Nominal Structures of Uralic Languages

The information structure effects word order, but does not effect the choice between copulas. Note, however, that with a contrastively topicalized predicate and a focused subject, the clause is only grammatical if there is an overt copula (like in past tense). In present tense, indicative, when no copula is allowed, the construction is ungrammatical both with and without a copula.

Beteg	János	volt/(van).
ill	John	was/is

’As for being ill, it is John who was/is ill.’

Source: Example provided by database editor (native speaker).

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copular clauses

nonverbal predication

copula

information structure

in Linguistic terms and definitions.