Simple Phrases

The basic form of content words ends with "-a". This form can be used to directly combine nouns with demonstratives, numbers, adjectives, and verbs into a phrase.

lala DIS saurasaura lizard
'that lizard'
'that thing which is a lizard'

sasa PRX saurasaura lizard klorosaklorosa green-AGT
'this green lizard'
'this thing which is a lizard which is green'

lala DIS pentapenta five saurasaura lizard fagosafagosa eat-AGT
'the five lizards that are eating'
'those things which are five in number which are lizards which are eating'

Demonstratives and numbers are usually placed in front of the noun, adjective, and verb. However, you are allowed to put the words in any order because they all directly refer to the same thing.

Simple Sentences

The subject clitic (-ai) is used like a copula to link the subject at the beginning of a sentence and its predicate, which can be a verb, adjective, or another noun.

Lai DIS-COP saura. lizard
'That is a lizard.'

Sa PRX saurai lizard-COP klorosa. green-AGT
'This lizard is green.'

La DIS penta five saurai lizard-COP fagosa. eat-AGT
'The five lizards are eating (something).'

These simple sentences are used to make statements about specific events or particular occurrences. Later, we will learn about generalization to make universal and hypothetical sentences.

Compound Words

There are two ways to make a compound word and both mean the same thing. The genitive clitic (-o) is used to mark the noun adjunct in front of its head noun to form a head-final phrase, where the first word possesses or modifies the next word.

fita plant : fito plant-GEN oeka house 'plant's house' 'greenhouse'

ma 1SG : mo 1SG-GEN amika friend 'my friend'

The construct clitic (-e) is used to mark the head noun in front of its noun adjunct to form a head-initial phrase, where the first word is possessed or modified by the next word.

karta map : karte map-CON urba city 'map of a city'

kotila cup : kotile cup-CON otsa tea 'teacup'

Active Sentences with Transitive Verbs

A transitive verb is combined with its direct object like a compound word. The genitive (-o) is used like an accusative that marks the object in front of its verb to form a sentence with a subject-object-verb order. This sentence structure is recommended for actions that affect, move, transform, or destroy an existing object.

iktia fish : Lai DIS-COP iktio fish-GEN fagosa. eat-AGT 'She ate a fish'

biblia book : Lai DIS-COP biblio book-GEN opsonosa. buy-AGT 'He bought a book'

The construct state (-e) is used to mark the verb in front of its direct object to form a sentence with a subject-verb-object order. This sentence structure is recommended for actions related to perception and the creation of a new object.

optosa see-AGT : Mai 1SG-COP optose see-AGT-CON ornita. bird 'I saw a bird'

grafosa draw-AGT : Tai 2SG-COP grafose draw-AGT-CON pikta. picture 'You drew a picture'