This prefix identifies the subject of the verb by a pronoun.
In Bininj Kunwok, these are a compulsory part of the verb phrase (except for 3rd person in past tense constructions).
The following chart shows the full range of pronominal prefixes alongside the independent pronouns that are sometimes used for emphasis:
|
SUBJECT (intr) |
INDEPENDENT |
ENGLISH |
||
|
1st person |
SINGULAR |
nga- |
ngaye |
I, me |
|
DUAL INC |
ngarr- |
ngarrku |
I + you |
|
|
DUAL EXC |
ngane- |
ngarrewoneng |
I + 1 other (not you) |
|
|
TRIAL INC |
kane- |
karrewoneng |
I + you, and 1 other |
|
|
PLURAL INC |
karri- |
kadberre |
I + you and others (3+) |
|
|
PLURAL EXC |
ngarri- |
ngadberre |
I + 2+ others (not you) |
|
|
2nd |
SG |
yi- |
ngudda |
you (1) |
|
DUAL |
ngune- |
ngurrewoneng |
you (2) |
|
|
PLURAL |
ngurri- |
ngudberre |
you (3+) |
|
|
3rd |
SG MASC |
ka- |
nungka |
he, him |
|
SG FEM |
ka- |
ngaleng |
she, her |
|
|
DUAL |
kabene- |
berrewoneng |
they 2 |
|
|
PLURAL |
kabirri- |
bedda |
they 3+ |