Value Ability verb also expresses epistemic possibility

Language:
Negerhollands
Parameter:
Ability verb and epistemic possibility

Examples

  1. Ham na kan ris dǝ stēn.
    Ham
    3sg
    na
    neg
    kan
    can
    ris
    lift
    dǝ
    the
    stēn.
    stone
    He cannot lift the stone.

    See Josselin de Jong 1926: 11

  2. Am ha sē, Adinja na kan sē am ēntēn lik: di fo ha sómgut am maṅkḗ am fo du.
    Am
    3sg
    ha
    pst
    sē,
    say
    Adinja
    Adinja
    na
    neg
    kan
    can
    sē
    say
    am
    3sg
    ēntēn
    no
    lik:
    lie
    di
    det
    fo
    must
    ha
    have
    sómgut
    something
    am
    3sg
    maṅkḗ
    want
    am
    3sg
    fo
    to
    du.
    do
    He said, Adinja cannot have told him any lie: there must be something he wants him to do.

    See Josselin de Jong 1926: 13