Nested Relative tí

Following Nested Noun Descriptions

Level 6

Outer head + tí + clause containing an inner head + tí + its description.

How It Works

A relative clause follows the noun it describes and begins with high-tone tí. A noun inside that clause can take another relative description. In Ọmọ tí ó wà ní ilé tí ó tóbi ń sùn, the intended outer head is the child: the outer relative gives its location. The intended inner head is the house: the inner relative describes its size.

Bracket this reading as child [who is in house [which is big]]. Each ó has a role within its own clause; the inner one refers to the house on this reading. Context can favour another attachment, so proximity alone does not guarantee reference. These examples use subject relatives and do not establish an object-relative tone paradigm. Verbs have no gender or number endings. Preserve relative tí and distinguish it from mid-tone aspect or possessive ti.

Examples (3)

  1. Ọmọ tí ó wà ní ilé tí ó tóbi ń sùn.

    The child who is in the house that is big is sleeping.

    On the intended nested reading, the outer relative describes ọmọ and the inner relative describes ilé.

  2. Mo rí obìnrin tí ó wà ní ọjà tí ó tóbi.

    I saw the woman who is at the market that is big.

    The intended inner description applies to the market; context must support this attachment.

  3. Ọkùnrin tí ó ní ìwé tí ó dára wà ní ilé.

    The man who has a book that is good is at home.

    The intended outer relative identifies the possessor and the inner relative describes the book.

How It Connects

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

Nested Relative tíLevel 6Following Nested Noun Descriptions

Learn This First

Identify each relative clause's head and participant role.