Nominal Adjunct

Definition

Nominal adjuncts can function as a subject, object, locus, instrument, etc. in a simple sentence. The presence of a nominal adjunct is signaled by one of the deictic elements that constitute the demonstrative system; an article or a demonstrative. These particles and words distinguish gender and position. (Suttles, 2004, p. 58)

A nominal adjunct minimally consists of a demonstrative standing alone and functioning as a third-person pronoun. (Suttles, 2004, p. 58) Nominal adjuncts may relate to verbal predicates directly or obliquely. A direct relation is unmarked and direct nominal adjuncts serve as subjects and (direct) objects. An oblique relation may be preceded by the oblique case marker, ʔə and oblique nominal adjuncts serve as loci and goals, instruments, oblique objects of intransitives, agents of passives, and possessors. (Suttles, 2004, p. 58)

Examples

Example in the Halkomelem Context of a Direct Nominal Adjunct within an Intransitive Verbal Predicate (Suttles, 2004, p. 60)

Example in the Halkomelem Context of an Oblique Nominal Adjunct within an Intransitive Verbal Predicate (Suttles, 2004, p. 60)

References

Suttles, W. (2004). Musqueum reference grammar. UBC Press. SFU Student Access.*