Reading the Subject and Action Frame
Sun, suna, za su, and subjunctive su express ‘they’ in different event frames.
How It Works
A named subject normally precedes its subject-TAM marker. Singular second- and third-person forms distinguish gender; plural forms do not divide by gender. Completion is not simply past tense, and continuation is not simply present tense.
| Third-person plural | Frame |
|---|---|
| sun / suka | Plain / relative completive |
| suna / suke | Plain / relative continuative |
| za su | Future |
| su | Subjunctive |
Fronted constituent questions, focus, and relative clauses select appropriate relative marking; relative completive also occurs in narrative sequences. Yes/no questions can retain plain forms. An overt subject can permit continuative reduction to na or ke. Independently, verbs change for objects, derivation, and verbal-noun formation. Ordinary Boko leaves important tone and vowel-length distinctions unmarked.
Examples (4)
- Ɗalibai sun shiga.
The students entered.
Sun frames completion.
- Ɗalibai suna shiga.
The students are entering.
Suna frames continuation.
- Ɗalibai za su shiga.
The students will enter.
Za su frames a later event.
- Ya kamata ɗalibai su shiga.
The students should enter.
Su frames the required action.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Compare the familiar completive, continuative, future and negative frames before organizing their person/TAM paradigms; specialized dependent paradigms are introduced locally and expanded later.
- muna / kuna / sunaOngoing Actions with Plural Subjects
Compare the familiar completive, continuative, future and negative frames before organizing their person/TAM paradigms; specialized dependent paradigms are introduced locally and expanded later.
Level 1 - ba … baA Basic Negative Frame
Compare the familiar completive, continuative, future and negative frames before organizing their person/TAM paradigms; specialized dependent paradigms are introduced locally and expanded later.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- na / ta / sunCompleted Actions
Develops plain completion.
Level 1 - Completed Actions After Focus
Develops construction-sensitive completion.
Level 3 - Ongoing Actions After Focus
Develops construction-sensitive continuation.
Level 3 - Intended and Directed Actions
Develops dependent actions.
Level 3 - A Verb Before Different Objects
Separates object-conditioned morphology from TAM.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Reading the Subject and Action Frame in Bubblegum
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