singularlocative

Singular locative is a grammatical form used to mark the location of a single referent. It is a specific realization of the locative category that encodes singular number, in contrast to locatives that mark plural referents or do not distinguish number. The term is mainly used in descriptive grammars and typological surveys to refer to the singular form within a language’s locative paradigm.

In languages with explicit number-marked locatives, the singular locative may appear as a suffix on the noun, as a separate postposition, or as a clitic attached to the noun phrase. The form often coexists with other case forms and may interact with determiner systems, noun class, or animacy. The precise shape and distribution of singular locatives vary across languages, and some languages employ a single locative form without a dedicated singular/plural distinction.

Functionally, the singular locative serves to locate a single entity in space or time, providing a grammatical cue about the referent’s number. It can be used in spatial descriptions, contrasts between single items and multiple items, and certain idiomatic or figurative expressions.

Distribution and notes: Many languages do not maintain a separate singular locative, instead marking number through other parts of the noun phrase or leaving number implicit. When present, the singular locative is part of a broader locative or local-case system and may be described together with the plural locative in typological surveys. The label singularlocative emphasizes the number-specific form within that system.

See also: Locative case, plural locative, noun number, locatives in typology.