Content clause

Revision as of 15:00, 10 October 2022 by Laqme (talk | contribs)

A content clause is a subclause that acts like a noun phrase.

For example, the phrases in bold here are content clauses:

  1. It's good that you're here.
  2. I hope it won't rain.
  3. That she apologized doesn't change anything.

In Toaq, a simple content clause is made using rising-falling tone.

Placing rising-falling tone on a verb starts a content clause, which lasts until the end of the clause it's in, or until the terminator cy.

Zảı jí jîa bủ rủqshua da.
I hope that it won't rain.

Cả shêokuq nháo cy sıa sủao da.
That she apologized [END] causes nothing important.

A content clause can also be made using the complementizer , in which case it can contain a prenex:

Zảı jí lâ pátı bı, bủ rủqshua da.
I hope that as for the party, it doesn't rain.

Properties

Properties are expressed in Toaq as   content clauses containing ja.

These correspond roughly to "non-finite" clauses in English that lack a subject, formed using "to" or "-ing":

Sủe nháo mí Ảna sôa ja fúy da.
He asked Ana to help him.

Rỉu jí gûaı tì núokua ja da.
I resume working in the bedroom.

Kủaı jí mâı sa pỏq ja da.
I desire to be loved by someone.

See the main article for more information.

Interrogative content clauses

The above content clauses are all declarative content clauses. There are also interrogative content clauses — better known as indirect questions.

  1. I know what you did last night.
  2. I wonder whether it will rain.

In Toaq, these are   clauses containing a question word. See the main article for more information.