Tibetan Grammar - First case 'ming tsam' - just

the name
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Contents

Articles on Tibetan Grammar

1. Introduction
2. Formation of the Tibetan Syllable
3. Formation of the Tibetan Word
4. First case: ming tsam

1 First Case,
, just the name
1.1 Independent of verb type
1.1.1 Topic
1.1.1.1 Enumeration, section heading, title
1.1.1.2 Proleptic
1.1.2 Temporal nominative
1.1.3 In compound words
1.1.3.1 Adjective/verb - adjective/verb
1.1.3.2 Noun - adjective
1.1.4 Apposition
1.1.5 Nouns in a list - nominalized clauses in a list
1.2 Dependent on verb type
1.2.1 Linking verb
1.2.2 Verbs of existence
1.2.3 Verbs of possession I
1.2.4 Intransitive verbs
1.2.5 Transitive verbs
1.2.6 Ditransitive verbs
1.2.7 Verbs with noticeable grammar: verbs of
necessity; verbs of absence and "presence"
1.2.7.1 Verbs of necessity
1.2.7.2 Verbs of absence and "presence"
1.3 Endnotes

5. La don particles
6. La don particlesNotes
7. Originative case
8. Verbs
9. VerbsNotes
10. Syntactic particles

First Case,
, just the name
This section contains Tibetan script. Without proper Tibetan rendering support configured
(http://www.digitaltibetan.org/index.php/How_to_configure_Web_browsers_for_correct_display_of_Tibetan_script)
, you may see other symbols instead of Tibetan script.

Also called: nominative case, "no particle", accusative case, patient role particle "-". This case does not add
any particle to the word or changes it any way.

Independent of verb type

Topic
Enumeration, section heading, title

first

firstly

Proleptic
Proleptic: anticipatory

Brahmin poor

householder

food

cloths gave

(Regarding) that poor Brahmin, the householder gave food and cloth to that (one).
The householder gave food and cloth to that poor Brahmin.

Temporal nominative
Temporal nominative can also be viewed as a very frequently omitted locative (la don) of time.

same as:

there stayed time

there stayed time la don

at the time of staying there

same as:

that time

that time la don

at that (point in) time

In compound words
Note: See also "Formation of the Tibetan Words - compounded nouns".
Adjective/verb - adjective/verb

happy joyful

to be happy, glad

v.i.

past

pre s.

fut.

imp.

happy
from: adjective, noun, verb:
joyful, happy; joy; to be happy, glad, pleased, to take joy in

joyful

to be joyful, to enjoy

to be joyful
v.i.

to enjoy

past pre s.

fut.

imp.

Tibet language

Tibetan language

Noun - adjective
A noun-adjective combination becomes either just a noun with an adjective (see: " adjectives") or a new
word.

bottom, depth deep

very deep; profound

extent big

vast, extensive

Apposition

Buddha all knowing foot two main kaya three knowledge five being highest victorious Bhagavan

The Buddha, the Omniscient One, Chief of Humans (bipeds), Victorious One, [Possessor of] the Three
Kayas, the One with the Five Knowledges, Lord of Beings, Victorious One, Bhagavan[...]

Nouns in a list - nominalized clauses in a list

Buddha Dharma assembly element enlightenment qualities enlightened activity final

The Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, element, enlightenment, qualities and finally enlightened activity

cause elements great four earth element solid and base to hold action do water element liquid and draw together

fire element warmth and mature wind element move and increase do

Causal [forms] are the four great elements. The earth element is solid and is performing the function of
support. The water element is liquid and cohesion. The fire element is warmth maturing. The wind element is
moving and increasing.

Dependent on verb type

Most verbs have their patient in ming tsam.

See: Verb Notes, 1.2.1 patient; Verbs, 2 introduction to classifications of verbs according to their grammar;
Verb Notes, 1.2 patient / subject-object / valency: advantages and problems;

Linking verb
Patient (subject): ming tsam, qualifier: ming tsam, strict first patientthen qualifier word order

red

colour is

Red is [a] colour.

Verbs of existence
Patient: ming tsam, qualifierplace of existence: la don

barren women son not exist

The barren womens son does not exist.

Verbs of possession I
Patientwhat is owned: ming tsam, qualifierpossessor: la don

I bos grunniens have

I have yaks.

Intransitive verbs
Patient (subject): ming tsam, qualifier: la don

sun arose

v.i.

to arise

past

pre s.

fut.

imp.

The sun arose.

he Lhasa went

He went to Lhasa.

v.i.

to go

past

pre s.

fut.

imp.

Transitive verbs
Agent (subject): agentive particle, patient (object): ming tsam

Buddha

Dharma taught

v.t.

to teach

past

pre s.

fut.

imp.

The Buddha taught the Dharma.

Ditransitive verbs
Agent (subject): agentive particle, patient (object): ming tsam, recipient (indirect object)[1]: la don
v.t.

to give

doctor the ill medicine give

past

pre s.

fut.

imp.

The doctor gives medicine to the ill.

Verbs with noticeable grammar: verbs of necessity; verbs of absence and

"presence"
Verbs of necessity
Qualifierthat which needs: la don, patientthat what is needed: ming tsam

sprouts water need

to need

v.i.

past

pre s.

fut.

imp.

Sprouts need water.

In Tibetan, the patient (subject) of the verb

, to need, is that what is needed, it performs the action to
be needed, (the "water" in the example). What or whom needs is the qualifier (the "sprouts"). This is different in
English where the patient (subject) of the verb "to need" is the one who needs something. E.g. In "He needs
water", "he" is the patient (subject).

Verbs of absence and "presence"

That which is absent / "present": agentive, that which is absent of something: ming tsam

land water empty

to be empty

v.i.

past

pre s.

the land is empty of water

Endnotes
1. also called "addressee" and "beneficiary"
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fut.

imp.