APiCS Online -

Datapoint Louisiana Creole/Ability verb and epistemic possibility

In Breaux Bridge kapab cannot express epistemic possibilty; pe, however, can (although it is frequently replaced by petet (Neumann 1985: 226)).

Example 53-209:: Se jis twa kapab ede nouzot.
Se
it.is
jis
only
twa
2sg
kapab
can
ede
help
nouzot.
1pl
Only you can help us.

Source: Neumann 1985: 224
Example 53-210:: To pe fe sa si t ole.
To
2sg
pe
can
fe
do
sa
dem
si
if
t
2sg
ole.
want
You can do this if you want.

Source: Neumann 1985: 226
Example 53-211:: "To kone danse?" Li di: "We mo kone".
"To
2sg
kone
know
danse?"
dance
Li
3sg
di:
say
"We
yes
mo
1sg
kone".
know
"You know how to dance?" He said: "Yes, I know".

Source: Neumann 1985: 238
Example 53-212:: Li se pe manje sa.
Li
3sg
se
cond
pe
can
manje
eat
sa.
dem
He might have eaten that.
French: Il se pourrait qu'il ait mangé cela.

Source: Neumann 1985: 226
Example 53-214:: To pe pa galope avek mwen.
To
2sg
pe
can
pa
neg
galope
run
avek
with
mwen.
1sg
You can't run with me.

Source: Neumann 1985: 225
Example 53-417:: Li peu èt malad, me mo pa kòne.
Li
3sg
peu
can
èt
be
malad,
ill
me
but
mo
1sg
pa
neg
kòne.
know
He could be ill, but I don't know.