4 Simple sentence patterns
Sentences often follow simple patterns. One common pattern consists of a subject and a verb. The subject is usually a phrase indicating who is doing the action or in a state of being. In Mvskoke, the subject may be marked with -t, especially when it is specific.
- Subject(-t) Verb:
- Mv
- sasakiwv(-t)
- tvmkes.
- that
- goose (-subject)
- is flying
- ‘The goose is flying.’
- Mv
- uewvt
- morkes.
- that
- water-subject
- is boiling
- ‘The water is boiling.’
- Mv
- estvcet
- ‘punayes.
- that
- baby-subject
- is talking
- ‘The baby is talking.’
The same pattern is used for adjectives like cvmpē ‘sweet’ or enokkē ‘sick’.
- Mv
- takliket
- cvmpēs
- that
- bread-subject
- is sweet.
- ‘The bread is sweet.’
- Mv
- estucet
- enokkēs
- that
- baby-subject
- is sick.
- ‘The child is sick.’
Subjects are often left out of a sentence when they are clear from the context.
- Tvmkes.
- ‘It is flying.’
- Morkes.
- ‘It is boiling.’
- ’Punayes.
- ‘He/she is talking.’
Another common pattern is for a verb to appear with a (direct) object. The object is usually a phrase that is affected or brought about by the verb. In Mvskoke, an object may be marked with –n, especially when it is specific.
- Subject(-t) Object(-n) Verb:
- Mv
- sasakwv(-t)
- rvron
- hompes
- that
- goose (-subject)
- fish-object
- is eating.
- ‘The goose is eating fish.’
- Mv
- hoktēt
- atvmen
- nehses
- that
- woman-subject
- car-object
- bought.
- ‘The woman bought a car (today/last night).’
- Mv
- honvnwvt
- taklikucen
- homipes.
- that
- man-subject
- biscuit-object
- ate
- The man ate a biscuit (today/last night).’
Both subjects and objects can be left out when they are clear from the context.
- Mv sasakwv(-t) hompes.
- ‘The goose is eating it.’
- Rvron hompes.
- ‘It is eating fish.’
- Mv hoktēt nehses.
- ‘The woman bought it.’
- Atvmen nehses.
- ‘He/she bought a car.’
Some verbs may occur with two objects. Both objects may be marked with -n. In fact -n can appear on almost any phrase in a sentence other than the subject.
- Subject(-t) Object(-n) Object2(-n) Verb:
- Mv
- mvhayvt
- mv
- hoktucen
- svtvn
- ehmes
- that
- teacher-subject
- that
- girl-object
- apple
- gave
- ‘The teacher gave the girl an apple.’
- Mary
- wakv-pesē
- vcvnkvn
- vcanes
- Mary
- milk
- pitcher-object
- is pouring
- ‘Mary is pouring milk into the pitcher.’
When you identify something with a form of ‘be’, you use the verb ometv ‘to be’. In this pattern, both the subject noun phrase and the complement noun phrase are marked with a -t (as though the sentence has two subjects).
- Noun phrase(-t) Noun phrase-t Be:
- Heyvt
- pokkot
- os.
- this-subject
- ball-subject
- is
- ‘This is a ball.’
A noun may be modified by an adjective or a number to form a phrase. The order is Noun+Adjective+Numeral. The subject marker -t goes at the end of the subject noun phrase.
- Sasakwv
- hvtkē
- hvmket
- tvmkes
- goose
- white
- one
- is flying
- ‘One white goose is flying.’
The nonsubject marker -n also goes at the end of its phrase.
- Efv
- lvstē
- hvmket
- pose lanē
- hokkolen
- assēces
- dog
- black
- one
- cat yellow
- two
- is chasing
- ‘One black dog is chasing two yellow cats.’
