Datapoint Sranan/Ability verb and epistemic possibility

The epistemic reading of kan seems possible only with progressives, and perhaps statives, including the copula de. There are differences in judgments of acceptability even in these cases. Speakers of more conservative Sranan (Nengre or dipi tongo) prefer to use the periphrastic expression a kan de (taki) or the adverb kande ‘perhaps’ to express epistemic meaning. E.g.,

A kan de taki Jan ben sribi kaba
[3SG can COP COMP John PST sleep already]
'It’s possible that John was already asleep.’ (Winford 1997: 94)

Kande Jan ben sribi kaba.
[perhaps John PST sleep already]
'Perhaps John was already asleep.'

Values

Ability verb also expresses epistemic possibility

Example 2-127:
Den kan e wakti unu na oso.
Den
3pl
kan
can
e
ipfv
wakti
wait
unu
1pl
na
loc
oso.
house
They may be awaiting us at home.

Source: Winford 1997: 92

Example 2-128:
A kan de taki Jan ben sribi kaba.
A
3sg
kan
can
de
cop
taki
comp
Jan
John
ben
pst
sribi
sleep
kaba.
already
It’s possible that John was already asleep.

Source: Winford 1997: 94

Example 2-129:
Mi kan go na+a dansi bika(si) mi abi moni.
Mi kan go na+a dansi bika(si) mi abi moni.
1sg can go loc the.sg dance because 1sg have money
I can go to the dance because I have money.
Confidence:
Certain