Nouns in Seuna

There are 15 suffixes that can be appended to nouns. Their functions include many of the ones associated with cases.

0	Nominative:	-
1	Accusative:	- or -s
2	Genitive:	-n
3	Dative:	-mu
4	Ablative:	-da
5	Instrumental:	-li
6	Inessive:	-pi
7	Benefactive:	-go
8	Adessive:	-jai
9	Locative:	-teu
10	Equative:	-fau
11	Partative:	-be
12	"without":	-lu
13	"-ish":	-koi

Nominative

For the nominative case, just the bare noun is used.

Accusative

For the accustive case, usually just the bare noun is used. However if the noun is definite, then the suffix s is added.

Genitive

For the genitive, the suffix n is added. The main use of the genitive is to denotes ownership. However it is used in other situations as well. In fact is uses coincide pretty much with the uses of " 's" and "of" in English.

In the situation were a clause is the subject or object of a sentence, the infinitive form of the verb comes first. Then the subject of the clause immeditely follows in the genitive. Then the object of the clause follows (if the clause has an object, of course).

Dative

For the dative, the suffix mu is added.

One of the main functions of the dative is to denote the indirect object of an action (that to which something is given, thrown, read, etc).

It also indicates motion towards (as in English). This function is sometimes the "lative case", in some languages. A subset of this function involves time and is usually indicated by "until" in English.

Another use of mu is 'in the eyes of, in the opinion of'. For example;- mimu re "very cold" = I am finding it very cold

It is also used to indicate purpose. When used in this way it is appended to the infinitive form of the verb. For example;- kare humpamu = I am going to eat.

It is used with the object of certain verbs. For example;-

?ari ?smu = I helped the prisoners

Ablative

For the ablative, the suffix da is added.

It indicates motion from something. A subset of this function involves time and is usually indicated by "since" in English. Must be appended to "that"? Since is usually followed by a clause?

As with the dative (I got a present from my sister)(I was thrown a ball from my father)(I was read a book from my uncle)

Another use of da is for comparison.For example;- na ro ? mida = He is taller than me.

It is also used to indicate cause. When used in this way it is appended to the infinitive form of the verb. For example;- kare humpamu = I am going to eat.

DA."from" ... DACHA = away from. Another one is "the bees kept the farmer from the honey in the hive"

mark motion away from something

kari London = I went to London ?ari Londonda = I came from London

kari Londonmu = I went in the direction of London = I went towards London

Locative

TEU "at, near, by" ... TEUCHA = around ?? "schoolTEU" = at school, "tuesdayTEU' = on tuesday

Instrumental

LI "with" ... instrumental, adverb forming, adjective forming "we went with friends", "to see with the eyes", "with care", "with great speed" saw.LI = with a saw(saw.JAI once considered), "I bought the doll for 25 baht"

Inessive

PI.."in" ... PIMU = into, PIDA = out of "schoolPI = "in the school building" as opposed to the more usual term "schoolTEU"

Benefactive

GO "for"

Adessive

JAI.."on, touching, incontact with, adjacent" ... JAIMU = onto, JAIDA = off contiguous with, about table.JAI = on the table, "I am talking about you lot", "He is a alcoholic", "He is in love"

Equative

FAU."as" ... (this denotes a temporary state as ) "I work as a waiter", "She replied in English", youngsterFAU = when I was a youth/in my youth/as a youngster, it is cubFAU big = considering it is a cub, it is big, as the city was captured we fled The case has the meaning of

while, and in the capacity of.

"equative case",

According to SIL:

Equative case is a case that expresses likeness or identity to the referent of the noun it marks.

It can have meaning, such as

as like, and in the capacity of.

or even an "essive case",

According to SIL:

Essive case is a case that expresses the temporary state of the referent specified by a noun.

Partative

the partative case marker "five of them', "she drank from the milk", "I watched the news", "he searched for his screwdriver(and did not find it)" ... If instead of "BE", "S" is suffixed in the above sentence, then the meaning of each one changes quite a bit.

vv

LU "without" ... the same as LI but opposite

yy

KOI "like, in the manner of" ... He walks like a woman. this denotes, not a generl likeness as CA does, but a likeness in relation to a particular action

Rubbish

There are 14 of these end-tags (cases if you will).

@ If the noun is the subject of the sentence or follows a preposition.

MU "to" ... MUTEU = upto, MUCHA = towards In the situation were a clause is the subject or object of a sentence, in the clause the verb is in its full/citation form (actually a verbal noun), the subject is marked with the genative and the object with MU.

CA.."-ish" ... denote likeness or similarity, does not denote a temporary state as FAU does

-NI equivalent to "to" or "for" i.e. comeARA HITANI xxS = I am coming in order to hit her ???? AN = reason, ANMU = in order to, ANDA = because

Index

Nouns in Seuna

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