) attached to the ''re'' verb (go).
Use the ''yi-'' (you) prefix to say ''yire'' (you go).


⚫
* ''ngare'' (I go) is made up of ''nga-'' (I) and ''re'' (go)
{| class=wikitable align=center
* ''yire'' is made up of ''yi-'' (you) and ''re'' (go)
⚫
|Two kinds of verbs:
⚫
: Before getting started, it helps to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
⚫
: Transitive verbs ''transfer'' their action from the do-er to something/someone, from the agent to the patient (e.g. ''find'', ''follow'', ''deceive'', ''look after'').
⚫
: Intransitive verbs lack any object to receive the action (e.g. ''sleep'', ''run'', ''sit'', ''return'').
⚫
: Read more about [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs/ transitive and intransitive verbs].
|}


Can you form expressions with ''bidbun'' (climb), ''mankan'' (fall), ''keyo'' (sleep), ''bebme'' (arrive), and ''nalkbun'' (cry)? When you're ready, click on "expand" to see the answers.
⚫
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I1|Intransitive Verbs 1]]


⚫
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable"
== Step 2: Plural intransitive ==
! I climb || you climb || I fall || you fall || I sleep || you sleep || I arrive || you arrive || I cry || you cry

Next, we replace the singular with the plural prefixes (we, you (pl), they).

⚫
{| class="wikitable"
!Nonpast!!Meaning!!Past!!Meaning!!Comment
|-
|-
| ngabidbun || yibidbun || ngamankan || yimankan || ngakeyo || yikeyo || ngabebme || yibebme || nganalkbun || yinalkbun
| '''karri'''re || we go || '''karri'''wam || we went || ''karri-'' means we (including the hearer), i.e. first-person plural inclusive
|-
| '''ngurri'''re || you (pl) go || '''ngurri'''wam || you (pl) went || ''ngurri-'' means you (pl), i.e. second-person plural
|-
| ka'''birri'''re || they go || '''birri'''wam || they went || ''birri-'' means they, i.e. the third-person plural
|-
|-
|}
|}


NB ''ngabidbun'' can mean any of: I climb (present simple), I am climbing (present progressive), I will climb (future simple), I will be climbing (future progressive).
Note that when we translate ''karrire'' as 'we go', it also means 'we're going', 'let's go', and 'we will go'.
Context will usually make it clear which sense is intended.
(If you find it strange that a verb can indicate present or future tense, just think about these English phrases:
''we go today'', ''we go next week'').
Let's see these prefixes again with ''bidbun'' and ''mankan''.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class=wikitable align=center
⚫
|Two kinds of verbs:
!Nonpast!!Meaning!!Past!!Meaning
⚫
: Before getting started, it helps to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
|-
⚫
: Transitive verbs ''transfer'' their action from the do-er to something/someone, from the agent to the patient (e.g. ''find'', ''follow'', ''deceive'', ''look after'').
| '''karri'''bidbun || we (incl) climb || '''karri'''bidbom || we (incl) climbed
⚫
: Intransitive verbs lack any object to receive the action (e.g. ''sleep'', ''run'', ''sit'', ''return'').
|-
: Sometimes a given verb has a transitive sense and a related intransitive sense (e.g. ''play'', ''grow'', ''read'', ''win'').
| '''ngurri'''bidbun || you (pl) climb || '''ngurri'''bidbom || you (pl) climbed
⚫
: Read more about [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs/ transitive and intransitive verbs].
|-
| ka'''birri'''bidbun || they climb || '''birri'''bidbom || they climbed
|-
| '''karri'''mankan || we (incl) fall || '''karri'''mankang || we (incl) fell
|-
| '''ngurri'''mankan || you (pl) fall || '''ngurri'''mankang || you (pl) fell
|-
| ka'''birri'''mankan || they fall || '''birri'''mankang || they fell
|-
|}
|}


== Pronominal Prefixes with Intransitive Verbs ==
Note that Kunwok has a special form of the plural which just concerns the case of two people or things. We will cover this case later.
For now we'll make the simplifying assumption that any more than one is plural.

You might like to review what we have covered so far and make up a table for a verb in nonpast or past, for example:

{| class="wikitable"
!Singular!!Plural
|-
| '''nga'''re, ''I go'' || '''karri'''re, ''we (incl) go''
|-
| '''yi'''re, ''you (sg) go'' || '''ngurri'''re, ''you (pl) go''
|-
| kare, ''he/she/it goes'' || ka'''birri'''re, ''they go''
|-
|}

It's a good idea to master these 6 prefixes before going further.
You could make flashcards, or find a bininj to practice with.
You can also put these into sentences including nouns:

* bininj kare wolehwole, ''the man's going this afternoon''
* karrire ngudda dja ngaye dja wurdurd, ''Let's all go, you, me, and the kids''
* yimankang wanjh yidolkkang, ''You fell then you got up''

== Step 3: Singular transitive with third person object or subject ==

⚫
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T1|Transitive Verbs 1]]


* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T2|Transitive Verbs 2]]
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I1|Intransitive Verbs 1]] (singular)
⚫
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I2|Intransitive Verbs 2]] (plural)
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I3|Intransitive Verbs 3]] (plural)


* [[Pronominal Prefixes T3|Transitive Verbs 3]]
== Pronominal Prefixes with Transitive Verbs ==


⚫
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T1|Transitive Verbs 1]] (singular, third person singular objects)
== Step 6: more... to be continued ==
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T2|Transitive Verbs 2]] (first person subject, second person object)
* [[Pronominal Prefixes T3|Transitive Verbs 3]] (singular, third person plural objects)

Latest revision as of 06:37, 21 July 2022

One of the early challenges in learning Kunwok is the pronominal prefixes. We'll break it down to make it easier to learn.

Pronominal prefixes are a bit like pronouns, such as I, you, she. However, they are attached to verbs. For example:

  • ngare (I go) is made up of nga- (I) and re (go)
  • yire is made up of yi- (you) and re (go)

Can you form expressions with bidbun (climb), mankan (fall), keyo (sleep), bebme (arrive), and nalkbun (cry)? When you're ready, click on "expand" to see the answers.

I climb you climb I fall you fall I sleep you sleep I arrive you arrive I cry you cry
ngabidbun yibidbun ngamankan yimankan ngakeyo yikeyo ngabebme yibebme nganalkbun yinalkbun

NB ngabidbun can mean any of: I climb (present simple), I am climbing (present progressive), I will climb (future simple), I will be climbing (future progressive). Context will usually make it clear which sense is intended.

Two kinds of verbs:
Before getting started, it helps to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
Transitive verbs transfer their action from the do-er to something/someone, from the agent to the patient (e.g. find, follow, deceive, look after).
Intransitive verbs lack any object to receive the action (e.g. sleep, run, sit, return).
Sometimes a given verb has a transitive sense and a related intransitive sense (e.g. play, grow, read, win).
Read more about transitive and intransitive verbs.

Pronominal Prefixes with Intransitive Verbs

Pronominal Prefixes with Transitive Verbs

Retrieved from "https://kunwok.org/wiki/Pronominal_Prefixes?oldid=1089"
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.
More information