Linking Verb Si33 in Penang Hokkien

One of the most common verbs in Penang Hokkien is si33. It is regarded as a linking verb, that is, a verb that describes the subject. When it links to a predicate noun, we often complete the sentence by adding "lai2" at the end. In this position, the word "lai2" acts as an emphatic particle.

My father is a teacher.
Wah1-eh3 pa1 si33 sin3sneah1 lai2.

This car is a Toyota.
Cit1-teng1 chia1 si33 Toyota lai2.

Unlike the English linking verb "to be", the verb si33 is not used to link the subject to a predicate adjective.

My father is old already.
Wah1-eh3 pa1 lau33 liau4. (Not, "Wah1-eh3 pa1 si33 lau33")

This car is very expensive.
Cit1-teng1 chia1 cin3cnia1 kui3. (Not, "Cit1-leh1 chia1 si33 cin3cnia1 kui3")

Si33 and tok33si33 (is indeed) are however used with the predicate adjective for emphatic purposes. Such sentences are likely to end with "eh2", which translates colloquially as "one".

This car is surely expensive. (This car is expensive one.)
Cit1-teng1 chia1 si33 kui3 eh2.

Wah1-eh3 tua3la1 tok33si33 ang2 eh2.
My towel is the red one.

To form negative sentences, add mm33 in front of si33. Again, the emphatic particle "lai2" (which is optional) is added to the sentence.

My father is not a teacher.
Wah1-eh3 pa1 mm33 si33 sin3sneah1 lai2. This car is not a Toyata.
Cit1-teng1 chia1 mm33 si33 Toyota lai2.

To form questions with the linking verb, we wrap mm33 in front and behind si33.

Isn't your father a teacher?
Lu1-eh3 pa1 si33 mm33 si33 sin3sneah1 lai2?

Isn't this car a Toyota?
Cit1-teng1 chia1 si33 mm33 si33 Toyota lai2?

You can form questions using the linking verb si33 and a question word.

Who is your father?
Lu1-eh3 pa1 si33 cui33-cui33 lai2?

What type of car is this?
Cit1-teng1 chia1 si33 ha1mik1 chia1 lai2?

You can also form questions using the linking verb si33 and a question tag, usually a particle placed at the end of the sentence. Here, the interrogative particle nia2 has replaced the emphatic particle lai2.

Your father is a teacher, isn't he? (Or, "Is your father a teacher?")
Lu1-eh3 pa1 si33 sin3sneah1 nia2?

This car is a Toyota, isn't it? (Or, "Is this car a Toyota?")
Cit1-teng1 chia1 si33 Toyota nia2? The linking verb si33 is also the same word for "yes" and "affirmative". To say "no", use "mm33 si33"

Is your father a teacher? Yes.
Lu1-eh3 pa1 si33 sin3sneah1 nia2? Si33.

Is this car a Mercedes? No.
Cit1-teng1 chia1 si33 Mercedes nia2? Mm33 si33.

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