Page 84 - Bhojpuri Verb Morphology

CHAPTER 5

COPULAS

5.0 Outline

This chapter deals with the copulas in Bhojpuri. This chapter is divided into seven

sections. Section 6.1 discusses the copula verb. Section 6.2 deals with the use of
existential copula  as main verb and its alternate forms. The use of identificational

copula  is discussed in section 6.3. Section 6.4 deals with the use of copula  as

stative and non-stative verb. We have talked about the negative copula  in

section 6.5. In section 6.6 we have discussed the copula as helping verb and finally
6.7 summarizes the findings of the chapter.

5.1 Copula verb

Copula refers to a linking verb, i.e. a verb which has little independent meaning, and
whose main function is to relate other elements of clause structure, especially subject
and complement (Crystal 2003:110).

Copula performs mainly two functions: either act as 'main' verb or act as 'helping'
verb. Here in this section we are going to discuss the copula as helping verb and
copula as main verb.

There are three copulas in Bhojpuri. They are:

(61)

i.  'to be' (stative)

ii.  'to be' (stative)

iii.  'to become' (non-stative)

The Bhojpuri copula  can be considered an 'existential' copula, whereas

functions as 'identificational' copula.

5.2 

The existential copula  can be used in two forms: as main verb and as its alternates.

5.2.1  'to be' as stative main verb

67