Saying What Someone Is

Level 1

A simple classification uses unmarked noun predicate + marked participant.

How It Works

For an ordinary classification, begin with a common-noun predicate and follow it with the marked participant or an appropriate attached pronoun. The predicate can include a possessor or a linked descriptive modifier. Its noun does not require an article simply because English supplies one.

Compare Maestra ni Elena., 'Elena is a teacher,' with Ni Elena ti maestra., 'Elena is the teacher.' English supplies is in both translations, but Ilocano does not need a separate present copula. This construction itself does not express becoming or an English is/are agreement change.

Personal-name identity has narrower frames. Constantino permits a personal name as predicate with a full nominative personal pronoun or long demonstrative as subject; he also describes a name paired with an enclitic nominative predicate. Thus an identity frame such as Siak ni Nestor. should be learned as a whole, rather than treating names as unrestricted replacements for profession predicates.

Examples (5)

  1. Maestra ni Elena.

    Elena is a teacher.

    The profession predicate classifies Elena.

  2. Ni Elena ti maestra.

    Elena is the teacher.

    The clause identifies the teacher.

  3. Anak ni Lito ni Marco.

    Marco is Lito's child.

    Anak ni Lito is the expanded predicate.

  4. Abugadoak.

    I am a lawyer.

    The noun hosts the dependent speaker pronoun.

  5. Siak ni Nestor.

    I am Nestor.

    An independent pronoun participates in personal-name identity.

How It Connects

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

Saying What Someone IsLevel 1

Learn This First

A noun phrase can directly say what someone or something is.