Which languages constitute genuine examples of a tripartite case alignment is a matter of debate;[2] however, Wangkumara, Nez Perce, Ainu, Vakh Khanty, Semelai, Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Kham, and Yazghulami have all been claimed to demonstrate tripartite structure in at least some part of their grammar.
[3][8][1] Wangkumara consistently differentiates marking on S, A, and O arguments in the morphology, as demonstrated in example (1) below:[9] karn-iaman-NOMyanthagariawalk.PRESmakurr-anrrustick-INSTRkarn-ia yanthagaria makurr-anrruman-NOM walk.PRES stick-INSTR'The man walks with a stick.
'In the above example, the intransitive case in (a) is glossed NOM, in accordance with Breen's original transcription.
"In the above examples, we see the first person singular pronoun taking different forms for each of the S, A, and O arguments (marked NOM, ERG and ABS respectively), indicating the tripartite alignment in pronominal morphology.
[1] An example of the former kind of mixed system may be Yazghulami, which exhibits tripartite alignment but only in the past tense.
[1] The following examples from Nez Perce illustrate the intransitive-ergative-accusative opposition that holds in the third person:[12] Hi-páay-na3SG-arrive-PERFháama-Øman.NOMHi-páay-na háama-Ø3SG-arrive-PERF man.NOM'The man arrived.