Value Ability verb also expresses epistemic possibility

Language:
Sango
Parameter:
Ability verb and epistemic possibility
References
Bouquiaux et al. 1978: 198; Taber and Samarin 1965: 107

Examples

  1. 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.

    See Taber and Samarin 1965

  2. ala lingbi ti si kekereke ape
    ala
    3pl
    lingbi
    can
    ti
    of
    si
    arrive
    kekereke
    tomorrow
    ape
    neg
    They might not arrive tomorrow.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.