Unit 4: Nominal Sentences
- Unit 4 Vocabulary
- Lesson 1: Nominal Tripartite Sentences (Definite Predicate)
- Lesson 2: Nominal Tripartite Sentences (Indefinite Predicate)
- Lesson 3: Nominal Bipartite Sentences
- Lesson 4: Negative Nominal Sentence Construction
- Lesson 5: Relative Nominal Sentence Construction
- Lesson 6: Interrogatives
Unit 4 Vocabulary
Numbers (1-10)
Masculine | Feminine | English | |
ⲁ̅ | ⲟⲩⲁⲓ | ⲟⲩⲓ | One |
ⲃ̅ | ̀ⲥⲛⲁⲩ | ̀ⲥⲛⲟⲩϯ | Two |
ⲅ̅ | ϣⲟⲙⲧ | ϣⲟⲙϯ | Three |
ⲇ̅ | ̀ϥⲧⲟⲩ | ̀ϥⲧⲟⲩ̀ⲉ | Four |
ⲉ̅ | ̀ⲧⲓⲟⲩ | ϯ̀ⲉ | Five |
ⲋ̅ | ⲥⲟⲟⲩ | ⲥⲟ | Six |
ⲍ̅ | ϣⲁϣϥ | ϣⲁϣϥⲓ | Seven |
ⲏ̅ | ̀ϣⲙⲏⲛ | ̀ϣⲙⲏⲛⲓ | Eight |
ⲑ̅ | ⲯⲓⲧ | ⲯⲓϯ | Nine |
ⲓ̅ | ⲙⲏⲧ | ⲙⲏϯ | Ten |
Occupational Nouns
Coptic | English | Gender | Irregular Plural |
ⲃⲱⲕ | servant | M | ⲉⲃⲓⲁⲓⲕ |
ⲃⲱⲕⲓ | servant | F | ⲉⲃⲓⲁⲓⲕ |
ⲥⲁϧ | writer | M/F | ⲥϧⲟⲩⲓ |
ⲣⲉϥⲱϣ | reader | M | |
ⲁⲛⲁⲅⲛⲱⲥⲧⲏⲥ | reader | M | |
ⲣⲉϥϩⲱⲥ | singer | M | |
ⲣⲉϥϯⲥⲃⲱ | teacher | M | |
ⲣⲉϥⲉⲣϩⲓⲕⲱⲛ | iconographer | M | |
ⲥⲏⲓⲛⲓ | physician | M/F | |
ⲣⲉϥϯⲱⲙⲥ | baptizer | M | |
ⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ | prophet | M/F | |
ⲓⲉⲣⲟⲯⲁⲗⲧⲏⲥ | psalmist | M | |
ⲙⲁⲛⲉⲥⲱⲟⲩ | shepherd/shepherdess | M/F | |
ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲇⲓⲁⲕⲱⲛ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲟⲥ |
archdeacon | M | |
ⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲟⲥ | deacon | M | |
ⲟⲩⲏⲃ | priest | M | |
ⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ | presbyter (priest) | M | |
ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ | bishop | M | |
ⲙⲉⲧⲣⲟⲡⲟⲗⲓⲧⲏⲥ | metropolitan | M | |
ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓⲁⲣⲭⲏⲥ | patriarch | M | |
ⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ | monastic | M/F | |
ⲁⲥⲕⲏⲧⲏⲥ | hermit | M | |
ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲙⲁⲛ̀ⲇⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ | archimandrite | M | |
ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ | apostle | M | |
ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ | disciple | M | |
ⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲥⲧⲏⲥ | evangelist | M | |
ⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ | martyr | M/F | |
ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ | beloved | M/F | ⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ |
ⲥⲧⲣⲁⲧⲓⲗⲁⲧⲏⲥ | general | M |
Lesson 1: Nominal Tripartite Sentences (Definite Predicate)
Sentences
A sentence is a set of words that contains a subject (what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what is said about the subject). The predicate always contains a verb.
- This is a sentence.
- "This" is the subject
- "is a sentence" is the predicate.
- "is" is the verb
- That man is the ruler.
- "That man" is the subject
- "is the ruler" is the predicate
- "is" is the verb
- John and Mike read many books this summer.
- "John and Mike" are the subject
- "read many books this summer" is the predicate
- "read" is the verb
- Smoke rises.
- "Smoke" is the subject
- "rises" is the verb which serves as the whole predicate
- The boy is riding his bike down a long, windy road without stopping
- "The boy" is the subject
- Everything else is the predicate
Nominal Sentences
In Coptic, a sentence can be made in which a noun or noun equivalent serves as the predicate (i.e. without the use of a verb). This is called a Nominal Sentence. In English, this would look something like: "Very interesting, those books!" The subject is "those books" and the predicate is "very interesting." The verb is implied to be "be (is/are)" (i.e. "Those books 'are' very interesting.").
In Coptic, there are three patterns of nominal sentences:
- A B (Bipartite)
- A <copula> B (Tripartite)
- A B <copula> (Tripartite)
Copula
The copula is a connecting word; in particular, it is a form of the verb "to be" connecting a subject and a complement. In English, an example would be "You smell nice." Instead of "Your smell is nice" which uses the "is" conjugation of the verb "be," "smell" acts as a copula.
In Coptic, there are three copulas.
Masculine (am/is) | Feminine (am/is) | Plural (are) |
ⲡⲉ | ⲧⲉ | ⲛⲉ |
In this section, we will study a couple forms of a tripartite sentence. In a future lesson, we will look at bipartite sentences. Tripartite sentences have three components:
- Subject
- Copula
- Predicate
It can take on several forms depending on whether the predicate is definite or indefinite. The rules for choosing the gender and number of the copula are as follows:
- When both the subject and object are nouns and agree in gender and number with each other, the copula will also agree in gender and number with them.
- If there is a disagreement in gender or number, then the copula in the masculine form (ⲡⲉ) is used.
- If the subject is a pronoun in the 1st or 2nd person (i.e. ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ̀ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ̀ⲛⲑⲟ ̀ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ) then the masculine singular form (ⲡⲉ) is used regardless of the gender and number of the object.
In a sentence, the subject is who or what the sentence is about (and more specifically, the noun or pronoun that performs the verb in the sentence); the predicate gives more information about the subject. For example, in English:
- "The man is a teacher" - the subject is "the man" and the verb here is "is" so the (indefinite) predicate is "a teacher."
- "The teacher is a man" - the subject is "the teacher" and the (indefinite) predicate is "a man."
- "The teacher is the man" - the subject is "the teacher" and the (definite) predicate is "the man."
- "This man is a teacher" - the subject is "This man", the verb is "is" and the (indefinite) predicate is "a teacher."
- "This man is my teacher" - the subject is "This man", the verb is "is" and the (definite) predicate is "my teacher."
Definite Predicate
There are several forms of a nominal tripartite sentence. The first structure is used when both the subject and the object are definite noun phrases. At this point, we can define a "definite noun phrase" as any of the following; nouns with a definite article, nouns with a possessive article, nouns with a demonstrative article, pronouns.
Note that the word "predicate" is the more accurate term for what is referred to as the "object" below. However, "predicate" has a different meaning in Coptic than in English. In English, the "predicate" includes the verb (or copula). For that reason, I've chosen to use the word "object."
<Definite Subject> <Copula> <Definite Predicate>
<Definite Predicate> <Copula> <Definite Subject>
Definite Subject | Copula | Definite Object | Translation |
ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | This man is my father |
ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | ⲡⲓⲓⲱⲧ | This man is the father |
ⲧⲁⲓ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | ⲧⲉ | ϯⲙⲁⲩ | This woman is the mother |
ⲧⲁⲓ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | ⲧⲉ | ⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲩ | This woman is their mother |
ⲛⲁⲓⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲓⲁⲛⲟⲥ | ⲛⲉ | ⲛⲉⲛϣⲏⲣⲓ ̀ⲙⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ | These Christians are the children of God |
ϯⲟⲩⲣⲱ | ⲧⲉ | ⲧⲁ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | The queen is my mother |
What is the difference between the subject and object in this case? How do you know if the noun is the subject or the object? Does it even matter?
Consider the following [English] sentence: "I am the ruler." - What is the subject and what is the predicate/object? It is ambiguous! If the sentence is in response to the question "Who is the ruler?," then "the ruler" is the subject and "I" is the object. If the sentence is in response to the question "Who are you?" then "I" is the subject and "the ruler" is the object.
Application
Application 1:
This is an excerpt from the Reconciliation Prayer of the Liturgy of St Gregory.
ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲥⲁϩⲛⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ̀ⲫⲣⲉϥϯ ̀ⲛⲛⲓ̀ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ | For you are the provider and the giver of all goodness |
Application 2:
This is an excerpt from the Diptych of the Liturgy of St Gregory.
̀ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉ ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲏⲧ | For you are God the merciful |
Application 3:
The hymn ⲡⲓ̀ϩⲗⲟϫ.
Biblical Examples
̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ̀ⲡⲥⲱϯ ̀ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ | He is the propitiation of our sins (1 John 2:2) |
Exercises
Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic
Translate the following into Coptic:
Exercise 2: Translate to English
Translate the following phrases into English:
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲁⲗⲟⲩ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟⲥ ⲧⲉ ϯ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲛ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟ ⲧⲉ ϯⲥⲱⲛⲓ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲓϩⲓⲟⲙⲓ
Exercise 3: Practice Text
Translate the following text:
ⲱ ⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲩ ̀ⲧ̀ⲁⲅⲓ̀ⲁ Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ϯⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ̀ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ̀ⲛⲑⲟ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲩ. ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲓϣⲏⲣⲓ ̀ⲙⲡⲉϣⲏⲣⲓ ̀ⲙⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧ. ̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ̀ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥ̀ⲉⲃⲓⲁⲓⲕ. ̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ̀ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲓ. |
Resources
- "A Study in Bohairic Coptic" by Nabil Matar; p162
- See Moawad Daoud Lesson 2
- See Sameh Younan page 59 in the PDF
- ACTS 2990 Introduction to the Coptic Language (Bohairic) with Hany Takla Lesson 3A
Lesson 2: Nominal Tripartite Sentences (Indefinite Predicate)
Indefinite Predicate Sentences
There are two forms of nominal tripartite sentences when the object is indefinite. These forms are translated to English in the same way as the ones with a definite object.
The forms are:
<Definite Subject> <Indefinite Object> <Copula>
<Definite Subject> | <Indefinite Object> | ⲡⲉ/ⲧⲉ/ⲛⲉ | Translation |
ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | my father is a man |
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | I am a man |
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | ⲟⲩ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | ⲧⲉ | I am a woman |
̀ⲛⲑⲟⲥ | ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲩ | ⲧⲉ | She is a mother |
̀ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ | ϩⲁⲛϩⲓⲟⲙⲓ | ⲛⲉ | They are women |
̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ | ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϯⲥⲃⲱ | ⲡⲉ | He is a teacher |
ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲟⲩⲥⲏⲓⲛⲓ | ⲡⲉ | This man is a physician |
ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ | ⲟⲩⲥⲏⲓⲛⲓ | ⲡⲉ | My brother is a physician |
ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | ⲟⲩⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ | ⲡⲉ | My father is a presbyter (priest) |
<Indefinite Object> <Copula> <Definite Subject>
<Indefinite Object> | ⲡⲉ/ⲧⲉ/ⲛⲉ | <Definite Subject> | Translation |
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | my father is a man |
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | I am a man |
ⲟⲩ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | ⲧⲉ | ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | I am a woman |
Application
Application 1:
This is an excerpt from
Application 2:
This is an excerpt from
Biblical Examples
ⲧⲉϥϩⲉⲃⲥⲱ ⲟⲩ̀ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛϥⲱⲓ ̀ⲛϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ ⲧⲉ | His clothing is from camel hairs (Matthew 3:4) |
ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲟⲩ̀ⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⲡⲉ | Joseph, her husband, was a righteous [person] (Matthew 1:19) |
ⲟⲩ̀ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲡⲉ | He is the one from a holy spirit (Matthew 1:20) |
ⲟⲩ̀ⲙϩⲁⲩ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲏⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲧⲟⲩ̀ϣⲃⲱⲃⲓ | an open tomb is their throat (Psalms 13:4) |
ⲛⲓϩⲁⲡ ̀ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ϩⲁⲛϩⲁⲡ ̀ⲙⲙⲏⲓ ⲛⲉ | The judgments of the Lord are true judgments (Psalms 18:9) |
Exercises
Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic
Translate the following into Coptic:
Exercise 2: Translate to English
Translate the following phrases into English:
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲁⲗⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟⲥ ⲟⲩ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ ⲧⲉ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲛ ⲡⲉ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲟ ⲟⲩⲥⲱⲛⲓ ⲧⲉ
- ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲁⲛ̀ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲉ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛⲉ
- ̀ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ ϩⲁⲛϩⲓⲟⲙⲓ ⲛⲉ
Exercise 3: Practice Text
Translate the following text:
Resources
- "A Study in Bohairic Coptic" by Nabil Matar; p162
- See Moawad Daoud Lesson 2
- See Sameh Younan page 59 in the PDF
- ACTS 2990 Introduction to the Coptic Language (Bohairic) with Hany Takla Lesson 3A
Lesson 3: Nominal Bipartite Sentences
Nominal Bipartite Sentences
In the previous lessons, we studied several forms of Nominal Tripartite Sentences. They are enumerated here:
<Definite Subject> <Copula> <Definite Object>
<Definite Object> <Copula> <Definite Subject>
<Definite Subject> <Indefinite Object> <Copula>
<Indefinite Object> <Copula> <Definite Subject>
We defined a Tripartite Sentence as a sentence with three parts (hence the name), so naturally a Bipartite Sentence will be a sentence with two parts. We'll use the same building blocks as in the last two lessons.
We have two forms of Nominal Bipartite Sentences:
<Subject> <Object>
In this sentence structure, the copula or the "is/am/are" is assumed and understood by the context of the sentence. This structure is common found with personal pronouns as the subject, although it could be used with a regular definite noun as the subject. This structure is also commonly found when a demonstrative pronoun is the object.
<Subject> | <Object> | Translation |
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | ⲟⲩ̀ⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ | I am a prophet |
̀ⲛⲑⲟⲕ | ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ | You are the Christ |
ⲁⲛⲟⲛ | ϩⲁⲛⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ | We are Jews |
ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲓ | ⲫⲁⲓ | This is my son |
ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲟⲩ̀ⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ | The man is a prophet |
<Object> <Copula>
In this sentence structure, the subject is assumed to be the relevant pronoun (i.e. it, he, they, etc.), and the object is what is specified. The object here can be an indefinite noun, a definite noun, a possessive noun, a pronoun, etc.
<Object> | <Copula> | Translation |
ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | ⲡⲉ | he is my father |
ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲩ | ⲧⲉ | she is my mother |
ⲛⲁ̀ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ | ⲛⲉ | they are my brothers |
ⲡⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉ | ⲡⲉ | he is the wise one |
ϯⲥⲁⲃⲏ | ⲧⲉ | she is the wise one |
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ | ⲡⲉ | he is a man |
ⲟⲩ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | ⲧⲉ | she is a woman |
ϩⲁⲛⲉϫⲏⲟⲩ | ⲛⲉ | they are ships |
ⲫⲁⲓ | ⲡⲉ | this is it (m.) |
ⲑⲁⲓ | ⲧⲉ | this is it (f.) |
ⲛⲁⲓ | ⲛⲉ | they are these |
Naturally, this would take on a different translation when the object is a personal pronoun (since it doesn't make much sense to say "he is him" or "she is her").
<Object> | <Copula> | Translation |
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | ⲡⲉ | it is I |
ⲁⲛⲟⲛ | ⲛⲉ | it is us |
̀ⲛⲑⲟⲕ | ⲡⲉ | it is you (m.) |
̀ⲛⲑⲟ | ⲧⲉ | it is you (f.) |
̀ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ | ⲛⲉ | it is you (pl.) |
̀ⲛⲑⲟϥ | ⲡⲉ | it is him |
̀ⲛⲑⲟⲥ | ⲧⲉ | it is her |
̀ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ | ⲛⲉ | it is them |
Application
Application 1:
This is an excerpt from <>.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic
Translate the following into Coptic:
Exercise 2: Translate to English
Translate the following phrases into English:
Resources
"A Study in Bohairic Coptic" by Nabil Matar; p162
See Moawad Daoud Lesson 2
See Sameh Younan page 59 in the PDF
ACTS 2990 Introduction to the Coptic Language (Bohairic) with Hany Takla Lesson 3A
Lesson 4: Negative Nominal Sentence Construction
Indefinite Pronoun -ⲕⲉ-
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to any person, place, or thing in particular. Some examples of indefinite pronouns in English are: "anything" - "something" - "anyone" - "anywhere" - "someone" - "somewhere" - etc. The infix -ⲕⲉ- is a noninflectional word element that is inserted between the noun prefix and the noun. It expresses the meaning "other" and can be used with definite or indefinite articles, demonstrative articles and possessive articles.
ⲡⲓⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲓ | the other man | Definite Article (m.) |
ⲛⲓⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲓ | the other men | Definite Article (f.) |
ϯⲕⲉ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ | the other woman | Definite Article (pl.) |
ⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲓ* | another man | Indefinite Article (s.) |
ϩⲁⲛⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲓ | some other men | Indefinite Article (pl.) |
ⲡⲁⲓⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲓ | this other man | Demonstrative Article (m.) |
ⲡⲁⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲓ | my other man | Possessive Article (1s.) |
*Note that for the singular indefinite noun, the singular indefinite article ⲟⲩ is dropped. However, in the case of the plural, the plural indefinite article ϩⲁⲛ is kept.
Nominal Sentences: Negative Construction
All of the nominal sentences we have taken so far are of positive construction (e.g. "This man is my father"). Negating the sentence (e.g. "This man is not my father") is achieved by placing the particle ̀ⲛ (sometimes ̀ⲙ) before the object and ⲁⲛ before the copula. Below, we will discuss negating both types of bipartite sentences, and all four types of tripartite sentences that we have taken thus far.
When do we use ̀ⲛ versus ̀ⲙ? ̀ⲙ is used when the following letter is: ⲙ ⲡ ⲃ ⲫ ⲯ
<Object> <Copula>
ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ | he is my father |
̀ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ | he is not my father |
ⲟⲩⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ | he is a bishop |
̀ⲛⲟⲩⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ | he is not a bishop |
<Subject><Object>
This sentence type cannot be negated. To negate it, you will need a copula which will make it a tripartite sentence.
<Definite Subject> <Copula> <Definite Object>
ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | this man is my father |
ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ̀ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | this man is not my father |
ⲫⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ | this is the man |
ⲫⲁⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ̀ⲙⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ | this is not the man |
<Definite Object> <Copula> <Definite Subject>
ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | my father is this man |
̀ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ | my father is not this man |
<Definite Subject> <Indefinite Object> <Copula>
ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲩ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϧ ⲧⲉ | my mother is a teacher |
ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲩ ̀ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲁϧ ⲁⲛ ⲧⲉ | my mother is not a teacher |
<Indefinite Object> <Copula> <Definite Subject>
ⲟⲩ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | I am a woman |
̀ⲛⲟⲩ̀ⲥϩⲓⲙⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ | I am not a woman |
Application
Application 1:
This is an excerpt from the Orthodox Creed.
ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ̀ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ: ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϯ ̀ⲛⲧⲁ̀ⲫⲙⲏⲓ ̀ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϯ ̀ⲛⲧⲁ̀ⲫⲙⲏⲓ. ⲟⲩⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲑⲁⲙⲓⲟ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ: ⲟⲩ̀ⲟⲙⲟⲟⲩⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲙ ̀ⲫⲓⲱⲧ | light of light; true God of true God; begotten not created, of one essence with the Father |
- ⲟⲩⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲡⲉ - he is begotten
- ⲟⲩⲑⲁⲙⲓⲟ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ - he is not created
- ⲟⲩ̀ⲟⲙⲟⲟⲩⲥⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲙ ̀ⲫⲓⲱⲧ - he is one essence with the father
Exercises
Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic
Translate the following into Coptic:
Exercise 2: Translate to English
Translate the following phrases into English:
Resources
"A Study in Bohairic Coptic" by Nabil Matar; p162
See Moawad Daoud Lesson 2
See Sameh Younan page 59 in the PDF
ACTS 2990 Introduction to the Coptic Language (Bohairic) with Hany Takla Lesson 3A
Lesson 5: Relative Nominal Sentence Construction
Interrogative Form
Application
Application 1:
This is an excerpt from <>.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic
Translate the following into Coptic:
Exercise 2: Translate to English
Translate the following phrases into English:
Resources
"A Study in Bohairic Coptic" by Nabil Matar; p162
See Moawad Daoud Lesson 2
See Sameh Younan page 59 in the PDF
ACTS 2990 Introduction to the Coptic Language (Bohairic) with Hany Takla Lesson 3A
Lesson 6: Interrogatives
Interrogative Form
Application
Application 1:
This is an excerpt from <>.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Translate to Coptic
Translate the following into Coptic:
Exercise 2: Translate to English
Translate the following phrases into English:
Resources
"A Study in Bohairic Coptic" by Nabil Matar; p162
See Moawad Daoud Lesson 2
See Sameh Younan page 59 in the PDF
ACTS 2990 Introduction to the Coptic Language (Bohairic) with Hany Takla Lesson 3A