Namari nouns

In Namari, nouns (Namari: なことば nakotoba) are one of the major word classes. They name some specific thing or set of things, and act as arguments to words and postpositions. Nouns in Namari are marked for case, topic and focus, and optionally for number (singular, dual, plural).

General
Nouns have 12 cases and three numbers. Number inflections are optional, and forbidden if an explicit numeral is attached to the noun. Case markers are mandatory, and cannot be left out (unlike in Japanese, where the nominative and accusative markers may be omitted in informal speech). Nouns can take honorific prefixes, as well as topic and focus markers.

The markers are considered to be actual suffixes and inflections; this contrasts with the situation in Japanese, where there is no consensus as to whether the case particles can be considered inflections or clitics. In some cases, the markers have fused with the noun itself, or other markers.

The examples consist of six lines each:
 * The first line is the original sentence, written in kana.
 * The second line is the transliteration into the Latin alphabet. Refer to the romanisation subsection of the language's article for details.
 * The third line splits each word into its individual morphemes, while preserving any pronunciaiton changes, sandhi and euphonic changes.
 * The fourth line is the same as the third, except it reverts all non-lexical pronunciation changes, sandhi and euphonic changes.
 * The fifth line is the interlinear gloss for the sentence. See Interlinear gloss and List of glossing abbreviations for details.
 * The sixth line is the English translation of the sentence.

Nominative
The nominative case (Namari: なおてがた naotegata) marks the agent of the verb. It is also used to mark the sole core argument of an intransitive verb. For some verbs and verb forms, it actually marks the patient (direct object) of the verb. It is also the form to which the copula is attached to form a predicative noun.

The nominative case in the standard language is considered a "nominative-absolutive". This reflects its role in marking the patient for certain verbs and verb forms, attaining a behaviour similar to that of an absolutive case. Note that some other dialects have an "accusative-absolutive" instead, where the accusative is used as an absolutive.

Examples:



This shows the "doer" of the verb (the dog) in the nominative case, while the thing being acted upon (the man) is in the accusative case.
 * えに || おとこお || かんだ
 * eni || otokō || kanda
 * en-i || otoko-o || kan-∅-da
 * enu-i || otoko-o || kam-i-ta
 * dog- NOM  || man- ACC || bite- PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|The dog has bitten the man
 * }
 * dog- NOM  || man- ACC || bite- PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|The dog has bitten the man
 * }
 * colspan=3|The dog has bitten the man
 * }



In this case, ふゆ puyu is an intransitive verb, which means よき yoki is in the nominative case.
 * よき || ふっとい
 * yoki || puttoi
 * yoki-∅ || put-to-i
 * yoki-∅ || puy-itoy-i
 * snow- NOM  || fall- PROG - PRES
 * colspan=2|"It is snowing" (lit. "Snow is falling")
 * }
 * snow- NOM  || fall- PROG - PRES
 * colspan=2|"It is snowing" (lit. "Snow is falling")
 * }
 * colspan=2|"It is snowing" (lit. "Snow is falling")
 * }



This is an example of a predicative noun. The copula attaches to the noun as a clitic. Note that the copula is negated by adding the negative inanimate existential and negating that (effectively forming a double negative).
 * つきやなあん
 * tuki-yanān
 * tuk-i=ya-na-∅-an
 * tuko-i=ya-na-∅-an
 * moon- NOM = COP - EXIST . INAN . NEG - PRES - NEG
 * "It isn't the moon"
 * }
 * moon- NOM = COP - EXIST . INAN . NEG - PRES - NEG
 * "It isn't the moon"
 * }
 * "It isn't the moon"
 * }



The verb しゆ shiyu is an example of a verb or verb form which puts its patient in the nominative case. To compensate, the actual agent is put into the genitive case. The only other verb/verb forms which behave this way are わかゆ wakayu "to understand" and the potential voice.
 * ふたばが || ちよ || しえい
 * Putabaga || Chiyo || shiei
 * Putaba-ga || Chiyo-∅ || shi-ei
 * Putaba-ga || Chiyo-∅ || shiy-ei
 * Futaba- GEN . AN || Chiyo- NOM  || know- PST
 * colspan=3|"Futaba knew Chiyo"
 * }
 * Futaba- GEN . AN || Chiyo- NOM  || know- PST
 * colspan=3|"Futaba knew Chiyo"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Futaba knew Chiyo"
 * }

Accusative
The accusative case (Namari: むかいおてがた mukaiotegata), in general, marks the patient, or the direct object, of the verb.

Examples:




 * わえ || ねこお || みい
 * wae || nekō || mī
 * wa-e || neko-o || mi-i
 * wa-e || neko-o || mi-i
 * 1s- NOM || cat- ACC  || see- PRES
 * colspan=3|"I see the cat"
 * }
 * 1s- NOM || cat- ACC  || see- PRES
 * colspan=3|"I see the cat"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"I see the cat"
 * }




 * こま || わお || おうとい
 * koma || wao || outoi
 * koma-∅ || wa-o || o-uto-i
 * koma-∅ || wa-o || o-itoy-i
 * bear- NOM || 1s- ACC  || chase- PROG - PRES
 * colspan=3|"The bear is chasing me"
 * }
 * bear- NOM || 1s- ACC  || chase- PROG - PRES
 * colspan=3|"The bear is chasing me"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"The bear is chasing me"
 * }

Vocative
What is referred to as the vocative case (Namari: よびおてがた yobiotegata) is actually two forms. There is the full vocative, and the short vocative. Both forms have identical functions. The vocative indicates the noun being addressed.

The full vocative is a marked form of the noun, while the short vocative is unmarked.

Examples:



This shows the full vocative, which is marked by 〜よ yo.
 * ともよ、 || まくよな
 * tomoyo, || makuyona
 * tomo-yo, || mak-uyo-na
 * tomo-yo, || mak-uyo-na
 * friend- VOC , || lose- PFV - PROH
 * colspan=2|"Don't lose, friend"
 * }
 * friend- VOC , || lose- PFV - PROH
 * colspan=2|"Don't lose, friend"
 * }
 * colspan=2|"Don't lose, friend"
 * }



This shows the short vocative, which is not marked.
 * ゆい、 || なにお || しとよか？
 * Yui, || nanio || shitoyoka?
 * Yui, || nani-o || sh-itoy-o-ka?
 * Yui, || nani-o || s-itoy-o-ka?
 * Yui, || what- ACC || do- PROG - PRES - INT
 * colspan=3|"Yui, what are you doing?"
 * }
 * Yui, || what- ACC || do- PROG - PRES - INT
 * colspan=3|"Yui, what are you doing?"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Yui, what are you doing?"
 * }

Genitive
The genitive case (Namari: もちおてがた mochiotegata) marks a noun which is used to modify another noun, whether it be as a possessive or as a descriptor (or something else). In addition, it also marks the agent in clauses where the patient is in the nominative case, as well as agents in attributive clauses where the verb is transitive. The genitive is also the case which governs all postpositions in Namari. The form of the genitive differs between animate and inanimate nouns.

In the standard language, the genitive is considered a "genitive-ergative". This is because the genitive can be used to mark the agent for certain verbs and verb forms, but only if the underlying verb is transitive in the first place. This resembles the behaviour of an ergative case. Note that some dialects do not have this property, instead using the nominative case (sometimes using the nominative for both agent and patient, resulting in word order being required to distinguish them).

Note that the genitive marker can also attach to some other cases, such as the ablative. This forms a secondary genitive case based on the original case of the noun.

Examples:



This phrase shows possession (i.e. the younger sister belongs to Komachi). Note that -ga is used; this is because Komachi is obviously animate (as she is female and human).
 * こまちが || いもうと
 * Komachiga || imouto
 * Komachi-ga || imouto
 * Komachi-ga || imouto
 * Komachi- GEN . AN  || younger_sister
 * colspan=2|"Komachi's younger sister"
 * }
 * Komachi- GEN . AN  || younger_sister
 * colspan=2|"Komachi's younger sister"
 * }
 * colspan=2|"Komachi's younger sister"
 * }



In this phrase, -no is used, as stones are inanimate.
 * いしの || えよ
 * ishino || eyo
 * ishi-no || eyo
 * ishi-no || eyo
 * stone- GEN . INAN  || colour
 * colspan=2|"The stone's colour"
 * }
 * stone- GEN . INAN  || colour
 * colspan=2|"The stone's colour"
 * }
 * colspan=2|"The stone's colour"
 * }



This phrase shows how the genitive can indicate apposition.
 * ふじの || やま
 * Pujino || yama
 * Puji-no || yama
 * Puji-no || yama
 * Fuji- GEN . INAN  || mountain
 * colspan=2|"Mount Fuji"
 * }
 * Fuji- GEN . INAN  || mountain
 * colspan=2|"Mount Fuji"
 * }
 * colspan=2|"Mount Fuji"
 * }



In this sentence, the verb is in the potential voice; this means that the patient is in the nominative case, resulting in the agent being put in the genitive case to avoid confusion.
 * しずかが || かえゆや || たべう
 * Shizukaga || kaeyuya || tabeu
 * Shizuka-ga || kaeyu-ya-∅ || tab-e-u
 * Shizuka-ga || kaeyu-ya-∅ || tab-e-u
 * Shizuka- GEN . AN  || frog- PL - NOM || eat- POT - PRES
 * colspan=3|"Shizuka can eat frogs"
 * }
 * Shizuka- GEN . AN  || frog- PL - NOM || eat- POT - PRES
 * colspan=3|"Shizuka can eat frogs"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Shizuka can eat frogs"
 * }



If an attributive clause uses a transitive verb, then the agent is marked for the genitive case. This only applies to transitive verbs; intransitive verbs (and verbs with dative direct objects) use the nominative for their sole core argument. Note that in this particular sentence, changing "Momoka" into the nominative case will cause the sentence to mean "The kitten which had Momoka had escaped" because the animate existential おい oi and the verb おう ou "to chase" have identical perfective forms.
 * ももかが || おえよ || こねこ || にぐえった
 * Momokaga || oeyo || koneko || niguetta
 * Momoka-ga || o-ey-o || koneko-∅ || nig-uet-ta
 * Momoka-ga || o-ey-o || koneko-∅ || nig-uey-ita
 * Momoka- GEN . AN  || chase- PST - ATTR || kitten- NOM || escape- PST - PERF
 * colspan=4|The kitten which Momoka chased had escaped.
 * }
 * Momoka- GEN . AN  || chase- PST - ATTR || kitten- NOM || escape- PST - PERF
 * colspan=4|The kitten which Momoka chased had escaped.
 * }
 * colspan=4|The kitten which Momoka chased had escaped.
 * }



This sentence demonstrates how the genitive is used with postpositions. In this case, the genitive of わえ wae is combined with the postposition そば soba "beside".
 * なえ || わが || そば || ずっと || おった
 * nae || waga || soba || zutto || otta
 * na-e || wa-ga || soba || zutto || ot-∅-ta
 * na-e || wa-ga || soba || zutto || oy-i-ta
 * 2s- NOM || 1s. GEN . AN  || beside || always || EXIST.AN - PRES - PERF
 * colspan=5|"You have always been beside me"
 * }
 * 2s- NOM || 1s. GEN . AN  || beside || always || EXIST.AN - PRES - PERF
 * colspan=5|"You have always been beside me"
 * }
 * colspan=5|"You have always been beside me"
 * }

Dative
The dative case (Namari: もやいおてがた moyaiotegata) marks the indirect object of a verb, or a beneficiary. A few verbs use this as their direct object case.



The verb あぐ agu accepts three different arguments. In this case, the recipient is in the dative case.
 * はな || わん || ふみがきお || あぐえった
 * Pana || wan || pumigakio || aguetta
 * Pana-∅ || wa-n || pumigaki-o || ag-uet-ta
 * Pana-∅ || wa-n || pumigaki-o || ag-uey-ita
 * Hana- NOM || 1s- DAT  || book- ACC || give.3>1- PST - PERF
 * colspan=4|"Hana had given me a book"
 * }
 * Hana- NOM || 1s- DAT  || book- ACC || give.3>1- PST - PERF
 * colspan=4|"Hana had given me a book"
 * }
 * colspan=4|"Hana had given me a book"
 * }



The dative case can be used as a marker of destination. The main difference between it and the allative is that the allative is only an indication of direction, while the dative is used to provide an explicit destination. So something like *にしん　ゆけ *nishin yuke is not correct, as にし nishi "west" is not a valid location.
 * やまとん || ゆけ
 * Yamaton || yuke
 * Yamato-n || yuk-e
 * Yamato-n || yuk-e
 * Japan- DAT  || go- PFV . IMP
 * colspan=2|"Go to Japan"
 * }
 * Japan- DAT  || go- PFV . IMP
 * colspan=2|"Go to Japan"
 * }
 * colspan=2|"Go to Japan"
 * }



This sentence shows how the dative case can signify possession. In Namari, both mihi est (Latin: "to me is") and habeo (Latin: "I have") type constructions exist, but the former is the predominant construction used in the language. This sentence is an example of such a construction.
 * いえ || みゆきん || あい
 * ie || Miyukin || ai
 * ie-∅ || Miyuki-n || a-i
 * ie-∅ || Miyuki-n || ay-i
 * house- NOM || '''Miyuki- DAT || EXIST . INAN . AFF - PRES
 * colspan=3|Miyuki has a house
 * }
 * house- NOM || '''Miyuki- DAT || EXIST . INAN . AFF - PRES
 * colspan=3|Miyuki has a house
 * }
 * colspan=3|Miyuki has a house
 * }



This sentence is an example of the dative being used as a locative. The dative case can only be used as a locative for stative verbs; for most verbs, the locative case must be used.
 * わえ || いきん || おい
 * wae || ikin || oi
 * wa-e || iki-n || o-i
 * wa-e || iki-n || oy-i
 * 1s- NOM || here- DAT  || EXIST . AN - PRES
 * colspan=3|I am here
 * }
 * 1s- NOM || here- DAT  || EXIST . AN - PRES
 * colspan=3|I am here
 * }
 * colspan=3|I am here
 * }



Some verbs, such as なゆ nayu, take a dative direct object, as shown above.
 * はゆな || ひめん || ないたかい
 * Payuna || pimen || naitakai
 * Payuna-∅ || pime-n || na-ita-kai
 * Payuna-∅ || pime-n || nay-ita-kai
 * Haruna- NOM || princess- DAT  || become- DES - PRES
 * colspan=3|Haruna wants to become a princess
 * }
 * Haruna- NOM || princess- DAT  || become- DES - PRES
 * colspan=3|Haruna wants to become a princess
 * }
 * colspan=3|Haruna wants to become a princess
 * }



The dative case can mark the agent of a passive clause.
 * たまご || こおとめん || とやえた
 * tamago || kōtomen || toyaeta
 * tamago-∅ || kōtome-n || toy-a-e-ta
 * tamago-∅ || kōtome-n || toy-ay-e-ta
 * egg- NOM || girl- DAT  || take- PASS - PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|The egg has been taken by the girl
 * }
 * egg- NOM || girl- DAT  || take- PASS - PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|The egg has been taken by the girl
 * }
 * colspan=3|The egg has been taken by the girl
 * }



In causative clauses, the original agent is demoted to the dative case (as seen above).
 * たえか || なん || あいかせけみい
 * taeka || nan || aikasekemī
 * tae-ka-∅ || na-n || aik-as-ekemī
 * tae-ka-∅ || na-n || aik-as-ekemī
 * who-some- NOM || 2s- DAT  || walk- CAUS - FUT
 * colspan=3|"Someone will make you walk"
 * }
 * who-some- NOM || 2s- DAT  || walk- CAUS - FUT
 * colspan=3|"Someone will make you walk"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Someone will make you walk"
 * }

Instrumental
The instrumental case (Namari: みちおてがた michiotegata) marks the means by which the agent accomplishes an action. It is not to be confused with the comitative.

Examples:



This sentence demonstrates the instrumental case. The sword is used to perform the action, therefore it is placed in the instrumental case.
 * ふみ || かたなで || てきお || きえい
 * Pumi || katanade || tekio || kiei
 * Pumi-∅ || katana-de || teki-o || ki-ei
 * Pumi-∅ || katana-de || teki-o || kiy-ei
 * Fumi- NOM || sword- INS  || enemy- ACC || cut_down- PST
 * colspan=4|"Fumi cut down the enemy with a sword"
 * }
 * Fumi- NOM || sword- INS  || enemy- ACC || cut_down- PST
 * colspan=4|"Fumi cut down the enemy with a sword"
 * }
 * colspan=4|"Fumi cut down the enemy with a sword"
 * }

Comitative
The comitative case (Namari: ともないおてがた tomonaiotekata) marks a noun which accompanies the agent. It is not to be confused with the instrumental.

Examples:



This sentence shows a typical use of the comitative case. In this case, Aki accompanies Miyako, but is not the subject of the sentence.
 * みやこ || あきと || おーさかん || ゆけい
 * Miyako || Akito || Ōsakan || yukei
 * Miyako-∅ || Aki-to || Ōsaka-n || yuk-ei
 * Miyako-∅ || Aki-to || Ōsaka-n || yuk-ei
 * Miyako- NOM || Aki- COM  || Osaka- DAT || go- PST
 * colspan=4|"Miyako went to Osaka with Aki"
 * }
 * Miyako- NOM || Aki- COM  || Osaka- DAT || go- PST
 * colspan=4|"Miyako went to Osaka with Aki"
 * }
 * colspan=4|"Miyako went to Osaka with Aki"
 * }



The comitative case is one of the cases which can also take a genitive. If the comitative marker is taken out, the phrase instead becomes "a path belonging to two people".
 * おふたいとが || みち
 * oputaitoga || michi
 * o-puta-i-to-ga || michi
 * o-puta-i-to-ga || michi
 *  HON -two-person. CL - COM - GEN . AN  || path
 * "A path with two people"
 * }
 *  HON -two-person. CL - COM - GEN . AN  || path
 * "A path with two people"
 * }
 * "A path with two people"
 * }

Ablative
The ablative case (Namari: かやおてがた kayaotegata) marks a noun which indicates origin. It is not to be confused with the comparative, although in some cases the ablative and comparative are interchangeable.

Examples:



This demonstrates the use of the ablative to reference a point in space (the same applies to time). The ablative is used when there is no specific endpoint either given or inferred (but still exists), or the endpoint is the location/timeframe of the speaker him/herself (for the latter, the ablative is interchangeable with the comparative). It cannot be used when there is an explicit or inferred endpoint, or when it is inferred or explicitly given that there is no endpoint at all. This means that the ablative tends to be associated with past actions and the comparative with present or future actions.
 * なおみ || にーがたかや || くえい
 * Naomi || Nīgatakaya || kuei
 * Naomi-∅ || Nīgata-kaya || k-uei
 * Naomi-∅ || Nīgata-kaya || k-uei
 * Naomi- NOM || Niigata- ABL  || come- PST
 * colspan=3|"Naomi came from Niigata"
 * }
 * Naomi- NOM || Niigata- ABL  || come- PST
 * colspan=3|"Naomi came from Niigata"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Naomi came from Niigata"
 * }



Like the comitative, the ablative can also take a genitive. If the ablative marker is taken out, the phrase becomes "a story which is set thirty years ago".
 * みそとせまえかやの || はなし
 * misotosemaekayano || panashi
 * mi-so-tose-mae-kaya-no || panashi
 * mi-so-tose-mae-kaya-no || panashi
 * three-ten. CL -year. CL -before- ABL - GEN . INAN  || story
 * "A story from thirty years ago"
 * }
 * three-ten. CL -year. CL -before- ABL - GEN . INAN  || story
 * "A story from thirty years ago"
 * }
 * "A story from thirty years ago"
 * }

Allative
The allative case (Namari: ゆきおてがた yukiotegata) marks the direction or destination of an action. While one may consider it the opposite to the ablative and comparative, it is not quite the case; the allative can be used as a lative (explicitly indicating destination), but that function can also be taken by the dative. What the allative marks is the general direction of an action, so nouns which cannot be a valid destination (such as general directions and cardinal points) can still be marked using the allative. The allative cannot be used as the complement to an argument in the comparative case; in this case the terminative is used.

Examples:



This is an example of using the allative case to mark something which is not a valid destination.
 * きたんへ || ゆかむ
 * kitampe || yukamu
 * kita-mpe || yuk-am-u
 * kita-mpe || yuk-am-u
 * north- ALL  || go- HORT - PFV
 * "Let's go north"
 * }
 * north- ALL  || go- HORT - PFV
 * "Let's go north"
 * }
 * "Let's go north"
 * }



The allative is another case which can take a genitive. If the allative marker is removed, the phrase will become "an eastern car".
 * ひんがいんへの || くゆま
 * pingaimpeno || kuyuma
 * pingai-mpe-no || kuyuma
 * pingai-mpe-no || kuyuma
 * east- ALL - GEN . INAN  || car
 * "a car heading east"
 * }
 * east- ALL - GEN . INAN  || car
 * "a car heading east"
 * }
 * "a car heading east"
 * }

Comparative
The comparative case (Namari: ゆかいおてがた yukaiotegata) marks a point of comparison or origin. While it is similar to the ablative, it has some unique functions. The name "comparative" comes from the fact that this case is used in comparative clauses as a point of comparison.

Examples:



This is one example of how the comparative can be used in an ablative role. Since no endpoint is defined (let alone given or inferred), the ablative cannot be used. Note that if the sentence is in past tense, then the ablative must be used, since by definition there must be an endpoint, but the endpoint would not be given or inferred from the context.
 * わえや || やときめよい || はたやいとった
 * waeya || yatokimeyoi || patayaitotta
 * wae-ya-∅ || ya-toki-me-yoi || pataya-itot-∅-ta
 * wae-ya-∅ || ya-toki-me-yoi || patayak-itoy-i-ta
 * 1- PL - NOM || eight-hour. CL - ORD.NUM - COMP  || work- PROG - PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|"We have been working since 8 o'clock"
 * }
 * 1- PL - NOM || eight-hour. CL - ORD.NUM - COMP  || work- PROG - PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|"We have been working since 8 o'clock"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"We have been working since 8 o'clock"
 * }



This is another example of how the comparative can be used as an ablative. This time, an endpoint is explicitly given by a noun in the terminative case.
 * その || でんしゃ || やえぞやよい || ちよはやまで || いっとい
 * sono || densha || Yaezoyayoi || Chiyopayamade || ittoi
 * so-no || densha-∅ || Yaezoya-yoi || Chiyopaya-made || it-to-i
 * so-no || densha-∅ || Yaezoya-yoi || Chiyopaya-made || yuk-itoy-i
 * DIST - GEN || train- NOM || Yaezora- COMP  || Chiyohara- TERM || go- PROG - PRES
 * colspan=5|"That train runs from Yaezora to Chiyohara"
 * }
 * DIST - GEN || train- NOM || Yaezora- COMP  || Chiyohara- TERM || go- PROG - PRES
 * colspan=5|"That train runs from Yaezora to Chiyohara"
 * }
 * colspan=5|"That train runs from Yaezora to Chiyohara"
 * }



This sentence shows the comparative being used as a point of comparison.
 * ことみ || さちよい || おもかい
 * Kotomi || Sachiyoi || omokai
 * Kotomi-∅ || Sachi-yoi || omo-kai
 * Kotomi-∅ || Sachi-yoi || omo-kai
 * Kotomi- NOM || Sachi- COMP  || heavy- PRES
 * colspan=3|"Kotomi is heavier than Sachi"
 * }
 * Kotomi- NOM || Sachi- COMP  || heavy- PRES
 * colspan=3|"Kotomi is heavier than Sachi"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Kotomi is heavier than Sachi"
 * }



Note that the marker -yoi can also attach to a numeral-classifier compound to indicate an "at least" meaning. This creates another noun, and its declension is defective. It only has a genitive (-yoino/-yoiga), dative (-yoin), and a combined ablative-comparative (-yoi). To indicate other cases, a periphrastic construction must be used. If a range begins with a point marked using the combined comparative-dative, it indicates that the starting point is not included in the range.
 * かな || よたびよい || した
 * Kana || yotabiyoi || shita
 * Kana-∅ || yo-tabi-yoi-∅ || sh-i-ta
 * Kana-∅ || yo-tabi-yoi-∅ || s-i-ta
 * Kana- NOM || four-times. CL -at_least- COMP  || do- PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|"Kana has done it at least four times"
 * }
 * Kana- NOM || four-times. CL -at_least- COMP  || do- PRES - PERF
 * colspan=3|"Kana has done it at least four times"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Kana has done it at least four times"
 * }

Terminative
The terminative case (Namari: はておてがた pateotegata) marks the limit of an action. It is considered the opposite to the ablative and comparative, and is not to be confused with the allative.



This illustrates the use of the terminative to indicate the limit or endpoint of an action. In this case, the action was performed until the time specified (11 o'clock). If a starting point is specified, it must be marked using the comparative case.
 * さよこ || とーてときめまで || のこえい
 * Sayoko || tōtetokimemade || nokoei
 * Sayoko-∅ || tō-te-toki-me-made || noko-ei
 * Sayoko-∅ || tō-te-toki-me-made || nokoy-ei
 * Sayoko- NOM || ten-one-hour. CL - ORD.NUM - TERM  || remain- PST
 * colspan=3|"Sayoko stayed until eleven o'clock"
 * }
 * Sayoko- NOM || ten-one-hour. CL - ORD.NUM - TERM  || remain- PST
 * colspan=3|"Sayoko stayed until eleven o'clock"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Sayoko stayed until eleven o'clock"
 * }



As the counterpart to the comparative, the terminative marker -made can be used to indicate an "at most" meaning, forming another noun. Like its counterpart form, its declension is defective. It only has a genitive (-madeno/-madega), dative (-maden) and a terminative (-made). To indicate other cases, a periphrastic construction must be used. If the combined terminative-dative is used as the endpoint of a range, it indicates that the endpoint is not included in the range.
 * ゆか || みったいまでん || たべものお || あぐえい
 * Yuka || mittaimaden || tabemonō || aguei
 * Yuka-∅ || mit-tai-made-n || tabemono-o || ag-uei
 * Yuka-∅ || mit-tai-made-n || tabemono-o || ag-uei
 * Yuka- NOM || '''three-person. CL -at_most- DAT || food- ACC || give.3>3- PST
 * colspan=3|"Yuka gave food to up to three people"
 * }
 * Yuka- NOM || '''three-person. CL -at_most- DAT || food- ACC || give.3>3- PST
 * colspan=3|"Yuka gave food to up to three people"
 * }
 * colspan=3|"Yuka gave food to up to three people"
 * }