Exercises

This section provides practice with Phi's complementizer system. Work through each exercise type to build fluency. An answer key follows.

Part A: Translation (English to Phi)

Translate each sentence into Phi. Use the complementizers as indicated.

Declarative (mena/meno)

1. I know that the sun is beautiful.
2. They believe that rain will come.
3. You feel that the story is true.
4. The friend said that I helped.
5. We understand that they left.
6. She thinks that you are well.
7. I do not know that the friend arrived.
8. They said that the book is good.

Interrogative (wela/welo)

1. I wonder whether they are well.
2. She asked whether you saw.
3. We do not know whether rain will come.
4. They wonder whether the friend will return.
5. Do you know whether the story is true?
6. They asked whether I had helped.
7. I don't care whether the story is beautiful.

Quotative (shola/sholo)

1. They said: "I am leaving."
2. The friend said: "The sun is beautiful."
3. She asked: "Are you well?"
4. I said: "I will return."
5. They announced: "We are here."

Part B: Translation (Phi to English)

Translate each Phi sentence into natural English.

1. mia mena melu towe nai meno sano

1. shia wela pheralu so shua welo phaelo

1. thia shola mia so turema sholo to haolu

1. lo mia mena shia to naphe meno shelomui

1. mia wela nophi shewo nai welo ma sano

1. shia mena mia mena thia towe nai meno phaelo meno to haolu

1. melu shola wa thia wepu sholo to thilou

1. mia mena shia mena pheralu so shua meno nohero meno sano

1. wa thia wela shia so turema welo phaelo

1. shia shola mia thia lothea sholo to haolu

Part C: Error Correction

Each sentence contains an error. Find and correct it.

1. *mia mena shia to wepu shelomui

1. *mia wela shia to wepu wela phaelo

1. *shia shola mia wepu haolu

1. *rena nophi kealo reno miona

1. *mia shelomui mena shia to wepu meno

1. *mia mena shia towe meno sano

1. *mia wela wa shia to wepu welo phaelo

1. *thia mena shia to wepu meno wela mia so turema welo sano meno phaelo

1. *shia sholo mia wepu shola haolu

1. *mia mena shia wepu meno nohero meno

Part D: Gap Fill

Complete each sentence with the appropriate complementizer(s).

1. mia _____ shia to wepu _____ shelomui (I understand that they left.)

1. shia _____ mia so turema _____ to haolu (They said: "I will return.")

1. mia _____ pheralu so shua _____ phaelo (I wonder whether rain will come.)

1. thia _____ melu towe nai _____ sano (You know that the friend is well.)

1. _____ nophi kealo miona (the person who creates stories)

1. lo mia _____ shia _____ melu to naphe _____ sano _____ phaelo (We feel that they know that the friend helped.)

1. shia _____ wa thia wepu _____ to thilou (They asked: "Are you leaving?")

1. mia _____ thia _____ shia towe nai _____ phaelo _____ shelomui (I understand that you feel that they are well.)

Part E: Transformation

Transform each pair of sentences into a single sentence with embedding.

1. They are well. I know this. → I know that they are well.

1. Will rain come? I wonder about this. → ____

1. "I am leaving." They said this. → ____

1. The friend helped. They believe this. → ____

1. Is the story true? We don't know. → ____

1. "Are you well?" She asked this. → ____

1. You feel something. They are happy. (They are happy is what you feel.) → ____

1. I know something. You wonder something. Will they return? (nested) → ____

Part F: Identify the Type

For each sentence, identify which complementizer type is used and what it embeds.

1. mia mena sorae phelora nai meno nila Type: _____ Embeds: _____

1. shia wela melu so turema welo phaelo Type: _____ Embeds: _____

1. thia shola mia towe nai sholo haolu Type: _____ Embeds: _____

1. rena mia to nila shelu Type: _____ Embeds: _____

Part G: Free Production

Write Phi sentences for each prompt. Use appropriate complementizers.

1. Express something you know to be true.

1. Express uncertainty about whether a friend will come.

1. Quote something someone said to you today (real or imagined).

1. Express what you believe another person feels.

1. Describe a person using a relative clause, where that description involves something they know or believe.

Answer key

Part A: Translation (English to Phi)

1. mia mena sorae phelora nai meno sano 1SG DECL.COMP sun beautiful be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know

1. shia mena pheralu so shua meno nohero 3SG DECL.COMP rain FUT come DECL.COMP.CLOSE believe

1. thia mena nophi shewo nai meno phaelo 2SG DECL.COMP story true be DECL.COMP.CLOSE feel

1. melu mena mia to naphe meno to haolu friend DECL.COMP 1SG PST help DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST say

1. lo mia mena shia to wepu meno shelomui 1PL DECL.COMP 3SG PST go DECL.COMP.CLOSE understand

1. shia mena thia towe nai meno remo 3SG DECL.COMP 2SG well be DECL.COMP.CLOSE think

1. mia mena melu to kamo meno ma sano 1SG DECL.COMP friend PST arrive DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG know

1. shia mena shelu welao nai meno to haolu 3SG DECL.COMP book good be DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST say

1. mia wela shia towe nai welo phaelo 1SG INT.COMP 3SG well be INT.COMP.CLOSE wonder

1. shia wela thia to nila welo to thilou 3SG INT.COMP 2SG PST see INT.COMP.CLOSE PST ask

1. lo mia wela pheralu so shua welo ma sano 1PL INT.COMP rain FUT come INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG know

1. shia wela melu so turema welo phaelo 3SG INT.COMP friend FUT return INT.COMP.CLOSE wonder

1. wa thia wela nophi shewo nai welo sano Q 2SG INT.COMP story true be INT.COMP.CLOSE know

1. lo shia wela mia to naphe welo to thilou PL 3SG INT.COMP 1SG PST help INT.COMP.CLOSE PST ask

1. mia wela nophi phelora nai welo ma phaelo 1SG INT.COMP story beautiful be INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG feel

1. shia shola mia wepu sholo to haolu 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG go QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST say

1. melu shola sorae phelora nai sholo to haolu friend QUOT.COMP sun beautiful be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST say

1. shia shola wa thia towe nai sholo to thilou 3SG QUOT.COMP Q 2SG well be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST ask

1. mia shola mia so turema sholo to haolu 1SG QUOT.COMP 1SG FUT return QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST say

1. shia shola lo mia ha nai sholo to haolu 3SG QUOT.COMP 1PL here be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST say

Part B: Translation (Phi to English)

1. I know that the friend is well.

1. They wonder whether rain will come.

1. You said: "I will return."

1. We understand that they helped.

1. I do not know whether the story is true.

1. They said that I feel that you are well.

1. The friend asked: "Are you leaving?"

1. I know that they believe that rain will come.

1. Do you wonder whether they will return?

1. They said: "I love you."

Part C: Error Correction

1. mia mena shia to wepu meno shelomui (Missing meno)

1. mia wela shia to wepu welo phaelo (Changed second wela to welo)

1. shia shola mia wepu sholo haolu (Missing sholo)

1. rena nophi kealo miona (Removed reno: rena has no closer)

1. mia mena shia to wepu meno shelomui (Reordered: embedded clause before main verb)

1. mia mena shia towe nai meno sano (Added nai: copula required)

1. mia wela shia to wepu welo phaelo (Removed wa: redundant inside wela/welo)

1. thia mena shia to wepu meno sano nela mia wela mia so turema welo phaelo (Simplified: nesting was malformed)

1. shia shola mia wepu sholo haolu (Reversed shola and sholo order)

1. mia mena shia to wepu meno nohero (Removed extra meno: only one closer per opener)

Part D: Gap Fill

1. mia mena shia to wepu meno shelomui

1. shia shola mia so turema sholo to haolu

1. mia wela pheralu so shua welo phaelo

1. thia mena melu towe nai meno sano

1. rena nophi kealo miona

1. lo mia mena shia mena melu to naphe meno sano meno phaelo

1. shia shola wa thia wepu sholo to thilou

1. mia mena thia mena shia towe nai meno phaelo meno shelomui

Part E: Transformation

1. mia wela pheralu so shua welo phaelo I wonder whether rain will come.

1. shia shola mia wepu sholo to haolu They said: "I am leaving."

1. shia mena melu to naphe meno nohero They believe that the friend helped.

1. lo mia wela nophi shewo nai welo ma sano We don't know whether the story is true.

1. shia shola wa thia towe nai sholo to thilou She asked: "Are you well?"

1. thia mena shia loshi nai meno phaelo You feel that they are happy.

1. mia mena thia wela shia so turema welo phaelo meno sano I know that you wonder whether they will return.

Part F: Identify the Type

1. Type: Declarative (mena/meno) Embeds: a statement (that the sun is beautiful)

1. Type: Interrogative (wela/welo) Embeds: a question (whether the friend will return)

1. Type: Quotative (shola/sholo) Embeds: exact words ("I am well")

1. Type: Relative (rena) Embeds: a description of the book (that I saw)

Part G: Free Production

(Sample answers, many correct answers possible)

1. mia mena sorae ro shua meno sano I know that the sun regularly comes.

1. mia wela melu so shua welo phaelo I wonder whether the friend will come.

1. melu shola mia thia nila sholo to haolu The friend said: "I see you."

1. mia mena thia mena shia loshi nai meno phaelo meno nohero I believe that you feel that they are happy.

1. rena mena melu towe nai meno sano miona phelora nai The person who knows that the friend is well is beautiful.

Next: Appendix: quick reference