Skip to content

Universal 734:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 734:

Original
The Minimal Distribution of Zero Copulas:
If a language allows a zero copula at all, it will minimally select this option for predicate nominal sentences in the Present Tense with a 3rd Person subject.
Standardized
IF a zero copula is allowed at all, THEN this option will be minimally selected for predicate nominal sentences in the present tense with a 3rd person subject.
Keywords
copula, zero, predicate nominal, tense, present, 3rd person, subject
Domain
inflection, syntax
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
sample of 410 languages in Stassen 1997
Source
Stassen 1997: 3.2
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    is easily rephrased as an implication: IF zero copula for anything else, THEN for predicate nominal sentences in present tense with 3rd person subject.

    1. May 2020

Comments are closed.