(Meadow Mari)

PurpVDrkDiffSbj

PurpVDrkDiffSbj: The verb of a purpose construction appears in a special form; however, the specific special form in which it appears (or can appear) depends on whether the subject of the purpose construction is coreferential with that of the main clause.

(1)počeškod-ašog-əlmanəntürlöuver-əmlud-am.
backremainINFNEGbe.3SGfordifferentnewsACCread1SG
’I read different news to be up-to-date.’ (Arkhangelskiy 2019)

(2)pašalektəš-əmsajemdə-šašverččottərs-ena.
worksuccessACCimprovePTCP.FUTforverywork_hard1PL
’We’re working hard to improve work results.’ (Riese et al. 2022: 166)

(3)joča-vlak,ava-štlaskanmalə-žemanən,šəpmod-ət.
childPLmother3PLpeacefullysleepIMP.3SGforquietlyplay3PL
’In order for their mother to sleep peacefully, the children play quietly.’ (Riese et al. 2022: 241)

(4)əndeertakvoz-aštüŋal-am„məjtəgešon-em”štobyńimogajjodəš
soalwayswriteINFbegin1SGIsothink1SGso_thatnoquestion
ən-želek.
NEG.IMP3SGstart.CNG
’So I always start by writing ‘I think so’, so that no question be raised.’ (Arkhangelskiy 2019)

Purpose clauses can be expressed in different ways in Meadow Mari. In case the subjects of the main clause and the embedded clause are the same, the verb in the purpose clause can be an infinitive (1) or future participle (2). When these subjects differ, the verb of the embedded clause is in imperative form (3)–(4).

Author: Bogáta Timár


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