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Universal 118:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 118:

Original
If in a language, in a sentence the verb agrees with the noun in an oblique case and there is a noun in the nominative, then the verb agrees with the noun in the nominative in the same sentence.
Standardized
IF the verb agrees with an NP in an oblique case, THEN the verb agrees the NP in the nominative in the same sentence.
Keywords
verb, noun, agreement, case, nominative, oblique
Domain
inflection, syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
languages in Uspensky 1963
Source
Uspensky 1963: 59
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    A stronger form of the relational-hierarchy universal commonly subscribed to: here intended to hold for every sentence of every language, rather than just for every language — where it could be valid without being valid for every single sentence of all languages.

    1. May 2020

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