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A '''serial verb''' is created when two or more [[verb]]s are | A '''serial verb''' (or '''serial''') is created when two or more [[verb]]s are placed together. This process is called '''serialization'''. | ||
== 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”. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+ Serial verb examples | |+ Serial verb examples | ||
! {{t| | ! {{t|deq koı}} | ||
| | | can · walk | ||
| A modal auxiliary verb, like in English. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! {{t| | ! {{t|pu koı}} | ||
| | | did · walk | ||
| A tense auxiliary verb, like in English. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! {{t|sheo fıeq}} | ! {{t|sheo fıeq}} | ||
| regret | | regret · inventing | ||
| A less familiar auxiliary verb: {{t|sheo}} “regret”. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! {{t|leo kuaq}} | ! {{t|leo kuaq}} | ||
| try.to | | try to · express | ||
| Many serials correspond to “(verb) to (verb)” in English. | |||
|- | |||
! {{t|jaq chuı}} | |||
| very · early | |||
| Other serials correspond to adverbs in English. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! {{t|bu suaojıe}} | ! {{t|bu suaojıe}} | ||
| not | | not · care about | ||
| Even negation can be done with a serial verb. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! {{t|taq loı}} | ! {{t|taq loı}} | ||
| self- | | self- · hate | ||
| Serialization can be used to make reflexive verbs. | |||
|- | |||
! {{t|sao meı}} | |||
| big · mountain | |||
| An “adjectival” serial verb (adjective-noun). | |||
|- | |||
! {{t|joaı haq}} | |||
| seek · food | |||
| A “genitival” serial verb (verb-[[baq]]-noun). | |||
|} | |} | ||
== Merging definitions == | |||
When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]]. | When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]]. | ||
All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+ Property slot “merge-away” | |+ Property slot: “merge-away” | ||
|- | |- | ||
! leo | ! leo | ||
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+ Event slot “merge-into” | |+ Event slot: “merge-into” | ||
|- | |- | ||
! le | ! le | ||
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| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is probably underneath ___ | | colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is probably underneath ___ | ||
|} | |} | ||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ Transitive verb: “merge-with-[[baq]]” | |||
|- | |||
! cho | |||
| ___ likes | |||
| style=color:red | ___ | |||
|- | |||
! rua | |||
| | |||
| style=color:red | ___ | |||
| is a flower | |||
|- | |||
! cho rua | |||
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ likes flowers | |||
|} | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ Adjective: “describe-head” | |||
|- | |||
! sao | |||
| style=color:red | ___ | |||
| is big | |||
|- | |||
! paq | |||
| ___ | |||
| is a part of ___ | |||
|- | |||
! sao paq | |||
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is a big part of ___ | |||
|} | |||
== Long serials == | |||
For more than two verbs, this merging process is right-grouping: | For more than two verbs, this merging process is right-grouping: | ||
{{Example|sheo (leo kuaq)|regret (trying to express)}} | {{Example|sheo (leo kuaq)|regret (trying to express)}} | ||
{{Example|le (haı (luı ( | {{Example|le (haı (luı (ceo guaı)))|probably (already (have (started working)))}} | ||
== Usage == | |||
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?| | {{Example|Dẻq kỏı súq moq?|Are you <u>able to walk</u>?}} | ||
{{Example|Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.|I don't care about that.}} | {{Example|Bủ sủaojıe 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.}} | |||
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}}. | ||
{{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}} |