This section deals with constructions whose main predicate is not a verb. In some cases, these constructions lack an overt verb, but, in all cases, consist of a semantic predicate that is different from the canonical eventive predicates that are associated with verbs.
The kinds of non-verbal predication (and supplementary material) to be discussed on this page are:
As noted in the section on attributive modifiers, most "adjectives" are verbs. Thus, most predicate adjectives are merely intransitive verbs, which behave like any other verbs. Here is an example:
Quiko a yere. be.wet ABS dog The dog is wet.
The predicate's verbal morphology is clearer in verbal forms other than the base form given above, such as the one given below:
Roquiko a yere. FUT-be.wet ABS dog The dog will be wet.
Further evidence for the verbal nature of predicate adjective comes from the particular morphology they appear with in their attributive use.
Comparatives and superlatives are commonly found with the predicate adjective construction. These two notions are handled in Skerre by two adverbs, hat, more, and hatos, most, as shown below:
Quiko hat a yere es a keriyosir. be.wet more ABS dog than ABS boy The dog is wetter than the boy.
Quiko hatos a yere. be.wet most ABS dog The dog is the wettest.
These adverbs are among those that must be immediately follow the verb.
When nouns (including the nominal adjectives discussed on the attributive modifiers page) are predicated, they cannot appear as verbs. Instead, they require a copular verb, ek, be (perfective stem: en) to be predicated. The actual predicate nominal must appear immediately after the verb (aside from clitics) and receives no case marker. This is shown below:
Eyen sriitiyar tan a Wotsarora. PFV-be NMLZ-CAUS-learn good ABS (name) (=teacher) Wotsarora was a good teacher.
Rowek-ha syik i esin. FUT-be=1SG.NOM NMLZ-tell GEN story I will be a story-teller.
In the "present tense," the copula is obligatorily omitted. As the example below shows, this means that it is impossible to distinguish predicate adjectives and predicate nominals in the so-called "present tense."
Aska a sakir. blue ABS sky The sky is blue.
Skerre does not allow bare possessives to be predicated; instead, the possessed noun must be present, as in:
Tskewar-he a tir. NMLZ-exchange=1SG.POSS ABS this This is my money.
cf. *Hen a tir. 1SG ABS this This is mine.
Predicate locatives are statements which equate someone or something to be at a certain location. A schematic version of the Skerre predicate locatives construction is given below:
| Verbal Complex with kan, be at | Nominal placed at location (ABS NP) | Location (LOC NP) |
Here is an example:
Kan a Tsotar ta tseren. be.at ABS (name) LOC home Tsotar is at home.
Existentials are equivalent to phrases in English like There is an X at/on/other locative the Y (The X and Y variables are also used below). The existential construction in Skerre is shown schematically below:
| Verbal Complex with ik, exist | X (ABS NP) | Y (locative NP) |
The following is an example
Ik a tsowos ta katsi. exist ABS spear LOC table There is a spear on the table.
This same construction is used for possessive clauses — clauses that mark possession at the clausal level. An example of a possessive clause would be:
Ik a antan i tskewar ta Tsotar. exist ABS a.lot GEN money LOC (name) Tsotar has a lot of money. (lit. There is a lot of money with Tsotar.)
Unlike ever other verb in the language, ik cannot be negated by koni. Instead ik is "negated" by using a different verb: tset, lack. Thus, the above two examples negated:
Tset a tsowos ta katsi. lack ABS spear LOC table There isn't a spear on the table.
Tset a antan i tskewar ta Tsotar. lack ABS a.lot GEN money LOC (name) Tsotar doesn't have a lot of money.
As the above shows, the verbs kan, be at and ik, exist mean close to the same thing. So what factors govern choosing one over the other? While there may be a few additional complications, it seems that kan is chosen if there is a specific, animate subject, whereas ik is chosen if the subject is inanimate, unspecific, or if the possession interpretation is meant.