DLAB Applying Invented Grammatical Rules 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Invented language Dorvik assigns every noun a 'heat class': hot (suffix '-ral'), cold (suffix '-sol'), neutral (suffix '-mel'). The word 'Prenu' (fire) is in the hot class. What form does 'prenu' take as a standalone noun?
- Prenueral (Correct answer)
- Prenuasol
- Prenuemel
- Prenu
Correct answer: Prenueral
Hot class nouns add '-ral': 'prenu' + '-ral' = 'prenural.'
Dorvik noun classification requires appending a class suffix to every standalone noun. 'Prenu' (fire) belongs to the hot class, so it takes '-ral', giving 'prenural'. Cold class would give 'prenusol', neutral 'prenumel'. The bare form 'prenu' is not a valid standalone noun in Dorvik. This tests your ability to apply a classification rule to the correct word.
Question 2: In Strelvik, the subject pronoun changes based on the number of objects in the sentence. 0 objects: 'Vo', 1 object: 'Va', 2+ objects: 'Ve'. In the sentence '[He] gave a book and a pen to Maria', which pronoun is correct?
- Ve (Correct answer)
- Va
- Vo
- Vi
Correct answer: Ve
There are 2 objects (book and pen), so the pronoun is 'Ve.'
Strelvik pronoun choice depends on the count of objects. 0 objects → 'Vo', 1 object → 'Va', 2 or more objects → 'Ve'. The sentence has two objects: 'a book' and 'a pen'. Therefore the correct pronoun is 'Ve'. This tests careful reading and application of a quantity-based grammatical rule.
Question 3: In Kelvor, sentences with animate subjects use verb prefix 'ta-', and inanimate subjects use 'ri-'. The sentence: '[The rock] fell.' Rock is inanimate. 'Vel' = fall. What is the correct verb form?
- Rivel (Correct answer)
- Tavel
- Vel
- Veril
Correct answer: Rivel
Inanimate subjects take 'ri-', so the verb is 'rivel.'
Kelvor verb prefixes distinguish animacy of the subject: animate subjects trigger 'ta-', inanimate subjects trigger 'ri-'. A rock is inanimate, so 'vel' (fall) takes 'ri-' → 'rivel'. Using 'tavel' would imply an animate subject, which is incorrect. The bare form 'vel' is also wrong since Kelvor requires one of the two prefixes.
Question 4: The language Trenvok uses a dual number marker '-du' for exactly two of something, alongside singular (no marker) and plural '-mos'. 'Nalu' = horse. How do you say 'two horses'?
- Naludu (Correct answer)
- Nalumos
- Nalu
- Dunal
Correct answer: Naludu
Exactly two uses '-du': 'nalu' + '-du' = 'naludu.'
Trenvok has a three-way number system: singular (no suffix), dual '-du' for exactly two, and plural '-mos' for three or more. 'Two horses' = exactly two, so the dual suffix is required: 'nalu' + '-du' = 'naludu'. Using '-mos' would imply three or more horses. Understanding that dual and plural are distinct categories is essential here.
Question 5: Delvish verbs add a 'certainty marker': '-kon' for certain, '-don' for uncertain (guessing). 'I certainly see the bird' vs 'I think I see the bird.' 'Prel' = see. Which is the correct uncertain form?
- Preldon (Correct answer)
- Prelkon
- Prel
- Donprel
Correct answer: Preldon
Uncertain (guessing) takes '-don': 'prel' + '-don' = 'preldon.'
Delvish encodes epistemic certainty in the verb morphology: '-kon' for facts known to be true, '-don' for beliefs or guesses. 'I think I see the bird' is uncertain → the verb 'prel' takes '-don' → 'preldon'. The certain form would be 'prelkon'. Prefixing ('donprel') is not the Delvish pattern. This tests your understanding of where and how to apply evidentiality markers.
Question 6: In Rolvic, the indirect object always immediately follows the verb, before the direct object. Statement elements: Subject 'Anu' (she), Verb 'gev' (gives), Indirect Object 'Melo' (to him), Direct Object 'shiru' (flower). What is the correct Rolvic sentence?
- Anu gev melo shiru. (Correct answer)
- Anu gev shiru melo.
- Anu melo gev shiru.
- Gev anu melo shiru.
Correct answer: Anu gev melo shiru.
Verb first, then indirect object, then direct object: 'Anu gev melo shiru.'
Rolvic word order for sentences with two objects is: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object. Anu (S) + gev (V) + melo (IO) + shiru (DO) = 'Anu gev melo shiru.' Option B puts the direct object before the indirect, violating the rule. Option C moves the indirect object before the verb. This tests multi-element word order rule application.
DLAB Applying Invented Grammatical Rules 2
Invented language Dorvik assigns every noun a 'heat class': hot (suffix '-ral'), cold (suffix '-sol'), neutral (suffix '-mel').
The word 'Prenu' (fire) is in the hot class.
What form does 'prenu' take as a standalone noun?