111. An entire predication may be used as subject, predicate, 15or attribute in a longer sentence. The use of such subordinate predications is, however, limited (as opposed, e. g., to English usage) by the habit of freely using transient words (with their modifiers) as attributes: aŋ súpot naŋ kwaltà na kanila ŋ ibinigày pagdáka sa kanila ŋ magúlaŋ the bag of money by-them given 20at once to their parents, i. e. ... which they gave.... It is limited, further, by the freedom of omitting anaphoric elements (§ [87]): Aŋ púnoʾ ay tumúbo haŋgàŋ sa magbúŋa. The tree grew until (sc. it, subject) bore fruit.
112. Predications as predicates occur very frequently. Aŋ 25ginawá nya ay umalìs sya. That done by-him (subject) was went-away he (predication, as predicate), i. e. What he did was, he went away. Aŋ mabúti ay itápun nilà aŋ maŋa bátaʾ. The best thing (to do) was that they should abandon the children. Aŋ ísip ko y balat lámaŋ naŋ itlòg itò. My thought was (i. e. I 30thought) this was only an egg-shell.
113. Especially common is a whole predication as a predicate describing or characterizing the subject: Aŋ kúba ay mahínaʾ aŋ katawàn. The hunchback was: weak was his body, i. e. was weak of body. Aŋ ikapitu ŋ bátaʾ ay hindí kináin aŋ kanya 35ŋ tinápay. The seventh child was: not was-eaten his bread, i. e. did not eat his bread. Aŋ isa nyà ŋ anàk ay pitò nà ŋ taòn aŋ gúlaŋ. His one child was now seven years of age. This construction, together with the use of impersonal expressions (§ [84]) makes possible such a sentence as: Aŋ maŋa karitòn ... ay gabì kuŋ 40ipalákad. The wagons ... were: it-was-night when (sc. they, anaphoric subject) were-made-to-go, i. e. The wagons were driven at night.
114. Direct quotations as predicates are frequent: “Isà!” aŋ sábi naŋ bulàg. “One!” was what the blindman said. “Túnay bagà ŋ akò y inìíbig mo?” aŋ tanòŋ naŋ dalága ni Andrès sa kanyà. “Is it really true that you love me?” was the question 5of Andrés’ young lady to him.
115. A predication as subject is rare: Mabúti táyo y dumoòn sa isa ŋ lugàr.... It is best (predicate) that we go to a place.... Hindí bihíraʾ aŋ maŋa táo y naŋhùhúle naŋ buhày na uŋgòʾ. It is not rare that people go catching live monkeys. 10It will be noted that these predications are not objectivized, cf. § [88].
116. Occasionally, however, the predication used as subject is objectivized: Hindí bihíraʾ aŋ magkalunòd aŋ maŋa táo. It is not rare that people get drowned, or The occurrence that people 15get drowned is not rare. Súkat nà aŋ ikàw ay magpasalámat. It is fitting now that you be thankful.
117. For predications as attributes see the section on attribution.
e. Omission of predicate.
20118. The use of a predicate, or of the central element of a predicate is (like that of any other element, § [87]) optional when, if used, it would be anaphoric: (Si Hwàn namàn ay sumagòt: “Matàr!” at sa hulè) si Andrès aŋ kanya ŋ “Sì!” (Then Juan answered “Matar!” and last) Andrés his “Si!” The form of 25the sentence with the predicate (which is anaphoric from the preceding sumagòt answered) would be: ... si Andrès ay isinagòt aŋ kanya ŋ “Sì!” ... Andrés was: was-answered his “Si!”, i. e. Andrés answered his “Si!”,—a sentence of the kind described in § [113].