Differences

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--- en:grammar:verb_phrases [2023-02-02 12:23] – [The copula] christian
+++ en:grammar:verb_phrases [2023-02-02 12:35] (current) – [The copula] Add rationale christian
@@ Line 186: / Line 186: @@
 **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.\\
-But it's always used before a noun or preposition:
+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.\\
@@ Line 207: / 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 =====