Page:Manual of the Foochow dialect.pdf/38

24 In answering such questions as, "How many have shares?" the reply may be 三𠆧 sang nëng, or 三個𠆧 sang a nëng, three persons.

In some nouns preceded by the numerals from twenty upward, as 二十六𠆧 ne sek lëk nëng, or 𠆧二十六隻 nëng ne sek lëk chiăh, twenty six men, 百二𠆧 pah ne nëng, or 𠆧百二隻 nëng pah ne chiăh, one hundred and twenty men.

The importance of a discriminating use of the clasisfiers is readily tested. The term 三杯 sang pwí, properly means three cupfuls, while 杯三隻 pwi sang chiăh, means simply three cups. So the use of wrong classifiers would produce incongruous expressions, like a drove of sedans, a kernel of rope, a sheet of grain in English.

3. PRONOUNS.

In respect to properties of number and case the pronouns are subject to the same rules as nouns.

In common conversation, when the relation of the three persons or parties, and the nature of the subject spoken of, are well understood, the personal pronouns are more frequently omitted than in English.

The personal pronoun of the first person.

The pronoun Ngwai is used in addressing inferiors, also informally and rather impolitely in speaking to equals. The pronoun Nëng ka is a term commonly used in addressing equals.