The negative form me
t occurs only when the subject noun phrase is first
person. However there is a difference when yot occurs as be verb. Unlike duk
which is found with the negative form min, yot is replaced by met.
|
This may be shown as:
|
Vbr + Pr. pl. + yot
®
|
Vbr + Pr. pl. + met
|
|
 as |
zbrinyot
|
| 1 |
2 3 4 |
I am |
writing |
| 1 4 |
2 3 |
as |
zbrinment
|
| 1 |
2 3
4 |
I am |
not writing |
| 1
4 |
2 3 |
ates |
zbrinmet
|
| 1 |
2 3 4 |
we are |
not writing |
1
|
4
2 3
|
|
There is not much difference when the tense is past. The
distribution of yot and duk is not different from that of
present tense. -pin occurs as the past teense marker adt the end. If yot
occurs in positive sentence, it is replaced by the negative marker met.
But in the case of duk the negative min precedes duk.
duk is not dropped when min occurs in negative
construction.
|
as |
zbrinyotpin |
| 1 |
2 3 4 5 |
I was |
writing |
| 1
4+5 |
2 3 |
as |
zbrinmetpin |
| 1 |
2 3
4 5 |
I was |
not writing |
| 1
5 |
4 2 3 |
kheras |
zbrindukpin |
| 1 |
2 3
4 5 |
you were |
writing |
| 1
4+5 |
2 3 |
kheras |
zbrinmindukpin |
| 1 |
2 3 4 5 |
he was |
writing |
| 1
4+5 |
2 3 |
khos |
zbrinmindukpin |
| 1 |
2 3
4 5 6 |
he was |
not writing |
1
5+6
|
4
2 3
|
|
In the case of future tense, duk occurs with all the
personal pronouns. tuk is the future tense marker when duk
occurs. The negative form mi is inserted in between Pr. Pl.
and duk and the tense marker tuk is dropped.
|
Vbr + Pr. Pl. + duk + tuk ® |
Vbr + Pr. Pl. + mi + duk + tuk ® |
Vbr + Pr. Pl. + mi + duk
|
|
