Datapoint Sranan/Predicative noun phrases and predicative locative phrases

The two copulas are differentiated ONLY when the time reference is present time (see Examples for Features 73 "Predicative noun phrases" and 75 "Predicative locative phrases"). In other tense-aspect specifications, as well as after modal auxiliaries, the same copula, de, is used in both predicative noun phrase and predicative locative constructions.

Values

Differentiation

Example 2-182:
Den tu sma disi na Sranansma.
Den
the.pl
tu
two
sma
person
disi
dem
na
cop
Sranansma.
Surinamese
These two people are Surinamese.

Source: Nickel and Wilner 1984: 22

Example 2-183:
Den tu man na skowtu.
Den
the.pl
tu
two
man
man
na
cop
skowtu.
police
The two men are policemen.

Source: Wilner 1992: 47

Example 2-189:
Den pikin ben de na skoro.
Den
the.pl
pikin
child
ben
pst
de
cop
na
loc
skoro.
school
The children were at school.

Source: Winford and Migge 2008: 702

Example 2-190:
A owru de baka a doro.
A
det
owru
machete
de
cop
baka
back
a
det
doro.
door
The machete is behind the door.

Source: Wilner 1992: 18

Example 2-192:
Mi prakseri a bai disi nanga a man dati musu de brada.
Mi
1sg
prakseri
think
a
det
bai
boy
disi
dem
nanga
with
a
det
man
man
dati
dem
musu
must
de
cop
brada.
brother
I think this boy and that man must be brothers.

Source: Winford and Migge 2008: 701

Example 2-193:
Yu sabi Dark Shadow ben de wan frede film.
Yu
2sg
sabi
know
Dark
Dark
Shadow
Shadow
ben
pst
de
cop
wan
art
frede
scary
film.
film
You know Dark Shadow was a scary movie.
Example 2-194:
Ma Sjo srefi ben de datisey.
Ma
but
Sjo
Sjo
srefi
self
ben
pst
de
be
datisey.
that.side
But Sjo himself was from that area.
Confidence:
Very certain