Knowledge base · Part XII — The Simple Clause and Nonverbal Predication · this topic as a network

99. Property-Concept (Adjectival) Predication without a Copula

How do property-concept words function as predicates without a copula?

2 sentences from 13 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

Property words as intransitive verbs

How do property words act as intransitive verbs in clause structure?

In predicative use, property words serve as the predicate directly without any copula. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936)

opitta poro ru-we ne

everything be.big track-POSS COP

‘Everything was big.’

Ainu Koraci 1991 · SAR

Person marking

What person-marking do property verbs take?

Property words used predicatively inflect for the person and number of the subject in both classical/elevated and colloquial registers. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936)

sonno ku=pewre or ta ku=nu yukar ne ru-we ne

really 1SG.S=be.young place LOC 1SG.A=hear epic COP track-POSS COP

‘It was when I was really young that I heard this epic.’

Nakagawa 2024: 118 · SAR

Attributive and predicative positions

How do property verbs appear in attributive versus predicative positions?

toan nupuri ri

that mountain be.high

‘That mountain is high.’

Kindaichi & Chiri 1936: 123 · HK

The stative–inchoative duality

How do property verbs express both state and onset of state?

tane pakno e=poro ru-we ne korka

now till 2SG.S=be.big track-POSS COP but

‘You have grown big, but …’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

Negation

How are property verbs negated?

merayke=an ka somo ki no

be.cold=4.S even NEG do CONJ

‘not feeling cold, and …’

Nakagawa 2024: 127 · SAR

Degree and intensification

How is degree or intensification expressed with property verbs?

toan kur arikinne wen pe ne

that.one person very be.bad thing COP

‘That person is a very bad one.’

Satō 2008: 20 · SAR

Property verbs as manner auxiliaries

How do property verbs function as manner auxiliaries?

ek moyre ru-we an na

come be.slow track-POSS exist FIN

‘It is slow in coming.’

Nakagawa 2024: 121 · SAR