tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Fri Oct 03 11:13:30 1997
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Re: KLBC Doubt with -meH suffix
- From: Qov <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: KLBC Doubt with -meH suffix
- Date: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 11:12:57 -0700
At 01:59 97-10-03 -0700, Tremal-Naik wrote:
}I don't clearly understand the -meH suffix...
You've picked an apparent slight exception with your example, so I'll talk
about {-meH} in general and come back to this one. You may simply be
confused by the example.
Grammatically, a {-meH} clause is just a regular sentence with {-meH} on the
verb. The sentence gives the reason or purpose for the the noun or verb it
precedes.
{qa' wIje'} - "we feed/buy the spirit"
{maSuv} - "we fight"
Adding {-meH} to the verb of the sentence that is the reason for the other one:
{qa' wIje'meH maSuv} - "We fight to enrich the spirit." (TKW)
}On TKD Addendum I've read:
}"Dochvetlh DIlmeH Huch 'ar DaneH?"
}
}Which is the prefix of DIl?
It looks like it should be {vI-}, right?
{?Dochvam vIDIlmeH Huch 'ar DaneH} - "How much money do you want in order
for me to buy this thing?"
}The subject of DIlmeH is "Huch 'ar"?
No, {Huch 'ar} is definitely the object of {DaneH}.
We're not quite sure what the subject of {DIlmeH} is. It has to be third
person singular, "he/she/it."
There are two theories: One is that it should really be {vIDIlmeH} but the
prefix has dropped off. The other is that it should really be {DIllu'meH}
"for someone to buy" but that {-lu'} is not strictly necessary with {-meH}.
I think we should just take it as an idiom and not worry about why, and not
try to extend the grammar to any other situation.
}I don't clearly understand how work the verb's prefixes with -meH...
}I'm confused...
That you noticed this disparity is good. It shows you are thinking about
the phrases. Look over the appendix phrases carefully. There are other
irregularities. The phrase list contains a few ungrammatical idioms. (Some
might say that it contains mistakes Marc Okrand made back in 1987, but a
person would get flamed by charghwI' for that, so I won't).
Qov [email protected]
Beginners' Grammarian