Primary Lessons in Swatow Grammar/Lesson XXVIII

by William Ashmore

Mood Equivalents.

Indicative.

The Indicative sense is readily discerned. The construction is simple. There is a Subject and a Predicate, or a Subject, a Predicate, and an Object. As in English, so in Chinese, when the subject precedes the verb, the latter is in the active voice; when the object precedes, it is in the passive. A striking idiomatic characteristic of sentences of this class, is the frequency with which the object of the verb’s action is pressed into the foreground. We have analogies in English, “The fathers, where are they, and the prophets, do they live forever?” This construction, infrequent with us, is very common among Chinese. A Chinaman would say, “The anchor, where is it?” and he might also prefer to use the form, “The axe, he took it away.” “The house, he has rented it,” “The letter, he has written it.”

húe sie-chhù,

fire burns, or burned the house.

chhù khṳt-húe sie--khṳ̀,

the house was burned by the fire.

chhù—i pàng-húe sie--khṳ̀,

the house—he applied fire and burnt it.

hóuⁿ chia̍h iêⁿ,

the tiger ate the lamb.

iêⁿ khṳt-hóuⁿ chia̍h--khṳ̀,

the lamb was eaten by the tiger.

iêⁿ—hóuⁿ chia̍h i liáu,

the lamb—a tiger ate it.

nâng hiâm-tãi-kong,

people blamed the steersman.

tãi-kong khṳt-nâng-hiâm,

the steersman was blamed by people.

tãi-kong—i pun nâng-hiâm--liáu,

the steersman—he was blamed by people.

hõu ak-tie̍h-saⁿ,

the rain wet the jacket.

saⁿ khṳt-hõu ak-tie̍h,

the jacket was wet by the rain.

i ap-siàu chheng-chhó,

he paid the account in full.

siàu ap-chheng-chhó--liáu,

the account was paid in full.

i ji̍h-bí cha̍t-cha̍t,

he pressed down the rice closely.

bí khṳt-i ji̍h-cha̍t-cha̍t,

the rice was by him pressed down closely.

bí—i ji̍h-cha̍t-cha̍t,

the rice—he pressed it down closely.

i nãuⁿ-tie̍h-kha,

he sprained his ankle.

kha—i nãuⁿ tie̍h,

the ankle—he sprained it.

i bōi-tiāu i kâi-chhù,

he sold off his house.

chhù—i bōi-tiāu liáu,

the house—he sold it off

i tǹg-i kâi-chhân,

he mortgaged his fields.

chhân—tǹg khṳ̀ liáu,

the fields—he mortgaged.

i khṳ̀ thó-siàu-ba̍k,

he went to collect an account.

siàu-ba̍k khṳt-i thó--khṳ̀-liáu,

the account was collected by him.

siàu-ba̍k—i thó-bô-chîⁿ,

the account —he collected not a cash.

i ìn pêng-kṳ̃ chhut--lâi,

he brought forth testimony.

pêng-kṳ̃—i ìn chhut--lâi,

testimony—he brought forth.

tang-mn̂g chhut ũ nâng-bé chōi-chōi,

from the east gate issued men in great numbers.

chí-kâi-sṳ̄ chò-sêng sĩ-tõ Siãng-hái,

this matter was done in Shanghai.

uá bô-thàn hó-hôiⁿ--i,

I have not the wherewithal to pay him.

chí-kâi sĩ pí-jũ iā-sĩ si̍t-sṳ̄,

this is a parable and it is also a matter of fact.

Subjunctive.

Equivalents for such conditional words as if, if so, though, lest, perhaps, perchance, it may be that, dc.

jia̍k; jû-jia̍k; tháng-jia̍k,

if.

jia̍k-sĩ,

if it is so.

a-sĩ; jia̍k-a-sĩ,

if really so; if that’s the way it is.

ho̍k-chiá,

perhaps; it may be.

kiá-jû; kóu-jû,

if.

pa-lak,

perhaps; perchance.

chò,

it being so; if it be so.

jia̍k-jiên,

if now then, that is the case.

si̍t-chãi a-sĩ,

if truly it is so.

siet-sái; siet-jia̍k,

supposing that.

khó-pí,

if, for example.

These words are placed at or near the beginning of a sentence, or just before the verb, to impart a Subjunctive sense. They are used sometimes one alone, and sometimes two or three together, to give different shades of meaning and different degrees of force.

a-sĩ m̄-tõ, lṳ́ hó-tńg--lâi,

he is not there, you may come back.

i jia̍k-sĩ-lâi, lṳ́ hó kāng-i tàⁿ,

if he comes, do you tell it to him.

lṳ́, chu-jû ũ-ngṳ̂n, chiũ-hó-bói,

you, if you have money, then you may buy.

jia̍k-a-sĩ i m̄-hàuⁿ, chiũ-hiah,

if he does not want to, then that’s the end of it.

siet-jia̍k hó-chò, chiũ-chò,

if the thing can be done, then do it, or, let it be done.

siet-sái-i tàⁿ chí-kâi-ūe, lṳ́ hó chièⁿ-seⁿ ìn-tap--i,

supposing that he says these words, then do you thus and so answer him.

pa-lak i thiaⁿ-lṳ́ khǹg-kòi chiũ-hó,

if, perchance, he listens to your advice, then well. In common conversation, these auxiliary words are often omitted. There is usually no difficulty in apprehending the meaning. Two clauses or two sentences are spoken-in such close connection that the dependence expressed by the subjunctive ‘if’ is obvious. We have analogous expressions in English, such as, “No cure, no pay.” “No fish, no dinner.” This curt style is in constant use.

thiⁿ-sî-hó chiũ-àiⁿ chèng-choh,

(if) the weather is good then I will work.

ũ-hó-huang chiũ-àiⁿ-khṳ̀,

(if) a fair wind then I shall go.

ũ-chò-kang chiũ-ũ-ngṳ̂n,

(if) work then pay.

ũ-pn̄g chiũ-àiⁿ-chia̍h,

(if) there is any rice then I will eat.

ũ-chûn khṳ̀ chiũ-àiⁿ tah-chûn,

(if) a boat goes I will go by boat.

bô-chûn, chiũ-kiâⁿ-lōu,

(if) no boat, then I will walk.

ũ nâng-ji̍p--lâi, lṳ́ chiũ-lâi-tàⁿ,

(if) any body comes in call me.

i lâi-khie̍h chiũ pun-i khie̍h,

(if) he comes to get it let him have it.

ũ chiũ-hó, bô chiũ bô-siang-kan,

(if) you have then well, (if) not then no matter.

ũ-nâng-khṳ̀ uá àiⁿ chò-pû-khṳ̀,

(if) there is any body going I want to go along.

chá-ji̍t soiⁿ ṳ̃-pī, kim-ji̍t õi-tit hù-tie̍h-chûn,

(if) yesterday you had made ready to-day you might have embarked.

bô-Iâ-sou ui--i, tî-tiâng õi-tit hù-tie̍h-chûn?

(if) Jesus had not healed him, who could have done it?

bô-chí nõⁿ-nâng, bô-ēng,

(if) you don't have these two men all is no use.

i tàⁿ, bô-sũn Môⁿ-sai kâi-kui-kṳ́ bõi-tit-kiù, they said,

(if) you don’t observe the law of Moses you cannot be saved.

hiá! lṳ́ m̄-hàuⁿ chiũ-hiah,

oh, very well! (if) you don't want to you can stop.

mài-sin-seⁿ khṳ̀, liáu kim-ji̍t chiũ-e̍k bûn-chṳ,

(if) the teacher had not gone, to-day we would have translated the despatch.

ũ-chîⁿ-thàn uá chiũ-lâi,

(if) money is to be made I will come.

uá chiẽⁿ-suaⁿ kâi-sî-hāu, lṳ́ a-sĩ thóiⁿ--kìⁿ-uá, chiũ-hó-tùe,

when I go up the mountain if you see me, you may follow me.

chò-uá ìn-tap--i, uá chiũ-tàⁿ bô-chièⁿ-ngiâm,

(if) it had been myself answering him, I would not have spoken so harshly.

chai ũ-bí miń-hàm-lṳ́ khṳ̀-tia̍h,

(if) I had known there was rice, I need not have told you to go and buy.

chí-kâi-chhù khí-lâi khiàng, mién-chhiáⁿ sai-pẽ lâi-póu,

(if) the house had been strongly built, I would not have hud to send for a mechanic to come and mend it.

Potential.

Equivalents for may, can, ought, must, necessary, requisite, permissible, &c.

õi,

may, or can. bõi, cannot.

õi-tit,

can. bõi-tit, cannot.

lêng,

can; able to.

hó; khó,

well, may, or can; permissible.

eng-kai; ngî-eng-kai,

must; ought; necessary.

jīm,

allow; tolerate.

chún,

to assent; to permit.

tie̍h-àiⁿ; tie̍h-ũ,

must have.

pit-su-tie̍h,

indispensable.

khói-íⁿ,

proper; will do.

m̄-hó,

not allowable. put-khó, may or must not be,

put-chún,

not consented to.

put-jīm,

not allow it.

put-chhiet-iàu; bô-chhiet-iàu,

important; not important.

iông,

it is allowable.

õi-tit-ũ,

can have.

õi-tit-bô,

can do without.

kang-hu chò-tit-khṳ̀,

the work can be done, (lit. can make it go).

kang-hu chò-tit-lâi,

the work can be done.

àiⁿ m̄ chiũ-hó,

if you wish not to, then you may (not).

lṳ́ m̄-àiⁿ õi-tit m̄-àiⁿ,

if you do not wish it, you can (be at liberty not to wish it).

àiⁿ m̄, õi-tit-m̄,

if you wish not to, you need not.

m̄-àiⁿ, chò-lṳ́ m̄-àiⁿ,

if you don’t want to, then be it as you “don't want to.”

m̄-àiⁿ, bô-khṳt-lṳ́ m̄-àiⁿ,

you don't want it, but it is not allowed to you not to want it.

õi lîn-chò-tit,

it may or will do.

bõi-tit iû-lṳ́-m̄,

it cannot be (decided) from your disinclination, i.e. you cannot have your way.

bõi-tit pun-lṳ́ m̄,

it as not alowed you not to, i.e. you can't refrain.

õi m̄-kìⁿ-khṳ̀,

it can be not seen, i.e. lost sight of.

m̄ eng-kai chò,

it is not necessary to do.

m̄-eng-kai chò--kâi,

a thing not necessary to be done.

õi-chò-sṳ̄,

it will work; will operate.

õi-sêng-sṳ̄,

will work; will accomplish something.

khó-íⁿ chièⁿ-seⁿ lâi-phah-sǹg,

you may thus and so decide.

khó-íⁿ chièⁿ-seⁿ,

you may thus and so.

sĩ-eng-kai tàⁿ--kâi,

it is something that must be said.

kau-chhap tit-lo̍h,

can associate together.

mue̍h-kiãⁿ õi ka-lāu-tiāu,

the thing may be lost.

môⁿ-kúi õi bú-lõng-nâng,

the devil can delude people.

Imperative.

Modes of expressing entreaty, command, prohibition, &c.

1. The verb spoken with emphasis is often sufficient.

2. Various auxiliaries are used. Hó is hortatory, used in mild forms of exhorting or enjoining. Tie̍h is more emphatic, indicating that the thing must be done. Màiⁿ is prohibitory. Eng-kai means, 'it is necessary. Nōⁿ is emphatic.

chõ,

sit down!

phah,

strike!

mán,

pull!

ji̍p--lâi,

come in!

léng-i khṳ̀,

push it away!

ji̍h-lo̍h,

press it down!

á-uan i kâi-búe,

bend the end of it!

peh-tiāu i kâi-phûe,

peel off its bark!

sāi-i khiã.

stand it upright.

phêⁿ-i pêⁿ,

spread it level.

bûa-mîⁿ-mîⁿ,

rub it fine.

buah-kng-ku̍t,

polish it bright and smooth.

ngói-iùⁿ-iùⁿ,

grind it fine.

khṳ̀ chhip-châu-châu,

mix it thoroughly.

lṳ́ chhut-khṳ̀,

you go out.

lṳ́ kuán-thóiⁿ-lúY ka-kī kâi-sṳ̄,

you look after your own business.

tãi-ke, nín àiⁿ-chai mêng-pe̍h,

all ye, now know clearly.

chí-tieⁿ-toaⁿ, tie̍h-chip-kín,

this cheque, hold it fast.

khie̍h-lâi pàng-tõ-chí,

bring it and put it here.

chiang tiâu-soh khṳ̀-hân,

take a rope and stretch it along.

lṳ́ kâi-ūe, màiⁿ-lâi ki̍p-tie̍h uá,

may what you say, not come upon me.

màiⁿ-m̃-tàⁿ,

don’t fail to say it.

màiⁿ-chiang-ak pò-ak,

don't pay evil with evil.

màiⁿ-lāu-tiāu che̍k-kâi,

don’t leave one out.

màiⁿ-chhap-sṳ̄,

don’t meddle.

màiⁿ-chip-ì,

don’t be self-willed.

màiⁿ-mn̄g chièⁿ-hièⁿ,

don't be asking this and that.

bih-bûa, màiⁿ-khṳt-i tèng--tie̍h,

dodge near (to the wall) and don’t let it fall on you.

màiⁿ-sit-sìn,

don’t lose your integrity.

hó-khṳ̀-chò,

go and do it.

hó-kín-kín kiâⁿ,

walk fast.

lṳ́ m̄-hó m̄-lâi,

it will not do for you not to come.

lṳ́ hó-khṳ̀-bói,

you go and buy.

nín hó-khṳ̀-siẽⁿ,

go, you, and consider it.

lṳ́ hó-màiⁿ sàng-sim,

don’t lose heart.

lṳ́ hó màiⁿ-kiaⁿ-ùi.

it is well for you not to be afraid.

hó-khṳ̀ kāng-i-tàⁿ,

it will be well for you to go and tell him.

tie̍h-khṳ̀,

go!

tie̍h-mìaⁿ,

you must avoid this.

chò-pẽ-bó kâi-nâng tie̍h-àiⁿ-ũ,

those who are parents must have—,

tie̍h-khṳ̀-mn̄g,

go and ask!

tie̍h-kāng-uá tàⁿ,

you must tell me.

nâng àiⁿ-chò-mue̍h, tie̍h-ũ khì-kũ tie̍h-ũ ke-sāi,

if a man is going to make anything, he must have tools and materials.

lṳ́ tie̍h-sói-chhiú,

you must wash your hands.

tie̍h-khṳ̀-tiāu ak-so̍k,

you must put away bad habits.

tie̍h-o̍h kiâⁿ-siẽn,

you must learn to do well.

lṳ́ tie̍h sòi-sim chí-kâi-sṳ̄,

you must be careful in this matter.

lṳ́ tie̍h-chhûan-pĩ,

you must be fully prepared.

eng-kai tie̍h-sũn chí-kâi kui-kṳ́,

you must observe this custom.

taⁿ, eng-kai tie̍h-chai mêng-pe̍h,

now, you must know clearly.

khṳ̀--nõⁿ,

go¡

chõ--nōⁿ,

sit down!

lâi--nōⁿ,

come!

chhiet-chhiet tie̍h-thóiⁿ,

particularly observe; take special notice.

nguãn-lṳ́ phêng-an,

may you have peace.

nguãn-Siãng-tì pó-iũ lṳ́,

may God preserve you.

khiû-lṳ́ thiaⁿ-uá che̍k-kù,

I beg you hear me a word.

chò-lṳ́-khṳ̀,

you go your way.

tàⁿ-hó liáu chiàⁿ-khṳ̀,

when you have spoken then go.

chia̍h-pá liáu chiàⁿ-lâi,

when you have eaten then come.

sûi-chãi-lṳ́,

please yourself.

mue̍h-kiãⁿ siu chôi-chiáⁿ,

arrange the things orderly.

kak-mue̍h siu pàng-nguân-ūi,

put everything in its own proper place.

khih-i khṳ̀,

let it go; never mind.

Infinitive.

There is no distinctive mark of the Infinitive. The infinitive sense is to be learned from the connection. A few examples will suffice.

i khṳ̀-bói-hue,

he has gone to buy lime.

uá hàm-i khie̍h-jī khṳ̀-Sùaⁿ-thâu,

I told him to take a note to Swatow.

i àiⁿ-lâi-chia̍h,

he is coming to eat.

i àiⁿ-kìⁿ thâu-ke,

he wishes to see the master of the house.

i àiⁿ-sǹg-siàu,

he wants to reckon up.

i àiⁿ hiah-kang,

he wishes to stop work.

nâng-kheh àiⁿ-tàⁿ-ūe,

the guest wishes to speak (to you).

hàm-i lâi-sàu-lōu,

call him to come and sweep the road.

i tõ tán-bói-mue̍h,

he is waiting to buy something.

chhiáⁿ-chhâi-chú lâi,

ask the owner of the goods to come.

kiè-i chò-pû-lâi,

tell him to come along with (him).

kiè-i sêng-thòa-bói,

tell him to buy this also at the same time.

i àiⁿ-chieh lân-ló-ngṳ̂n,

he wishes to borrow a little money, i.e. he wishes his pay.

The Participle.

A participial sense is imparted by the use of tõ, which in such connection means, to be at (the doing of any thing), and sometimes, also by chiàⁿ, meaning, then; at the same time (with something else), and chò, in the sense of being. Liáu, and kùe, denoting past; gone through with; completed, help give the significance of a past participle.

i tõ-chõ,

he is sitting.

i tõ-tán,

he is waiting.

i tõ-gu̍h huân-būe-chhéⁿ,

he is sleeping and has not yet awakened.

chhù hiēn-chãi sĩ-tõ-khí,

the house now is being built.

uá lâi i huân-tõ sie-mēⁿ,

when I came they were still quarrelling.

tõ-i tha̍k-chṳ kâi-sî-hāu,

at the time he was, or is reading.

i sĩ tõ-taⁿ-chúi,

he is carrying water.

sit-lo̍h--tiāu,

lost.

chò-kùe;

done, finished.

khie̍h--tie̍h-kâi,

picked up.

m̄-kìⁿ-khṳ̀--liáu,

lost sight of.

liēn-kú kâi-to-kiàm,

a long tried sword.

liēn-kú kâi-ke-húe,

tested weapons.