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Nouns

A type of word that represents an entity (tangible or intangible). Can be represented by a Noun Phrase (NP) which contains a nucleus and surrounding quantifiers and modifiers.

Roles

Causer / Voluntary Subject

The ü particle precedes this noun phrase. If this is the first noun phrase of a sentence, the particle can be omitted.

During causative sentences, a NP with this role represents the causer. During non-causative sentences, a NP with this role will be the agent or experiencer of the action or state. Additionally during non-causative sentences, the marked noun phrase is making the choice to commit the act or experience the state of the predicate of their own free will.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the subject of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but by something other than the marked noun phrase.

Causee / Involuntary Subject

The ölë particle precedes this noun phrase.

During causative sentences, a NP with this role will represent the causee. During non-causative sentences, an NP with this role will be the agent or experiencer of the action. Additionally during non-causative sentences, the marked noun phrase is not making the choice to commit the act of their own free will. Either they are bound/forced to do so or they do not have the wherewithal to make a conscious choice on the matter and are acting out of some basic instinst.

When used with the negatitive particle yök it has the equivalent semantic interpretation as the voluntary subject particle ü.

Patient, Theme, Stimulus (Direct Object)

Any one of the verb words precedes this noun phrase. Between the verb and the noun phrase can exist several verb modifier particles. See Verbs for more details.

The role of this object is for the special thematic argument to transitive verbs. The argument (the direct object) can be broken down into sub-types: a patient, a theme, or a stimulus. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "to" and "into" (many English verbs don't rely on a preposition particle to introduce their direct object).

Base Verbs Without This Particle

You can provide a verb prepositionally without also providing a direct object NP. Simply start another preposition, use a connector to create a compound sentence, use a comma to end a clause or use a period to end a sentence. Not using this particle can have an impact on how base verb sentences are interpreted. Without providing a direct object, a base verb is interpreted as being intransitive or in an unthematic and generic manner (since no theme is being provided). That being said, sometimes it's easiest to just think of an implicit existing in the direct object slot.

A patient is an entity that undergoes the action and changes state in some manner. A theme is an entiy that undergoes the action but doesn't change state. A stimulus is an entity that prompts or triggers the emotional or sensory action that is being described. These kinds of direct objects aren't separately marked because which kind of object is being specified can be determined from the verb that is being used.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the argument of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with an object that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Manner or Material

The particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent the manner or material of the predicate. In English, this is represented by the use of words with the "-ly" suffix (adverbs) or some senses of the words "by" and "with".

Thematic Relations

This preposition and the remaining described here can be used with intransitive and transitive verb predicates and are only needed in certain circumstances when extra thematic information is useful to describing the predicate in a new way. These prepositions are known as true thematic relations. Subjects (ü or ölë) are honorary members of the thematic relation club since they are usually called morphosyntactic arguments. They are included in the same class of word as the true thematic relations to simplify the grammatical system. This system is what allows the language to have free constituent ordering.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the manner or material of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but in a manner that is something other than the marked noun phrase. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "without".

Instrument or Means

The particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent some entity that was used to carry out the action. In English, this represents some of the senses of the words "with", "using", "by", and "via".

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the means or instrument of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but by means or with an object that is something other than the marked noun phrase. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "without".

Location or Time

The hoi particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent where or when the action occurs. In English, this represents some of the senses of the words "in", "at", and "on".

The counterpart of this particle is lon for distance and duration. Unlike the lon particle, when you provide an amount of time to hoi it means the length of time that it took to achieve the task specified in the rest of the predicate.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the location or time of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but at a location or time that is somewhere other than the marked noun phrase.

Direction or Destination (Indirect Object)

The müt particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent where the action is directed towards. In English, this represents some of the senses of the words "to", "into", and "towards". Any time you might need an indrect object or recipient, you can use this preposition to describe that constituent.

Reciprocity

When you use this preposition with this noun phrase:

it means that the predicate is a reciprocal action which means that it happened between the subjects instead of the subjects directing that action towards some other referred entity.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the recipient of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with recipient that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Source or Origin

The sün particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent where the action originated. In English, this represents nearly all of the senses of the word "from" (except for differentiation and causation).

noyo döstoc libü in lufono sün sıskın moskül noyo. I got a letter from my brother.

nimü köi döstoc yök fısun nëös sün nec öni tüek nucoto. You can't get all your news from the Internet.

tömös öfo sün dus eson tukwos dus. This manuscript is from the 1980s.

niün yünyoü si tömös xe hoı zomo mulö sün sokofü müt deku. He had books piled from floor to ceiling.

niün si cok hoi lono xobëk sün sınsi Xıkogö. He departed yesterday from Chicago.

küu bono elentët sün bëlëtë. Face away from the wall!

lono kon wëloı sün suhot eson müt suhot tiü.The working day runs from 9 am to 5 pm.

köi wedo oxon doinbi sün lono dus xëti wuto xëti. Tickets are available from 17th July.

düstu tönkö nimü sün kut müt dus. Rate your pain from 1 to 10.

küu socok xe köto mikdol sün kut. Start counting from 1.

nimü köi bëüdo ozüul sün söhoük müt kon cukto. You can study anything from math to literature.

küu dënëmëk xe dëko sün bındü niün dëko. Try to see it from his point of view.

sün mulö nıwos küon ü nimü yoüti köi dëko bümi cënbö möi. From the top of the lighthouse you can just see the mainland.

düi dus sün son dus kut di önsu. 20 from 31 leaves 11.

libü gelmıs foko mefüs lono möcibo kös xe mefüs sün lozö binton lono. A parasol protects from the sun's rays.

köson sün ülögun nulun sëlbö sofin. It's made from pure gold.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the source or origin of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a source or origin that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Beneficiary or Purpose

The oxon particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent for whose benefit the action occurs or the reason for the action. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "for".

The many faces of the English "for"

There are many varying uses of the English word "for" and they don't all line up under oxon so we've included an in-depth walkthrough of most of the interpretations that are in the wiktionary entry. The translations represent the proper way to formulate the desired semantic meaning.

  1. ⛔ Towards; in the direction of.

    umo kösmö müt müësi. The astronauts headed for the moon.

    küu fiki müt bümi töxütsı. Run for the hills!

    niün müt zınkon hön woküt fos niün bunyentoc si hoi. He was headed for the door when he remembered.

  2. ✅ Directed at; intended to belong to.

    noyo yünyoü fın oxon nimüI have something for you.

  3. ✅ In order to help, benefit, gratify, honor etc. (someone or something).

    hön möi fın fos noyo tüu, ü noyo tüu oxon nimü. Everything I do, I do for you.

    yünyoü köndodü lono kon lözic oxon umo Zëenıt. We're having a birthday party for Janet.

    öni böklön cüdo si köto in ondo oxon köndodü kon cüdo yöüli. The mayor gave a speech for the charity gala.

  4. ✅ Befitting of someone’s beliefs, needs, wants, skills, or tastes; best suited to.

    hön fos xe wëko mokon hoi zuko dündon, eswen en fos nimü köi tüu, binë wëloı öfo oxon yök nimü. If having to bag the groceries correctly is more than you can handle, then this isn't the job for you.

  5. ✅ To be used or treated in a stated way, or with a stated purpose.

    öfo gongoxi ülögun nëös oxon oütö gisgül noyo. This is a new bell for my bicycle.

    biek süwit onö oxon köndodü üsën dizël umo Tomu ün Helen. The cake is for Tom and Helen's anniversary.

    küöxı öfo hoi öfo oxon xe mokon. dizel oxon xe ëo fonmot. These apples here are for eating. The rest are for throwing away.

  6. ✅ Supporting, in favour of. (Antonym: against)

    noi möi umo xe oxon bësnëhot, küu ëo mulö ölë züngö nimü. All those for the motion, raise your hands.

    zık oxon mozün bukü. Who's for ice-cream?

    noyo oxon xe oütö kiskö. I'm for going by train.

    dus göcidon si oxon ün son dën. Ten voted for, and three against. (with implied object)

  7. ⛔ Because of.

    niün moskül bit köto yök fos niün zütö , ün nënko ulyö ü niün wohi bëmon yök xe yöüli müt niün moskül.He wouldn't apologize; and just for that, she refused to help him.

    niün xoinbo dëko xön eswen nënko xe nocido si bügot. He looks better for having lost weight. (UK usage)

    noyo süko niün nënko ëto mötifö. I like her for lots of reasons.

  8. ✅ Intended to cure, remove or counteract; in order to cure, remove or counteract.

    cigilsu in mokon oxon hüstun nimü. This medicine is for your cough.

    noyo buswen xe ısbulyol nozi hoi nıwos oxon müxi mitmo nomü. I need to spray my house for termites.

  9. ⛔ Over (a period of time).

    noyo nıwos hoi öfo lon son üsën. I've lived here for three years.

    niün köntësto lon yoüti lono hön nüyo kon cukto mitetën. They fought for days over a silly pencil.

  10. ⛔ Throughout or across (a distance in space).
  11. ⛔ Used to introduce a subject of a to-infinitive clause.

    fos öni fıyüxit cüdo yök muni oksiös , yök üsowo. It is unreasonable for our boss to withhold our wages.

    noyo tölki fölun fos nimü xowosë. All I want is for you to be happy.

  12. ✅ On behalf of.

    noyo wedo cızi oxon niün. I will stand in for him.

    noyo köto oxon öni böklön wik.I speak for the Prime Minister.

  13. ⛔ In the role or capacity of; instead of; in place of.
  14. ⛔ In exchange for; in correspondence or equivalence with.

    noyo döstoc tiü fiyën muni nënko xe wedo oütö nokdo foxo. I got five hundred pounds for that old car!

  15. ✅ In order to obtain or acquire.

    noyo belëxu oxon mülü xe hoi könyëc küngiyo lono cınöbu. I am aiming for completion by the end of business Thursday.

    niün bëüdo oxon cëo mulö ëto. He's going for his doctorate.

    nimü fölun xe oxon iskö ülzo ko. xe you want to go for coffee?

    umo xe nıwos hoi möi boxö küöcyo Elofo, diyondë si umo Delfi oxon zuwobü. People all over Greece looked to Delphi for answers.

    nimü köi müt gufuyo oxon yoüti hüwu ko. Can you go to the store for some eggs?

    noyo wëko muni söbo oxon oütö. I'm saving up for a car.

    küu motsı yök oxon zuwobü. Don't wait for an answer.

    niün sölü müt nimü oxon zık. What did he ask you for?

  16. ⛔ By the standards of, usually with the implication that those standards are lower than one might otherwise expect; considering.

    üsowo hön woküt . Fair for its day.

    niün kiösö hön umo wohi nokdo. She's spry for an old lady.

    niün ofinë ëto hön düi üsën nokdo. He's very mature, for a two-year-old.

  17. ⛔ To be, or as being.

    küu oncëmon yök noyo mıslı umo göwo. Don't take me for a fool.

  18. ⛔ (usually in the phrase 'for all') Despite, in spite of.

    hön möi kon bëüdo niün wilüwo ëto yök xoinbo ü fos niün colot ëto.For all his expensive education, he didn't seem very bright.

  19. ✅ Indicating something desired or anticipated.

    oxon nıxin timiok pipök. O for the wings of a dove.

    oxon nıxin fos nu. Ah! for wings to soar …

    hön ibüdü oxon cöüfon cëo kut ze. And now for a slap-up meal!

  20. ⛔ (in expressions such as 'for a start') Introducing the first item(s) in a potential sequence .

    tüu kon dodë woyü in besol nu. hön kut fın ü noyo köi dodë yök löicök. Go scuba diving? For one thing, I can't even swim.

    hön dizel yünyoü yök ozüul yön. For another, we don't have any equipment.

  21. ✅ (with names, chiefly US) In honor of; after.

    somo müt niün oxon motüo motüo niün. He is named for his grandfather.

  22. ⛔ (UK) Due for or facing (a certain outcome or fate).

    niün ëo kobüt mülü ölë mëdüson in ondo ulyö. niün ibüdü bono xe nocido wëloı niün löicök. He totally screwed up that project. Now he's surely for the sack.

  23. ⛔ (chiefly US) Out of; used to indicate a fraction, a ratio

    hön öni kut kon xobo boxö ü umo Zönsı si son fun nonkü hoi lono. In terms of base hits, Jones was three for four on the day.

  24. ⛔ (cricket) Used as part of a score to indicate the number of wickets that have fallen.

    hoi könyëc kelo ü küöcyo Ingulındu son fiyën tiü fun son. At close of play, England were 305 for 3.

  25. ⛔ Used in various more-or-less idiomatic ways to construe individual verbs, indicating various semantic relationships such as target, purpose, result, etc.; see also the entries for individual phrasal verbs, e.g. ask for, look for, stand for, etc.

    xe ëo wuktomü ölë boxö fos umo si hoito account for one's whereabouts

    xe diyondë umo litıweto care for a relative

    xe wofok xön möi düito settle for second best

    xe cülosun foütto allow for mistakes

  26. ✅ (nonstandard) So (that), in order to

    niün gomi si woküt kon wëloı xe gıtno lono ün bıtün, oxon fos niün köi döstoc eswen woküt otıkon. He took the swing shift for he could get more overtime.

When oxon used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the beneficiary/purpose of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a beneficiary/purpose that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Cause

The nënko particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent what caused the action to occur or a past reason that led to the action. Not to be confused with the causer of the action (ü), this NP would represent a broader sense including what caused the causer. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "because".

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the cause of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a cause that is something other than the marked noun phrase. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "despite".

Collaborator

The ofek particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent a fellow actor that is also engaged in the same action as the subject. However, the NP is not considered a subject of the sentence. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "with".

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from participating in the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a participant that is something other than the marked noun phrase. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "without".

Context or Condition

The hön particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent an overarching topic, contextual detail, or a condition for the underlying sentence. In English, this represents some of the senses of the words "regarding", "given", "as for", and "when".

noyo yünyoü sölü hön zuwobü ılık. "I have a question regarding your earlier answers."

Also, when you would like to utilize an adjective complement to complete the meaning of a subject complete (), you would place the complement in a hön NP.

noyo xowosë hön fos nimü köto si ulyö. "I am happy that you said that"

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the topic or context of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a topic/context that is something other than the marked noun phrase. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "regardless".

umo Depölo mokon si ünfünö nomü hön yök longı . "Deborah ate the broccoli regardless its color."

Counter-Agent

The dën particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that either represent a special kind of goal/agent for verbs that indicates an opposing agent for verbs that indicate an action that is oppositional (where both sides are engaging in an opposing action). In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "against".

tüu mëdüson hön xe oütö ximu woyü dën bono woyü. "It is hard work to sail against the wind."

nimü dën fölni göcidon ko. "Are you against freedom of choice?"

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the counter-agent of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a counter-agent that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Evidence

The oldıs particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent proof or an information source that the specified action is known or believed to have occurred, is occurring, or will occur. In English, this represents some of the senses of the phrases "or so", "per", and "according to".

hoi mötö ılık onö ü niün si tönkö mötö oldıs fos dizel köto. He was burned in the fire or so they say.

oldıs yöcno kon köson ü foko ünidü bılit di ülgükin hoi düi dus nonkü suhot. According to the directions, the glue takes 24 hours to dry.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the proof/source of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with proof or a source that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Distance or Duration

The lon particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for NPs that represent the time or space that the action occurs within. This role is related to the location/time role but instead of describing a moment or point in time/space, this noun phrase represents a period or length of time/space. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "for" or "until".

noyo köi dëko lon yoüti öni kut cënbö mönbılı. "I can see for kilometres"

nimü lon üsën zık. "How old are you?"

niün köntësto köto lon yoüti lono hön döcui. They argued for days over a toy.

The differences between the distance/duration role and the location/time role

These two roles might at first seem like a trivial distinction given that quantities already contextually indicate that you are referring to distance or duration. You can provide a point in time or space to this preposition and it will be treated like the act had some unknown start time and the end time was either specified by this noun phrase or is reached when the destination specified is reached.

noyo müt gufuyo hoi suhot tukwos bıtün xobëk. "I was going to the market at 8 o'clock last night."

noyo müt gufuyo lon suhot tukwos hoi bıtün xobëk. "I was going to the market until 8 o'clock last night."

niün fiki müt gito könyëc lon xe dëko si gufuyo cüti iskö küöxı nomü müncü. "He was running to the finish line until he saw the lemonade stand."

niün fiki müt gito könyëc hoi xe dëko si gufuyo cüti iskö küöxı nomü müncü. "He was running to the finish line at the time he saw the lemonade stand."

To better understand why it's necessary to distinguish this from location/time, it might be useful to see the semantic relationship of four of the thematic roles:

  • The source/origin role represents a true source/origin, sometimes contextually distant/ from the action or state.
  • The location/time role represents the source/origin of just the act or state described in the sentence.
  • The destination/recipient role represents a true destination/recipient, sometimes contextually distant/removed from the action or state.
  • The distance/duration role represents the destination/recipient of just the act or state described in the sentence.

Using the term "recipient" loosely here, the only time an animate entity would be provided as a noun phrase to a distance/duration preposition would be if that entity related to a specific moment or location upon the path or duration of the action or state at which point it ceases.

noyo hoi öhël tulutı oütö gisgül noyo müt fenüo Kolıfölnyo lon umo Sëlo. "I was riding my bike to California until Sarah."

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the distance or duration of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with a duration or distance that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Intermediate

The gıtno particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for a NP that represents either:

  • an entity that the action or state is in the midst of,
  • an entity that the action or state was in the midst of but is now on the other side, or
  • a conjunction of two NPs that represent two boundaries in time or space that the action occurs between.

In English, this represents some senses of the word "between" or "through".

noyo köi mokon wutun höfezi xe gıtno biek wutun. "I could eat a hamburger."

küu tulutı gıtno tohılök pümi onö oxon xe bucono woküt. "We should go through the mountains to save time."

nimü köi dëko oütö onö gıtno kümun oboki zonübi onö ko. "Can you see the car through the south window?"

gıtno nimü ün noyo ü hiskünco in köson Hisyëö xön möi"Between you and me, Hisyëö is the best conlang."

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is either excluded from being the intermediary entity of the committed act of the predicate or that the act itself was committed but with an intermediary that is something other than the marked noun phrase.

Similative

The mıslı particle precedes this noun phrase.

This role is used for a NP that represents something that the action or state of the predicate resembles or is a likeness of. It can also be used to introduce a simile. In English, this represents some of the senses of the words "like" and "as". When used with a subordinate clause, it can also represent the English phrase "as if".

xoinbo dëko ü loı mıslı sıskın loı. "He looks like his brother."

si tüu künhiun bis ü umo moskül nokdo mıslı xe ke zigil. "The old man stumbled, as if he were about to fall."

golfon onö fos noyo oncëmon cıhöü xe dëko non foko ösölë könyëc wëxön fëlcin mıslı yök ozüul fın fos noyo oncëmon si hoi öhël. The disgust I felt after watching last weekend's horror movie was unlike anything I had felt before.

umo Kıloüdio xünyu cokyen iskö fın cübü mıslı yök umo Fılıt fos poxö kon iskö cübü cokyen nıwos düi . Claudia hardly ever drinks beer or wine, unlike Phillip, for whom the bar is practically a second home.

xe müun, mıslı yök niünBeing late is unlike him.

When used with the negatitive particle yök, it means that the marked noun phrase is not a likeness of the action or state of the predicate. In English, the word "unlike" would be an equivalent.

mıslı yök nimü yök öni cıfulo xön ëto ü noyo. "Unlike you, I'm not a great dancer."

Genitive

The particle precedes this noun phrase. There is a key syntactic difference from the other preposition phrases. For noun phrases with a genitive role, they appear directly after another noun phrase, they are not free-standing constituents of the sentence.

This role is used for a noun phrase that is either:

  • an attribute
  • a possessor, or
  • has some other relationship

to the preceding noun. In English, this represents some of the senses of the word "of".

niün xoinbo fonmot kon oncëmon umo. "He seemed devoid of human feelings."

bëmon in cukto onö köi di niltügu hoi ozüul woküt bëmon möi düi zomo. "The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties."

Genitive Relationships

Using a genitive preposition phrase can create many different relationships between two noun phrases. What these relationships are differs depending on the context and the words chosen.

Below are a multitude of interesting genitive relationships from around the world. Not every example is directly translatable into English using the aforemented "of". Often English makes use of alternative prepositions like "with", "by", and "for", whereas Hisyëö only has those kinds of prepositions attached to a predicate of a sentence (essentially, they are associated to the verb of the sentence).

However, equipped with the simple preposition, context, and supporting word choices, you can effectively communicate all of these genitive relations. If your interlocutor still does not understand, you can make use of clarifying words to achieve the specific meaning you were after.

Descriptive Genitive - Specifies some detail of the preceding phrase. "described by" or "characterized by" are equivalent English expressions. This is a catch-all genitive for when the attribution is ambiguous.

tömös ocüo hünsık"book characterized by a red cover" (lit. book of red skin)

If you need to explain that the book has a red skin instead of being about red skin, you can clarify that the genitive relationship is descriptive by using di:

tömös di ocüo hünsık (lit. book of a quality of red skin)


Possessive Genitive - Specifies the preceding phrase as being owned or possessed by the attached genitive phrase. "belonging to" or "possessed by" are English equivalents.

cikinil zonwul"ear belonging to an animal" (lit. ear of animal)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is possessive by using yünyoü:

cikinil yünyoü zonwul(lit. ear of possession of animal)


Familial Genitive - Specifies the preceding phrase as having a familial relationship with the attached genitive phrase. "related to" is an equivalent English expression. This is considered a subset of Possessive Genitive.

motüo motüo noyo"mother related to my mother" (lit. mother of my mother)

You can clarify a genitive relationship is familial by using litıwe:

motüo litıwe motüo noyo(lit. mother of relation of my mother)


Partitive Genitive - Specifies the preceding phrase as being part of some larger whole or set. "Which is part of" is an equivalent expression in English. Sometimes the preceding phrase only contains a quantity word or yogö.

yoüti mokon onö"some which is part of the food" (lit. some of the food)

yogö kut düi"first part which is part of two" (lit. first part of two)

You can clarify a genitive relationship is partitive by using yogö:

yoüti () yogö mokon(lit. some of parts of food)


Attributive Genitive - Specifies the attached genitive phrase as being an attribute or innate quality of the preceding phrase. Semantically similar to regular modifier usage but more emphatic in its attribution.

ilë ködus"sacred building" (lit. building of sacredness)

You can clarify a genitive relationship is attributive by using di alone or yünyoü and di:

ilë yünyoü di ködus(lit. building of possession of sacred trait)


Attributed Genitive - Specifies the preceding phrase as being an attribute or innate quality of the attached genitive phrase. "attributed to" or "is an attribute of" are equivalent English expressions. The opposite of Attributive Genitive. The preceding phrase must be a concept that can be considered an attribute and the attached genitive phrase must be a thing that can be attributed (and specifically can be attributed the thing that is the preceding phrase).

hiyöli oksün"weakness attributed to muscles" (lit. weakness of muscles)

xowosë onö boxö kon wëloı xön. "the happiness attributed to a good work place" (lit. the happiness of a good working place)

You could clarify this genitive relationship using litıwe although some directional ambiguity would remain:

hiyöli litıwe oksün(lit. weakness of relation of muscles)

You could clarify this genitive relationship using di although some directional ambiguity would remain:

hiyöli di oksün(lit. weakness of a trait of muscles)

You could also try clarifying that even further using limien:

hiyöli di limien oksün(lit. weakness of an inner trait of muscles)


Genitive of Material - Specifies the preceding phrase as being made of a material. "made out of" or "consisting of" are equivalent English expressions.

oütö nomü otös"vehicle made out of hard wood" (lit. vehicle of hard wood)

You can clarify a genitive relationship is material by using küsowi:

oütö küsowi nomü otös(lit. vehicle of material of hard wood)


Genitive of Content - Specifies the preceding phrase as containing within itself the attached genitive phrase. "full of" or "containing" or equivalent English expressions. Similar to the Material Genitive but the contents are a separate entity from the material of the container.

zomo ximu micin"lake containing fish" (lit. water body of fish)

You can clarify a genitive relationship is material by using yünyoü limien:

zomo ximu yünyoü limien micin(lit. water body of inner possession of fish)


Epexegetical Genitive - Specifies the attached genitive phrase as being another separate way to explain the preceding phrase. "which is", "that is", "namely", "who is" are equivalent English expressions.

cüdo mokon"gift which is food" (lit. gift of food)

You can clarify this genitive relationship by using a subordinate clause and a copula instead of a genitive phrase:

umo Olıs xe sütüö noyo"Alice, which is a friend of mine" (lit. person Alice which is a friend of me)


Genitive of Destination/Purpose - Specifies the destination or purpose that the preceding phrase is leading to. "for the purpose of", "destined for", "towards", "into" are equivalent English expressions.

tömös umo xonluk"children's books" (lit. books of young people)

You can clarify this genitive relationship by using a subordinate clause with an inner oxon preposition:

tömös xe ( ) oxon umo xonluk(lit. books that are (existing) for young people)


Genitive of Production - Specifies that the preceding phrase is made by the attached genitive phrase. "produced by" is an equivalent English expression.

wölık mokon tüt"steam produced by the hot food" (lit. smoke/cloud of hot food)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is production by using oxon:

wölık kös mokon tüt(lit. smoke/cloud of result of hot food)


Genitive of Product - Specifies that the preceding phrase is a producer of the attached genitive phrase. "which produces" is an equivalent English expression.

non ösölë"movie which produces fear" (lit. movie/show of afraidness)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is a product by using öni or foko:

non öni kös ösölë(lit. movie/show of causer of afraidness)

non foko ösölë(lit. movie/show of afraid-ifyer)

In fact, the first one using öni still requires the second because otherwise it would mean "an afraid causer" which is not the intending meaning. The second one, however, does not require either because of its coupling nature.

non foko ösölë(lit. movie/show of afraid-ifyer)


Genitive of Separation - Specifies that the preceding phrase is separate from the attached genitive phrase. "out of", "away from" ,or simply "from" are equivalent English expressions.

mönbılı mönbılı niün"far from them" (lit. far distance of them)

fonmot gos hönyo"clear from wild plants" (lit. absence of wild plants)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is separation by using a subordinate clause with di and sün:

fonmot fos sün gos hönyo di"clear from wild plants" (lit. absence which from wild plants is becoming)


Genitive of Source - Specifies the origin of the preceding phrase. "out of", "derived from", "dependent on" are equivalent English expressions. This genitive can often be bettered expressed using the sun thematic role marker.

iskö cübü nexë fenüo Xonpën "wine out of Champagne" (lit. intoxicated fermented drink of region Champagne)

nomü ilë nokdo onö"wood derived from the old building" (lit. wood of old building)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is Source by using a subordinate clause with and sün:

nomü xe ( ) sün ilë nokdo onö(lit. wood that is from old building)


Genitive of Price/Value - Specifies the price or value of the preceding phrase. "for", "worth" are an equivalent English expressions. The attached genitive phrase must contain concepts of money, value or amount.

mokon süwit düi muni"candy for two dollars" (lit. sweet food of two monies)

son küdu dus yönë"three horses worth ten goats" (lit. three horses of ten goats)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is Price/Value by using wilüwo:

son küdu wilüwo dus yönë"three horses worth ten goats" (lit. three horses of ten goats)


Genitive of Time - Specifies the time or duration of the preceding phrase. "during", "at", "within", "for" are equivalent English expressions. The attached genitive phrase must contain concepts of time or duration.

tüu tukwos suhot"work for eight hours" (lit. action of eight hours)

woküt kon mokon suhot xëti"breakfast at seven o'clock" (lit. eating time of the seventh hour)

bıtün"movement during the night" (lit. movement of night)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is Time by using woküt:

tüu woküt tukwos suhot"work for eight hours" (lit. action of time of eight hours)

You can also clarify this relationship using a subordinate clause and the preposition hoi:

xe ( ) hoi bıtün"movement during the night" (lit. movement which is at night)


Genitive of Place - Specifies a vague local relation to the preceding phrase. "in", "at", "through", "over" are equivalent English expressions. The attached genitive phrase must contain concepts of location. Often uses the words opotu or sekano.

nıwos hönyoniwa je honja "cabin in the woods" (lit. residence of the wilderness)

kon tulutı noyo fenüo onö biömu nubuso. "my travels through the marsh" (lit. my traversings of the region of wet biome)

You can clarify that a genitive relationship is Place by using boxö:

nıwos boxö hönyo(lit. residence of place of wilderness)

You can also clarify this relationship using a subordinate clause and hoi:

nıwos xe ( ) hoi hönyo(lit. residence which is (existing) at the wilderness)


Genitive of Means - Specifies the instrument or means of the preceding phrase. "by", "by means of" are equivalent English expressions. This genitive can often be better expressed using the wija thematic role marker.

bilüs tüu mëdüson"achievement by hard work" (lit. victory of laborious work)

You can clarify this relationship using a subordinate clause and :

bilüs xe ( ) tüu mëdüson(lit. victory which is (existing) by means of laborious work)


Genitive of Agency - Specifies the agent that is engaged with the preceding phrase. "by", "by means of" are equivalent English expressions. The attached genitive phrase must contain a person or other active entity to be seen as this type of genitive and often can be easily misconstrued as a Possessive Genitive.

oklumun höktun cënbö nëlö"attack by means of a black bear" (lit. attack of a black large mammal)

You can clarify this relationship using a subordinate clause and :

oklumun xe ( ) höktun cënbö nëlötun takaha je te wija hoton cenpo nelo (lit. attack which is by means of black large mammal)


Genitive of Reference - Specifies a reference entity that helps better explain the preceding phrase. "with reference to" or "with respect to" are equivalent English expressions. This genitive can often be bettered expressed using the so thematic role marker.

eswen woküt tüu kon bëüdo noyo"more time with respect to my studies" (lit. more time of my learning work)

You can clarify this relationship using the connector en instead of a genitive phrase:

eswen woküt kon bëüdo en woküt tüu dizel(lit. more studying time than time of other work)


Subjective Genitive - Specifies or describes the subject of the preceding phrase when the preceding phrase is a verb phrase or a noun phrase that contains an action. This genitive can always be converted into a sentence where the genitive noun phrase is the subject of the action. Some constructions could either be subjective or objective genitive but context can help identify the appropriate type.

köto öni hobiyö onö"speech of the announcer"

höktun xömütlö cënbö"movement of whales" (lit. movement of big sea mammals)

You can also represent this genitive relationship by replacing the whole relation with a subordinate noun clause:

fos höktun xömütlö cënbö , küzoü"movement of whales is awesome" (lit. that big sea mammals are moving, is awesome)

You can also clarify this genitive relationship with kös:

kös höktun xömütlö cënbö"movement of whales" (lit. movement of result of big sea mammals)


Objective Genitive - Specifies or describes the object of the preceding phrase when the preceding phrase is a transitive verb phrase or a noun phrase that contains a transitive action. "for", "about", "concerning", "towards", "against" are English equivalent expressions. This genitive can always be converted into a sentence where the genitive noun phrase is the object of the action.

köto mocko"our conversation about cats" (lit. our speech of cats)

kelo fos sınsi noyo ( ) dën sınsi dizel onö"a game of my city against the other city" (lit. game of which my city (is) against another city)

You can clarify this genitive relationship by replacing the whole relation with a subordinate noun clause while describing the object (and kös can be used to intepret "about" more appropriately):

köto si sın selöhö mocko(lit. we said things of a topic of cats)

sınsi noyo kelo si dën sınsi dizel(lit. my city played against another city)


Plenary Genitive - Specifies or describes the subject and object of the preceding phrase when the preceding phrase is a verb phrase or a noun phrase that contains an action. Both subjective and objective genitive forms fit and the meanings should not contract but instead complement each other.

kon yübik öcöto"love of God" (lit. loving of God)

You can clarify this genitive relationship by replacing the whole relation with a subordinate noun clause and xokön dizel:

noyo ün öcöto yübik xokön dizel. (lit. I and God love each other)

This particle isn't used with the negatitive particle yök because it's meant to describe nouns through associating other nouns and there's already an existing way to describe zero nouns (xünyu). You can achieve a similar kind of negative association by using a relative clause.

From...

Converting from the other content types into nouns.

Verbs

When a verb acts as a noun, it represents an archetypal object that has or will be involved in the happening of that verb action. Like the suffix "-ed" in English but also there are many concrete terms that English has to refer to these entities already. There are four ways that verbs can be expressed as nouns.

Direct/Thematic Objects

When a verb is provided as a thematic object, it represents the archetypal object/patient/theme of that verb. This can be after verbs (direct objects) or after prepositions (thematic objects). In this position, they are the nucleus of a noun phrase.

nimü ke cöüfon mokon xe gıtno biek, ko. "Will you make me a sandwich?" (lit. You will cook food that is between bread, yes?)

Here mokon is being used as direct obect noun of the action "to cook". The thing that we cook (the position of the direct object) is called a "meal" and the thing that we eat is known as "food". Here, the "meal" is quite simply "food" in apposition.

Genitive Phrases

A verb can act as a noun when connected to a noun phrase using the particle.

müt noyo küu oköt dıbo öfo conwëbo. "Bring me that box of goods."

küu wëko yogö onö hoi dıbo kelo et onö. "Put the pieces in the game box."

Abstract Nouns

There is a special coupling particle (kon) that can convert verbs directly after it into a noun with abstract connotations that can be translated into English as "matters of" or "acts of". This form is often used as the equivalent of simple gerunds where there's no additional thematic context needed.

timiok kon wëtodü towë wik pipök"bald eagle" (lit. hunting bird of white head feathers)

öntön züngö kon kelo kon doicël gundolë"baseball glove" (lit. playing hand glove of ball catching)

Agentive Nouns

There are two more particles that can convert verbs into nouns and they are both agentive in nature. This means that the final coupled noun is considered an agent of some action or state. For the first particle (öni), the entity is a directly engaged in the action or experiencing the state. For the second particle (foko), the agent is causing something else to engage in the action or experience the state.

foko mefüs wowoë kon fiki"running shoes"(lit. foot safe-causer of fast moving)

öni fiki"runner"(lit. fast mover)

fecko foko hünsık"red paint"(lit. red-causer liquid)

öni wëko fecko foko longı"painter"(lit. placer of color-causer liquid)

Modifiers

When a modifier acts as a noun, it means an uncountable quality and/or degree of being a given state. Like the affix "-ness" in English. One way of making a noun out of a modifier is to provide it as the nucleus of a verb or a preposition phrase. Verbs and preposition particles always take the word is immediately following it as a noun derivation of that word and it is the nucleus of the preposition phrase (as long as it's a content word, other prepositions can cause argument to be skipped).

wölık nëlö kös küyö"Black clouds cause sadness."

Just like with verbs you can create a genitive phrase by preceding the modifier with the particle. This particle means that the modifier word that immediately following it is taken as the noun derivation of that word.

This is especially useful for the typical reason that genitive phrases are useful: it allows you to describe a quality with some modifiers of its own. One of the most common usages is when adding a degree to a modifier:

töxütsı bümi ıwotë ëto"very tall mountain"

Since Hisyëö has less than 900 words, using genitive phrases with modifiers allows you to create more complex phrases that would require several sentences to formulate otherwise. In fact, modifiers can also be used with kon, öni, and foko to make modifier-based abstract and agentive nouns.

foko liülë ënkömön longı et küyö"a sad clown"

kolowo kon xobo foko dës tönkö"non-violent martial arts"

Noun Clauses

A noun can be concrete or abstract, it doesn't have to be some physical entity or even a finite state. It can be a process or really anything that you might want to refer to and use as a subject or object of a sentence. In Hisyëö, you can create these complex nouns by building sentences within a subordinate clause called a Noun Clause. In order to create one of these clauses, you must start with a particle. There are two special words available that can be used to introduce a noun clause:

  1. xe - Use this one for infinitives and gerunds
  2. fos - Use this one for complete inner sentences and indirect questions

After this particle, you start your sentence. In the infinitive/gerund form, you do not provide an agent/experiencer (subject) of the sentence because this is the nature of how infinitives are used: a noun that refers to the meaning expressed by the inner sentence but referred holisitically as an object in the outer sentence.

ëo govon ölë noyo ü xe cöüfon micin. "Cooking fish makes me disgusted."

xe golo, xön oxon umo xonluk. "Reading is good for kids."

Beware the similarity between gerunds and the abstract particle

While these noun clause gerunds are very useful, you must be careful to discern the distinction of meaning between the gerund usage of a noun clause leading particle and the abstract particle preceding a content word. The abstract form should be thought of as "acts of" or "matters of" which should be seen as more of a loose relationship than using a noun clause as a gerund. "acts/matters of eating meat" means something different from "eating meat".

The first sentence implies that the speaker hates specifically the act of eating meat whereas the second sentence implies that the speaker hates matters of meat eating altogether which broadens the hate to anything related to the act or its part in human life or otherwise.

The other form of noun phrase (fos) includes a subject or if one is not provided then, like a normal sentence, it should be intepreted as subjectless ("there is" or "it is") depending on the predicate that is provided. This form of noun phrase is useful when you need to introduce a clause that changes (or removes) the subject from the underlying sentence. Some verbs primarily are used with some form of noun clause as their object and this form allows for a complete sentence to be included as that object.

noyo fölun fos nimü fölun noyo"I want you to want me"

noyo xiwon fos suhot tiü"I wish that it was 5 o'clock"

English indirect object

The English sentence in the translation above "I want you to want me" is using an indirect object of "you" and an direct object infinitive phrase of "to want me". This might seem like the wrong translation since there is a preposition that Hisyëö typically uses for indirect objects. This is just an example of some of the irregular English grammar around the use of the verb "to want". In Hisyëö, the best approach is to use a finite noun phrase where the indirect object of the English sentence is now the subject of the inner noun clause.

Thematic Noun Clauses

When you use a subordinate clause as the nucleus of a thematic relation phrase, it often takes on a special meaning due to the combination of a thematic role and the non-concrete nature of subordinate clauses. Here's a list of the different interpretations:

Manner/Material: Accusative Relative Clause

Possibly the most unique of the bunch, due to the fact that this thematic relation is normally used for describing the action directly. When the manner/material thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it amends the description of the direct object as a relative clause.

fos ubënus wuitsi xe ogolol, noyo lunsol si gundolë nubuso zomo onö len sumon en fos noyo köi tüu. "Barely keeping a grip on it, I throw the dog's wet ball as hard as I can."

fos unon iskö cübü ün biek sün, dënëmëk xe yosten gufuyo kon iskö onö hoi sınsi cüti onö. "Smelling of beer and bread, we searched the small town for the local tavern."

xe sıtyo hoi mötö onö, zowo xe hoköli ogolol si sıskın wohi nimü. "Sitting by the fire was the dog that bit your sister."

Why the shift in meaning

It might seem like this should just describe the manner since that's what this thematic relation is for. But, it isn't used for that in this case because the primary sentence structure is already the place where all simultaneous predicates exist. That is to say, if you are describing the action by further utilizing another verb (and you are thinking about using a subordinate clause), you can place this verb as another predicate within the main sentence body instead of using a thematic relation marker. This frees up this marker (when supplied with a subordinate clause) to be used for describing the direct object. Semantically, this is the only valid place that can take a relative clause. Given that this marker is the only one that applies the supplied noun phrase adverbially, it follows that any subordinate clause should be interpreted as being related to the nucleus of the direct object.

Instrument/Means: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the instrument/means thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where an instrument or means could be described using a subordinate clause.

Location/Time: Iterative Condition Subordinate Clause

When the location/time thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it has a special interpretation because there's no valid situation where a location or a time could be a full predicate. Just like the other thematic roles, the usage of this thematic relation with a subordinate clause is still meant to be semantically relevant. Thus, the meaning is taken as an iterative condition which in English can be interepreted as a clause prefaced by "whenever".

Direction/Destination: Terminative Condition Subordinate Clause

When the direction/destination thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it has a special interpretation because there's no valid situation where a direction or a destination could be a full predicate. Just like the other thematic roles, the usage of this thematic relation with a subordinate clause is still meant to be semantically relevant. Thus, the meaning is taken as a terminative condition which in English can be interepreted as a clause prefaced by "until".

Source/Origin: Inchoative Condition Subordinate Clause

When the source/origin thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it has a special interpretation because there's no valid situation where a source or an origin could be a full predicate. Just like the other thematic roles, the usage of this thematic relation with a subordinate clause is still meant to be semantically relevant. Thus, the meaning is taken as a inchoative condition which in English can be interepreted as a clause prefaced by "since".

Beneficiary/Purpose: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the beneficiary/purpose thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where a beneficiary or purpose could be described using a subordinate clause.

Cause: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the cause thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where a cause could be described using a subordinate clause.

Collaborator: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the collaborator thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where a collaborator could be described using a subordinate clause.

Context/Condition: Perfective Condition Subordinate Clause

When the context/condition thematic role is applied to a noun clause, they do reflect normal subordinate clauses but since this thematic relation fits the special class of context/condition, there's a special way to intepret its usage wth noun clauses. The meaning is taken as a perfective condition which in English can be interepreted as a clause prefaced by "if".

Counter-Agent: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the counter-agent thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where a counter-agent could be described using a subordinate clause.

Evidence: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the evidence thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where a evidence could be described using a subordinate clause.

Distance/Duration: Durative Condition Subordinate Clause

When the distance/duration thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it has a special interpretation because there's no valid situation where a distance or a duration could be a full predicate. Just like the other thematic roles, the usage of this thematic relation with a subordinate clause is still meant to be semantically relevant. Thus, the meaning is taken as a continuative condition which in English can be interepreted as a clause prefaced by "while" or "during".

Intermediate: Nominal Subordinate Clause

When the intermediate thematic role is applied to a noun clause, it does not have a special interpretation because there are already reasonable situations where a intermediate could be described using a subordinate clause.

Similative: Comparative Condition Subordinate Clause

When the similative thematic role is applied to a noun clause, they do reflect normal subordinate clauses but since this thematic relation fits the special similative class, there's a special way to intepret its usage wth noun clauses. The meaning is taken as a comparative condition which in English can be interepreted as a clause prefaced by "as if".

Relative Clauses

There are other uses of these same clause particles as relative clause introducers and you can learn more about those usages here.