Prepositional phrases
Eleven ordinary roots do the work of English's prepositions, and the phrase they open goes at the end of the sentence.
| Word | Sense | Word | Sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | in, at | sur | above, on |
| ver | to, toward | tun | below, under |
| vons | from, than | nir | near |
| kum | with | eks | outside |
| por | for | mets | between, among |
| topi | about |
Where the phrase goes
At the end, after the object if there is one.
I'm going home.
Eko ri ire ver kase.Please give that to me.
Pam tonar a tis ver eko.The station is between the shop and the river.
Karoroko ri mets komparroko kum ronkaaku.A phrase can be the whole thing you say
Put it straight after ri with no verb. This is how Pikotika says is here, is with me, is for you.
| Pikotika | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eko ri in tisroko. | I RI in this-place | I'm here. |
| Eko ri kum nino. | I RI with child | I'm with the child. |
| Tis ri por tu. | this RI for you | This is for you. |
Two things worth knowing about kum
It is also ‘and’. Joining two like things it means and; opening a phrase of its own, it means with. See And, or, but, because.
The child and I are hungry.
Nino kum eko ri komivori.Please come with me.
Pam veni kum eko.Don't use kum (with) to describe means. In English, we sometimes use with to describe the means by which something gets done, for example, eat with a fork. In Pikotika, it would be incorrect to use kum for this. For a method, a manner, or a route, instead use in … moto (in … way):
| Pikotika | Meaning |
|---|---|
| in akukaro moto | by ship |
| in Rispan moto | via Lisbon |
| in kermoto | how, by what means |
How do you know Carla?
Tu ri sape a Karra in kermoto?Try it yourself
- Pam veni in sens ora.
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‘Please come at seven.’ in covers ‘at’ for time as well as place.
- Eko ri komi kum tu.
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‘I'm eating with you.’ kum here means with.
- How would you say ‘Please eat with utensils’?
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Pam komi in komiuter moto. — This with indicates by means of, so it's in … moto rather than kum.