Examples:
| /təmariw/ | the (boy) student |
| /təmariwa/ or /təmariyitu/ | the (girl) student |
| or /təmariyitwa/ | |
| /astəmariw/ | the (gentleman) teacher |
| /astəmariwa/ or /astəmariyitu/ | the (lady) teacher |
| or /astəmariyitwa/ |
Nouns without definite suffix do not show gender. Thus the word /təmari/, for example, may refer both to a boy and a girl student. The gender of 'indefinite' nouns is indicated by the verb endings, e.g.
| Tıru temari nəw. | he is a good student. |
| Tıru təmari nəc/nat. | she is a good student. |
The most commonly used form of the feminine definite suffix is /-wa/.
Note 4.4 Definite suffixes on modifiers.
If a noun has a modifier the definite suffix is affixed to the modifier and not to the noun it modifies, e.g. /məSıhafu/ 'the book', but /tınnı##u məSıhaf/ 'the small book'.
Examples:
| dəhnaw səw tınnıš məSıhaf alləw. | The good man has a small book. |
| dəhnawa set tınnıš məSıhaf allat. | The good woman has a small book. |
| Konjoyitu set and məSıhaf allat. | The pretty girl has a book. |
It should be noted that the definite suffix is affixed to the modifier even when the modified noun has a Noun Suffix ('Possessive') Pronoun, e.g.
| tınnıšu məSıhafıh ızzih allə. | Your small book is here. |
Note 4.5 Suffix /-(ı)n/ specific direct object.
Group 1
| məSıhafoccaccıhún kıfətu. | Open your books. |
| yıhın Kal yıdgəmut. | Repeat this word! |
Group 2
| dəhna hotel liyasayyuñ yıcılallu ↑ | Can you direct me to ('show me') a good hotel? |
| taksi ıTəralləhu. | I'll call a taxi. |
| amarıññá yawKallu ↑ | Do you know Amharic? |
In Group 1 the objects of the verbs (/məSıhafoccaccıhun/, /yıhın Kal/) have a suffix /-n/ or /-ın/. In Group 2 none of the objects have such a suffix. In Group 1 we have 'your books' (not just any book), 'this word' (a specific one). In Group 2 we have 'a good hotel' (any good hotel) 'a taxi' (not this particular taxi), 'Amharic' (in general).
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