the uses of the word ⲡⲉ,ⲧⲉ and ⲛⲉ

[Admin]

we all know it used to mean I am
for example
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲛⲓϣϯ ,  ˋⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲩϫⲓ , and so on
all of those are definite (معرفه)
if you want to use the indefinite form (صيغة التنكير)
you should say something like
ˋⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲡⲉ
ˋⲛⲑⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲧⲉ
ˋⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ ϩⲁⲛⲛⲓϣϯ ⲛⲉ
but u should say
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲡⲉ (without ⲡⲉ)
ˋⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ
ˋⲛⲑⲟ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ
and so on
the reason is that ⲡⲉ,ⲧⲉ and ⲛⲉ means he,she and they (reference Coptic in 20 lessons by Bentley Layton)
so you can say ˋⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲡⲉ (he is great he) or simply ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲡⲉ (he is great) without ˋⲛⲑⲟϥ
for example in the prayer (ⲁⲓⲛⲁϩϯ) it says

ⲟⲩⲛⲓϣϯ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲱⲟⲩ ˋⲛⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲡⲉⲣⲑⲉⲛⲓⲁ

and in the second ϩⲱⲥ they say

ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ

but NEVER say, ˋⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ instead sometimes might say ˋⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ ˋⲛⲑⲟⲕ
or ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲟⲩϩⲏⲕⲓ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ

In Sahidic there is no ˋⲛⲑⲟϥ ˋⲛⲑⲟⲥ nor ˋⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ they always use ⲡⲉ,ⲧⲉ and ⲛⲉ insead

this is a little info I wanted to share with everybody and hope it helps

[n stauro]

Thankyou Admin
It is very helpfull

Ⲫϯ ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲁⲡⲏ ⲡⲉ

[Aegyptoc]

Hi, I came to this old thread with a small addition about Sahidic.

My Sahidic textbook says that Sahidic does indeed have 'ntof' and 'ntoc'.

For example:
Auw ntof pe prro efharatk
And he (Constantine) (is) the king under you.

[Admin]

Seems you are right, thanks for correcting this