Grammar overview: Difference between revisions

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Verbs can be preceded by tense, aspect, and polarity (negation) words.
Verbs can be preceded by tense, aspect, and polarity (negation) words.


Sentences can end with a [[speech act particle]] whose tone is lexical (i.e. part of the word):
Sentences can end with a [[speech act particle]] whose tone is lexical (i.e. part of the word): {{t|da}} for a statement, {{t|móq}} for a question, {{t|ba}} for a wish, {{t|nha}} for a promise…
 
{{t|da}} for a statement, {{t|móq}} for a question, {{t|ba}} for a wish, {{t|nha}} for a promise…


The default is {{t|da}} if there are no question words, and {{t|móq}} if there are.
The default is {{t|da}} if there are no question words, and {{t|móq}} if there are.


{{Example|Jıa guaı jí nha.|I'll work. [promise]}}
{{Example|Jıa guaı jí nha.|[future] I'll work. [promise]}}


Sentences can start with a [[complementizer]] in the falling tone {{Done|1}}:
You can start a subclause by saying a [[complementizer]] in the glottal tone {{Done|3}}. There's {{t|ꝡä}} "that", {{t|mä}} "whether", {{t|tïo}} "to what degree" and more.
{{Example|Dua jí, wä guaı súq.|I know that you work.}}
{{Example|Bu dua jí, mä guaı súq.|I don't know whether you work.}}


{{t|ꝡa}} is declarative (like English ''that''), {{t|ma}} makes a polar question (like English ''whether''), {{t|tıo}} makes a degree question.
You can also use these complementizers in {{Done|1}} in the main clause. {{t|Ꝡa}} doesn't change the meaning, but {{t|ma}} and {{t|tıo}} are how you ask questions.


In English it seems weird to have a complementizer in the main clause (*''That I'll work.'') but in Toaq it's fine.
In English it seems weird to have a complementizer in the main clause (*''That I'll work.'') but in Toaq it's fine.
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{{Example|Tıo foı súq móq?|How bored are you?}}
{{Example|Tıo foı súq móq?|How bored are you?}}


Placing these complementizers in {{Done|3}} is how you start a subclause:
== Nouns ==
{{Example|Dua jí, wä guaı súq.|I know that you work.}}
{{Example|Bu dua jí, mä guaı súq.|I don't know whether you work.}}
 
== Nouns that aren't pronouns ==


In Toaq, nouns and verbs and adjectives are all the same part of speech, called verbs.
In Toaq, nouns and verbs and adjectives are all the same part of speech, called verbs.

Revision as of 23:37, 4 January 2023

Sentence structure

Toaq word order is "verb, subject, object".

Verbs are in the falling tone falling tone. Pronouns are in the rising tone rising tone.

Guaı jí.
I work.

Dua jí hóq.
I know it.

Verbs can be preceded by tense, aspect, and polarity (negation) words.

Sentences can end with a speech act particle whose tone is lexical (i.e. part of the word): da for a statement, móq for a question, ba for a wish, nha for a promise…

The default is da if there are no question words, and móq if there are.

Jıa guaı jí nha.
[future] I'll work. [promise]

You can start a subclause by saying a complementizer in the glottal tone glottal tone. There's ꝡä "that", "whether", tïo "to what degree" and more.

Dua jí, wä guaı súq.
I know that you work.

Bu dua jí, mä guaı súq.
I don't know whether you work.

You can also use these complementizers in falling tone in the main clause. Ꝡa doesn't change the meaning, but ma and tıo are how you ask questions.

In English it seems weird to have a complementizer in the main clause (*That I'll work.) but in Toaq it's fine.

Ꝡa guaı jí.
I work.

Ma chum guaı súq?
Are you working?

Tıo foı súq móq?
How bored are you?

Nouns

In Toaq, nouns and verbs and adjectives are all the same part of speech, called verbs.

Kato jí.
I am-a-cat.

Jara nháo.
I run.

Nuı jí.
I am-small.

We can make noun phrases (really, determiner phrases) by combining a determiner (particle in rising tone) with a verb.

sá kato
some that are-cats, i.e. some cat(s)

tú jara
each that runs, i.e. each runner

báq nuı
kind that is-small, i.e. small things in general

This always binds a "variable" that can be accessed by repeating the verb itself in the rising tone rising tone.

Dua tú poq wä suao póq.
Each person knows that they are important.