Page:An Ainu-English-Japanese dictionary (including a grammar of the Ainu language).djvu/651

Rh “you are a slower walker than I” (lit. than me, you go more slowly).

(f). The comparative with. means “surpassing,” e.g.

, “you are taller than I (lit. surpassing me, you are tall.)

§ IV. DEMONSTRATIVE ARTICLES.

The demonstrative articles “this,” “that,” “these” and “those,” are as follows:—


 * {| style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"

! style="text-align: center;" | ! style="text-align: center;" |
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em; | or, “this.”
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em; | or, “this.”

, “that.”

, “that,” (a short distance off.)

, “that,” (a good distance off.)
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em; |, “these.”
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em; |, “these.”

, “those.” (a short distance off.)

, “those.” (a good distance off.)
 * }

The singular form of these adjectives may be prefixed to plural nouns; but the plural forms can never be placed before singular nouns. The reason is that is really a plural verb meaning “to dwell at” or “be in” a place. It is the plural form of, “to be.”

§ V. THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN PARTICLES AND WORDS UPON SOME OF THE ADJECTIVES.

When the particle is prefixed to certain adjectives it has the power of changing them into verbs; e.g.


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! style="text-align: center;" | ! style="text-align: center;" |
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" |, “soft.”
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" |, “to be unable to endure.”
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" |, “hard.”
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" |, “to be able to endure.”
 * }
 * style="text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 1em;" |, “to be able to endure.”
 * }