Tïjonïk 6 In ajtij; at tijoxel (I am a teacher; you’re a student)

Independent pronouns
Independent pronouns -equivalent to English personal pronouns- are used in K’iche’ as subjects of non-verbal predicates as well as for emphasis or topicalization (As, for me, I am sure I’ll learn K’iche’). They are used more sparsely than in English, however. Non-verbal predicates include stative phrases denoting states, conditions or qualities. Unlike Spanish or English, K’iche’ does not have a verb equivalent to ‘to be’. You will notice that the English translations of the example sentences below require the verb ‘to be’ as copula. In pronominal, non-verbal sentences in K’iche’ independent pronouns occupy the first slot followed by the predicate as in the following examples:

1. In ajtij.
   I teacher
   I am a teacher.
2. At rajkun le nunan.
   You her-doctor art. my-mother
   You are my mother’s doctor.
3. Are le utat le al Ska’.
   He art. her-dad- art. class. Francisca
   He is Francisca’s dad.
4. Oj ajxojolob’ pa Awas Q’ij.
   We dancers preposition Good Friday
   We are dancers on Good Friday.
5. A’re ral le nan We’l.
   They her-children art. nan. Manuela
   They are the children of ms. Manuela.

Note that independent pronouns are not marked for gender (See table below).

1. La utz awach?- Utz maltyox , e k’u ri at ?– Utz maltyox
   How are you – Well thank you, and you ?– Well, thank you
2. La utz wach la? – Utz maltyox, e k’u ri lal ?– Utz maltyox
   How are you – Well thank you, and you?– Well, thank you.
3. In ajtij.
   I teacher
   I am a teacher.
4. At tijoxel
   you student
   You are a student.
5. Are utz una’oj
   He/she/it good his-character
   He is a good man/woman (he has good character/ buena gente).
6. Lal k’amal b’e
   you (formal) leader
   You (formal) are a leader.

Locative sentences
Locative sentences describe the location of the subject. K’iche’ locative sentences consist of independent pronouns in the first slot followed by the existential particle k’o and its locative complement. Note that if a third person subject is plural the form ek’o is used. If a third person is explicit, it precedes the existential k’o as well (See the examples below).

1. At k’o pa swan!
   at k’o pa swan
   You Ex. loc ravine
   You are in the ravine!
2. Oj k’o pa le ro’ch le a Wel.
   Oj k’o pa le r-oche le a Wel
   we ex. loc. his-house Manuel
   We are in Manuel’s house.
3. In k’o pa le uk’isb’al cholaj.
   In k’o pa u-k’isb’al cholaj
   I   Ex loc its-end row/lane
   I’m in the last lineIf the subject of the sentence is the third person singular pronoun, the particle k’o stands alone.
4. K’o pa tijob’al
   k’o pa tijob’al
   Ex loc school
   He/she/it is at schoolIf the subject of the sentence is the third person plural pronoun, e precedes the particle k’o
5. E k’o pa tijob’al
   e k’o pa tijob’al
   they Ex loc school
   they are at school
6. E k’o keb’ uk’ajol le tat Xwan
   e k’o keb’ u-k’ajol le tat Xwan
   they Ex two his-sons art tat Juan
   Juan has two sons

Emphasis, topicalization, and independent pronouns

When the subject is topicalized or emphatic contrast is stressed, independent pronouns are copied in sentence-initial position.

1. In in k’o pa tijob’al.
   As for me, I am at school.
2. At at le utaqo’n le q’atal tzij.
   You, you are the judge’s messenger!
3. Are le Tu’r le loq’omanel.
   It is Venturo who is the buyer.
4. Oj oj wokol ja!
   As for us, we are construction workers.
5. Ix ix e’laq’omab’!
   You all, you are thiefs!