Datapoint Early Sranan/Expletive subject in ‘seem’ constructions

Construction occurs very rarely in the available data; no cases where interpretation of Subject as referential can be excluded (cf. Example 150). The other example is from a 19th-century source.

Values

An expletive subject is used

Example 1-150:
A tann leki a wanni komm.
A
3sg.sbj
tan
stay
leki
like
a
3sg.sbj
wani
want
kon.
come
It looks as if he would like to come.
German: Es sieht aus, als wollte er herkommen. [op.cit.]

Source: Schumann 1783: 172

Example 1-151:
A tan léki [...].
A
3sg.sbj
tan
stay
leki
like
[...].
[...]
It seems that [...]. OR: It looks like [...].
Dutch: Het schijnt dat [...]. OR: Het gelijkt naar [...]. [op.cit.]

Source: Focke 1855: 71

Confidence:
Intermediate