Value Variable plural marking of human or inanimate nouns

Language:
Papiamentu
Parameter:
Occurrence of nominal plural markers
References
Kester and Schmitt 2007; Vos-de Jesus 1989

Examples

  1. E baka ta kome yerba; Baka ta kome yerba; E bakanan ta kome yerba; Bakanan ta kome yerba.
    E
    def
    baka
    cow
    ta
    tns
    kome
    eat
    yerba;
    grass
    baka
    cow
    ta
    tns
    kome
    eat
    yerba;
    grass
    e
    def
    baka
    cow
    nan
    pl
    ta
    tns
    kome
    eat
    yerba;
    grass
    baka
    cow
    nan
    pl
    ta
    tns
    kome
    eat
    yerba.
    grass
    The cow is eating grass. OR: Cows (in general) eat grass. OR: The cows are eating grass.

    See Vos-de Jesus 1989: 82-83

  2. Nan ta kria baka/ *bakanan.
    Nan
    3pl
    ta
    tns
    kria
    raise
    baka/
    cow
    *baka
    cow
    nan.
    pl
    They keep cows.

    See Dijkhoff 1983: 218

  3. Kachonan a keda grita henter anochi.
    Kacho
    dog
    nan
    pl
    a
    pfv
    keda
    remain
    grita
    bark
    henter
    whole
    anochi.
    night
    Dogs kept barking all night.

    See Dijkhoff 1983: 220

  4. El a bin ku regalo(*nan) pa mi; El a bin ku regalonan mashá karu pa mi.
    El
    3sg
    a
    pfv
    bini
    come
    ku
    with
    regalo
    present
    (*nan)
    (pl)
    pa
    for
    mi;
    1sg
    El
    3sg
    a
    pfv
    bini
    come
    ku
    with
    regalo
    present
    nan
    pl
    mashá
    very
    karu
    expensive
    pa
    for
    mi.
    1sg
    He came with presents for me; He came with very expensive presents for me.

    See Kester and Schmitt 2007: 116

  5. Ta invitá tur amigu i konosí.
    Ta
    tns
    invitá
    invite
    tur
    all
    amigu
    friend
    i
    and
    konosí.
    acquaintance
    All friends and acquaintances are invited.

    See Maduro 1971: 9