Verb Phrase
The basic verb phrase in Coast Tsimshian is ordered: TEMPORAL MARKER, verb. However, many of the noun phrases in the sentence can be represented on both the verb and/or the temporal marker as pre-, in- or suffixes. There are five temporal markers which can combine to form various tenses or aspects.
- /nah/: (perfective) /nah dzap/ "already made"
- /dm/: (future/progressive) /dm dzap/ "will make", "is going to make", "is making"
- /ɫa/: (near to present) /ɫa dzap/ "just beginning to make"
- /wil/: (sequentially following) /wil dzap/ "and then made"
- /yagwa/: (present-only with action verbs) /yagwa dzap/ "be making right now," "is now making"
Some combined temporal expressions:
- /ɫa-dm dzap/: "just about to start making"
- /nah ɫa-wil dzap/ "and then just finished making"
- /dm ɫa-wil dzap/ "and now just about to start making"
Read more about this topic: Coast Tsimshian Language, Syntax
Famous quotes containing the words verb and/or phrase:
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