Preverbs: Difference between revisions

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A '''preverb'''<ref group="lower-alpha">Also '''pre-verb''', '''auxiliary verb''', '''auxverb''', '''helper verb'''.</ref> is a type of [[content word]] that may precede the main [[verb]] of a [[sentence]]. Preverbs generally make distinctions in {{w|grammatical mood}} or {{w|Grammatical aspect|aspect}}, and they are often compared to {{w|auxiliary verb}}s in European languages.

When used as a preverb, a word can have a different sense than it would elsewhere in the sentence. For example, In {{tp|mi ken pali e ona}}, {{tp|[[ken]]}} is a preverb. It means "I am able to make it". However, in {{tp|mi ken e ona}}, {{tp|ken}} is the main verb instead. There, it means something else ("I allow it").

When used as a preverb, a word can have a different sense than it would elsewhere in the sentence. For example, in {{tp|mi ken pali e ona}}, {{tp|[[ken]]}} is a preverb. It means "I am able to make it". However, in {{tp|mi ken e ona}}, {{tp|ken}} is the main verb instead. There, it means something else ("I allow it").

==Stacking==

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==Modifiers==

Preverbs can also be [[modifier|modified]]. In standard usage, ~~there is a limited group of~~ [[~~semiparticles~~]] ~~that~~ ~~can~~ modify preverbs.

Preverbs can also be [[modifier|modified]]. In standard usage, only {{tp|[[ala]]}} is able to modify preverbs.

⚫

{{Example

⚫

|ona li wile a sona.

⚫

|They want to know. (emphasis on "want")

⚫

}}

{{Example

|ona li wile ala sona.

|They don't want to know.

⚫

}}

Adding {{tp|a}} after a preverb is possible. Some might see this as modification.

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{{Example

⚫

|ona li wile a sona.

⚫

|They want to know. (emphasis on "want")

}}

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In standard Toki Pona, preverbs are not marked with any [[particle]]. For nonstandard styles, see [[Preverb marking]].

Like [[preposition]]s, this makes preverbs a bit ambiguous. For example, {{tp|mi kama ~~taso~~}} can mean "I became ~~alone~~" if {{tp|kama}} is a preverb and {{tp|~~taso~~}} ("to be ~~alone~~") is the main verb. Or, it can mean "I ~~only~~ arrived" if {{tp|kama}} is the main verb and {{tp|~~taso~~}} is a modifier.

Like [[preposition]]s, this makes preverbs a bit ambiguous. For example, {{tp|mi kama wawa}} can mean "I became strong" if {{tp|kama}} is a preverb and {{tp|wawa}} ("to be strong") is the main verb. Or, it can mean "I intensely arrived" if {{tp|kama}} is the main verb and {{tp|wawa}} is a modifier.

==Questions==

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| to finish …ing

|

|-

! rowspan="4" | Rare

| {{tp|[[olin]]}}

|

to love to…

to love …ing

|

|-

| {{tp|[[pakala]]}}

|

to fail to…

to mess up (at) …ing

|

|-

| {{tp|[[pake]]}}

| to stop …ing

| {{tp|pake}} is a rare word. This usage is more direct than {{tp|pini}}.

|-

| {{tp|[[tokana]]}}

| to focus on …ing

| {{tp|tokana}} is an obscure word. This usage remains theoretical.

|}

Note that while {{tp|[[tawa]]}} got described as a preverb by one source<ref name="ku9"/>, it is either a misunderstanding of its [[Prepositions|prepositional]] use (including the transitive prepositional phrases) or indistinguishable from the prepositional use in form and in meaning.

Other words have been proposed or are found as preverbs in minority usage, but will not always be understood.

==Notes==