Datapoint Papiamentu/Verb doubling and focus

Contrastive verb focus involves a verb copy in focus, optionally introduced by ta. The verb copy fails to display normal verbal behaviour in that it does not accept TAM markers. But some adverbial modifiers marking emphasis are acceptable; thus mes appears in Example 216. Kouwenberg & Muysken (1995: 212) also point to the acceptability of djis 'just' in predicate cleft.

Values

Verb fronted with a copy in the background clause

Example 47-216:
Ta tin mes mi no tin!
Ta
cop
tin
have
mes
emph
mi
1sg
no
neg
tin!
have
I really don't have it.

Source: Muller 1983: 49

Example 47-217:
Bini lo mi bini sigur.
Bini
come
lo
mood
mi
1sg
bini
come
sigur.
certain
I will certainly come.

Source: Muller 1983: 49

Example 47-218:
Ta djis fia ma fiabo e buki.
Ta
cop
djis
just
fia
lend
mi
1sg
a
pfv
fia
lend
bo
2sg
e
def
buki.
book
I have merely lent you the book (not given it).

Source: Kouwenberg and Muysken 1995: 212

Confidence:
Very certain