Grounds-conclusion

Last updated: Dec. 12, 2025

Definition

The propositions stand in a causal, associative, or alternation relation with each other.

The grounds proposition is known to be true, and from this the speaker deduces that

the conclusion is also true. Answers the question: What fact is this conclusion based on?

In English, we use "therefore", "I conclude that", "so" and "must be". Sometimes the connecting word can be the same as Reason-result. If we use the phrase "I conclude that" in the English sentence, it can help to weed out Reason-result.

English examples

  • The car looks clean, so (I conclude that) John must have washed it.
  • The wind is blowing, so (I conclude that) it must be going to rain soon.
  • It must be late, because it is getting dark.
  • Mary must have come, because I see her car.

Kovol examples

Philip

  • H7_12-15
    “ “Molomung undum og wig. Hum ege igising.” eb amb igugum. (grounds) Om yot tuguga.”
    “ ”She doesn’t have a brother. She will just stay (single).” I was saying. He did wrong.”

    Steve's free translation (not knowing the context): "[1]She is without a brother. [2]She will be alone. [3] He has done bad here."
    [1] is amplification or equivalence of [2]. [1+2] could either be Grounds-conclusion (I conclude that he has done bad. or it could be Specific-generic

  • H7_118-121
    “teme undum pinot agabi ege utugum. (grounds) Nom ongol agamb abagam bili ege nala, ege wi hang.”
    “(my) daughter’s big hevi (bride price) I gave him. That is his and if he wants to do it right, it will be done.”
    Steve's free translation (not knowing the context): "[1] I did give him my daughter's big hevi. [2] (If) that is his [3] (while) he does a thankyou meal, [4] it will be finished."
    [1]condition [2-4] consequence.
    [2]simultaneous [3] sequential [4]

Steve

  • H4_29-30
    “skul hooyom mee mee nom wig nom ig mehamonn hute om mu egee nolug”
    “(If) we don't have those things from school, (then) we will not do a work here”
    May be a Condition-consequence relationship (if) that works by juxtaposition of the two clauses.

Kovol description

Not enough data.

Steve's guess was that it worked with ombo, but his examples were Reason-result. He may think that because in English the two can be similar.

Degree of confidence

Very low

Most of the examples suggested in Steve's DA are Reason-result. From our 6 DA papers, the three examples above are the only potential Grounds-conclusions.

Our team should work on eliciting some simpler Grounds-conclusion sentences, like:

  • I heard the helicopter come, so the missionaries must be home.
  • There is no papaya on the tree, so someone must have stolen it.
  • A rat must have come, because the trap fell.
  • He took medicine, so I think he will get better.
  • It will rain because there are black clouds.
  • It must be Sunday as the white people are singing.
  • Because the cockatoos are screeching, I know someone is coming.