Syntax (2)

Some Swahili phrases and sentences

1. Wavulana watatu wadogo wale   walianguka.
   boys     three  small  those  fell:sbj=3p
   'Those three small boys fell.'
   

2. Walianguka.
   fell:sbj=3p
   'They fell.'
   

3. Mvulana alimwona           mwanamke.
   boy     saw:sbj=3s,obj=3s  woman
   'The boy saw the woman.'
   

4. Mvulana alimwona.
   boy     saw:sbj=3s,obj=3s
   'The boy saw her.'
   

5. Alimwona.
   saw:sbj=3s,obj=3s
   'He saw her.'
   

6. Mvulana alimpikia                 mwanamke samaki
   boy     cooked-for:sbj=3s,obj=3s  woman    fish
   'The boy cooked the woman fish.'
   

7. Mvulana alimpikia                 samaki
   boy     cooked-for:sbj=3s,obj=3s  fish
   'The boy cooked her fish.'
   

8. Alimpikia
   cooked-for:sbj=3s,obj=3s
   'He cooked it for her.'
   

9. wavulana walioanguka
   boys     fell:sbj=3p,rel=3p
   'the boys who fell'
   

10. walioanguka
    fell:sbj=3p,rel=3p
    'the ones who fell'
    

11. wavulana waliomwona                mwanamke
    boys     saw:sbj=3p,obj=3s,rel=3p  woman
    'the boys who saw the woman'
    

12. wavulana waliomwona
    boys     saw:sbj=3p,obj=3s,rel=3p
    'the boys who saw her'
    

13. waliomwona
    saw:sbj=3p,obj=3s,rel=3p
    'the ones who saw her'
    

14. wavulana aliowaona
    boys     saw:sbj=3s,obj=3p,rel=3p
    'the boys that she saw'
    

15. wavulana aliowaona                 mwanamke
    boys     saw:sbj=3s,obj=3p,rel=3p  woman
    'the boys that the woman saw'
    

16. aliowaona
    saw:sbj=3s,obj=3p,rel=3p
    'the ones that she saw'
    

© 2008. Indiana University and Michael Gasser. www.cs.indiana.edu/classes/B651/grammar2.html 2008-03-03