The first person singular pronoun has more than one
pronominal suffix whose occurrence is decided on the basis of the
morphological conditions in which they occur. -?ĩ
~ -ini occurs in non-past, -?ĩ
~ -eni occurs in past and -?ỏ
~ -oni occurs in non-past negative constructions respectively. |
4.3.2.0.
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Demonstrative pronouns
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|
The demonstrative pronouns show gender and number distinction like the third
person personal pronouns. There are three forms of the demonstrative
pronouns depending upon the distance of the person or object from the
speaker. |
They are called
|
|
i)
|
Proximate, referring to something or some one close to the speaker.
|
|
ii)
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Intermediate, referring to something
or someone at a distance from the speaker.
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iii)
|
Remote, referring to something or someone at a considerable distance from
the speaker.
|
|
The demonstrative pronouns with their gender and number distinctions are
given below :
|
|
Number / gender
|
Proximate
|
Intermediate
|
Remote
|
|
|
|
|
| sg. masc. |
i:vasi |
u:vasi |
e:vasi |
| plu.masc. |
i:vasi |
u:vari |
e:vari |
| sg.non.masc. |
i:di |
u:di |
e:di |
| pl. non.masc.hum |
i:vasika |
u:vasika |
e:vasika |
| pl.non-masc., |
|
|
|
| non-hum. |
i:vi |
u:vi |
e:vi |
|
4.3.3.
|
Interrogative pronouns
|
The interrogative pronouns parallel the demonstrative pronouns in having
number and gender distinction though there is no distinction of feminine and
neuter in the plural. Further the interrogative pronouns also show
distinction of second and third persons.
|
Person
|
singular
|
|
Plural
|
| II |
amba:ti |
‘who (are you)’ |
amba:ri ‘who’ |
|
|
|
(are you) |
| III |
amba:ti |
‘who (is he)’ |
amba:ri ‘who |
|
|
|
(are they) |
|
amba:yi |
‘who (is she)’ |
amba:?i ‘who’ |
|
|
|
(are they/those) |
|
4.3.4
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Reflexive Pronouns
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4.3.4.
|
The reflexive pronouns are not distinguished for gender and occur only in
the third person. |
| 4.3.4.1 |
The reflexive pronouns are |
|
ta:nu ~ ta:na ‘he,
she, it’ |
|
ta:bu ~ ta:ma ~ tammu ‘they’ |
4.3.4.2
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The reflexive pronoun is used to |
4.3.4.2.1
|
refer to the subject of the sentence
in which case it occurs immediately after the subject. |
|
evasi ta:na a:ba lehémannesi. |
|
‘He resembles his father’
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|
