Datapoint Sango/Ability verb and epistemic possibility

Values

Ability verb also expresses epistemic possibility

Example 59-170:
gi Nzapa oko alingbi ti sara so
gi
only
Nzapa
God
oko
one
a-lingbi
pm-be.able
ti
of
sara
do
so
det
Only God can do that.

Source: Taber and Samarin 1965

Example 59-171:
ala lingbi ti si kekereke ape
ala
3pl
lingbi
can
ti
of
si
arrive
kekereke
tomorrow
ape
neg
They might not arrive tomorrow.
Example 59-172:
mbi lingbi ti bata mo ge si lo kiri ti faa mo ape
mbi
1sg
lingbi
can
ti
of
bata
keep
mo
2sg
ge
here
si
conn
lo
3sg
kiri
return
ti
of
faa
kill
mo
2sg
ape
neg
I can't keep you here for fear that he might return to kill you.
Example 59-173:
ngu (ti Nzapa) alingbi ti pika laso
ngu
water
(ti
(of
Nzapa)
God)
a-lingbi
pm-can
ti
conn
pika
strike
laso
today
It might rain today.
Confidence:
Certain