Content created: 2001-01-06
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A noun is shown to be possessed and by whom when it drops the absolutive suffix (lesson 2) and adds a possessive prefix.
The possessive prefixes are:
| Possessive Prefixes for Nouns | |
|---|---|
| n(o)- = my | t(o)- = our |
| m(o)- = your (s) | am(o)- = your |
| ï- = his/her | ïm-/ïn- = their |
| të = someone's | |
Throughout this course examples grade into exercises, which consist of producing further examples. When filling in blanks, do not include the long mark over any vowel and do not use periods to separate elements. (The program is too dumb to understand that that can be part of a right answer.)
Each space can be filled in only with the right answer; if you enter anything else, the Answer Ghost will make it vanish as soon as your cursor leaves the box. You can use all upper-case or all lower-case or can capitalize the first letter of each answer (because that is automatic in some browsers).
To simplify programming, in these exercises the possessive prefix ï-, which means either "his" or "her," should always be translated "his." (The Answer Ghost is sexist.)
Remember that inanimate Nahuatl nouns can be singular or plural with no change of form. Tecomatl means jar or jars. Calli means house or houses. In these exercises, always use the singular form when it is possible. (The Answer Ghost dislikes unnecessary plurality.)
If you get stuck, place the cursor in the nearest "Uncle Box" and the correct answer to the most recent item you attempted will briefly appear there. Usually one or two items are already filled in by way of example. They cannot be changed.
Possessive prefixes are used whenever a noun is possessed, even if another noun shows who is the possessor. Sometimes the particle "in" is placed between the object possessed and the possessor. (Caution: This particle has other uses as well. In general it merely shows that what follows is a noun, noun phrase, or noun clause, so it is not equivalent to English "of.")
tecomAtl = jar (root: tecom-)
ïtecon = her jar
ïtecon Marta = Marta's jar
ïtecon in Marta = Marta's jar
in ïtecon in Marta = Marta's jar
Challenge A: ichcatl = cotton; äxcäItl = property.
Challenge B: