2. Complex Sentences
2.1 Word Order
Until now, we always used the word order:
subject – verb – object
But this is not required.
Examples:
| Kokanu sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mi le makan in kuwosi | I eat a fruit |
| mi in kuwosi le makan | I eat a fruit |
When the subject is not first, ambiguity arises:
- le makan in kuwosi mi → will be read as “(someone) eats my fruit” or “my fruit is eaten (by someone)” — which is, in fact, how you form the passive voice in Kokanu.
To avoid this, the subject must be marked with men when it is not in the first position:
- in kuwosi le makan men mi
- le makan men mi in kuwosi
- (I eat a fruit)
It is also allowed at the start:
- men mi le makan in kuwosi
All of these have the same literal meaning. Word order in Kokanu is a rhetorical choice and can be used to stress certain parts of the sentence.
New Words
- men = subject marker (particle)
2.2 Prepositions
Every Kokanu sentence needs a main verb (usually the le-clause).
Other parts are optional:
- mi le makan → I eat
- le makan in kuwosi → someone eats a fruit / the fruit gets eaten
Both men and in are prepositions.
A preposition treats the word after it like a noun and relates it to the main verb.
Kokanu has 11 prepositions:
| Preposition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| men | subject marker |
| in | direct object marker |
| pi | at / during (time or place) |
| kan | alongside / with |
| sun | from |
| po | for |
| he | vocative marker |
| nenka | because |
| hon | context (surroundings or conditionals) |
| wija | via / through / using |
| ki | towards |
Warning
Some English verbs have two objects (direct + indirect).
In Kokanu, ki often marks the recipient (the indirect object).
Example:
| Kokanu sentence | English meaning |
|---|---|
| ja le tene in mani ki nin | they give money to the person / they give the person the money |
New Words
- in = direct object marker (particle)
- pi = at/during (particle)
- kan = with (particle)
- sun = from (particle)
- po = for (particle)
- he = vocative marker (particle)
- nenka = because (particle)
- hon = context / conditional (particle)
- wija = via/through/using (particle)
- ki = towards (particle)
- mani = money
- nin = person
- tene = to give
2.3 Imperative
To form an imperative:
- Drop the men clause
- Replace le with o
Example:
- o kota ki mi → talk to me!
To specify who is addressed, use he:
| Kokanu sentence | English meaning |
|---|---|
| he neje o teka ki mi | horse, look at me! |
New Words
- o = imperative marker (particle)
- he = vocative marker (particle, repeated here)
- neje = horse
2.4 Conjunctions
Kokanu has four conjunctions:
| Conjunction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| un | and |
| ili | or |
| tan | then |
| lekin | but |
They can connect words, phrases, or sentences.
Examples:
| Kokanu sentence | English meaning |
|---|---|
| mi un tu le makan | me and you eat |
| nin le ju in pawo cenpo ili in meja cina | a person wants a big dog or a small cat |
| tu le pata, tan tu le makan | you read, then you eat |
New Words
- un = and (conjunction)
- ili = or (conjunction)
- tan = then (conjunction)
- lekin = but (conjunction)
- cina = small
- pawo = dog
- meja = cat
- ju = to want
- pata = to read