adda + Possessed Noun

Having Something

Level 1

Use adda + possessed noun, such as adda librok, “I have a book.”

How It Works

A possession clause presents a possessed thing as existing. In Adda librok, the noun identifies the speaker as possessor. KWF explicitly illustrates librok, librom, and librona; these spellings support this small paradigm without requiring an invented rule for every vowel-final noun.

A full personal-name possessor follows the possessed noun with ni: Adda libro ni Elena means that Elena has a book. A pronoun possessor attaches directly to the noun. Na does not distinguish his from her.

Compare Addakami ditoy, “We are here,” and Adda balaymi ditoy, “We have a house here.” Subject kami identifies who is present; possessive mi identifies whose house exists. The possessor is encoded on the noun. Context determines whether having means ownership or relevant availability; awan supplies the corresponding lack.

Examples (3)

  1. Adda librok.

    I have a book.

    Librok carries the singular first-person possessor.

  2. Adda balaymi idiay ili.

    We have a house in town.

    Mi excludes the addressee.

  3. Adda libro ni Elena.

    Elena has a book.

    Ni marks the named possessor after libro.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

adda + Possessed NounLevel 1Having Something

Learn This First

A possessor on the noun after adda identifies who has something.

Words in This Pattern