ki: Difference between revisions

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**Likewise with {{tp|A li B ki C e D e E}}, which {{tp|e}} ends the {{tp|ki}} clause? Or can {{tp|ki}} not be used in this position? Or is it unclear?

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{{tp|ki}} acts like a {{wp|relative pronoun}}, similar to English "which", "who", or "that".

Ki was used like "who" and "that" as in "the man who" or "the guy that". For example, in the sentene "jan ki moku e kili", "ki" is used to mean "who" in "the man who eats fruit". Ambiguity arises once one begins nesting; "jan ki moku kili li tawa e moli" could mean either "the man who eats fruits is dying" or "the man who eats the moving fruit is dead".

{{Example

This is why ki became unused; it ambiguated the grammar and allowed nesting sentences.

|jan <mark>ki</mark> moku e kili

|the man <mark>who</mark> eats fruit

}}

Ambiguity may arise with more complex sentences, e.g. "{{tp|jan ki moku kili li tawa li pona}}" could mean either "the man who eats fruit moves and is good" or "the man who eats fruit and moves is good".{{citation needed}} This ambiguity is avoided in {{tp|sitelen pona}}, as the scope is marked with an underline connected to the glyph (see [[#{{tp|sitelen pona}}|#sitelen pona]]).

As sitelen pona (see below), ki may be less liable to cause problems with ambiguity due to the base-lengthening to encompass what it refers to, but in oral communication and sitelen lasin this ambiguity remains.

==Alternatives==