Ago again (was: case system)

ROGER MILLS wrote:
> Eric Christopherson wrote:
>> On Apr 6, 2008, at 11:30 PM, ROGER MILLS wrote:
>>> Shenji yawurisa etengi tayu 5 pehan cosa "Sheji wrote this book 5
>>> years ago"
>>> name 3sg-write-past book(+0 acc) this 5 year go(ne)
>>
>> I love that way of marking "___ ago"! Is it based on a natlang
>> construction? ....
>
> Not to my knowledge, but it wouldn't surprise me. For that matter, where
> does Engl. "ago" come from?
This has been discussed before on this list. It's a watered down form of
earlier 'a-gone'. Thus, in "she wrote this five years a-gone", 'five
years a-gone' is an absolute phrase = 'five years having passed'.

--
Ray
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