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4. Syntax
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This chapter deals with
the structure and types of sentences and word order in Karbi. An
attempt is made to describe only the formal surface structure and
not the semantic deep structure of sentences. The term
‘sentence’ refers to a well-formed utterance which conveys a
complete meaning.
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| 4.1. |
CONSTITUENTS |
The structure of simple
sentences in Karbi is dealt with in this section. A sentence
consists of a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP).
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4.1.1. |
Noun Phrase |
The noun phrase consists
obligatorily of a noun and optionally a set of elements, viz.,
adjectives, numerals, case, postpositions, and particles. The
noun may be simple, compound or derived. It may be followed by
gender, honorific, number, adjectives, etc. |
A sentence may consist
of only one or more than o ne noun phrase. The noun phrase which is independent of
th ever phrase functions as the subject of the sentence. The
other noun phrase's form part of the verb phrase and function
variously as the object (direct or indirect), instrument,
source, path, goal, location, purpose, etc., with respect to the
action mentioned by the verb. The noun phrase which functions as
the subject of the sentence is in the nominative case. Though
functionally and on the basis of constituent structure, two
types of noun phrases could be distinguished, they are not
treated separately in the present sketch as both of them have
similar general formal structure. More than one noun phrase may
occur in a verb phrase
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| methan |
i ?uk |
| NP |
VP |
| ‘the dog |
barks’ |
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‘I see you’
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‘Ram gave me the book’
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