3.7 Determiners


Determiners are used at the beginning of noun phrases to specify such things as the nearness/farness, number/quantity or sameness/difference of the person or thing denoted by the noun. Determiners include many categories of words, some of which have been described in previous chapters of this text:


articles (la, lo)

possessive determiners (myoza, vuza, etc.)

quantifiers (una, dusa, etc.)

logical determiners (amba, aydra, awdra, nedra)

demonstratives (tisa, tata)

identity/difference determiners (mema, otra)


Determiners not yet described in this text are discussed in the sections below.


3.7.1 Demonstrative Determiners and Pronouns

The demonstrative determiners and pronouns provide a compact way of contrasting nearer and farther people and things. Demonstrative pronouns may take the plural inflection.


Table 3.7-1 Demonstrative Determiners and Pronouns


Type

Root

Determiner

Pronoun

demonstrative near

tis-

tisa

this kind of

tiso(y)

this one, these ones

demonstrative far

tat-

tata

that kind of

tato(y)

that one, those ones


Moy mandjuts tata pulay karno anu tinokto.

We will eat that chicken (meat) tonight.

Ye vu lergits tisa libro?

Did you read this book?

Tiso estats profesoro coe tato estats

administro.

This is a professor but that is an

administrator.

Plea ponaw tisoy awnu la desko ce

tatoy awnu la tablo.

Please put these on the desk and those on

the table.






3.7.2 Identity and Difference Determiners and Pronouns

The identity and difference determiners and pronouns provide a compact way of contrasting the same and different people or things. The identity and difference pronouns may take the plural inflection.

Table 3.7-2 Identity and Difference Determiners and Pronouns


Type

Root

Pronoun

Determiner

identity

mem-

mema

same kind of

memo(y)

same one(s)

difference

otr-

otra

another kind of

otro(y)

other one(s)


Dya bibuts la mema gebibo.

He will drink the same beverage.

Ye dze estats otra cozoy kyo vu vwelits?

Are there other things that you wanted?

Myo vwelits awdare la memo coe myo

awdits otro.

I wanted to hear the same but I heard

another.

Djon kredats la memoy coe Djordj

kredats otroy.

John believes the same (things) but George

believes others.






























Exercises


Exercise 1

The speaker in the following sentences believes that all the objects belong to him. Respond by declaring to whom the objects belong. Use the demonstrative and possessive pronouns in your sentence. Follow the model.

Example: These are my shoes. (dya)

Now, tatoy estats dyazoy!


  1. This is my coat. (dya)

  2. Those are my cars. (moy)

  3. That is my new apartment. (dyay)

  4. These are my new employees. (dwa)

  5. This is my computer. (myo)

  6. That is my couch. (dyay)

  7. These are my friends. (dya)

  8. Those are my concert tickets. (moy)

  9. This is my favorite language. (dya)

  10. These are my dogs. (dyay)


Exercise 2

Translate the underlined words into Ayola.


  1. Follow these directions.

  2. She could tell you the same thing about Judaism.

  3. Other people would like to try it.

  4. This house is haunted.

  5. Where did you find the others?

  6. I wear the same shoes every Friday.

  7. Dan would prefer to eat the other one.

  8. Can you pass me that plate?

  9. We’ll schedule another day for you.

  10. He wants the same ones.

  11. That is not the right place to stand.

  12. I can buy another.

  13. He won’t give me those!

  14. Tell her to go find something else to do.