Determiners

A type of word that describes the reference type of a noun. You could think of determiners as a special class of noun modifiers and the only ones that exist before the head noun.

[determiners] [head noun] [modifiers]

Determiners involve something related to plurality (quantity), adequacy, or time. They are the fundamental attributes of nouns alongside what makes each noun unique.

Quantity

You can provide numerals as determiners and they allow you to specify the plurality or quantity of the nouns being referred to. Larger numbers are created by using the below method of assembling parts of a number:

Latin

Number	Hîsyêô
0	xûnyu
1	kut
2	dûî
3	niswî
4	nonkû
5	tîû
6	toû
7	xêtî
8	tukwos
9	eson
10	dus
11	ônsu
12	bole
13	telô
14	ziyôn
15	kînsê
16	ses
17	dus  xêtî
18	dus  tukwos
19	dus  eson
20	dûî  dus
21	dûî  dus  kut
22	dûî  dus  dûî
23	dûî  dus  niswî
100	fîyên
101	fîyên  kut
234	dûî  fîyên  niswî  dus  nonkû
1000	elfû  kut
1,000,000	elfû  dûî
1,999	elfû  kut,  eson  fîyên  eson  dus  eson

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

Number	ɂ́ɟɀʇɽi
0	ɋ̃ʄɀʃ
1	ɔ̆ʃ
2	ʌʄɽɟ
3	ƨ́ȷʒɟ
4	ƨ̃ɔʄ
5	cɟɽʄ
6	cɽʄ
7	ɋʇcɟ
8	c̑ʃʒ́
9	ɽɿɐ̃
10	ʌ́ʃ
11	ɽ̃ıɐʃ
12	ʋʓɿ
13	cɿʓı
14	ⱴȷɀ̃ı
15	ɔ̃ɟɐʇ
16	ɐ́ɿ
17	ʌ́ʃ  ɋʇcɟ
18	ʌ́ʃ  c̑ʃʒ́
19	ʌ́ʃ  ɽɿɐ̃
20	ʌʄɽɟ  ʌ́ʃ
21	ʌʄɽɟ  ʌ́ʃ  ɔ̆ʃ
22	ʌʄɽɟ  ʌ́ʃ  ʌʄɽɟ
23	ʌʄɽɟ  ʌ́ʃ  ƨ́ȷʒɟ
100	ɤɟɀ̃ʇ
101	ɤɟɀ̃ʇ  ɔ̆ʃ
234	ʌʄɽɟ  ɤɟɀ̃ʇ  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ʌ́ʃ  ƨ̃ɔʄ
1000	ɽ͊ɿɤʄ  ɔ̆ʃ
1,000,000	ɽ͊ɿɤʄ  ʌʄɽɟ
1,999	ɽ͊ɿɤʄ  ɔ̆ʃ､  ɽɿɐ̃  ɤɟɀ̃ʇ  ɽɿɐ̃  ʌ́ʃ  ɽɿɐ̃

Add one of these before your noun and you have provided a quantity determiner (a cardinal number).

Latin

 niswî  sûtûô  li  cok  sûn  zomo. "Three friends are leaving the group."

 nûs  buswen  niswî  dus  tîû  êfun  til  xe  bîek  ni  sûît  ôfo. "We need 35 minutes to bake this cake."

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ɐʄcʄɽı  ʓȷ  ꞇ̑  ɐ̃ʄ  ⱴƶ: "Three friends are leaving the group."

 ƨ́ʄ  ʋ́ʃʒ̃ɿ  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ʌ́ʃ  cɟɽʄ  ɽʇɤ̃ʃ  c͊ȷ  ɋɿ  ʋɟɽ̑ɿ  ƨȷ  ɐʄʒ̆ɟ  ɽıɤ: "We need 35 minutes to bake this cake."

aStK ulNfu

 njSwi  sutuo  lj  cK  suN  zm. "Three friends are leaving the group."

 nuS  brSwqN  njSwi  drS  tiu  efrN  tjL  xq  biqK  nj  suwiT  of. "We need 35 minutes to bake this cake."

Ordinal

Place a numeral word after the nucleus (before, in the midst, or after other modifiers) and it will represent a relative position of an item in a sequence (an ordinal number).

Latin

 li  nomû  niswî  xe  sûn  xîmol,  û  sûko  noyo. "The third tree from the left is my favorite."

 noyo  li  umo  nonkû  xe  li  cok. "I was the fourth person to leave."

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ʓȷ  ƨƶʄ  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ɋɿ  ɐ̃ʄ  ɋɟƶ͊､  ɽʄ  ɐʄɔ  ƨɀ: "The third tree from the left is my favorite."

 ƨɀ  ʓȷ  ɽʃƶ  ƨ̃ɔʄ  ɋɿ  ʓȷ  ꞇ̑: "I was the fourth person to leave."

aStK ulNfu

 lj  nmu  njSwi  xq  suN  ximL,  u  suk  ny. "The third tree from the left is my favorite."

 ny  lj  rm  nNku  xq  lj  cK. "I was the fourth person to leave."

The position of the ordinal does cause a split in the grouping of nouns.

Latin

 noyo  côûfon  mokon  sûît  kut  xôn  onô. "You made the great first dessert."

 noyo  côûfon  mokon  sûît  xôn  kut  onô. "You made the first great dessert."

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ꞇıɽʄɤ̃  ƶɔ̃  ɐʄʒ̆ɟ  ɔ̆ʃ  ɋ̃ı  ɽƨı: "You made the great first dessert."

 ƨɀ  ꞇıɽʄɤ̃  ƶɔ̃  ɐʄʒ̆ɟ  ɋ̃ı  ɔ̆ʃ  ɽƨı: "You made the first great dessert."

aStK ulNfu

 ny  coufN  mkN  suwiT  krT  xoN  ano. "You made the great first dessert."

 ny  coufN  mkN  suwiT  xoN  krT  ano. "You made the first great dessert."

Multiplier

Place a numeral word after (ônî) and use this as a modifier to represent the number of times something is to be multiplied.

Latin

 boholon  fuî  zinkon  ônî  dûî. "The closet has double doors."

 nîo  li  kîôsô  êto  kôî  tûu  zoston  ônî  nonkû  bi  obunyun. "He's quite athletic and can do quadruple jumps with ease."

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ʋɂʓ̃  ɤʃɽɟ  ⱴ̃ȷɔ̃  ɽıƨɟ  ʌʄɽɟ: "The closet has double doors."

 ƨɟɽ  ʓȷ  ɔɟɽıɐı  ɽʇc  ɔıɽɟ  cʄɽʃ  ⱴ́c̃  ɽıƨɟ  ƨ̃ɔʄ  ʋȷ  ɽʋ̃ʃɀ̃ʃ: "He's quite athletic and can do quadruple jumps with ease."

aStK ulNfu

 bhlN  fri  zjNkN  oni  dui. "The closet has double doors."

 nia  lj  kioso  et  koi  tur  zStN  oni  nNku  bj  abrNyrN. "He's quite athletic and can do quadruple jumps with ease."

Adverbial

Place a numeral word after the manner/material thematic role marker (bi) and you get adverbial numerals.

Latin

 noyo  bi  ônî  kut  tôlkî  mokon  sî  bîek  botuk  yê  ônî mulô "I have only once eaten pizza"

 nîmû  bi  ônî  dûî  kûu  yôn  sîkot  hokôlî  hôn  lono  xokôn. You should use your toothbrush twice a day.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ʋȷ  ɽıƨɟ  ɔ̆ʃ  c͊ıɔɟ  ƶɔ̃  ɐɟ  ʋɟɽ̑ɿ  ʋc̑ʃ  ɀʇ  ɽıƨɟ ƶʃʓi "I have only once eaten pizza"

 ƨɟƶʄ  ʋȷ  ɽıƨɟ  ʌʄɽɟ  ɔʄɽʃ  ɀ̃ı  ɐɟɔ̆  ɂɔıʓɟ  ɂ̃ı  ʓƨ  ɋɔ̃ı: You should use your toothbrush twice a day.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  bj  oni  krT  toLki  mkN  si  biqK  btrK  ye  oni mrlo "I have only once eaten pizza"

 nimu  bj  oni  dui  kur  yoN  sikT  hkoli  hoN  ln  xkoN. You should use your toothbrush twice a day.

Distributive

You can make distributive numerals using xokôn. First, to indicate that a predicate is occurring multiple times with the specified details, you would tack on a xokôn at the end of a noun phrase. Here's a non-distributive action and contrasting distributive one:

Latin

 umo Tom  û  umo Zil  okôt  niswî  dibo. "Tom and Jill carried three boxes."

 umo Tom  û  umo Zil  okôt  niswî  dibo  xokôn. "Tom and Jill carried three boxes each."

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ɽʃƶ ‹cƶ›  ɽʄ  ɽʃƶ ‹ⱴ͊ȷ›  ɽɔ̆ı  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ʌȷʋ: "Tom and Jill carried three boxes."

 ɽʃƶ ‹cƶ›  ɽʄ  ɽʃƶ ‹ⱴ͊ȷ›  ɽɔ̆ı  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ʌȷʋ  ɋɔ̃ı: "Tom and Jill carried three boxes each."

aStK ulNfu

 rm 〈 tm 〉  u  rm 〈 zjL 〉  akoT  njSwi  djb. "Tom and Jill carried three boxes."

 rm 〈 tm 〉  u  rm 〈 zjL 〉  akoT  njSwi  djb  xkoN. "Tom and Jill carried three boxes each."

In order to specify that something is double the degree of the associated noun-phrase. You prefix a quantity phrase with xokôn.

Latin

 motûo  wohî  noyo  bi  xokôn  dûî  dîyondê  hôn  xe  bi  elentêt  li  êo  infultîn  ônî  dûstu  wokût. My mother was always doubly careful when winding the clock.

 li  sonkon  û  xe  besol  zinkon,  ûn  bi  xokôn  niswî  hôn  bitûn. It is important to lock the door, and triply so at night.

 lolû  nîmû  oncêmon  êo  xokôn  dûî  tônkô  hôn  doho  noyo. Your words feel doubly hurtful given my sacrifices.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƶcʄɽ  ʒɂɟ  ƨɀ  ʋȷ  ɋɔ̃ı  ʌʄɽɟ  ʌɟɀ̃ʌʇ  ɂ̃ı  ɋɿ  ʋȷ  ɽɿʓ̃ɿc̆ʇ  ʓȷ  ɽʇɽ  ɽ̃ȷɤ͊ʃc̃ɟ  ɽıƨɟ  ʌ́ʄcʃ  ʒɔ̆ʄ: My mother was always doubly careful when winding the clock.

 ʓȷ  ɐ̃ɔ̃  ɽʄ  ɋɿ  ʋɿɐ͊  ⱴ̃ȷɔ̃､  ɽ̃ʄ  ʋȷ  ɋɔ̃ı  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ɂ̃ı  ʋȷc̃ʄ: It is important to lock the door, and triply so at night.

 ʓʓʄ  ƨɟƶʄ  ɽ̃ꞇʇƶ̃  ɽʇɽ  ɋɔ̃ı  ʌʄɽɟ  c̃ıɔı  ɂ̃ı  ʌɂ  ƨɀ: Your words feel doubly hurtful given my sacrifices.

aStK ulNfu

 mtua  whi  ny  bj  xkoN  dui  diyNde  hoN  xq  bj  qlqNteT  lj  ea  jNfrLtiN  oni  duStr  wkuT. My mother was always doubly careful when winding the clock.

 lj  sNkN  u  xq  bqsL  zjNkN,  uN  bj  xkoN  njSwi  hoN  bjtuN. It is important to lock the door, and triply so at night.

 llu  nimu  aNcemN  ea  xkoN  dui  toNko  hoN  dh  ny. Your words feel doubly hurtful given my sacrifices.

Fractional

You can make fractional numerals using fun. Place the numerator before the particle and the denominator after.

Latin

 noyo  ke  dôstoc  niswî  fun  niswî  dus  tîû  îcwon  noyo. I will receive three thirty-fifths of my inheritance.

 fîkî  yê  sobûnî  et  onô  li  sî  nîôk  lon  niswî  ûn  fun  niswî. The disease rate has increased by 3 and one-third.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ɔɿ  ʌ́ıc̄  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ɤ̃ʃ  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ʌ́ʃ  cɟɽʄ  ɽ̄ɟʒ̃  ƨɀ: I will receive three thirty-fifths of my inheritance.

 ɤɟɔɟ  ɀʇ  ɐʋʄƨɟ  ɽ̆ɿ  ɽƨı  ʓȷ  ɐɟ  ƨɟɽ̑ı  ʓ̃  ƨ́ȷʒɟ  ɽ̃ʄ  ɤ̃ʃ  ƨ́ȷʒɟ: The disease rate has increased by 3 and one-third.

aStK ulNfu

 ny  kq  doStC  njSwi  frN  njSwi  drS  tiu  iCwN  ny. I will receive three thirty-fifths of my inheritance.

 fiki  ye  sbuni  qT  ano  lj  si  nioK  lN  njSwi  uN  frN  njSwi. The disease rate has increased by 3 and one-third.

Relative

Relative determiners provide relativistic information about the head phrase that they are attached to. They can be relative quantities which are like the above numerical quantities but with a non-exact non-finite understanding of what the exact numerical quantity the noun actually is.

Latin

total/all:  môî  sûtûô  noyo  sûko  kontol  doî  osyen. All my friends like classical music

highest/most:  ôfo  li  numûno  yê  sonkon  môî. This is the most important example.

high/many:  li  êto  tolîko  bêsu  yê  xe  côûfon. "There are many different ways to cook a meal."

higher/more:  li  eswen  tolîko  yê  xe  tûu  ôfo,  en  û  noyo  kôî  tûek  tô  kut. "There are more ways to xe this than I can count."

lower/fewer:  li  mênûs  umo  hoî  ôfo  bi  îbûdû. "There are less people here now."

low/some:  yoûtî  umo  sûko  kon  mûhoyon. "Some people like camping."

lowest/least:  noyo  bi  tôlkî  fuî  zôtêstô  til  xe  cifû mikdol  xûnyu  yê  cino  yê  niwos. I can only afford to pay the least (none) of the bills.

zero/none:  xûnyu  yê  dûî  umo  li  sumon. No two people are the same.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

total/all:  ƶıɽɟ  ɐʄcʄɽı  ƨɀ  ɐʄɔ  ɔ̃c͊  ʌɽɟ  ɽ́ɀ̃ɿ: All my friends like classical music

highest/most:  ɽıɤ  ʓȷ  ƨʃƶʄƨ  ɀʇ  ɐ̃ɔ̃  ƶıɽɟ: This is the most important example.

high/many:  ʓȷ  ɽʇc  cʓɟɔ  ʋʇɐʃ  ɀʇ  ɋɿ  ꞇıɽʄɤ̃: "There are many different ways to cook a meal."

higher/more:  ʓȷ  ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ  cʓɟɔ  ɀʇ  ɋɿ  cʄɽʃ  ɽıɤ､  ɽ̃ɿ  ɽʄ  ƨɀ  ɔıɽɟ  cʄɽ̑ɿ  cı  ɔ̆ʃ: "There are more ways to xe this than I can count."

lower/fewer:  ʓȷ  ƶʇƨ́ʄ  ɽʃƶ  ɂɽɟ  ɽıɤ  ʋȷ  ɽɟʋʄʌʄ: "There are less people here now."

low/some:  ɀɽʄcɟ  ɽʃƶ  ɐʄɔ  ɔ̃  ƶʄɂɀ̃: "Some people like camping."

lowest/least:  ƨɀ  ʋȷ  c͊ıɔɟ  ɤʃɽɟ  ⱴıćʇcı  c͊ȷ  ɋɿ  ꞇȷɤʄ ƶ̑ȷʌ͊  ɋ̃ʄɀʃ  ɀʇ  ꞇȷƨ  ɀʇ  ƨȷʒ́: I can only afford to pay the least (none) of the bills.

zero/none:  ɋ̃ʄɀʃ  ɀʇ  ʌʄɽɟ  ɽʃƶ  ʓȷ  ɐʃƶ̃: No two people are the same.

aStK ulNfu

total/all:  moi  sutuo  ny  suk  kNtL  dAi  aSyqN. All my friends like classical music

highest/most:  of  lj  nrmun  ye  sNkN  moi. This is the most important example.

high/many:  lj  et  tlik  besr  ye  xq  coufN. "There are many different ways to cook a meal."

higher/more:  lj  qSwqN  tlik  ye  xq  tur  of,  qN  u  ny  koi  tuqK  to  krT. "There are more ways to xe this than I can count."

lower/fewer:  lj  menuS  rm  hAi  of  bj  ibudu. "There are less people here now."

low/some:  yAuti  rm  suk  kN  muhyN. "Some people like camping."

lowest/least:  ny  bj  toLki  fri  zoteSto  tjL  xq  cjfu mjKdL  xuNyr  ye  cjn  ye  njwS. I can only afford to pay the least (none) of the bills.

zero/none:  xuNyr  ye  dui  rm  lj  srmN. No two people are the same.

There's also the universal classifications of "every" and "each". The former is used for speaking of a group as a whole and the latter is used for speaking of each individual within a group.

Latin

 kûu  li  gufis  yê  fos  nîmû  xûsten  xokôn  xolu  bi  xôn. Make sure you wash each bowl well.

 bînton  lono  onô  li  nô  bi  cên  hoî  xokôn  lono  hêlxun  ûn  li  nô  bi  sêl  hoî  xokôn  bitûn. The sun comes up each morning and sets each night.

 môî  umo  xe  hoî kûncên  onô,  dî  sî  totsi  ûn  hokûxi. Every person in the room stood and cheered.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ɔʄɽʃ  ʓȷ  ꜿʃɤ́ȷ  ɀʇ  ɤ́  ƨɟƶʄ  ɋ́ʄc̃ɿ  ɋɔ̃ı  ɋʓʃ  ʋȷ  ɋ̃ı: Make sure you wash each bowl well.

 ʋ̃ɟc̃  ʓƨ  ɽƨı  ʓȷ  ƨı  ʋȷ  ꞇ̃ʇ  ɂɽɟ  ɋɔ̃ı  ʓƨ  ɂ͊ʇɋ̃ʃ  ɽ̃ʄ  ʓȷ  ƨı  ʋȷ  ɐ͊ʇ  ɂɽɟ  ɋɔ̃ı  ʋȷc̃ʄ: The sun comes up each morning and sets each night.

 ƶıɽɟ  ɽʃƶ  ɋɿ  ɂɽɟ ɔ̃ʄꞇ̃ʇ  ɽƨı､  ʌɟ  ɐɟ  c̆ɐȷ  ɽ̃ʄ  ɂɔʄɋȷ: Every person in the room stood and cheered.

aStK ulNfu

 kur  lj  grfjS  ye  fS  nimu  xuStqN  xkoN  xlr  bj  xoN. Make sure you wash each bowl well.

 biNtN  ln  ano  lj  no  bj  ceN  hAi  xkoN  ln  heLxrN  uN  lj  no  bj  seL  hAi  xkoN  bjtuN. The sun comes up each morning and sets each night.

 moi  rm  xq  hAi kuNceN  ano,  di  si  tTsj  uN  hkuxj. Every person in the room stood and cheered.

Interplay with location and duration prepositions

Using these with the location/time preposition (hoî) and the distance/duration preposition (lon) has subtle differences in interpretations.

Latin

 nûs  ke  nîltûgu  xe  li  nô  bi  fîkî,  hoî 5  mônbili  xokôn. "We will stop running at 5 miles"

 nîmû  ke  dôstoc  îskô  hoî  môî 5  mônbili  xokôn. "You will get a drink every 5 miles"

 ke  li  ônî  nô  fîkî  bêsu  hoî  xokôn 5  mônbili  xokôn. "There will be a different runner each 5 miles"

 nûs  ke  li  nô  bi  fîkî  lon 5  mônbili  xokôn. "We will run for 5 miles"

 ke  li  ônî  nô  fîkî  bêsu  lon  môî 5  mônbili  xokôn. "There will be a different runner for every 5 mile stretch"

 nîmû  ke  dôstoc  îskô  dîzel  lon  xokôn 5  mônbili  xokôn. "You get another drink for each 5 mile stretch"

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨ́ʄ  ɔɿ  ƨ͊ɟcʄꜿʃ  ɋɿ  ʓȷ  ƨı  ʋȷ  ɤɟɔɟ､  ɂɽɟ 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "We will stop running at 5 miles"

 ƨɟƶʄ  ɔɿ  ʌ́ıc̄  ɽ́ɟɔı  ɂɽɟ  ƶıɽɟ 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "You will get a drink every 5 miles"

 ɔɿ  ʓȷ  ɽıƨɟ  ƨı  ɤɟɔɟ  ʋʇɐʃ  ɂɽɟ  ɋɔ̃ı 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "There will be a different runner each 5 miles"

 ƨ́ʄ  ɔɿ  ʓȷ  ƨı  ʋȷ  ɤɟɔɟ  ʓ̃ 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "We will run for 5 miles"

 ɔɿ  ʓȷ  ɽıƨɟ  ƨı  ɤɟɔɟ  ʋʇɐʃ  ʓ̃  ƶıɽɟ 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "There will be a different runner for every 5 mile stretch"

 ƨɟƶʄ  ɔɿ  ʌ́ıc̄  ɽ́ɟɔı  ʌɟⱴ͊ɿ  ʓ̃  ɋɔ̃ı 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "You get another drink for each 5 mile stretch"

aStK ulNfu

 nuS  kq  niLtugr  xq  lj  no  bj  fiki,  hAi 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "We will stop running at 5 miles"

 nimu  kq  doStC  iSko  hAi  moi 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "You will get a drink every 5 miles"

 kq  lj  oni  no  fiki  besr  hAi  xkoN 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "There will be a different runner each 5 miles"

 nuS  kq  lj  no  bj  fiki  lN 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "We will run for 5 miles"

 kq  lj  oni  no  fiki  besr  lN  moi 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "There will be a different runner for every 5 mile stretch"

 nimu  kq  doStC  iSko  dizqL  lN  xkoN 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "You get another drink for each 5 mile stretch"

Lastly, there are relative quantities that refer to the speakers feelings that the quantity is an adequate amount for their purposes.

Latin

 noyo  bi  ôhêl  îskô  sî  zôtêstô  îskô  kîkôlô  ûlzo  hoî  lono  ôfo. "I've already had enough coffee today."

 nîmû  mokon  sî  odigon  bîek  sûît  hoî  kôndodû  onô. "You ate too much cake at the party."

 nîo  moskûl  li  bûzôk  môfî  hôn  xe  hobîyô  mût  nîo  wohî. "He lacks the courage to tell her."

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƨɀ  ʋȷ  ɽıɂ͊ʇ  ɽ́ɟɔı  ɐɟ  ⱴıćʇcı  ɽ́ɟɔı  ɔɟɔıʓı  ɽ͊ʄⱴ  ɂɽɟ  ʓƨ  ɽıɤ: "I've already had enough coffee today."

 ƨɟƶʄ  ƶɔ̃  ɐɟ  ɽcȷɔ̃  ʋɟɽ̑ɿ  ɐʄʒ̆ɟ  ɂɽɟ  ɔ̃ıʌʌʄ  ɽƨı: "You ate too much cake at the party."

 ƨɟɽ  ƶ́ɔ͊ʄ  ʓȷ  ʋʄⱴ̑ı  ƶıɤɟ  ɂ̃ı  ɋɿ  ɂʋɟɀı  ƶ̆ʄ  ƨɟɽ  ʒɂɟ: "He lacks the courage to tell her."

aStK ulNfu

 ny  bj  oheL  iSko  si  zoteSto  iSko  kikolo  uLz  hAi  ln  of. "I've already had enough coffee today."

 nimu  mkN  si  atjkN  biqK  suwiT  hAi  koNddu  ano. "You ate too much cake at the party."

 nia  mSkuL  lj  buzoK  mofi  hoN  xq  hbiyo  muT  nia  whi. "He lacks the courage to tell her."

As Modifiers

While determiners typically precede the noun to indicate reference type, many can also appear as post-nominal modifiers. In this position, they perform specific grammatical functions related to degree and individuation.

Degree Markers

When acting as modifiers, relative determiners function as markers for the degree or intensity of the associated noun or adjective.

Determiner	Modifier Function	Meaning	Example
êto	Augmentative	"Very", "Great"	iwotê êto ("very tall")
yoûtî	Diminutive	"Somehwat", "Slight"	iwotê yoûtî ("slightly tall")
môî	Superlative	"Most", "-est"	iwotê môî ("tallest" / "taller than all")
eswen / mênûs	Comparative	"More" / "Less", "-er"	iwotê eswen ("taller")

Unit Markers (Mensural Classifiers)

The distributive determiner xokôn ("each") performs a unique role as a mensural classifier (or unit marker) when modifying abstract mass nouns.

In Hîsyêô, abstract concepts like "distance" or "value" are treated as mass nouns. To count them, you use xokôn to individuate the mass into countable units.

Noun + xokôn = "[Noun]-unit" / "A unit of [Noun]"

This allows the language to handle various systems of measurement (imperial, metric, currency) using the same construction, where the specific unit is understood from context.

Latin

 mônbili  xokôn "Unit-like distance" (e.g., a mile, a kilometer)

 munî  xokôn "Unit-like money" (e.g., a dollar, a euro)

 nûs  ke  nîltûgu  hoî 5  mônbili  xokôn. "We will stop at 5 miles." (literally: 5 distance-units)

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı "Unit-like distance" (e.g., a mile, a kilometer)

 ƶʃƨɟ  ɋɔ̃ı "Unit-like money" (e.g., a dollar, a euro)

 ƨ́ʄ  ɔɿ  ƨ͊ɟcʄꜿʃ  ɂɽɟ 5  ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı: "We will stop at 5 miles." (literally: 5 distance-units)

aStK ulNfu

 moNbjlj  xkoN "Unit-like distance" (e.g., a mile, a kilometer)

 mrni  xkoN "Unit-like money" (e.g., a dollar, a euro)

 nuS  kq  niLtugr  hAi 5  moNbjlj  xkoN. "We will stop at 5 miles." (literally: 5 distance-units)

Differentiating

If you need to differentiate between specific systems (like Metric vs. Imperial), you can specify the system using a yê (of/associated with) phrase:

Latin

 mônbili  xokôn  yê  bobôun  noûku "Distance unit of the scientific system" (kilometer)

 mônbili  xokôn  yê  bobôun Bulitic "Distance unit of the British system" (mile)

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

 ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı  ɀʇ  ʋʋıɽ̃ʃ  ƨɽʄɔʃ "Distance unit of the scientific system" (kilometer)

 ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ  ɋɔ̃ı  ɀʇ  ʋʋıɽ̃ʃ ‹ʋʃʓȷc̄ȷ› "Distance unit of the British system" (mile)

aStK ulNfu

 moNbjlj  xkoN  ye  bborN  nAukr "Distance unit of the scientific system" (kilometer)

 moNbjlj  xkoN  ye  bborN 〈 brljtjC 〉 "Distance unit of the British system" (mile)