Datapoint Cape Verdean Creole of Santiago/Predicative adjectives

There are two copulas: ê and sta. In analogy to the condition in the Ibero-Romance languages ê is used for classifications and sta in cases where one element is situated with regard to another or where a momentary feature or role is expressed. Occasionally (e.g. in exclamations), predicative adjectives occur without a copula, e.g. Désdi kel dia, kábu konpo, sábi djondjo: bariga fártu, amor ê txeu! 'Since that day the situation has improved, the pleasant things have come back: if the stomach is full, love is big’. (Lang 2002: s.v. djondjo).

Values

Invariant copula

Example 30-160:
Bitirába ê burmedju y dóxi sima batáta dósi.
Bitirába
beetroot
ê
be
burmedju
red
y
and
dóxi
sweet
sima
like
batáta
potatoe
dósi.
sweet
The beetroot is red and sweet like the sweet potatoe.

Source: Brüser et al. 2002: s.v. bitirába

Example 30-161:
Pamodi ki bu sta tristi?
Pamodi
why
ki=bu=sta
comp=2sg=be
tristi?
sad
Why are you sad?
German: Warum bist du traurig?

Source: da Silva 1987: 41

Confidence:
Certain