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Phrase Detail

Katyina yanggin.
He couldn't walk
Pronunciation:
Say: kah-tyin-ah yahng-gin

Notes:
Vowels: standard - 'a' as in 'path', 'i' as in 'sit'
Consonant combination - 'ty' dental stop say 't' and 'y' as tip of tongue tongue touches back of teeth
Literal Meaning:
Lit. 'Katyina' (unable-he) 'yangg(a)+in (walked).
Shows:
Verb ending - has already happened (past) - in, Verb auxillary
Explanation:
Katyina is an auxiliary verb. 'It is usually the head-word in a sentence and takes the subject marker while the main verb shows only the tense.' (note in 'katyina yanggin' because 'yangga' and 'yanggin' is third person (he/she/it) and the subject marker is implied. 'Katyinanda yanggin.' Is a clear example of 'yanngin' only showing the tense (past tense).
Learning Focus:
Grammar, Describing, Communication
Learning Exercise:
Think of two other 'unable' examples and add them to 'katyinanda yanggin' to make a song about being depressed.
Phrase Sentence:
Sentence
Words Associated:
katyina - to be unable
yangga - to walk
Topics:
People and Family - Health, Communication - Describing
Age Guides:
Advanced, Yr 10-12
Reference:
Victorian Languages: A Late Survey: L.A. Hercus; p. 46, 2.3.1.4 Auxiliary verbs