Datapoint Berbice Dutch/Existential verb and transitive possession verb

Despite the existence of the locative/existential copular verbs (see Feature 75 "Predicative locative phrases"), which is the dominant pattern for existentials, o ha(bu), litterally 'it have', or just ha(bu) 'have', is also - marginally - used with existential meaning (see Feature 64 "Expletive subject of existential verb"). This possibly represents Creolese influence.

Values

Overlap

Example 28-108:
lom kɛn jɛndə idri plɛkɛ
lombo
bad
kɛnɛ
person
jɛn-da
be-there
idri
every
plɛkɛ
place
Bad people are everywhere. OR: There are bad people everywhere.

Source: Kouwenberg 1994: 121

Example 28-110:
o hab en taumama danga
o
3sg
habu
have
en
one
tau-mama
snake-mother
danga
there
There is a 'snakemother' there (i.e. a snake spirit).

Source: Kouwenberg 1994: 608

Example 28-124:
di wa da en man ha ʃi jɛrma
di
this
wa
pst
da
cop
en
one
man
man
ha
have
ʃi
3sg.poss
jɛrma
woman
This was a man (who) had his wife (i.e. who was married).

Source: Kouwenberg 1994: 377

Example 28-125:
ha gati, en so en so
habu
have
gati,
hole
en
one
so
there
en
one
so
there
There are holes, one here, one there.

Source: Kouwenberg 1994: 136

Confidence:
Intermediate