Part 4 · grammar — Chapter 13 · pronouns

Forming plurals

Phi forms plural pronouns by adding the plural particle lo before the singular pronoun. This creates a consistent, transparent system.

The three plural pronouns

lo mia — we lo thia — you (plural) lo shia — they (plural)

Each plural pronoun consists of the familiar singular form preceded by the same lo that pluralizes nouns. If melu becomes lo melu (friends), then mia becomes lo mia (we).

Examples

lo mia shea lothea. — We love peace. wa lo thia shea nai. — Are you (all) at peace? lo shia to shua. — They (all) arrived.

mia lo thia whaline. — I thank you all. lo mia lo shia nila. — We see them.

No inclusive/exclusive distinction

Some languages distinguish between "we including you" and "we excluding you." Phi does not make this distinction. lo mia simply means "we," and context clarifies who is included.

If clarification is needed, speakers can be explicit:

lo mia nela thia — We and you (we, including you) lo mia wepu. thia ma wepu. — We go; you do not (an exclusive we, spelled out in clauses)

But these elaborations are rarely necessary. The simpler system serves most purposes.

Pronoun summary

The system is entirely regular. Learn the three singular pronouns and the plural particle lo, and you have the complete set.