SYNTAX of ABCL
Syntax has a defined, fixed order (SVO) as below: Question (prefix - particle “J” or interrogative words)-subject (noun/pronoun)-(modal prefix).verb.tempus.modal suffix. negation suffix(_x)-adverb-preposition-adjective-direct object noun/pronoun- (second preposition-adjective and indirect object noun, if any). Adjective phrases will be placed also before the noun they modify. In case of many object nouns, they keep the sequence accusative, locative, dative and ablative. If it becomes too long, it would be advisable to use prepositions. I preferred SVO because the verb, as primary and basic element of an expression should be also placed before the object. Noun-, adjective- and adverbial clauses will be placed after the verb/noun/adjective/adverb they modify. Relative clauses follow the noun or noun phrase which they modify. The clauses can be formed by the interrogative words as relative/adjective clauses or as noun clauses as in English. However, for the first level, we think in ABCL two-three (“da, de and du”) conjunctive particles would be sufficient for the speaker to express what he wants. Because, the noun or phrase to be modified will be indicated by these modifiers so that from the formation of both parts the meaning will be clear in many cases even without utilizing interrogative modifiers such as when, which, who etc. ABCL does not use English “it” as complimentary subject as “it snows” and “it is important”. We say “vense ven.e = snow falls” and “eji = important (dropping “it is”)”. For the latter case we need for future (it will) and past (it was) however the verb (to be) “bab” as modal i.e. “bab.a” and “bab.o”. (it was important to know=boneş babo eji (to know was important) or it is important to me=lu a babe eji (to me is important)
Subordinate/dependent-Relative Clauses in ABCL
Subordinating and relative clauses in ABCL are designed similar to English. Linking particles/conjunctions such as conditional “fe” (=English “if”), subordinating conjunctions “du (so that), and relative pronouns “do” (what, which, who), relative adverbs (where, when, how), who and “du” (that) will be used generally as in English. Relatives can/will be combined to one “do” if it is acting like a subordinate conjunction. If the pronoun introduces describing information about a noun then “what, which and who” will be used accordingly. Nondefinite clauses are also possible. Infinitive, participle clauses have the form as in English with some adjustments in to ABCL. (“to reach him was difficult= ger.eş u babo eyix; the man covered with paint is decorating …= solma kokon ne hönbö tedi …) English gerund is expressed in ABCL as three differing sense: 1. In resent continuous tens as suffix “_i” after verbs (she is smiling= u şim.i) 2. In relative clauses as suffix “_iş”(“the boy smiling always = solbo şim.iş as”; while speaking with me, he was happy= ha çeşiş ne a, u oha) 3. As deverbal noun with a special suffix which is gained by reversing the last two letters of the verb (She was surprised at losing the race= u nöson ma pollo … ) This construction will be utilized also for similar deverbal noun derivations (from “puf=forbid”, derivation “puffu=ban, prohibition, forbidden”) In strict meaning, the participle does not exist in ABCL (there are no auxiliary verbs form of the verbs “to be” and “have”).
