Datapoint Mauritian Creole/Expletive subject in ‘seem’ constructions

It is difficult to estimate the relative frequency of presence/ absence of li. It varies a lot from one person to another and according to spoken informal (absence of li) versus written formal (presence of li) texts (see Kriegel 1996: 78).

Values

An expletive subject is used Frequency: 50.0%

Example 55-110:
li paret ki nu 'n fer erer
li
3sg
paret
seem
ki
that
nu
1pl
'n
prf
fer
make
erer
mistake
It seems that we've made a mistake.
Example 55-112:
li paret ki fin ena en kudeta
li
3sg
paret
seem
ki
that
fin
compl
ena
have
en
indf
kudeta
coup.d'état
It seems that there has been a coup d'état.

Source: Kriegel 1996: 78

Confidence:
Certain

An expletive subject is not used Frequency: 50.0%

Example 55-111:
paret ki lapli pu toṁbe daṅ en ti mama
paret
seem
ki
that
lapli
rain
pu
fut
toṁbe
fall
daṅ
in
en
indf
ti
little
mama
moment
It seems that it will start raining in a moment. OR: It seems that it will start raining in a little while.
Confidence:
Certain