4. SYNTAX
In sentences (2) and (3), time adverbial clauses are introduced by the
markers jaba jab and jaba sao jab se respectively. Like relative clauses,
they distinguish themselves from question words which begin with k
k. The time clause contains a finite verb with tense aspect
information. The time marker jaba jab denotes a sequence of events
(2) and simultaneous events (3) respectively. It is important to note
that the relative clause time markers jaba jab or jaba sao jab se do not
undergo deletion as do the correlative markers tba tab and tba sao tab
se.
(b) Participial (non-finite) constructions
Four participial constructions, present participle, past participle,
absolutive and the as soon as participle, also act as time adverbials.
The present and past participles agree in gender and number with the
subject of the main clause, whereas the last two do not undergo any
agreement changes.
- maaohna daOD,ta Aayaa.
mohan dørta: a:ya:.
Mohan run-ptc came
Mohan came running. - AF,sar nao kusaI- pr baOzkr pUCa
afsar ne kursi: par b ́thkar pu:cha:
officer chair on sit-cp asked
the officer asked, sitting on the chair - Gar phuÐcakr ]sanao TolaIfaona ikyaa.
ghar pahũckar usne teliphon kiya:.
home reach-pp she-erg telephone did
She telephoned after reaching home. - Aato hI ]sanao yah savaala pUCa.
a:te hi: usne yah sava:l pu:cha:.
come-emp he-erg this question asked
As soon as he came, he asked this question.
A present participle expresses an ongoing action or process. It takes
the progressive aspect in the subordinate clause.