12.1 - Modal verbs
A number of so-called modal verbs or serial verbs exist in Anawanda. The most common are listed below (Anawanda verbs are referenced with the 3rd person singular of the indicative aorist):
- buurúúna: can, may
- carácuuna: can (have the knowledge/ability/skill to)
- mamáánii: must
- únanii: need
- lalámuuna: want
- úúrtidii: intend
- páptii: quit (without completing)
- ááttaaddii: finish
- imúúna: be going to
- gáánnuuna: start, resume
When modal verbs govern another verb they call for a special serial construction, where the two verbs are placed together and agree in mood, tense and person. Example:
[1] ná taa támác dáscan lalámuuna amiináttuuna
and it Tamach feast want.AORIST.3S to.indict.AOR.3S
(And) Tamach wanted to indict a feast
[2] ná taa dáscan lálaam amiináám
and it feast want.IMPFTC.1S to.indict.IMPFCT.1S
(And) I want to indict a feast
This construction is limited to the cases where the subject of the two verbs is the same. Such sentences as "I want him to indict a feast" require an embedded clause instead.
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