Difference between revisions of "Copula (definition)"

From Scottish Gaelic Grammar Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 1: Line 1:
*[[Copula]]
+
*Main article [[Copula]]
  
 
==Definition==
 
==Definition==
A copula is a functional verb used to connect the subject to a predicate.   
+
A copula is a functional word used to connect the subject to a predicate. In Gaelic it is typically used with [[Noun (definition)|nominal]] predicates like "I am the man" and in [[Clefts|cleft]] constructions. In English, the copula is typically the verb ''be'' and its variants (is, am, are, was, were, etc)In Gaelic, there are two verbs that translate as ''be''. One is [[Bi (irregular verb)]] and the other is the [[Copula|copula]]
 +
 
  
 
==Examples==
 
==Examples==
to be<br>to become<br>to seem
+
 
<br>
 
 
*Cò thusa
 
*Cò thusa
 
*Is mise Mòrag
 
*Is mise Mòrag

Revision as of 10:35, 15 October 2009

Definition

A copula is a functional word used to connect the subject to a predicate. In Gaelic it is typically used with nominal predicates like "I am the man" and in cleft constructions. In English, the copula is typically the verb be and its variants (is, am, are, was, were, etc). In Gaelic, there are two verbs that translate as be. One is Bi (irregular verb) and the other is the copula


Examples

  • Cò thusa
  • Is mise Mòrag
  • An tusa Ealasaid
  • Cha mhise Ealasaid
  • Chan ise Peigi

Gaelic examples taken from Fisher (2004)

See Also

External Links

Copula from Wikipedia

References

Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Each-Mara Publications
Copula from Wikipedia