SpanishLesson 2 of 3 in the course Spanish syntax

Copulas Across Romance: Latin Origins and Language-Specific Uses

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces the copula and explains why several Romance languages developed more than one way to express English to be. The story begins with three Latin verbs and their changing meanings.

A copula links a sentence’s subject to a complement that describes, identifies, or locates that subject. In Mira is tired, is links Mira with the description tired. In Mira is a teacher, it links the subject to the identity a teacher.

All flashcards

What is the broad contrast between Spanish ser and estar?
Ser commonly presents identity or a characteristic; estar commonly presents a state, condition, or physical location.
What did Latin sedēre mean, and how did it affect some Romance copulas?
It meant ‘to sit’; sound similarities helped some of its forms become integrated into the developing verb that led to ser.
What is the main copula in modern French?
Être; French has one main copula after historical forms merged.
What is the dominant copula in Sicilian?
Siri; stari has narrower functions, including forming progressives and meaning ‘reside’.
What is suppletion?
The use of forms from different historical roots within one grammatical paradigm.

Quiz questions

  1. Which Spanish copula forms the eventive passive when the subject receives an action?Answer: Ser, as in a form of ser plus a past participle.
  2. Which Spanish copula is normally used to locate an event, such as a party?Answer: Ser.
  3. In Portuguese, which verb can mean ‘become’ and can also function as a location verb?Answer: Ficar.
  4. Which Italian verb forms progressive constructions when followed by a gerund?Answer: Stare.
  5. The infinitive history of Romanian a fi is connected to which Latin verb?Answer: Fieri.

Based on the Wikipedia article Romance copula, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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