Noun ending explanations (Advanced lesson)

Jesenic nouns can be given different meanings through certain endings, such as making a word definite or making it possessive. The way these forms are constructed is extremely systematic and commonly done, so a clear understanding of the rules is necessary for mastering the language.

With singular nouns
Singular nouns tend to be shorter than plural nouns simply because the need for a plural ending does not exist. However, in writing, distinctions obviously must be made between indefinite and definite words and possessives, or else texts will get incredibly confusing and difficult to read.

Example endings with words containing accented characters
Take a look at the list of words below. These are all words that have at least one accent in them, which we know are understood ligatures that must therefore act in accordance to the rules of the ligature system. In addition, these words also do not end with an e, which would change the pronunciation. With that in mind, note how the endings are added:


 * Base word: wórd (word)


 * Definite singular base: dig wórd or wórdan (the word)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig wórdis _ or wórdannis _ (the word's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne wórd (a word)


 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne wórdis _ (a word's _)


 * Base word: húnd (dog)


 * Definite singular base: dig húnd or húndan (the dog)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig húndis _ or húndannis _ (the dog's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne húnd (a dog)


 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne húndis _ (a dog's _)


 * Base word: órd (point)


 * Definite singular base: dig órd or órdan (the point)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig órdis _ or órdannis _ (the point's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne órd (a point)

From this we get the following rules in relation to singular words with a ligature but not with an ending e: Now compare that list with a list of words that have accented characters but also have e's at the end of the word:
 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne órdis _ (a point's _)
 * 1) The singular definite base is formed either by placing dig before the word or the definite marker -an at the end of the word.
 * 2) When a definite singular word is preceded by dig, the possessive is formed by adding -is (or rarely -s depending on the word; this usually applies to a few proper names).
 * 3) When a definite singular word ends with the definite marker -an, the possessive is formed by doubling the n and adding -is.
 * 4) The singular indefinite base is formed by placing yóne before the word.
 * 5) When a word is an indefinite singular noun, the possessive is formed by adding -is (or rarely -s depending on the word; this usually applies to a few proper names).


 * Base word: háre (army—used here specifically only as an example)


 * Definite singular base: dig háre or hárean (the army)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig háres _ or háreannis _ (the army's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne háre (an army)


 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne háres _ (an army's _)


 * Base word: fáre (fear)


 * Definite singular base: dig fáre or fárean (the fear)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig fáres _ or fáreannis _ (the fear's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne fáre (a fear)


 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne fáres _ (a fear's _)


 * Base word: láge (bath/lye)


 * Definite singular base: dig láge or lágean (the bath/the lye)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig láges _ or lágeannis _ (the bath's _/the lye's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne láge (a bath/a lye)

From this we get the following rules in relation to singular words with a ligature and an ending e:
 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne láges _ (a bath's _/a lye's _)
 * 1) The singular definite base is formed either by placing dig before the word or the definite marker -an at the end of the word (the -an is placed after the ending e, not replacing it, because the e is important for the noun's pronunciation).
 * 2) When a definite singular word is preceded by dig, the possessive is formed by adding -s.
 * 3) When a definite singular word ends with the definite marker -an, the possessive is formed by doubling the n and adding -is.
 * 4) The singular indefinite base is formed by placing yóne before the word.
 * 5) When a word is an indefinite singular noun, the possessive is formed by adding -s.

Example endings with words not containing accented characters
For words that do not have accented characters/understood ligatures, the suffix addition rules become much simpler. Take the following examples:


 * Base word: rand (border/edge)


 * Definite singular base: dig rand or randan (the border/the edge)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig randes _ or randannes _ (the border's _/the edge's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne rand (a border/an edge)


 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne randes _ (a border's _/an edge's _)


 * Base word: gifare (trip/travel)


 * Definite singular base: dig gifare or gifaran (the trip)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig fares _ or gifarannes _ (the trip's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne gifare (a trip)


 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne gifares _ (a trip's _)


 * Base word: rodde (rod)


 * Definite singular base: dig rodde or roddan (the rod)


 * Definite singular possessive: dig roddes _ or roddannes _ (the rod's _)


 * Indefinite singular base: yóne rodde (a rod)

From this, we derive the following rules:
 * Indefinite singular possessive: yóne roddes _ (a rod's _)
 * 1) The singular definite base is formed either by placing dig before the word or the definite marker -an at the end of the word. If the word ends in an e, the e is dropped in favor of the -an suffix.
 * 2) When a definite singular word is preceded by dig, the possessive is formed by adding -es, unless the word already ends in an e. In that case, the possessive will be formed by adding -s.
 * 3) When a definite singular word ends with the definite marker -an, the possessive is formed by doubling the n and adding -es.
 * 4) The singular indefinite base is formed by placing yóne before the word.
 * 5) When a word is an indefinite singular noun, the possessive is formed by adding -es, unless the word already ends in an e. In that case, the possessive will be formed by adding -s.

With plural nouns
Plural nouns are a special case because of the additional need for plural endings added onto them. Because of this, plural nouns often will appear longer than their singular counterparts. Do not fret, however, as the formation of plural nouns also follows specific rules.

Example endings with words containing accented characters
Like their singular counterparts, plural nouns with accented characters require a workaround around the accents in order to avoid changing the pronunciation of the word. If the word does not already end in an e, one should not randomly add an e. Take the following examples:


 * Base word: órd (point)


 * Definite plural base: dig órdin or órdanin (the points)


 * Definite plural possessive: dig órdinnis _ or órdaninnis _ (the points' _)


 * Indefinite plural base: órdir ([some/few/many]' points)

**When forming the definite plural base, words whose original base forms end in -l are generally exceptions to the normal rules.
 * Indefinite plural possessive: órdiris _ ([some/few/many] points' _)
 * Base word: ángil (angel)
 * Definite plural base: dig ángiln* or ángilanin (the angels)
 * Definite plural possessive: dig ángilnnis _ or ángilaninnis _ (the angels' _)
 * Indefinite plural base: ángilir ([some/few/many] angels)
 * Indefinite plural possessive: ángiliris _ ([some/few/many] angels' _)
 * Base word: hárebárg (harbor/shelter)
 * Definite plural base: dig hárebárgin or hárebárganin (the harbors/shelters)
 * Definite plural possessive: dig hárebárginnis _ or hárebárganinnis _ (the harbors'/shelters' _)
 * Indefinite plural base: hárebárgir ([some/few/many] harbors/shelters)
 * Indefinite plural possessive: hárebárgiris _ ([some/few/many] harbors'/shelters' _)