Connectors

Joining thoughts, phrases, and clauses.

Connectors or conjunctions are words used to join two thoughts together. In Hîsyêô, the function of a connector depends entirely on what follows it.

The Syntactic Rule

The most important rule to remember with connectors is look ahead:

1. Phrase Connector: If the connector is followed by a Content Word (Noun, Verb, Modifier), it joins that word to the current phrase.

2. Clause Connector: If the connector is followed by a Preposition (like û, li, hoî), it ends the current predicate and begins a new clause.

Note on Verbs: If you place a raw Verb after a connector (e.g., ... ûn mokon), it is treated as a Noun (food) added to the current list. To say "I eat and drink" (two actions), you must start a new predicate with a preposition or omit the connector to let the verb stand alone. Irrealis verb markers do free you from this restriction.

The Connectors

English	Hîsyêô	Function
And	ûn	Cumulative / Additive
Or	yodo	Alternative / Choice
But / However	lêkin	Adversative / Contrast
Than / As	en	Comparative
Then / So	bînê	Sequential / Resultative

Cumulative (And)

As a Phrase Connector

Combines two nouns or qualities into a single unit within the sentence.

Latin

 noyo  sûko  kûôxi  ûn  oksûn. I like fruit and meat.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ɐʄɔ  ɔʄɽıɋȷ  ɽ̃ʄ  ɽ̑ɐ̃ʄ: I like fruit and meat.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  suk  kuoxj  uN  aKsuN. I like fruit and meat.

As a Clause Connector

Indicates that two actions or states occur simultaneously or in the same timeframe.

Latin

 noyo  mokon  ûn  û  noyo  îskô. I eat and I drink.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ƶɔ̃  ɽ̃ʄ  ɽʄ  ƨɀ  ɽ́ɟɔı: I eat and I drink.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  mkN  uN  u  ny  iSko. I eat and I drink.

Alternative (or)

As a Phrase Connector

Presents a choice between items. Only one is selected or valid.

Latin

¿ nîmû  fôlun  kûôxi  yodo  oksûn  ko? Do you want fruit or meat?

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɟƶʄ  ɤıʓ̃ʃ  ɔʄɽıɋȷ  ɀʌ  ɽ̑ɐ̃ʄ  ɔ≈ Do you want fruit or meat?

aStK ulNfu

 nimu  folrN  kuoxj  yd  aKsuN  k? Do you want fruit or meat?

As a Clause Connector

Presents a choice between two potential outcomes or actions.

Latin

 nûs  kôî  li  nô  yodo  û  nûs  kôî  li  bodî  hoî  niwos. We can go or we can stay at home.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨ́ʄ  ɔıɽɟ  ʓȷ  ƨı  ɀʌ  ɽʄ  ƨ́ʄ  ɔıɽɟ  ʓȷ  ʋʌɟ  ɂɽɟ  ƨȷʒ́: We can go or we can stay at home.

aStK ulNfu

 nuS  koi  lj  no  yd  u  nuS  koi  lj  bdi  hAi  njwS. We can go or we can stay at home.

Adversative (but/however)

As a Phrase Connector

Adds an item that contrasts with the previous one, often modifying the expectation.

Latin

 noyo  fôlun  kûôxi  lêkin  xûnyu  bîek. I want fruit but no bread.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ɤıʓ̃ʃ  ɔʄɽıɋȷ  ʓʇɔ̃ȷ  ɋ̃ʄɀʃ  ʋɟɽ̑ɿ: I want fruit but no bread.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  folrN  kuoxj  lekjN  xuNyr  biqK. I want fruit but no bread.

As a Clause Connector

Links two independent sentences where the second contradicts or qualifies the first.

Latin

 noyo  fôlun  mokon  lêkin  û  noyo  li  bîcûon. I want to eat, but I am tired.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ɤıʓ̃ʃ  ƶɔ̃  ʓʇɔ̃ȷ  ɽʄ  ƨɀ  ʓȷ  ʋɟꞇʄɽ̃: I want to eat, but I am tired.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  folrN  mkN  lekjN  u  ny  lj  bicuaN. I want to eat, but I am tired.

Comparative (than/as)

As a Phrase Connector

Used to establish a standard of comparison against the first item. This is essential for comparative sentences.

English-ism Alert

In English, we often say "She is taller than me," where "me" acts as a shortened version of "than I am." In Hîsyêô, en connects phrases or clauses directly. It does not automatically replace the agent or subject. You should construct the comparison to be syntactically complete or clearly linked within the constituent.

Latin

 nîo  en  noyo  li  iwotê  eswen. She (compared to) me is taller.

 li  iwotê  eswen  û  nîo  en  noyo. Is taller she (compared to) me.

 noyo  bi  eswen  et  fôlun  xe  mokon,  en  xe  li  conzodo. I more want to eat than to sleep.

 nîo  li  iwotê  sumon  en  noyo. She is as tall as me.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɟɽ  ɽ̃ɿ  ƨɀ  ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ: She (compared to) me is taller.

 ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ  ɽʄ  ƨɟɽ  ɽ̃ɿ  ƨɀ: Is taller she (compared to) me.

 ƨɀ  ʋȷ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ  ɽ̆ɿ  ɤıʓ̃ʃ  ɋɿ  ƶɔ̃､  ɽ̃ɿ  ɋɿ  ʓȷ  ꞇ̃ⱴʌ: I more want to eat than to sleep.

 ƨɟɽ  ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ  ɐʃƶ̃  ɽ̃ɿ  ƨɀ: She is as tall as me.

aStK ulNfu

 nia  qN  ny  lj  jwte  qSwqN. She (compared to) me is taller.

 lj  jwte  qSwqN  u  nia  qN  ny. Is taller she (compared to) me.

 ny  bj  qSwqN  qT  folrN  xq  mkN,  qN  xq  lj  cNzd. I more want to eat than to sleep.

 nia  lj  jwte  srmN  qN  ny. She is as tall as me.

As a Clause Connector

Comparisons can occur between full clauses when comparing the degree of two different actions. This is often the clearest way to express complex comparisons.

Latin

 nîo  li  iwotê  eswen  en  û  nîo ( li  iwotê). She is taller than she (is tall).

 noyo  fôlun  mokon  bi  eswen  en  û  noyo  fôlun  xe  li  conzodo. I want to eat more than I want to sleep.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɟɽ  ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ  ɽ̃ɿ  ɽʄ  ƨɟɽ ( ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ): She is taller than she (is tall).

 ƨɀ  ɤıʓ̃ʃ  ƶɔ̃  ʋȷ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ  ɽ̃ɿ  ɽʄ  ƨɀ  ɤıʓ̃ʃ  ɋɿ  ʓȷ  ꞇ̃ⱴʌ: I want to eat more than I want to sleep.

aStK ulNfu

 nia  lj  jwte  qSwqN  qN  u  nia ( lj  jwte). She is taller than she (is tall).

 ny  folrN  mkN  bj  qSwqN  qN  u  ny  folrN  xq  lj  cNzd. I want to eat more than I want to sleep.

Superlatives

To express a superlative ("the most" or "the best"), you compare the subject to all others using môî.

Latin

 nîo  en  môî  li  iwotê  eswen. She (compared to all) is the tallest.

 ôfo  en  môî  li  xôn  eswen. This (compared to all) is the best.

 noyo  en  xûnyu  li  conzodo  eswen. I (compared to noone) am the most sleepy.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɟɽ  ɽ̃ɿ  ƶıɽɟ  ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ: She (compared to all) is the tallest.

 ɽıɤ  ɽ̃ɿ  ƶıɽɟ  ʓȷ  ɋ̃ı  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ: This (compared to all) is the best.

 ƨɀ  ɽ̃ɿ  ɋ̃ʄɀʃ  ʓȷ  ꞇ̃ⱴʌ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ: I (compared to noone) am the most sleepy.

aStK ulNfu

 nia  qN  moi  lj  jwte  qSwqN. She (compared to all) is the tallest.

 of  qN  moi  lj  xoN  qSwqN. This (compared to all) is the best.

 ny  qN  xuNyr  lj  cNzd  qSwqN. I (compared to noone) am the most sleepy.

Super skip a 'tive

Avoid the need for a comparative connector altogether by using môî and xûnyu as adjectives to mark superior and inferior superlative degrees directly, similar to how eswen and mênûs mark superior and inferior comparative degrees.

Latin

 nîo  li  iwotê  môî. She is the tallest.

 ôfo  li  xôn  môî. This is the best.

 noyo  li  conzodo  xûnyu. I am the least sleepy.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɟɽ  ʓȷ  ɽȷʒcʇ  ƶıɽɟ: She is the tallest.

 ɽıɤ  ʓȷ  ɋ̃ı  ƶıɽɟ: This is the best.

 ƨɀ  ʓȷ  ꞇ̃ⱴʌ  ɋ̃ʄɀʃ: I am the least sleepy.

aStK ulNfu

 nia  lj  jwte  moi. She is the tallest.

 of  lj  xoN  moi. This is the best.

 ny  lj  cNzd  xuNyr. I am the least sleepy.

Sequential (then/so/therefore)

As a Phrase Connector

Indicates a sequence or hierarchy within a list.

Latin

 noyo  dêko  nîmû  bînê  nîo. I see you, then [I see] her. (You first, her second).

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ʌʇɔ  ƨɟƶʄ  ʋɟƨʇ  ƨɟɽ: I see you, then [I see] her. (You first, her second).

aStK ulNfu

 ny  dek  nimu  bine  nia. I see you, then [I see] her. (You first, her second).

As a Clause Connector

Indicates that the second clause happens after the first, or is a result of the first.

Latin

 noyo  ke  mokon  bînê  û  noyo  ke  conzodo. I will eat, then I will sleep.

 li  bôkbûn  bînê  û  nûs  li  sî  bodî  hoî  niwos. It was storming, so we stayed home.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ɔɿ  ƶɔ̃  ʋɟƨʇ  ɽʄ  ƨɀ  ɔɿ  ꞇ̃ⱴʌ: I will eat, then I will sleep.

 ʓȷ  ʋ̑ıʋ̃ʄ  ʋɟƨʇ  ɽʄ  ƨ́ʄ  ʓȷ  ɐɟ  ʋʌɟ  ɂɽɟ  ƨȷʒ́: It was storming, so we stayed home.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  kq  mkN  bine  u  ny  kq  cNzd. I will eat, then I will sleep.

 lj  boKbuN  bine  u  nuS  lj  si  bdi  hAi  njwS. It was storming, so we stayed home.