Nouns in Hul’q’umi’num’ are preceded by determiners.
4.3a Use the determiner tthu to refer to something that is in view. This is pronounced tu by some speakers (for example in Snuneymuhw).
tthu poukw
“the book (visible)”
tthu lukli
“the key (visible)”
tthu xul’tun
“the pen (visible)”
tthu snuhwulh
“the car (visible)”
4.3b kwthu is used to refer to something that is not in view. This is pronounced kwu by some speakers
kwthu poukw
“the book (out of sight)”
kwthu lukli
“the key (out of sight)”
kwthu xul’tun
“the pen (out of sight)”
kwthu snuhwulh
“the car (out of sight)”
4.4 Possessives -nu and -’un’
The first person singular possessive is -nu “my”. The second person singular possessive is -’un’ “your”.
4.4a -nu and -’un’ follow the determiner tthu when referring to a possession that is in view. Notice that tthu and ’un’ contract to tun’. The possessive forms are pronounced tthunu and tthun’ in Chemainus.
tthu snuhwulh
tthunu kaa
tthun’ snuhwulh
“the car”
“my car”
“your car”
tthu kupou
tthunu kupou
tthun’ kupou
“the coat”
“my coat”
“your coat”
tthu poukw
tthunu poukw
tthun’ poukw
“the book”
“my book”
“your book”
tthu xul’tun
tthunu xul’tun
tthun’ xul’tun
“the pen”
“my pen”
“your pen”
tthu pipu
tthunu pipu
tthun’ pipu
“the paper”
“my paper”
“your paper”
4.4b-nu and -’un’ follow the determiner kwthu when referring to a possession that is not in view. Notice that kwthu and ’un’ contract to kwthun’.
kwthu snuhwulh
kwthunu snuhwulh
kwthun’ snuhwulh
“the car”
“my car”
“your car”
kwthu kupou
kwthunu kupou
kwthun’ kupou
“the coat”
“my coat”
“your coat”
kwthu poukw
kwthunu poukw
kwthun’ poukw
“the book”
“my book”
“your book”
kwthu xul’tun
kwthunu xul’tun
kwthun’ xul’tun
“the pen”
“my pen”
“your pen”
kwthu pipu
kwthunu pipu
kwthun’ pipu
“the paper”
“my paper”
“your paper”
4.5–4.6 Pattern practices
Where’s my book?
ni’ ’untsu kwthunu poukw?
coat
pen
car
key
watch
purse
hat
gloves
Here is your coat.
’e’ut ’i ’u tu’i tthun’ kupou.
box
money
wallet
sweater
ring
cane
socks
shoes
4.7 -s Third person possessive
The suffix -s , which follows the noun, expresses the meaning “his”, “her”, “its”, or “theirs”.
tthu snuhwulhs
“his/her car (visible)”
tthu poukws
“his/her book (visible)”
kwthu xul’tuns
“his/her pen (out of sight)”
kwthu luklis
“his/her key (our of sight)”
4.8 Pattern practice
Where is his book?
ni’ ’untsu kwthu poukws?
watch
hat
sweater
shirt
glasses
4.9–4.10 Pattern practices
4.9 tst “our”.
The first person plural possessive pronoun tst, which follows the noun, expresses the meaning “our”.
tthu snuhwulh tst
“our car (visible)”
kwthu lutem tst
“our table (out of sight)”
4.10 Pattern practice.
Where is our car?
ni’ ’untsu kwthu snuhwulh tst?
money
book
box
table
house
4.11–4.12 Pattern practices
4.11 -un’… ’ulup “your” plural.
The suffix -un’, which follows the determiner, expresses the meaning of second person singular possessive “your”. In order to express the meaning of second person plural possessive, that is something that belongs to “you (pl)”, add the particle ’ulup after the noun.
kwthun’ lelum’ulup
“your (pl) house”
kwthun’ snuhwulhulup
“your (pl) car”
4.12 Pattern practice.
Where is your (pl) car?
ni’ ’untsu’ kwthun’ snuhwulhulup?
table
money
book
shoes
4.13 Substitution drill.
Where is his car?
ni’ ’untsu kwthu snuhwulhs?
your
my
your (pl)
her
our
their
4.14 Vocabulary: locations.
sun’iw’
“in”
sts’uts’e’
“on”
si’q
“underneatth”
stl’pal’we’lh
“underneath (with weight bearing down)”
stslhal’we’lh
“above”, “up on top”
stutes
“next to”, “near”
s’a’kw’us
“hanging on”
4.15 Expressing locations
4.15a The verb of location can be followed by the noun phrase being talked about and then the location. The location is preceded by the preposition ’u.
sun’iw’ tthu xul’tun ’u tthu xthum.
“The pencil is inside the box.”
sts’uts’e’ tthu lukli ’u tthu lutem.
“The key is on the table.”
si’q tthun’ shtulelu ’u tthu shts’e’nutstun.
“Your purse is underneath the chair.”
stl’pal’we’lh tthunu pipu ’u tthu poukw.
“My paper is under the book.”
4.15b The opposite word order is also possible, the preposition plus noun phrase expressing location can precede the noun phrase.
sun’iw’ ’u tthu xthum tthu xul’tun.
“The pencil is inside the box.”
sts’uts’e’ ’u tthu lutem tthu lukli.
“The key is on the table.”
si’q ’u tthu shts’e’nutstun tthun’ shtulelu.
“Your purse is underneath the chair.”
stl’pal’we’lh ’u tthu poukw tthunu pipu.
“My paper is under the book.”
4.16–4.18 Pattern practices
4.16 Pattern practice.
Q: Where is my pen?
ni’ ’untsu kwthunu xul’tun?
A: It’s on the box.
sts’uts’e’ ’u tthu xthum.
inside
next to
underneath
4.17 Pattern practice.
Q: Where is my purse?
ni’ ’untsu kwthunu shtulelu?
A: On the chair.
sts’uts’e’ ’u tthu shts’e’nutstun.
underneath
near
hanging on
4.18 Pattern practice.
Your hat is on the table.
sts’uts’e’ ’u tthu lutem kwthun’ yasa’qw.
underneath the chair
in the car
underneath my coat
hanging on the door
4.19 Translation.
sun’iw’ kwthu xul’tun ’u tthu poukw.
si’q kwthun’ yasa’qw ’u tthu lutem.
sts’uts’e’ tthun’ wech ’u tthu li’lutem’.
stl’pal’we’lh kwthu lukli ’u tthun’ kupou.
The key is in my purse.
The pen is on the desk.
Your glasses are in the car.
Your gloves are under your sweater.
4.20 Translation.
ni’ ’untsu kwthunu shtutle’lu?
sts’uts’e’ ’u tthu lutem.
’e’ut ’i ’u tu’i tthun’ stekun.
si’q kwthun’ qwlhey’shun ’u tthu shts’e’nutstun.
Where is my money?
Your watch is in the car.
Here is your cane.
The paper is under my book.
4.21 Answer and translate.
ni’ ’untsu kwthun’ qwlhey’shun? “Where are your shoes?” si’q kwthunu qwlhey’shun ’u tthu lutem. “My shoes are underneath the table.”
