A Verb Before Different Objects

Level 4

A: no following object; B: special direct-object pronoun; C: other direct object; D: indirect object.

How It Works

ContextGrade 2 illustration
A: no following objectsaya
B: direct-object pronounsaye ta
C: other direct objectsayi riga
D: indirect objectsaya miki riga

In Riga na saya ‘A robe is what I bought’, fronting leaves A context. Motion destinations need not be objects. Direct-object demonstratives such as wannan count as C.

Grades 1 and 4 normally shorten their final vowel in C; Grade 4 also permits long-e variants. Grade 6 is invariant. Grades 3 and 7 lack direct-object B/C forms. Grade 2 D forms are lexical. In basic order, indirect objects precede direct objects. Continuatives additionally require appropriate verbal-noun morphology.

Examples (4)

  1. Na saya.

    I bought it.

    A: the object is understood.

  2. Na saye ta.

    I bought it.

    B: ta refers to a feminine item.

  3. Na sayi riga.

    I bought a robe.

    C: riga is the noun object.

  4. Na saya miki riga.

    I bought a robe for you, addressing a woman.

    D: miki immediately follows the verb.

How It Connects

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A Verb Before Different ObjectsLevel 4

Learn This First

Recognize grade and direct-object comparisons, singular datives and relative completed object-focus clauses before distinguishing the four following-object environments, including A context after an object is fronted.

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Words in This Pattern

saya