1.1.4. Tense
If the copula can be absent in a language, the parameter of its presence vs. absence frequently depends on tense.
The copula must be used in non-present tenses.
| János | beteg/orvos | volt/lesz. |
| John | ill/doctor | be.PST.3Sg/be.FUT.3SG |
’John was / will be ill / a doctor.’
Source: Hegedűs 2013: 54.
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The copula must be used in non-present tenses. The example illustrates a nominal predicate in past tense.
| Петя | дышетӥсь | вал. |
| Peťa | di̮šetiś | val. |
| Petya | teacher | COP.PST |
’Petya was a/the teacher.’
Source: Fieldwork data (native speaker consultant: Ekaterina Suntsova; fieldworker/linguist: Ekaterina Georgieva)
The example illustrates an adjectival predicate in future tense.
| Та | корка | бадӟым | лу-о-з. |
| Ta | korka | badʒ́i̮m | lu-o-z. |
| this | house | big | be-FUT-3SG |
’This house will be big.’
Source: Fieldwork data (native speaker consultant: Ekaterina Suntsova; fieldworker/linguist: Ekaterina Georgieva)
Read more about:
copular clauses
nonverbal predication
copula
tense
in Linguistic terms and definitions.