pi: Difference between revisions

In [[ModifierToki Pona]]s, bywords defaultmodify or describe the word they come after. When several words are used in a row, applyeach new word describes the sum of toall wholethe phrasewords that precedescome itbefore.<ref group="lower-alpha">Some speakers{{citation needed}} analyze all modifiers as applying to the first word instead, but the distinction often doesn't matter.</ref>

The effect is similar to hyphenating an [[adjective]] phrases in English.<ref name="ku">{{cite ku|8}}</ref> For this reason, {{tp|pi}} needs to be followed by at least two [[content words]]: the new head and a modifier applying to it. The particle is not needneeded if there is only one word following it.

|strange water room (the room is watery and weird)<br/>

|tomo <mark>pi</mark> telo nasa<ref>Example from jan Pije's lesson on pi.</ref>

|strange-water room (the liquid is weird and the room is described by that weird liquid)<br/>

It is not possible to close a {{tp|pi}} phrase, beyond using a higher-priorityanother particle or preposition or ending the sentence. Modifiers that apply to the first word shouldbut insteadnot beto the words after {{tok|pi}} are instead moved before the {{tp|pi}} phrase:

|teacher of evilwho informationdoes a bad job of it (literally, "badbadly-knowledge-giving person")

|teacher who is a bad teacherperson (literally, "bad, knowledge-giving person")