Glossary: Difference between revisions

This is a '''glossary''' of [[grammatical]] terms used on this{{tp|[[sona wikipona]]}}.

:A word that [[#modifier|modifies]] or describes a [[#noun|noun]]. In English, "Bigbig" and "tall" are examplesadjectives. In Toki Pona, [[#modifier|modifiers]] that follow words in a noun-like position may be ofcalled adjectives.

:A word that [[#modifier|modifies]] or describes a [[#verb|verb]]. In English, they often end in "-ly".; "Quicklyquickly" and "slowly" are examplesadverbs. ofIn adverbsToki Pona, [[#modifier|modifiers]] that follow words in a verb-like position may be called adjectives.

:{{Main|Content words}}The main type of word in [[Toki Pona]], which can be used as a [[#head|head]] or [[#modifier|modifier]] (and thus like a [[#noun|noun]], [[#verb|verb]], [[#adjective|adjective]], or [[#modifieradverb|modifieradverb]], (although its primary definition's part of speech can affect its meaning in other parts of speech). ''In Toki Pona, {{tp|[[pona'']]}}, ''{{tp|[[suwi'']]}}, and ''{{tp|[[moku'']]}} are examples of content words in toki pona. Contrast [[#particle|particle]].

:A grammatical mood that expresses a command or instruction. In English, "Do as I say, not as I do." isand an"Go!" are imperative [[#sentence, as is "go!"|sentences]]. [[Toki Pona]] marks the imperative with ''{{tp|[[o]]''}}. Contrast [[#indicative|indicative]], [[#optative|optative]], [[#vocative|vocative]].

:A grammatical mood that describes a real or actual thing. In English, "The cat is cute." is an example of an indicative [[#sentence|sentence]]. Contrast [[#imperative|imperative]], [[#optative|optative]], [[#vocative|vocative]].

:A [[#verb|verb]] that cannot take a direct [[#object|object]]. In English, the verb "Smilesmile" is analmost always intransitive, verb:as in "the baby smiles."; the alternative, "the baby smiles a ball", doesn't make sense. Contrast [[#transitive verb|transitive verb]]. See also the article [[Transitivity]].

:{{Main|Modifiers}}In [[Toki Pona]] grammar, an [[#adjective|adjective]] or [[#adverb|adverb]]. Unlike English, Toki Pona never distinguishes these parts of speech; any word that can modify a [[#noun|noun]] can also modify a [[#verb|verb]], and vice versa.

:A word that names a person, place, or thing. "Fish" and "tree" are common nouns; "Oklahoma" is a [[#proper noun|proper noun]]. In Toki Pona, [[#content word|content words]] in many [[#head|head]] positions may be called nouns.

:{{Needs work|indirect object, comparison of direct vs. indirect objects|entry}}The thing(s) to which the action of the [[#sentence|sentence]] is done. In English, in the sentence "youYou pet the dog,.", "the dog" is the direct object. In Toki Pona, the direct object is marked with the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[e]]}}.

:A grammatical mood that expresses a wish, hope, or desire. In English, "The children should do their homework." is an example of an optative [[#sentence|sentence]]. Contrast [[#imperative|imperative]], [[#indicative|indicative]], [[#vocative|vocative]].

:{{Main|Particles}}A word with no [[#semantic (value)|semantic]] meaning that marks the grammatical structure of a [[#sentence|sentence]], having no [[#semantic (value)|semantic]] meaning in itself. ''In Toki Pona, {{tp|[[li]]''}}, ''{{tp|[[e]]''}}, and ''{{tp|[[pi]]''}} are examples of [[:Category:Particles|particles]] in toki pona. Contrast [[#content word|content word]].

:The part of a [[#sentence|sentence]] that includes a [[#verb|verb]] and sometimes [[#object|objects]]. In the sentence "The human looks at the tree", "looks at the tree" is the predicate. In Toki Pona, the predicate is marked with the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[li]]}} or sometimes {{tp|[[o]]}}. Contrast [[#subject|subject]].

:{{Main|Prepositions}}A word that describes a [[#noun|noun]]'s relationship to the rest of the [[#sentence|sentence]] in time or space. In English, "Afterafter" and "beside" are examples of prepositions. Often the preposition and the noun it introduces are referred to as thea "prepositional [[#phrase.|phrase]]". In the sentence "donDon't give coffee to infants,.", "to infants" is a prepositional phrase.

:{{Main|Preverbs}}A [[#verb|verb]] that accompanies the main verb to make distinctions in grammatical mood or aspect; an auxiliary (helping) verb.

:{{Main|Names}}In [[Toki Pona]] grammar, an [[#adjective|adjective]] that [[name]]s a specific or definite thing, equivalent to a [[#proper noun|proper noun]] but requiring a [[Headnouns|headnoun]]. Proper adjectives are the only standard words that are capitalized in ''{{tp|[[sitelen Lasina]]''}}.

:A [[#noun|noun]] that names a specific or definite thing. Personal names and names of places are usually proper nouns. In English, "Preston", "Europe", and "Mount Everest" are examplesproper ofnouns. In standard Toki Pona, proper names are not nouns; see [[#proper adjective|proper adjective]].

;semantics<span id="Semantic (Value)" /><span id="Semantic (value)" /><span id="semantic (value)" /><span id="semantic space" /><span id="Semantics" /><span id="semantics" />

:{{Main|Semantic space}}The "meaning" of a word. Semantics is concerned with the possible alternative words that could occupy a single position in a [[#sentence|sentence]]. Contrast [[#syntax|syntax]].

:The main actor or actors in a [[#sentence|sentence]]. In the sentence "I read the book," the word "I" is the subject. In Toki Pona, subjects are often unmarked, but multiple subjects are joined with the [[#particle|particle]] {{tp|[[en]]}}. Contrast [[#predicate|predicate]].

:The position of words in a [[#sentence|sentence]] or phrase. Often words are categorized by the kinds of positions they can occupy in a sentence, or what words they can appear next to. Contrast [[#semantic (value)|semantic (value)]].

:{{Main|Transitivity}}A [[#verb|verb]] that takes a direct [[#object|object]]. In English, the verb "Eateat" can be a transitive verb: in "I eat the cookie.", it takes the direct object "the cookie". ContrastIn [[#intransitiveToki verb|intransitivePona, verbtransitive verbs are followed by the particle {{tp|[[e]].}} See alsoand the articledirect object. Contrast [[Transitivity#intransitive verb|intransitive verb]].

:A word that names an action. In English, "Runrun", "sit", and "sitbe" are examplesverbs. In Toki Pona, [[#content word|content words]] that are [[#preverb|preverbs]] or the [[#head|head]] of a [[#predicate|predicate]] may be called verbs.

:A form of a [[#noun|noun]] used to call to or address something or someone. In theEnglish, phrasein "heyHey you!", the word "you" is vocative. [[Toki Pona]] marks the vocative with ''[[o]]''. English does not usually distinguish vocative from non-vocative nouns, aside from the archaic particle "O" as in "{{w|O Canada}}". [[Toki Pona]] marks the vocative with {{tp|[[o]]}}. Contrast [[#imperative|imperative]], [[#indicative|indicative]], [[#optative|optative]].