Person Markers

• A person marker is also focus marker, but there are two types, singular and plural.

• ‘i’ and ‘iyo’ are singular and plural markers used to indicate that a person/persons
is/are ‘in-focused’.

• ‘di’ and ‘diyo’ are singular and plural markers used to indicate that a
person/persons is/are NOT ‘in-focused’.

1. Makan i Anna. (singular)

(Anna eats- focus on Anna)

2. Makan iyo Anna di Ah Meng. (plural)

(Anna and Meng eat- focus on Anna and Meng)

3. Akanon di Anna i sada. (Singular)

(Anna eats the fish –focus on the fish)

4. Akanon diyo Anna di Meng i sada. (plural)

(Anna and Meng eat the fish- focus on the fish)

Summary of Focus/Person Markers Definite

Definite Non-defonite
Singular Focus i o
(person/things)
Non-Focus di do
Plural (person Focus iyo
only) Non-Focus diyo

1. Mongoi ____ Mary sikul do jaam koturu’ do tikid kosuabon.

a) di b) i c) o d) do

2. Momoli i Jaipol ____ lansat di tamanonku.

a) di b) i c) o d) diyo
3. Momoli i aman _____ korita wagu.

a) - b) i c) o d) do

4. Tinanaman di Kisi ____ parai, luong om mundok _____ kabun disio.

a) di, do b) i, do c) o,i d) do,i

5. Nowonsoi ku no ___________ karaja sikul ku ________ konihab.

a) o, i b) o, do c) i, di d) do, di

6. Songkuro ___________ gatang diti tindalam?

a) di b) i c) o d) do

7. Mongoi ko hilo id London __________suab?

a) di b) i c) o d) do

8. Haro o tolu o guas do bunga do pointanom id doros do lamin _____ Maria.

a) o b) i c) do d) di

9. Tama ku nopo nga songulun _________ mongingia.

a) o b) do c) di d) i

10. Mokiboli oku ___ Anna ________ sangkaping o sokulit.

a) di, do b) do, i c) i, o d) di, di