Use of copula with adjectival predicate (Synja Khanty)

AdjCopDep: Depending on certain grammatical circumstances, the copula does occur with nominal predicates.


(1) jūrǝŋ.

I strong

‘I’m strong.’ (S. O.)


(2) luw jūrǝŋ.

(s)he strong

(S)he is strong.’ (S. O.)


(3) lij jūrǝŋ-ǝt ū-s-ǝt.

they strong-pl cop-pst-3pl

‘They were strong.’ (S. O.)


In Synja Khanty, the adjectival predicative construction does not entail the copula if the sentence is in the present tense (no matter which person or number the subject is). The copula is compulsory in past tense sentences with adjectival predicates (S. O., F. L.).

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás