The third set, the independent pronouns, can stand on their own, and they usually stand first. They complete the picture begun in Suffix Pronouns and Dependent Pronouns.
Key idea
| Pronoun | Meaning | Built from |
|---|---|---|
| jnk | I | its own form (compare Akkadian anāku) |
| ntk | you (man) | nt + =k |
| ntṯ | you (woman) | nt + =ṯ |
| ntf | he | nt + =f |
| nts | she | nt + =s |
| jnn | we | jn + =n |
| ntṯn | you (plural) | nt + =ṯn |
| ntsn | they | nt + =sn |
Most of the forms are easy to remember: nt plus the suffix pronoun. ntf is nt + f, nts is nt + s. Only the first person differs: jnk “I” and jnn “we”.
How they are used
An independent pronoun usually stands at the head of a sentence, as the subject of a noun predicate: jnk sš “I am a scribe”, ntk nb=j “you are my lord”, ntf jt=j “he is my father”. It often carries emphasis: “I am the one who…”. You will build such sentences in The Nominal Sentence.
Why it works
Common mistake
Independent pronouns also carry the claims of tomb autobiographies, where the owner speaks about his own good conduct. Many of his sentences begin with jnk: “I was one who gave bread to the hungry…”, “I was one beloved of his lord…”. You will read such texts in Middle Egyptian II. In each case the pronoun comes first and carries weight, which is the key to all its uses.
Worked example: Form
- nt + the suffix =s.
Answer: nts
Worked example: Translate
- ntk “you” (man) heads the sentence.
- zꜣ=j “my son” is the predicate.
Answer: “You are my son.”