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Serial verb: Difference between revisions

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== Examples ==
== Examples ==
Serial verbs are a very powerful construct in Toaq grammar: any verb with a “satisfies property…” or “is the case” slot can essentially act as an auxiliary verb to another. With other verbs, the result is like “adjective-noun”, or “verb-[[baq]]-object”.
Serial verbs are a powerful construct in Toaq grammar:
* Any verb with a “satisfies property…” or “is the case” slot can essentially act as an auxiliary verb to another.
* With other verbs, the result is like “[[adjective]]-thing”, or “verb-[[baq]]-object”.


Here is a list of examples to demonstrate the sort of thing serial verbs let you express in Toaq.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Serial verb examples
|+ Serial verb examples
! {{t|deq  koı}}
! {{t|deq  koı}}
| can · walk
| can walk
| A modal auxiliary verb, like in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|pu  koı}}
! {{t|pu  koı}}
| did · walk
| did walk
| A tense auxiliary verb, like in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|sheo  fıeq}}
! {{t|sheo  fıeq}}
| regret · inventing
| regret inventing
| A less familiar auxiliary verb: {{t|sheo}} “regret”.
|-
|-
! {{t|leo  kuaq}}
! {{t|leo  kuaq}}
| try to · express
| try expressing
| Many serials correspond to “(verb) to (verb)” in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|jaq  chuı}}
! {{t|jaq  chuı}}
| very · early
| very early
| Other serials correspond to adverbs in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|bu  suaojıe}}
! {{t|bu  suao}}
| not · care about
| not important
| Even negation can be done with a serial verb.
|-
|-
! {{t|taq  loı}}
! {{t|taq  loı}}
| self- · hate
| self- hate
| Serialization can be used to make reflexive verbs.
|-
|-
! {{t|sao  meı}}
! {{t|sao  meı}}
| big · mountain
| big mountain
| An “adjectival” serial verb (adjective-noun).
|-
|-
! {{t|joaı  haq}}
! {{t|joaı  haq}}
| seek · food
| seek food
| A “genitival” serial verb (verb-[[baq]]-noun).
|}
|}


== Merging definitions ==
== Merging definitions ==
When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]].
When joining two verbs together into a serial, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]].
 
Verbs that are treated the same in this algorithm are said to belong to the same “[[frame#Serial frames|serial frame]]”.


All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules:
All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules:
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective: “describe-head”
|+ Adjective: “describe”
|-
|-
! sao
! sao
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The result can be used as a verb by saying each word in {{tone|4}}:
The result can be used as a verb by saying each word in {{tone|4}}:


{{Example|Dẻq kỏı súq moq?|Are you <u>able to walk</u>?}}
{{Example|<u>Dẻq kỏı</u> súq moq?|Are you <u>able to walk</u>?}}
{{Example|Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.|I <u>don't care about</u> that.}}
{{Example|<u>Bủ sủaojıe</u> jí ní da.|I <u>don't care about</u> that.}}
{{Example|Shẻo lẻo rủo hủaq cảq jí nháo da.|I <u>regret trying to act more strong than</u> them.}}
{{Example|<u>Shẻo lẻo rủo hủaq cảq</u> jí nháo da.|I <u>regret trying to act more strong than</u> them.}}


Only the first word is conjugated for tone, and everything else stays in {{tone|4}}.
Only the first word is conjugated for tone, and everything else stays in {{tone|4}}.
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{{Example|táq lỏı|self-hater}}
{{Example|táq lỏı|self-hater}}
{{Example|täq lỏı|… who self-hates}}
{{Example|täq lỏı|… who self-hates}}
{{Example|jãq dẻ|very beautifully}}
{{Example|bũ jảq dẻ|not very beautifully}}