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Value Ability verb also expresses epistemic possibility
Language:
Haitian Creole
Parameter:
Ability verb and epistemic possibility
References
Valdman et al. (eds.) 2007
: 327
Examples
Manman, ki lè m a kapab leve on gwo sak san liv sik?
Manman,
mum
ki
what
lè
time
m
1sg
a
fut
kapab
can
leve
lift.up
on
def
gwo
big
sak
sack
san
hundred
liv
pound
sik?
sugar
Mum, when will I be able to lift a big sack of one hundred pounds of sugar?
French:
Maman, quand est-ce que je serai capable de soulever un gros sac de cent livres de sucre?
See
Dejean 1982
: 34
Ti Pòl mande manman l si l kapab met sik nan lèt li.
Ti
Little
Pòl
Paul
mande
ask
manman
mother
l
3sg
si
if
l
3sg
kapab
can
met
put
sik
sugar
nan
in
lèt
milk
li.
3sg
Little Paul asks his mother whether he has the permission to put sugar in his milk.
French:
Petit Paul demande à sa mère s’il a l’autorisation de mettre du sucre dans son lait.
See
Dejean 1982
: 34
Iv kab pa di m sa.
Iv
Yves
kab
can
pa
neg
di
say
m
1sg
sa.
dem
It is possible that Yves has not told me this.
French:
Il se peut qu'Yves ne m'ait pas dit ça.
See
Dejean 1982
: 41
Iv pa kab di m sa.
Iv
Yves
pa
neg
kab
can
di
say
m
1sg
sa.
dem
Yves cannot tell me about it.
French:
Yves ne peut pas me le dire.
See
Dejean 1982
: 41
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