Kipin/Morphology/Adjectives

Kipin Adjectives

Kipin adjectives may be considered a subclass of verbs. They are marked for the person, number, and in third person, gender of the noun they qualify, but not case. When used attributively, they behave like a very simple relative clause. As predicates, they by default denote temporary states. Permanent states are marked by adding the gnomic copula, and do not carry agreement marking.

Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective behaves like an intransitive verb.

lwiymbi

lwi-	ymbi
lu	imbi
1	hungry

I am hungry

gurfin aneassee

gurfin	anea	see
gurfin	enhe	xi
widow	modest	DIST.PST

The widow was modest.

renardo sikime

renardo	si-	kime
renardo	si-	kime
fox	3.A	small

The fox is small.

kipinder ilhen yealdor

kipin	-der	ilhen	ye-	aldor
kipin	-dar	ilhen	yi	aldor
voice	3.A	cock	3.INAN	loud

The cock's voice is loud.

Gnomic Predicate Adjectives

An adjective indicating a permanent state is marked with the gnomic copula

la

/la/

A, weak

le, lo

/le/, /lo/

gnomic copula

*la

Gnomic adjectives do not take verbal marking.

tosampa basala

tosam	-pa	basa	=la
turfon	-pa	basa	=la
bull	A.PL	black	COP

Bulls are black.

Inchoative Predicate Adjectives

The inchoative copula may be applied to a predicate adjective.

inti

/inti/

I, 'strong

ente, fintwi

/ente/, /ɸintwi/

inchoative copula

*hinti

This takes verbal marking in the normal way

kije dwiseintibir

kije	dwise	=inti	-bir
kije	durfo	=inti	-gur
lieutenant	jealous	=INCH	REC.PST

The lieutenant got jealous.

Attributive Adjectives

Attributive adjectives are usually used in the present tense, regardless of the tense of the matrix clause. They agree in person, number, and in the third person, gender, with the noun.

Degree

Kipin adjectives have an elative degree, formed by reduplication of the root. It combines the functions of comparative and superlative or intensive. When used predicatively, it acts as a comparative.

renardo sikime, ya gato sikimekime

renardo	si-	kime	ya	gato	si-	kime.REDUP
renardo	si-	kime	ya	gato	si-	kime.REDUP
fox	3.A	small	but	cat	3.A	small.ELL

The fox is small, but the cat is smaller.

An ellative adjective may be used transitively, in which case the object is the standard of comparison

lumbiywi ecer xelxeli lhimiywi

lumbi	-ywi	ecer	xel.REDUP	i	lhimi	-ywi
lumbi	-yu	ecer	xel.REDUP	i	lhimi	-yu
mistress	3.H	nobleman	pert.ELL	3.H.PO	wife	3.H

The nobleman's mistress is cheekier than his wife.

When the elative is used attributively, it acts as a superlative.

durfodurfo kulwo

durfo.REDUP	kulwo
durfo.REDUP	kulwo
jealous.ELL	captain

The most jealous captain.

Applicatives and Adjectives

Applicatives may be applied to adjectives, as with other verbs.

ilhen siyldeyimi mixe

ilhen	si-	ylde	-yi	-mi	mi-	xe
ilhen	si-	ilde	-yi	-ngu	ngu-	xe
cock	3.A	yellow	LOC	3.A.P	A.ACC	tail

The cock has a yellow tail.

miyje renardo swifingugurmignu

mi-	yje	renardo	swi-	fingu	-gur	-mi	-gnu
ngu-	ije	renardo	si-	imbi	-gur	-gni	-gnu
A.ACC	hen	fox	3.A.S	hungry	REC.PT	MAL	3.A.P

Unfortunately for the hen, the fox was hungry.