Exercise V.
I see the children to whom you have given the books, and I have met also with the men to whom you have spoken. The wise men understand the high explanations. The merciful man helps to his neighbour—What have you to do?—I have to speak to the men—When have you to speak to them?—This evening—At what o'clock?—At half past eight—Have you my shirt or my sister's?—I have both—Have you the golden ribbons of my mother?—I have not them—Who has them?—My sister has them—Do you wish to go out?—I wish not to go out—Why?—Because I am sick.
Sixth Lesson
Diminutive adjectives.
l.a The diminutive adjectives not only express diminution, but also an accessory idea of either tenderness, love or contempt.
The diminutives are formed in Bisaya by means of the adjective diutay. When they have but two syllables, are formed by duplicating the root, and also, by placing the syllables la, li, lo, after the first letter of the root, Ex:
| Small horse. | Diutay nga cabayo. |
| Small eyes. | Mata mata. |
| Small house. | Balay balay. |
| Slight fault. | Sayop nga diutay. |
2.a The adjectives of ma, become diminutives by putting before, the particle malo, as:
| Somewhat valiant. | Malomaisug. |
| Somewhat fat. | Matolotambuc. |
3.a The same adjectives become diminutives by duplicating the root, as:
| Somewhat sweet. | Matam-istam-is. |
| Somewhat bitter. | Mapait-pait. |
4.a Adding a, to the nouns, are formed diminutives expressing contempt or disregard, as:
| Worthless woman. | Babayeha. |
| Nag. | Cabayoa. |
5.a When this letter a is added, but not in contemptible sense, serves to point out that the subject or object is unknown to us, as:
| What kind of medicine is that? | ¿Onsa nga tambala cana? |
| What kind of tree is that? | ¿Onsa ba ang calainan nianang cahuya? |