Datapoint Jamaican/Predicative locative phrases

The variation appears to be due to the nature of the prepositions. Prepositions which deal with location tend to be verby in character. Owing to this verb-like nature, they can act as predicators in the clause. As further evidence, these prepositions can be preceded directly by tense and modal markers:

Yu shuda ina di hous.
2SG should in DET house
'You should have been in the house.'

Dem wehn ina di bos.
3PL ANT in DET bus
'They were in the bus.'

Values

Variable copula

Example 8-113:
Di shot we yu waahn ina ous.
Di
det
shot
shirt
we
rel
yu
2sg
waahn
want
ina
in
ous.
house
The shirt which you want is inside the house.
Example 8-114:
Di shot we yu waahn de ina ous.
Di
det
shot
shirt
we
rel
yu
2sg
waahn
want
de
cop.loc
ina
in
ous.
house
The shirt which you want is inside the house.
Confidence:
Very certain