li: Difference between revisions

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

{{Other license|ask|it was copied from ''[[ma pona pi toki pona]]''}}

== Function of ''li'' ==

[[li]] is a [[:Category:Particles|particle]] in ~~toki~~ ~~pona~~ that separates the subject from the rest of the sentence.

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''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.

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== Function of li ==

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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.

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== Multiple predicates ==

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

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>

''[[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.

~~Many~~ speakers~~, however,~~ use a second [[li]] in this case:

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

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

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''.

This is referred to as "extended li style" and has received official sanction from [[ku]].

== Etymology ==

The ~~toki~~ ~~pona~~ particle [[li]] is ~~originally~~ from the Esperanto third-person singular pronoun "li."<ref>[https://archive.ph/i4Psx toki pona Etymological Dictionary]</ref> ~~This explains [[pu]]'s style of breaking a first-person sentence into two rather than applying [[li]] to a first- or second-person subject.~~

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

== References ==

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

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

* [https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jan-Lope/Toki_Pona_lessons_English/gh-pages/toki-pona-lessons_en/index.html#SECTION00230000000000000000 jan Lope]

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

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