The Arden Reference Grammar

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Syntax Of The Core

Throughout the Grammar, and especially in this chapter, examples are in order. We need more vocabulary for that, though.

Arden is an ergative language. The S and P arguments are encoded in the unmarked absolutive case. They are regarded to as the grammatical subject of the verb.

Impersonal verbs, such as verbs referring to weather or time, take the third person neuter singular clitic as a non-referential subject marker.

In embedded clauses, when the verb is in the infinitive form, the subject, which is omissible if it is co-referential with the subject of the governing clause, is encoded in the genitive. In the absolute dative construction, the subject is encoded in the dative case and is not cross-referenced on the verb.

The A argument is encoded in the ergative case, which is formed with the genitive and the postposition fert/fort/ferti. Note that the same combination also encodes the instrumental function. Wherever the meaning allows for this extension, an ergative argument can be also added to intransitive verbs.

Antipassive voice?

The recipient argument of ditransitive verbs is encoded in the dative case. Dative also signifies the beneficiary.

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