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| {{Ilya}}
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| There are two articles:
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| *'''al''', the definite article
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| *'''ua''', the indefinite article (rarely ever used in spoken [[Cadim]])
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| They go before a noun to show whether it represents something already known to the listener, or something new.
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| '''Al''' is a neutral equivalent of '''hada''' "this" and '''sela''' "that". It is used with both singular and plural nouns, in cases such as the following:
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| *The thing has already been mentioned:
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| **'''Emrabu ua doma. Al doma ilha ketan.''' "I've bought a house. The house is small."
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| *The listener can easily guess that the thing exists:
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| **'''Emrabu ua doma. Al kucina ilha adai.''' "I've bought a house. The kitchen is large."
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| *The listener can perceive the thing for themselves:
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| **'''Al hudab ilha amniha, ne?''' "The music's lovely, isn't it?"
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| *The thing is well known to everyone:
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| **'''Al kamra ilha meruk dal dunya.''' "The moon is a long way from the earth."
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| *The thing is described in the sentence itself:
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| **'''Iletani al numrat funil di ilai amikat.''' "She's lost the phone numbers of her friends."
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| '''Ua''' can be used in other cases, if the noun is countable but singular. It indicates something new:
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| *'''Ganu somek ua ketab.''' "I want to read a book."
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| If the noun is plural, don't use '''ua''' (because '''ua''' also means "one"). Instead, say:
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| *'''Somayu nej ketabat.''' "I'm going to read some books."
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| Or simply:
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| *'''Somayu ketabat'''. "I'm going to read books."
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| If the noun is uncountable, '''nej''' can be used to indicate an unspecified quantity. After a verb, '''di''' can be used:
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| *'''Nej abik fadayi dal tenjo.''' "Some dust fell from the ceiling."
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| *'''Necu ebek nej kahua.''' "I need to drink some coffee."
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| ('''Di''' is also used as a preposition after nouns of quantity — '''ua cub di kahua''' "a cup of coffee", '''sela darab di yuga''' "that piece of cake".)
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| If the quantity is unimportant, and the thing is being mentioned in a general way, the article can be omitted — or '''al''' can be used if an article seems necessary for clarity:
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| *'''Amu kahua.''' "I love coffee."
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| *'''Amu al kahua.''' "I love coffee."
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| '''Al''' is used before abstract nouns, and names of fields of knowledge, and nouns representing any member of a class:
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| *'''Al sayedeya muhim mera kua al tarueya.''' "Happiness is more important than wealth."
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| *'''Ne sabu la al matematik.''' "I don't understand mathematics."
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| *'''Al haraf ilha ua yiki hudabil.''' "The harp is a musical instrument." = '''Harafat umha yikim hudabil.''' "Harps are musical instruments."
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| But after a preposition, al and ua can often be omitted if the meaning remains clear:
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| *'''Al amir di garad.''' "The chief of police."
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| *'''Alos a okula.''' "We're going to school."
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| *'''Sela ilha ua beya ona cara ala matematikem.''' "That's an unsolved problem in mathematics."
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| *'''Ua magal ibdi necida heya yesaneya.''' "An article seems necessary for clarity."
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| Don't use an article before a proper noun or before an infinitive:
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| *'''Marya u Natan otayahum ala yaza.''' "Maria and Nathan will marry in the summer."
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| *'''Eskimak ilha bahiza.''' "Skiing is dangerous."
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| No article is necessary before names, words used as names, abstract nouns ('''-(e)ya'''), or infinitives ('''-ek/-mak''').
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| =Index=
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| {{Cadim index}}
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| [[Category:Cadim]][[Category:Conlangs]]
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