Taking a new look at Cornish grammar 31 (indefinite pronouns as objects)

Let’s look at some straightforward examples where indefinite pronouns can be used with transitive verbs, such as drei SWFM dri to bring, rei SWFM ri to give, kemeres to take, profya to offer, gara SWFM gasa to leave, perna SWFM prena to buy, gwerha SWFM gwertha to sell, etc., as direct objects:

Me a wra drei nepeth. SWFM My a wra dri neppyth.	I will bring something.
Ma va o rei pub tra. SWFM Yma ev ow ri puptra.	He is giving everything.
Hei a gemeras lies. SWFM Hi a gemeras lies.	She took a lot (much).
Na wrüg an den-na profya tra veth. SWFM Ny wrug an den-na profya tra vyth.	That man didn’t offer anything. That man offered nothing.
A wra whei gara neb tra? SWFM A wra hwi gasa neb tra?	Will you leave something? Are you going to leave anything?
Ma’n düs erel o perna keniver onan. SWFM Yma’n dus erel ow prena keniver onan.	The other people are buying every single one.
Marchons coth a wrüg gwerha lies tra. SWFM Marchons koth a wrug gwertha lies tra.	Old merchants sold many things.

On occasions indefinite pronouns may be occur as indirect objects:

Thero vy o perna ro rag keniver onan. SWFM Yth esov vy ow prena ro rag keniver onan.	I am buying everyone a present. I am buying a present for everyone.
Mowns o tanon lether dhe bubonan. SWFM Ymons i ow tanvon lyther dhe bubonan.	They are sending everybody a letter. They are sending a letter to everybody.

When translating from English to Cornish you may be surprised to discover that something which is an object in English becomes a subject in Cornish, while a subject becomes an indirect object. This is why it is important to learn correct idioms rather than try doing direct word by word translations. In Late Cornish we use a passive construction for having, liking and loathing; this involves both forms (locative and descriptive) of boas (SWFM bos) to be.

Pub tra ew da genam. SWFM Pub tra yw da genev.	Everything is good with me. I like everything.
Nag ew tra veth da genam. SWFM Nyns yw tra vyth da genev.	Nothing is good with me. I like nothing. I don’t like anything.
Keniver tra ew cas gen Jory. SWFM Keniver tra yw kas gans Jori.	Everything is hateful with George. George hates everything.
Nag eus tra veth dhe nei. SWFM Nyns eus tra vyth dhe ni.	There is nothing to us. There isn’t anything to us. We have nothing. We don’t have anything.