Grammar overview: Difference between revisions
m (→Nouns: fix pronoun) |
(explain hí and raı) |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
{{Example|{{green|Pu}} {{orange|fı}} {{red|bu}} guaı jí.|I {{green|was}} {{orange|about to}} {{red|not}} work.}} | {{Example|{{green|Pu}} {{orange|fı}} {{red|bu}} guaı jí.|I {{green|was}} {{orange|about to}} {{red|not}} work.}} | ||
Sentences can end with a [[speech act particle]] | 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. | The default is {{t|da}} if there are no question words, and {{t|móq}} if there are. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
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. | 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, | {{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 guaı súq.|I don't know whether you work.}} | ||
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
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 | {{Example|Dua tú poq, ꝡä suao {{green|póq}}.|Each person knows that {{green|they}} are important.}} | ||
We can ask questions using the determiner {{t|hí}}, which means "which?" | |||
{{Example|Chum chuq súq {{green|hí haq}}?|{{green|Which food}} are you eating?}} | |||
The verb {{t|raı}} means "to be anything". To say "something, everything, what", use {{t|sá raı, tú raı, hí raı}}. | |||
{{Example|Chum chuq súq hí {{green|raı}}?|What are you eating? (Which {{green|anything}} are you eating?)}} | |||
Revision as of 21:45, 10 March 2023
Sentence structure
Toaq word order is "verb, subject, object".
Verbs are in the falling tone 
. Pronouns are in the rising tone 
.
Guaı jí.
I work.
Dua jí hóq.
I know it.
Verbs can be preceded by tense, aspect, and polarity (negation) words.
Bu suao hóq.
It's not important.
Pu fı bu guaı jí.
I was about to not work.
Sentences can end with a speech act particle: 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 
. There's ꝡä "that", mä "whether", tïo "to what degree" and more.
Dua jí, ꝡä 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 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 jí.
I run.
Nuı jí.
I am-small.
We can make noun phrases (really, determiner phrases) by combining a determiner (particle in ) 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 .
Dua tú poq, ꝡä suao póq.
Each person knows that they are important.
We can ask questions using the determiner hí, which means "which?"
Chum chuq súq hí haq?
Which food are you eating?
The verb raı means "to be anything". To say "something, everything, what", use sá raı, tú raı, hí raı.
Chum chuq súq hí raı?
What are you eating? (Which anything are you eating?)