Lesson 22

22.1 Possession is predicated by the use of ⲟⲩⲛ̅- and ⲙⲛ̅- compounded with the preposition ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ, ⲛ̅ⲧⲁ⸗. There are two sets of forms:

(A) (B)
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ϯ- I have
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲕ̅- you have
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉ- etc.
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅-
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲥ̅-
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲛ̅-
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲏⲧⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅-
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩ-
ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the man has

And similarly for the negative: (A) ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ I do not have; (B) ⲙⲛ̅ϯ-. Set (B) is actually a reduced proclitic form of (A). Both sets may be accompanied by an untranslatable ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ (there).

If the possessor is pronominal (i.e. suffixal), an immediately following object is unmarked:

(A) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
(B) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅-ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
He has a wife.

But if some word intervenes (and this is possible only in set A), the object is marked with ⲛ̅ (ⲙ̅ⲙⲟ⸗).

(A) ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
He has a wife.

If the possessor is a noun, the object is usually not marked:

ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
The man has a wife.

Pronominal objects are used only with set (A) and are attached directly to the subject suffixes. These are generally limited to the third person forms:

m.s. -ϥ, -ⲥϥ̅
f.s. -ⲥ
ⲥ.pl. -ⲥⲟⲩ

as in ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓϥ̅, ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓⲥϥ̅ I have it (m.), ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕⲥ̅ you have it (f.), ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥⲥⲟⲩ he has them.

We have seen that the genitive is expressed with ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ after indefinite nouns (ⲟⲩϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣ̅ⲣⲟ), nouns with demonstrative prefixes (ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ), and nouns with a following modifier (ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ ϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ). ⲛ̅ⲧⲁ⸗ is used similarly when the possessor is pronominal:

ⲟⲩϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ
a servant of mine
ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲕ
this book of yours
ϣⲟⲙⲛ̅ⲧ ⲛ̅ ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ
three sons of his

ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ, ⲛ̅ⲧⲁ⸗ may be used predicatively:

ⲟⲩⲛ̅-ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ ⲏⲓ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ.
He has a large house.
ⲡⲏⲓ ⲉⲧ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ
the house that belongs to him

ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲁ⸗ is also sometimes used to predicate possession:

ⲙⲛ̅-ϩⲁⲧ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲁⲓ.
I have no money.

The occasional use of ⲙ̅ⲙⲟ⸗ to indicate possession should also be noted. We have already seen an instance of this in the idiom ⲟⲩⲛ̅-/ⲙⲛ̅-ϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟ⸗ lit., there is/is-not power in.

22.2 Possessive pronouns⬆

Possessive pronouns, corresponding to English mine, yours, his, hers, etc., are formed by adding the appropriate pronominal suffix to m.s. ⲡⲱ⸗, f.s. ⲧⲱ⸗, c.pl. ⲛⲟⲩ⸗; thus, ⲡⲱⲓ, ⲡⲱⲕ, ⲡⲱ, ⲡⲱϥ, ⲡⲱⲥ, ⲡⲱⲛ, ⲡⲱⲧⲛ̅, ⲡⲱⲟⲩ, and similarly for ⲧⲱ⸗ and ⲛⲟⲩ⸗. When used as predicates of ⲡⲉ- sentences, they serve to predicate possession:

ⲛ̅ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲛⲉ
the books which are his
ⲡⲱⲓ ⲡⲉ.
It is mine.
ⲡⲉⲓϫⲟⲓ ⲡⲱϥ ⲡⲉ.
This ship is his.
ⲛⲟⲩⲕ ⲛⲉ.
They are yours.
ⲧⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ.
It (f.) is yours.

The proclitic pronouns ⲡⲁ-, ⲧⲁ-, and ⲛⲁ- are used to express "that of, that which pertains or belongs to". Number and gender are determined by an understood or expressed antecedent. The exact meaning must be gained from the context:

ⲛⲁ-ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ
the affairs of my father
ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲁ-ⲡⲉϥⲥⲟⲛ
his children and those of his brother
ⲛⲁ-ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
the inhabitants of the city
ⲛⲁ-ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ
people of this sort

22.3 The qualitative (continued)⬆

Many intransitive verbs of motion or position (e.g. ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ, ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗, ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ) do not have a strong contrast in meaning between infinitive and qualitative, the process and state involved being about the same thing. ⲁϩⲉ and ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ are in fact qualitative forms that have usurped the role of the infinitives ⲱϩⲉ and ϩⲙ̅ⲥⲉ for all practical purposes. But note the following:

Inf. Q.
ⲃⲱⲕ ⲃⲏⲕ to be going, be on the way there
ⲉⲓ ⲛⲏⲩ to be coming, be on the way here, be about to come, be about to arrive
ⲡⲱⲧ ⲡⲏⲧ to be fleeing, running, in pursuit
ϩⲱⲛ ϩⲏⲛ to be near, nigh, at hand
ϭⲱ ϭⲉⲉⲧ to remain, wait, stay, be
ⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲙⲏⲛ to be enduring, lasting, continual
ⲁⲗⲉ ⲁⲗⲏⲩ to be riding, mounted

The infinitives ⲉⲓ and ⲃⲱⲕ may not be used in the First Present and Imperfect; only the qualitatives ⲛⲏⲩ and ⲃⲏⲕ appear in these conjugations. For the other verbs the qualitative is preferred, but the infinitive is also found. The future nuance of ⲛⲏⲩ is especially noteworthy.

There are many intransitive verbs for which the infinitive and qualitative bear a "becoming"/"being" relationship to each other:

Inf. ϣⲱⲡⲉ to become, come into existence
Q. ϣⲟⲟⲡ to be, to exist
Inf. ⲱⲱ to become pregnant
Q. ⲉⲉⲧ to be pregnant

Included among these are many verbs with -ⲟ- or -ⲁ- in the final stem syllable:

Inf. ⲛ̅ϣⲟⲧ to become hard
Q. ⲛⲁϣⲧ̅ to be hard
Inf. ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ to become well
Q. ⲟⲩⲟϫ to be well
Inf. ϩⲕⲟ to become hungry
Q. ϩⲕⲁⲉⲓⲧ to be hungry
Inf. ⲁⲓⲁⲓ to increase
Q. ⲟⲓ to be great
Inf. ⲟⲩⲟⲡ to become holy
Q. ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ to be holy

Vocabulary 22⬆

Exercises⬆

    1. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ. We have no peace here.
    2. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉ-ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̅ ϫⲟⲓ. My father has eight boats.
    3. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁⲧ. I have a little money.
    4. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ. He has many books.
    5. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ. They have six sheep.
    6. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲟⲉⲓⲕ. They don't have bread.
    7. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧϥ̅-ⲟⲩϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲁⲥ. He has an old cloak.
    8. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ? Do you (fm. sg.) have a husband?
    9. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲥⲁϣϥ̅ ⲛ̅ ϣⲏⲣⲉ. She has seven children.
    10. ⲟⲩⲛ̅ϯ-ⲟⲩϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲃⲣ̅ⲣⲉ. I have a new tunic.
    1. ⲡⲉⲓϭⲗⲟϭ ⲡⲱⲓ ⲡⲉ. ⲙ̅ ⲡⲱⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ. This bed is mine. It is not yours (ms. sg.).
    2. ⲡⲁϫⲟⲓ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲁ-ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ my boat and that of my brother
    3. ⲛⲁ-ⲡϣⲁ the matters of the festival
    4. ⲡⲉϥⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ his tomb and those of his ancestors
    5. ⲡⲁⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲁ-ⲛⲁϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ my bread and that of my friends
    6. ⲧⲉⲓⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲧⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ. This sword is yours (ms. sg.).
    7. ⲛⲉⲓⲁⲡⲏⲧ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲛⲉ. These cups are theirs.
    8. ⲡⲛⲟⲩϩ ⲡⲱⲛ ⲡⲉ. The rope is ours.
    9. ⲡⲉⲛⲏⲓ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲁ-ⲧⲉⲭⲏⲣⲁ our house and that of the widow
    10. ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲱ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ. The gold is not yours (fm. sg.).
    1. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲧ ϣⲱⲛⲉ. And immediately the sick man became well.
    2. ⲡⲟⲩⲣⲁⲛ ⲛⲁⲟⲩⲟⲡ ϫⲓⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ. Your (fm. sg.) name will become hallowed from now to eternity.
    3. ⲁϥⲁⲓⲁⲓ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ. The man increased in his days (i.e., he got older).
    4. ⲁⲛⲕⲟⲧⲛ̅ ⲉ ⲕⲏⲙⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ. We returned to Egypt hurriedly.
    5. ⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲁϥⲙ̅ⲕⲁϩ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲉϫⲱⲛ. The task became very difficult for us.
    6. ⲛⲥ̅ⲙⲟⲧⲛ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛϥⲓ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲓⲙ̅ⲕⲟⲟϩ. It is not easy for us to tolerate these difficulties.
    7. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲥⲉ-ⲏⲣⲡ̅ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲁϩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̅. He did not ever drink wine in his whole life.
    8. ⲁ-ⲡϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲣ̅ⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ ⲕⲏⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ϣⲟⲧ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲩ. The heart of the king of Egypt became hardened against them.
    9. ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲟϫ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲏⲣⲉ. Your (ms. sg.) children are well.
    10. ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲧ̅. His words and his works are harsh.
    11. ⲥⲙⲟⲕϩ̅ ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲁ-ⲛⲉⲕϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ. It is difficult for me to believe your (ms. sg.) words and those of your friends.
    12. ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉⲧ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ. He became filled with the holy spirit.
    13. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̅ⲡⲱϩ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ, ⲁ-ⲡⲁϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̅ⲧⲟⲛ. When we reached the city, my heart became relieved.
    14. ⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ. Write to us about your (ms. sg.) health.
    15. ϯⲛⲁⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ ⲉⲧ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ. I will bless your (ms. sg.) holy name.
    16. ⲛⲉⲛϫⲓϫⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲟϣ. Our enemies are many.
    17. ⲡⲁⲁϩⲉ ϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. My life is finished.
    18. ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ ⲟⲩⲏⲛ. The door of his house is open.
    19. ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲟⲓ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲓⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̅. His name is great in this whole region.
    20. ⲁⲩⲕⲁ-ⲡⲉϥⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲙ̅ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ. His throne was set upon the platform.
    1. ⲛⲉⲛϩⲧⲱⲱⲣ ϩⲕⲁⲉⲓⲧ. Our horses are hungry.
    2. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲁⲗⲏⲩ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲱ. Jesus was mounted upon a donkey.
    3. ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲉⲧ. His wife is pregnant.
    4. ⲛⲉⲩϭⲉⲉⲧ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲩⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ. They were staying with their relatives.
    5. ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲟⲟⲡ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ ⲡⲉ. Their sheep were in the field.
    6. ⲧϭⲓϫ ⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛⲉⲥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁϥ ⲡⲉ. The hand of the Lord was with him.
    7. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲓⲥⲉ ϩⲏⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ. The day of her labor was at hand.
    8. ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉ ⲣⲁⲕⲟⲧⲉ. The governor is coming to Alexandria.
    9. ⲛⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ϫⲁⲓⲉ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲗ̅. He was in the deserts until the day of his appearance to / in Israel.
    10. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡⲏⲧ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ. Many men were running on the road.
    11. ⲛ̅ϯ-ϩⲕⲁⲉⲓⲧ ⲁⲛ. I am not hungry.
    12. ⲛⲉⲩϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. They were both righteous in the presence of God.
    13. ⲛ̅ϣⲟⲟⲥ ⲃⲏⲕ ⲉ ⲡϯⲙⲉ. The shepherds are going to the village.
    14. ⲟⲩⲛ̅-ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲃ̅ⲧ ϩⲛ̅ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ. There are many fish in the sea.
    15. ⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ ⲛⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ. The monk was sitting down in his cell.
    16. ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲁⲗⲏⲩ ϩⲓϫⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲓ. The soldiers are riding on the boat.
    17. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ ϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ. The priest was praying when I came in.
    18. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ ⲥⲏϥⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥϭⲓϫ. A great sword was in his hands.
    19. ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙⲏⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϣⲁ ⲛⲓⲉⲛⲉϩ. The law of the Lord endures forever.
    20. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⲥⲉⲉⲧ, ⲁϥⲛ̅ⲧⲥ̅ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ. When he saw that she was pregnant, he brought her to his house.