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Datapoint Michif/Expletive subject of existential verb

Existential statements are most often formed with the verb ayaaw- 'to be', which can also mean 'to have'. The verb is inflected.

Alternatively, a French construction ila (past tense: iyave) can be used.

Example 75-158:: Li maanzhii diseu la tab ashteew.
Li
def.art.m.sg
maanzhii
food
diseu
on
la
def.art.f.sg
tab
table
ashtee-w.
be-3
There is food on the table.

Source: Fleury 2007
Example 75-159:: Apipree trwaa saan kiiayaaw daa la saanblii.
Apipree
approximately
trwaa
three
saan
hundred
kii-ayaa-w
pst-be-3
daa
prep.loc
la
def.art.m.sg
saanblii.
assembly
There were approximately three hundred people at the meeting.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 25
Example 75-160:: Iyave aen rwe pi la renn.
Iyave
there.was
aen
indf.art.m.sg
rwe
King
pi
and
la
def.art.f.sg
renn.
Queen
There was a King and a Queen.

Source: Fleury 2007
Example 75-161:: Mituni maamashkayistaakwan ki la pat grenn istanee.
Mituni
very
maamashkayist-aakwan
strange-3
ki
that
la
there.is
pat
neg
grenn
berry
istanee.
this.year
It' very peculiar there are no berries this year.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 220