A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

586 9 Verb phrases and other predications

The external negation can be used with an NP argument X in the

construction [waedden X] 'it is/was not X'.

It can also be used with a following clause, in the sense 'it is/was not (the

case) that...' or 'it is/was not true that...'. This construction is convenient in

providing an easy way to negate predications containing no inflectable verb

stem, such as the predicate genitive construction (§9.4, above).

(634) waedder 1-nin

Neg Dem-lSgPoss

'It is not mine.'

Likewise (K-d) waedden l-nin.

The negative forms in (635) are also used as negative equational copulas

'X is not Y\ and in negative identißcational clauses with presupposed

"subject" of the type '(it) is not Y\ In 'X is not Y' with both arguments overt,

X precedes the negative form as a kind of topicalized NP.

(635) a. a-w-a waedder edi

Dem-Ma-Dem.Sg Neg dog

'This is not a dog.'

b. waedden edi

Neg dog

'It's not a dog.'

9.6 Preverbs

9.6.1 Past (kaeld)

This particle is generally used with stative expressions (often Resultative
verbs) that would otherwise be understood as having present (or gnomic) time
reference. The particle is especially useful with defective verbs like -Id- 'have'
that occur only in the Resultative, and with other verbs denoting states or
situations.

(636) a. kasld le-γ X
Past have.Reslt-lSgS X
Ί had X'

b. kaela aemodaen-sen

Past abound.Reslt-3MaPlS

'They-MaPl were numerous'