Difference between revisions of "Superlative"

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(Created page with "Superlatives are identical to comparatives, but have only one noun argument. All superlatives include the same verb moj ‘to be a lot’. In the case of the adjective ‘good…")
 
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In the case of the adjective ‘good’ specifically, the lexical-content adjective can even be omitted, and moʄ can alone put across the meaning of superlative goodness:
  
In the case of the adjective ‘good’ specifically, the lexical-content adjective can even be omitted, and moʄ can alone put across the meaning of superlative goodness:
   
−
okiin omoju xe wiin moju we
 +
okiin omoʄu xe wiin moʄu we
−
okiin omoju faax xe wiin moju we mbaax
 +
okiin omoʄu faax xe wiin moʄu we mbaax
 
‘the best person’ 'the best people'
  
‘the best person’ 'the best people'
   
−
okiin oxe moj na wiin we moj na
 +
okiin oxe moʄ na wiin we moʄ na
−
okiin oxe moj na faax wiin we moj na mbaax
 +
okiin oxe moʄ na faax wiin we moʄ na mbaax
 
‘the person that is best’ 'the people that are best'
  
‘the person that is best’ 'the people that are best'
  +
  +
The adverbial superlative precedes the adjective it modifies, and remains close to it without any intervening words or constituents.
  +
  +
The superlative verb, as can be seen above, can predicate of the noun phrase complex as a whole when the relativizing strategy is used, or can be embedded within it when the -u modification is used.
  +
  +
pis dik ke [mojna nof]
  +
‘the two horses that are fastest’
  +
  +
omoon ole moʄ na meɗ
  +
‘the heaviest bottle’
  +
  +
pis dik [moju ñof] ke
  +
'the two fastest horses'
  +
  +
With -u modification there is flexibility in the positioning of the moʄ-adverb, but this changes the reading to a predicational clause:
  +
  +
pis keek moju ñof
  +
'These are the fastest horses.'
  +
  +
  +
  +
  +
   
 
[[User:Oana|Oana]] 23:54, 7 December 2012 (UTC)
  
[[User:Oana|Oana]] 23:54, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

Revision as of 17:18, 7 December 2012

Superlatives are identical to comparatives, but have only one noun argument. All superlatives include the same verb moj ‘to be a lot’.

In the case of the adjective ‘good’ specifically, the lexical-content adjective can even be omitted, and moʄ can alone put across the meaning of superlative goodness: 

 okiin omoʄu xe		       wiin moʄu we
 okiin omoʄu faax xe                  wiin moʄu we mbaax
 ‘the best person’                    'the best people'

 okiin oxe moʄ na                     wiin we moʄ na
 okiin oxe moʄ na faax                wiin we moʄ na mbaax
 ‘the person that is best’	       'the people that are best'

The adverbial superlative precedes the adjective it modifies, and remains close to it without any intervening words or constituents.

The superlative verb, as can be seen above, can predicate of the noun phrase complex as a whole when the relativizing strategy is used, or can be embedded within it when the -u modification is used. 

 pis dik ke [mojna nof]	
 ‘the two horses that are fastest’

 omoon ole moʄ na meɗ	
 ‘the heaviest bottle’

 pis dik [moju ñof] ke
 'the two fastest horses'

With -u modification there is flexibility in the positioning of the moʄ-adverb, but this changes the reading to a predicational clause:

pis keek moju ñof 'These are the fastest horses.'




Oana 23:54, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

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