Grammar overview: Difference between revisions

358 bytes added ,  13:42, 13 August 2023
remove some nerdy details, add a section on "the"
(more, tinier sections)
(remove some nerdy details, add a section on "the")
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{{Example|{{red|Bu}} suao hóq.|It's {{red|not}} important.}}
{{Example|{{red|Bu}} suao hóq.|It's {{red|not}} important.}}
{{Example|{{green|Pu}} {{orange|fı}} {{red|bu}} guaı jí.|I {{green|was}} {{orange|about to}} {{red|not}} work.}}
{{Example|{{green|Pu}} {{orange|fı}} guaı jí.|I {{green|was}} {{orange|about to}} work.}}
 
Sentences can end with a [[speech act particle]]: {{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.
 
{{Example|Jıa guaı jí nha.|[future] I'll work. [promise]}}


== Clauses ==
== Clauses ==
A [[complementizer]] is a kind of word that starts a (sub-)clause.
You can start a subclause by saying certain particles in the glottal tone {{Done|3}}. There's {{t|ꝡä}} "that", {{t|mä}} "whether", {{t|tïo}} "to what degree" and more.
 
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, ꝡä guaı súq.|I know that you work.}}
{{Example|Dua jí, ꝡä guaı súq.|I know that you work.}}
{{Example|Bu dua jí, mä guaı súq.|I don't know whether you work.}}
{{Example|Bu dua jí, mä meo súq.|I don't know whether you're sad.}}
{{Example|Pu dua jí, tïo foı súq.|I knew how bored you were.}}


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.
You can also use these particles in the falling tone {{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.


{{Example|Ꝡa guaı jí.|I work.}}
{{Example|Ꝡa guaı jí.|I work.}}
{{Example|Ma chum guaı súq?|Are you working? (Whether you're working?)}}
{{Example|Ma meo súq?|Are you sad? (Whether you're sad?)}}
{{Example|Tıo foı súq móq?|How bored are you?}}
{{Example|Tıo foı súq móq?|How bored are you?}}


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{{Example|Nuı jí.|I am-small.}}
{{Example|Nuı jí.|I am-small.}}


We can make noun phrases (really, [[determiner phrase]]s) by combining a [[determiner]] (particle in {{done|2}}) with a verb.
We can make noun phrases by combining a [[determiner]] (particle in {{done|2}}) with a verb. Determiners are words like: the, a, each, some…


{{Example|sá kato|'''some''' that are-cats, i.e. some cat(s)}}
{{Example|sá kato|'''some''' that are-cats, i.e. some cat(s)}}
{{Example|tú jara|'''each''' that runs, i.e. each runner}}
{{Example|tú jara|'''each''' that runs, i.e. each runner}}
{{Example|báq nuı|'''[[kind]]''' that is-small, i.e. small things in general}}
{{Example|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 {{done|2}}.
This always binds a "variable" that can be accessed by repeating the verb itself in the rising tone {{done|2}}.


{{Example|Dua tú poq, ꝡä suao {{green|póq}}.|Each person knows that {{green|they}} are important.}}
{{Example|Dua tú poq, ꝡä suao {{green|póq}}.|Each person knows that {{green|they}} are important.}}
== Saying "the" ==
You can put a verb in {{done|2}} even when there was not a "binding" earlier in the sentence. This acts like saying "the" in English. The "binding" lives in the shared context or knowledge of the speaker and the listener.
{{Example|Luaı póq.|The person is funny.}}
The determiner {{t|hú}} means "the/that", too, but explicitly means we're referring to something mentioned earlier.
{{Example|Luaı hú poq.|That person (you or I mentioned) is funny.}}
The determiner {{t|ké}} means "the/this/that" when we're referring to something definite but ''not'' mentioned earlier.
{{Example|Luaı ké poq.|(There's) this person (who) is funny.}}


== {{t|hí}} and {{t|raı}} ==
== {{t|hí}} and {{t|raı}} ==