Appendix:Grammar/Genitive construction

In Zekaisivarsi, a genitive construction (iyakai) is a string of substantives that expresses some type of relationship between the substantives in the construction, such as possession, kinship, companionship, dependency, or other relationship. In any genitive construction, there is a head or governor, the main noun, and a dependent, the noun that modifies the main noun.
== Syntax of iyakai ==
In iyakai, the head is typically in the absolutive or ergative case and precedes the dependent which is in the construct form.
ye eipaj: my hand (literally, "I hand") In this phrase, ye is the head, the main noun, and eipaj is the dependent. 
This structure conveys that I do something with my hand, and therefore my hand depends on me.
== Possession ==
Iyakai is often used to indicate possession, the ownership or control by a person of a thing. Zekaisivarsi differentiates between types of possession, ya-/ei- possession and na possession (and in some lects, aaj possession).
=== Ya-/ei- possession ===
The prefixes ya- and ei- indicate possession of something that is an inherent characteristic of a person, a body part, size, or a name. It is also used with things that provide sustenance and necessities, such as food, water, and shelter to indicate that those things are being used for such purpose. 
Ya- attaches to dependent nouns that possess something, whereas ei- attaches to dependent nouns that are possessed by someone. 
* yaye miens rhai: with my head, I think. 
* ye eipam pami: I walk with my foot. 
=== Na possession ===
The particle na indicates possession of something that can be controlled, especially something that is produced or used by a person but not actually part of the person.
* uikai na yer: my book, book of me (emphasizes book)
* ye na uikai: my book, book of me (emphasizes owner of book, me)
=== Aaj possession ===
The particle aaj indicates that someone possesses a thing but does not own it and is often used with creative works or things that one borrows. It is distinguished from na in the sense of true ownership
*uikai aaj ye: my book (it's in my possession, but not written by me)
For dialects without aaj, ya-/ei- indicates possession without ownership, and na indicates ownership with possession. 
== Kinship ==
Iyakai also indicates familial relations, or kinship. The prefix ya- denotes that one is related to another.
* binyah yarisi mother of Risi
In the above construction, binyah governs the noun yarisi. Yarisi shows that Risi is related to her mother.
Category:Grammar
Category:Appendicies