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{{Example|kili li moku.|Fruits are food.}} |
{{Example|kili li moku.|Fruits are food.}} |
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{{Example|mi tawa tomo.|I'm going home.}} |
{{Example|mi tawa tomo.|I'm going home.}} |
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{{Example|sina pona lukin.|You're pretty |
{{Example|sina pona lukin.|You're pretty.}} |
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When the subject is anything other than the words {{tp|mi}} or {{tp|sina}} alone, it is followed by {{tp|li}}. This can come about when multiple subjects are used in a single sentence with {{tp|[[en]]}}, or when {{tp|mi}} or {{tp|sina}} either modify or are modified by another word in the subject. |
When the subject is anything other than the words {{tp|mi}} or {{tp|sina}} alone, it is followed by {{tp|li}}. This can come about when multiple subjects are used in a single sentence with {{tp|[[en]]}}, or when {{tp|mi}} or {{tp|sina}} either modify or are modified by another word in the subject. |
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{{Example|soweli li kute e kalama li lukin e kasi.|Animals listen to noises and look at plants.}} |
{{Example|soweli li kute e kalama li lukin e kasi.|Animals listen to noises and look at plants.}} |
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The book {{lipu pu|en}} |
The book {{lipu pu|en}} advise that, when multiple predicates are applied to {{tp|mi}} or {{tp|sina}}, they should each be their own sentence, instead of repeating {{tp|li}}.<ref>{{cite pu|56}}</ref> |
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{{Example|mi toki. mi moku.|I speak. I eat.}} |
{{Example|mi toki. mi moku.|I speak. I eat.}} |
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Some speakers |
Some speakers prefer to repeat a second {{tp|li}} in this case. This is referred to as "extended {{tp|li}} style" in the {{ku|en}}.<ref>{{cite ku|10}}</ref> |
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{{Example|mi toki li moku.|I speak and eat.}} |
{{Example|mi toki li moku.|I speak and eat.}} |
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This style can lead to ambiguities, as in this sentence. {{tp|toki}} could be meant to be an independent predicate, or a modifier of {{tp|mi}}. |
This style can lead to ambiguities, as in this sentence. {{tp|toki}} could be meant to be an independent predicate, or a modifier of {{tp|mi}}. For example, the sentence above may be interpreted as "the language-related me is eating". |
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{{Example|mi toki li moku.|The language-related me is eating.}} |
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===Edge cases=== |
===Edge cases=== |
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There are some edge cases where the style of the speaker may lead to differences in how {{tp|li}} is used. The particle {{tp|[[a]]}} in the sentence below is acting and modifying {{tp|mi}}, but this may considered a special case and may not be counted. However, because it is still acting similar or even the same as a modifier, speakers might also use {{tp|li}} similarly to with any modifier. A similar effect |
There are some edge cases where the style of the speaker may lead to differences in how {{tp|li}} is used. The particle {{tp|[[a]]}} in the sentence below is acting and modifying {{tp|mi}}, but this may considered a special case and may not be counted. However, because it is still acting similar or even the same as a modifier, speakers might also use {{tp|li}} similarly to with any modifier. A similar effect occurs with {{tp|[[kin]]}}. |
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{{Example|mi a wawa.}} |
{{Example|mi a wawa.}} |
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==={{tp|li}} is not "is"=== |
==={{tp|li}} is not "is"=== |
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Beginners often have the misconception that {{tp|li}} translates to "is", "are", or "to be". Notably, the series ''[[12 Days of sona pi toki pona|12 Days of {{tok|sona pi toki pona}}]]'' by {{tok|[[jan Misali]]}} makes this claim<ref>{{cite YouTube|id=KTbnGX6G_P4|title=12 Days of {{tok|sona pi toki pona}} Day Two: Sentence Structure|name={{tok|jan Misali}}|date=14 December 2015|channel=jan Misali|handle=HBMmaster}}</ref>, which was later corrected in his newer series ''[[toki pona lessons (jan Misali)|toki pona lessons]]''. The word "is" is a verb, whereas {{tp|li}} is not. It is a particle that introduces a verb, regardless of whether the sentence would be translated with "is". For example: |
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The word "is" is a verb, whereas {{tp|li}} is not a verb. It is a particle that <em>introduces</em> a verb, regardless of whether the sentence would be translated with "is". |
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Take the following example: |
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{{Example|mi pona.|I (›) am good.}} |
{{Example|mi pona.|I (›) am good.}} |
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{{Example|ona li pona.|They › are good.}} |
{{Example|ona li pona.|They › are good.}} |
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{{Example|ona li pona e ijo.|They › improve » something.}} |
{{Example|ona li pona e ijo.|They › improve » something.}} |
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It is more consistent to say that "to be good" and "improve" are both translations of {{tp|pona}}. This pattern is true of all [[content word]]s. |
It is more consistent to say that "to be good" and "improve" are both translations of {{tp|pona}}. This pattern is true of all [[content word]]s. |
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This is also why {{tp|li}} cannot be used in a [[pi phrase|{{tp|pi}} phrase]]. {{tp|li}} is a particle that has higher priority than {{tp|pi}},<ref>{{cite web|title=more info on sentence structure|maintitle=nasin toki pona|author={{ |
This is also why {{tp|li}} cannot be used in a [[pi phrase|{{tp|pi}} phrase]]. {{tp|li}} is a particle that has higher priority than {{tp|pi}},<ref>{{cite web|title=more info on sentence structure|maintitle=nasin toki pona|author={{tok|jan Juli}}|url=https://github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#more-info-on-sentence-structure|title={{tp|nasin toki pona}}|website=GitHub|date=2022-09-23|access-date=2023-11-10}}</ref> not a content word that could be used within a {{tp|pi}} phrase. |
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==References== |
==References== |