16. Joining Sentences

What You’ll Learn

This lesson teaches how Early Hick links one idea to another:

• -'er-es, an action turned into an event noun;
• 'aterimris, “after”;
• 'aterbran, “before”;
• 'atertel, “until”;
• imris, “because”;
• las, “despite” or “even though.”

From Action to Event

When Early Hick uses one action as the time frame for another, the action often gets the main noun ending -es.

This lets the action work like a noun phrase inside a larger sentence. In the technical grammar, this is a nominalized verb: an action word used as a noun.

After with 'aterimris

Use 'aterimris after the event that happens first.

The first part gives the time frame. The second part gives the main sentence.

Before with 'aterbran

Use 'aterbran after the event that has not happened yet.

The structure is the same as the “after” pattern:

event-es time-link, main sentence

Until with 'atertel

Use 'atertel when one event continues up to another event. English often puts “until” before the second event. Early Hick can put the time link after that event instead.

Read the end as a time frame:

Because with imris

Use imris when one sentence gives the reason for another.

Here, imris introduces the reason. The sentence after the comma gives what happens because of that reason.

Despite with las

Use las when the first sentence gives something that does not stop the main sentence from happening. English often says “despite” with a noun, or “even though” with a full sentence.

The same word is related to the place ending -las, “into.” In this sentence, it works as a sentence link, not as a place ending.

The Link Can Move

In beginner examples, put the time or reason link first when it helps the reader follow the sentence:

barak'er-es 'aterimris, 'al'is-es imeresp'er
after walking, this person sleeps

imris toran-es ter'er, 'al'is-es barak'er
because the river flows, this person walks

Early Hick can move these pieces for style or story flow. A link at the beginning puts the relationship in focus. A link later in the sentence can feel more like ordinary story flow.

Coordination or Sentence Link?

Use coordination from the last lesson when the pieces are equal:

Use this lesson’s links when one part gives time or reason for another:

Try It

Choose the best link.

1. Say “after walking.”
2. Say “before walking.”
3. Say “until sleeping.”
4. Which word means “because”: 'aterbran, 'aterimris, or imris?
5. Which word means “despite” or “even though”: las or ru?
6. Translate: imris toran-es ter'er

Pop quizAnswers

1. barak'er-es 'aterimris

   walk-ACTION-MAIN after
   "after walking"

2. barak'er-es 'aterbran

   walk-ACTION-MAIN before
   "before walking"

3. imeresp'er-es 'atertel

   sleep-ACTION-MAIN until
   "until sleeping"

4. imris

   because

5. las

   despite / even though

6. imris toran-es ter'er

   because river-MAIN flow-ACTION
   "because the river flows"

Reference Note

For more in-depth information, see Temporal Coordination, Causal Subordinator, and Position and Usage.