The Definite Article

Basic Usage

While Kryptonian does not have an indefinite article it does have a definite article, V /tiv/, which serves the same function as the definite article in English. The article is prepending as follows:

• cas /chahs/ table V cas /tiv chahs/ the table

With Cardinal Numbers

When using the definite article with a cardinal number (count nouns only) the article precedes the number which, in turn, precedes the noun.

• cas /chahs/ table 1 cas /chahv chahs/ one table V 1 cas /tiv chahv chahs/ the one table

Not With Ordinal Numbers

The definite article is not used with ordinal numbers.

• cas /chahs/ table 1_ cas /chahvehd chahs/ (the) first table V 1_ cas /tiv chahvehd chahs/ *the first table

Plural Harmonization

Although the symbol remains the same when written, the vowel in the definite article harmonizes with the first vowel in any noun plurality or quantitative suffix. Thus, the symbol V can be pronounced [tiv], [tov], [tuv], or [tɑv] depending on the context.

• Definite Article Pronuncation Variations V cas /tiv chahs/ the table V casaja /tahv chahsahjah/ none of the tables V casaZA /tahv chahsahzha/ the "missing" table V casa /tahv chahsah/ few of the tables V caso /tov chahso/ the tables V casu /tuv chahsu/ the many tables V casusE /tuv chahsuse/ most of the tables V casuju /tuv chahsuju/ all of the tables

Possessive Articles

Kryptonian uses possessive articles to form alienable possessives. Please see the whole section on possessives for detailed information on these, inalienable, and familial possessives.