Datapoint Belizean Creole/Existential verb and transitive possession verb

Examples 148 and 147 illustrate the use of gat in both existential and transitive functions. Examples 127 and 146 illustrate the same with had.

Values

Identity

Example 9-127:
Yu had di djadj yu had dis seym gavmɛn laya.
Yu
2sg
had
had
di
the
djadj
judge
yu
2sg
had
had
dis
this
seym
same
gavmɛn
government
laya.
lawyer
There was the judge, and there was that government lawyer.

Source: Escure 1992

Example 9-146:
Anansi neva had no layt.
Anansi
Anansi
neva
ant.neg
had
had
no
no
layt.
light
Anansi did not have any light.

Source: Escure 2004: CD

Example 9-147:
Bra fayaflay im gat layt bra anansi no gat no layt.
Bra
Brother
fayaflay
Firefly
im
3sg
gat
got
layt
light
bra
Brother
anansi
Anansi
no
neg
gat
got
no
neg
layt.
light
Brother Firefly had a light, but Brother Anansi didn't have any light.

Source: Escure 2004: CD

Example 9-148:
Ga li aystaz we grow pan dem.
Ga
got
li
little
aystaz
oysters
we
rel
grow
grow
pan
upon
dem.
them
There are small oysters that grow on them.

Source: Escure 2004: 540

Confidence:
Very certain