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--- en:grammar:verb_phrases [2023-01-21 11:39] – [Subjectless verbs] christian
+++ en:grammar:verb_phrases [2023-02-02 12:35] (current) – [The copula] Add rationale christian
@@ Line 180: / Line 180: @@
 ===== The copula =====
-The copula **xi** – translated as a form of 'be' in this context – connects a noun phrase with an adjective or noun phrase that describes it. If a adjective follows, it can be and often is omitted, but if a noun phrase follows, it should always be used. Note that the expression that follows **xi** is considered a //complement// rather than an object, therefore it never takes the object marker **o**.
+The copula **xi** – translated as a form of 'be' in this context – connects a noun phrase with an adjective or noun phrase that describes it. If a adjective follows, it can be and often is omitted, but if a noun phrase or a prepositional phrase follows, it should always be used. Note that an adjective or noun phrase that follows **xi** is considered a //complement// rather than an object, therefore it never takes the object marker **o**.
+So if an adjective follows, **xi** is typically omitted:
 **Ti (xi) ingi dulse.** – You're really sweet.\\
 **Uma (xi) bai.** – The horse is white.\\
-**Ya den laste (xi) mardi.** – Yesterday he/she was ill.\\
+**Ya (xi) mardi den laste .** – Yesterday he/she was ill.\\
-**Ya xi baba hau.** – 'He's a good father.'\\
-**Ta ona xi [actor] maxuhur.** – That woman is a famous actress.
+Note that, if a a time expression (or another expression including a noun or a preposition) is placed after the subject, **xi** should always be used, to prevent possible confusion:
+**Ya den laste xi mardi.** – Yesterday he/she was ill.\\
+**Xi** it always used before a noun or preposition:
+**Ya xi baba hau.** – He's a good father.\\
+**Ta ona xi [actor] maxuhur.** – That woman is a famous actress.\\
+**Le xi ni ruma.** – They're at home / They're in the house.\\
+**Mi xi de Barat.** – I'm from India. //(I was born there or usually live there)//
 The negated form of the copula is just **no** – **xi** is never used in this case.
@@ Line 200: / Line 211: @@
 **Uma gran xi lela.**
+//Rationale:// That the copula is required before noun phrases and locative phrases, but (typically) omitted before adjectives, follows the typical patterns in the majority of all languages (WALS 120) and specifically in creoles (APiCS 73–75).
 ===== Other verbs with a complement =====