4. SYNTAX
verbs take noun phrases as their object and intransitive verbs do not.
In certain cases, the objects are understood and they do not appear at
the surface level. For example, see the use of the transitive verbs khnaa
kahna: ‘to say’ and pUCnaa pu:chna: ‘to ask’ in sentences (16) and (17)
below.
- maOMnao khI.
m ́~ne kahi:.
I-erg said-fs
I said (it) to him/her. - ]sanao pUCa.
usne pu:cha:.
he-erg asked-fs
He asked (it to) him/her.
In (16), the verb khnaa kahna: is inflected for an implied generic
feminine object. Similarly, in (17), the verb pUCnaa pu:chna: is
inflected for an implied generic masculine object. These sentences
can be completed as follows.
16a. maOMnao ]sasao ApnaI baat khI.
m ́~ne usse apni: ba:t kahi:.
I-erg him/her selfs matter-fs told-fs
I told him/her my story.
17a. ]sanao halacaala pUCa.
usne ha:lca:l pu:cha:.
he/she-erg welfare-ms asked-ms
He/she asked (him/her) welfare.
4.3.2.2. Indirect Object
Whenever direct and indirect objects occur in a sentence, the
indirect object receives the dative case markings. The order of the
direct and indirect object in a sentence mainly depends on the
emphasis given to these constituents in a given sentence. When
animate indirect objects precede direct objects, they get extra
emphasis. Notice the following examples of sentences using indirect
objects in the dative case.