Datapoint Tok Pisin/Uses of the progressive marker

Progressive is indicated with the postverbal serial verb i stap or with the preverbal phrase wok long (see Examples 81 and 84).

Values

Only progressive function

Example 22-81:
Ol lapun meri i mumuim kaikai istap.
Ol
pl
lapun
old
meri
woman
i
pm
mumu-im
earth.oven-tr
kaikai
food
istap.
prog
The old women are cooking food in an earth oven.

Source: Dutton and Thomas 1985: 116

Example 22-84:
Sak i kam biainim tupla nau wok lo laikim pis.
Sak
shark
i
pm
kam
come
biain-im
follow-tr
tupla
2du
nau
now
wok
prog
lo
prog
laik-im
like-tr
pis.
fish
The shark wanted fish and chased the two.

Source: nd

Confidence:
Certain