Magin_Edward-thesis

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copula word, bit. Notice that dê is not positioned next to the verb, but is after the subject
and before the attribute. If a speaker chooses to omit a subject, because it is understood in
the context of conversation, the first word in the sentence will be dê.
(55) ew dê qehrî b-it
3D will sad COP.PRS-1SG
‘He will be sad.’
In (56) it is necessary for the equative element dixtur, ‘doctor,’ to be positioned after the
verb, as it is the occupation, or status, the person is moving towards. This phrase supports
the argument for an SOV-GOAL constituent order. Also present is the DIR directional
enclitic which is cliticized to the copula.
(56) tu dê b-î=a dixtur
2D will COP.PRS-2SG=DIR doctor
‘You will become a doctor.’
The past tense copula makes use of the past stem of ‘be,’ which is also written as
a separate word. In some subdialects the stem is bu (or bû); in others, it is bî. In Table 10,
the conjugations generally follow the normal application of past tense suffixes as defined
in Table 7.
Table 10. Past tense copulas
person & number
1SG
2SG
3SG
1PL
2PL & 3PL
conjugated copula
bîm or bum
bî or buî
bî or bu
bîn or buîn
bîn or bun
Below are some example sentences with past tense copulas.
(57) ez betal bu-m
1D bored COP.PST-1SG
‘I was bored.’
(58) tu bi keyf bî-Ø
2D with happiness COP.PST-2SG
‘You were happy?’