Primary Lessons in Swatow Grammar/Lesson XIII

by William Ashmore

The Article.

Often there is nothing to take the place of the Article. Yet when necessary, there are ways of expressing both the Definite and the Indefinite.

The Definite is indicated by simple emphasis, as, bī-sòu hó, the taste is good; or, by calling in the aid of the demonstrative pronouns, used with or without a classifier; or, by description.

The Indefinite is indicated by the help of the verb sĩ or ũ preceding the noun, or by the use of a classifier placed before the noun, When placed after the noun its significance is changed.

nâng lâi,

a man comes.

gue̍h lo̍h,

the moon sets.

ji̍t chhut,

the sun rises.

lûi hiáng,

the thunder peals.

sĩ-bé,

it is a horse.

sĩ-káu,

it„ is„ a„ dog.

sĩ-tṳ,

it„ is„ a„ pig.

sĩ-koi,

it„ is„ a„ fowl.

sĩ-gô,

it„ is„ a„ goose.

sĩ-gû,

it is a cow.

sĩ-ngiau,

it„ is„ a„ cat.

sĩ-iêⁿ,

it„ is„ a„ sheep.

sĩ-ah,

it„ is„ a„ duck.

sĩ-chiáu,

it„ is„ a„ bird.

ũ-kâi-jiáng,

there is a noise.

ũ-kâi-nâ tõ,

there is a basket there.

tiâu-soh,

a rope. ũ-tiâu-sùaⁿ, there is a thread.

ũ-pńg-chheh,

there is a book.

tieⁿ chúa,

a sheet of paper.

ũ che̍k-kha-sieⁿ,

there is a box.

niá-saⁿ,

a jacket. niá-muaⁿ, a shawl.

pēⁿ-nâng,

a sick man. nâng pēⁿ, the man is sick.

o̍ih-mn̂g,

a narrow door. mn̂g o̍ih, the door is narrow.

tãng-tàⁿ,

a heavy load. tàⁿ tãng, the load is heavy.

tî-kâi? which one? tōa-kâi,

the big one.

khie̍h tōa-kâi--lâi,

get the big one and come.

khie̍h kâi-tōa-kâi--lâi,

get a big one and come,

kâi-tōa,

this one is large, or, it is large.

tî-kâi sĩ?

which one is it? sĩ-kṳ̃n--kâi, it is the near one.

sĩ-hṳ́-poiⁿ tiám--kâi,

it is that spotted one.

sĩ-lâm-sek--kâi,

it is the blue colored one.

sĩ-hṳ́ iû-âng--kâi,

it is the one painted red.

sĩ-n̂g-sek--kâi,

it is the yellow one.

sĩ-chí-ou--kâi,

it is this black one.

sĩ-hṳ́-pe̍h--kâi,

it is that white one.

îⁿ-îⁿ--kâi,

the round one. sì-pang--kâi, the square one.

saⁿ-kak-hĩⁿ kâi,

the three cornered one.

sĩ chhēng-tn̂g-saⁿ kâi,

it is the one wearing a long gown.

sĩ tì-kûe-lo̍ih kâi,

it is the one who has on a bamboo hat.

sĩ chiàⁿ-ji̍p--kâi,

it is the one who has just entered.

sĩ hṳ́ àiⁿ-chhut-mn̂g kâi,

it is that one about to go out at the door.

ũ-kái-nâng chõ tõ-íⁿ,

there is a man sitting in the chair.

tõ-íⁿ chõ-ũ kâi-nâng,

in the chair sitting there is a man.

tõ-íⁿ chõ--kâi-nâng,

the man sitting in the chair.

i-nâng chõ-tõ-íⁿ,

he, the man, was sitting in the chair.

nâng ũ-poiⁿ-mīn,

the man had a pitted face.

ũ-poiⁿ-mīn nâng,

a man with a pitted face.

poiⁿ-mīn-nâng tàⁿ,

the man with a pitted face said.

biē-chôiⁿ ũ sêng-chhiū,

before the temple there was a banyan tree.

biē-chôiⁿ kâi-sêng-chhiū,

the banyan which was before the temple.

i sĩ siá-jī kâi,

he is a writer.

siá-jī--kâi chiũ-sĩ chí-kâi,

this is the one that is the writer.

chiá m̄-sĩ, hṳ́ iā-m̄-sĩ,

this is not (the one), and that also is not (the one).

thâng-chá lâi bōi-hṳ̂--kâi sĩ lṳ́ mē?

the one that came a while ago to sell fish, was it you.

úa chiũ-sĩ,

I am (the one).

phah-mn̂g--kâi chiũ-sĩ chí-kâi ā?

the one that knocked at the door, is this he, eh?

m̄-sĩ chí-kâi ā,

it was not this one (said doubtingly).

gû-chú sĩ tî-tiâng?

who is the owner of the ox?

gû-chú kâi-miâⁿ kiè-chò A-sam,

the owner of the cow, his name is called A Sam.

póu-ôi kâi-nâng lâi,

the (or a) shoemaker has come.

cha-ji̍t lâi chò-ôi--kâi tõ-mn̂g-gūa,

the shoemaker who came yesterday, is outside the door.

ta̍t-chîⁿ--kâi sĩ chí-kâi,

the valuable one is this one.

siãng-chhiet-iàu sĩ chièⁿ-seⁿ,

the most important (thing) is thus and so.

i só-khí kâi-chhù sĩ chhâ--chò-kâi,

the house which he built is a wooden one.