Putting the Main Idea First

Level 1

A common ordinary-statement frame is predicate + marked participant.

How It Works

In Constantino's situational clauses, the predicate center normally precedes the marked subject. Common-noun phrases can begin with ti or dagiti; personal-name phrases use ni or associative da. A suitable pronoun can supply the participant instead.

In verbal clauses, voice determines the selected participant's role. Actor-focus forms select the actor, while other voices select an affected item or another participant. English word order therefore cannot determine Ilocano marking. Particular constructions may also have number morphology; there is no universal English-like agreement ending.

Compare Maestra ni Teresa., which classifies Teresa as a teacher, with Ni Teresa ti maestra., which identifies her as the teacher. Fronting a topic supplies another frame: Ni Rosa ket nagawid. presents Rosa before the comment. A pause can also mark inversion. These alternatives are grammatical, but their information structure differs.

Examples (5)

  1. Nagawid ni Rosa.

    Rosa went home.

    The completed action precedes its actor.

  2. Nangina ti kape.

    The coffee is expensive.

    A property precedes the marked participant.

  3. Maestra ni Teresa.

    Teresa is a teacher.

    A noun supplies a classification predicate.

  4. Ni Teresa ti maestra.

    Teresa is the teacher.

    This identifies the teacher rather than simply assigning a profession.

  5. Ni Rosa ket nagawid.

    Rosa went home.

    Ket connects the fronted topic to its comment.

How It Connects

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Putting the Main Idea FirstLevel 1

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