li: Difference between revisions

''li'' is a [[:Category:Particles|particle]] in Toki Pona that separates the subject from the rest of the sentence.

== Function of ''li'' ==

''li'' separates the subject from the predicate. The predicate can be a verb (with or without object), a noun, an adjective, or a prepositional phrase. It is omitted when the subject is ''mi'' or ''sina'' alone.

; ona li moku. : They eat.

; soweli li suwi. : The dog is cute.

; kili li moku. : Fruits are food.

; mi tawa tomo. : I'm going home.

; sina en mi li lukin e sitelen tawa. : You and I watch a movie.

Typically, ''li'' is repeated when multiple predicates apply to the same subject.

; ona li kama li tawa. : They come and go.

{{pu}} says that when multiple predicates are applied to ''mi'' or ''sina'', a new sentence should start.<ref>[[pu]] p. 56</ref>

; mi toki. mi moku. : I speak and eat.

Some speakers use a second ''li'' in this case. This is referred to as "extended ''li'' style" in [[ku]].

; mi moku li toki.: I eat and speak.

A downside of this method is exemplified in this sentence: it is ambiguous whether ''toki'' is meant to be a predicate or a modifier of ''mi''.

; mi moku li toki.: The food-related me is talking.

The Toki Pona particle ''li'' is from the Esperanto third-person singular pronoun "li."<ref>[https://archive.ph/i4Psx toki pona Etymological Dictionary]</ref>

* [[pu]] Lessons 2 through 5.

* [https://lipu-sona.pona.la/ jan Lentan Lessons 1-4]

* [https://jonathangabel.com/toki-pona/basic-sentences/ sitelen sitelen Basic Sentences]

* [https://sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/2 soweli Tesa Lesson 2]

*[https://github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-li nasin toki pona]

* [https://mun.la/sona/li.html jan Kekan San Actions with li]