Value Ability verb cannot express epistemic possibility

Language:
Early Sranan
Parameter:
Ability verb and epistemic possibility
References
van den Berg 2007: 213ff

Examples

  1. Mi no ha tiffi moro, mi no kann kau.
    Mi
    1sg
    no
    neg
    habi
    have
    tifi
    teeth
    moro,
    more
    mi
    1sg
    no
    neg
    kan
    can
    kaw.
    chew
    I don't have teeth anymore, I cannot chew.

    See Schumann 1783: 81

  2. Da somma no sabi va swem.
    Da
    det.sg
    soma
    person
    no
    neg
    sabi
    know
    fu
    to
    swen.
    swim
    That person cannot swim (doesn't know how to swim).
    German: Der Mensch kann nicht schwimmen [op.cit.]

    See Schumann 1783: 169

  3. Ju sa mann va tjarri datti?
    Yu
    2sg
    sa
    fut
    man
    be.able
    fu
    to
    tyari
    carry
    dati?
    that
    Are you able to carry that?
    German: Wirst du dieses tragen können? [op.cit.]

    See Schumann 1783: 107

  4. Da mastra a za wandi fo slibi lange mi na netti kaba a za fom mi alle de.
    Da
    det.sg
    masra
    master
    a
    3sg.sbj
    sa
    fut
    wani
    want
    fo
    to
    sribi
    sleep
    nanga
    with
    mi
    me
    na
    at
    neti
    night
    kaba
    and
    a
    3sg.sbj
    sa
    fut
    fon
    hit
    mi
    1sg
    ala
    all
    de.
    day
    The master, he will want to sleep with me in the night, and he'll beat me up every day.
    Dutch: De Meester zel van Nagt by myn willen Slaapen en dan zal ik alle Daagen slaagen krygen. [op.cit.]

    See van Dyk ca. 1765: 64