Proto-Mila Coursebook Chapter 13: view article

Chapter 13 Modal verbs

Where two verbs are used in English, the first of which expresses a mode in which the second verb can is completed there are a couple of ways this can be done in Mila. We’ve already encountered the ending of uncertainty/politeness/vagueness –p in chapter 8. This can be used to express the form ‘I think’ in English.

Must

To express that an action is compulsory we need to introduce a phrasal form which is similar to the emphatic forms given in the previous chapter. To express a sentence such as I must sing a song we translate using a ‘passive’ construction such as I am ordered to sing a song. Remember the passive is formed by forming an active sentence in the third person (It orders me). Because we have started this sentence with the third person the second clause must also be in the third person so we would translate It orders me, he sings a song giving (the dictionary form for to order being ‘pu(l)da’) ‘Luláp ibúda rumám irúmla’. Note that as the first verb already contains the present particle ‘ir-‘, this is often dropped from the second verb leaving ‘Luláp ibúda rumám rúmla’, though this is considered colloquial and is usually avoided in polite speech.

To express must with an added element of politeness we may introduce the –p ending to the first verb. So You have to sing a song becomes ‘Lulát ibudúp rumám irúmla’, because of the level of politeness the second ‘ir-‘ particle may not be dropped.

When forming questions where just a modal form is used, the modal is then treated like an intransitive verb and placed in the object position (the form used stylistically for more poetical language as introduced in chapter 7). The forms are thus:

must I? uláplit?
must you? ubálda?
must he/she/it? ubulát?
must we? uláplita?
must you? ubáldit?
must they? ubuláta?

If however we wish to say, for example, Must I sing a song? then we have ‘Luláp ulibúda rumám rúmla’.

Should

In the same way as with must this is formed with a passive by translating I am recommended to sing a song. Recommend is ‘pidla’ giving us the sentence ‘Luláp ibídla rumám (i)rúmla’.

The question form is thus should I? ‘uláptu?’ etc.

Can/May (with possibility)

This is translated in a form which cannot be translated directly into English but would be something of the form I am ‘possibled’ to sing a song. This to possible verb is ‘huɟa’ giving ‘Luláp ihúɟa rumám (i)rúmla’

The question form is may I? ‘uláhlic?’ etc.

Can (with ability)

This uses the passive of the verb enable being ‘tu(l)ha’ giving for I can/am able to sing a song ‘Luláp idúha rumám (i)rúmla’.

The question form is can you? ‘událha?’ etc.

There are a few other verbs which behave in the same way as the others just mentioned, some of which are listed below:

Verb Dictionary form I ___ (to sing a song) etc.
need tupha Luláp idúpha rumám (i)rúmla
like puba Luláp ibúba rumám (i)rúmla
want nuda Luláp inúda rumám (i)rúmla
start rukha Luláp irúkha rumám (i)rúmla
decide lina Luláp ilína rumám (i)rúmla
long pinɟa Luláp ibínɟa rumám (i)rúmla
hope pubna Luláp ipúbna rumám (i)rúmla

For each the question form takes the predicate form.

It should be noted when ‘start’ is used in this way it has a different meaning from the affix –j placed on verbs, which was introduced in the previous chapter. So he’s falling asleep ‘ba ihuhíj’ would take the –j form, whereas he’s just gone to sleep would take this form with start ‘Lulát irúkha ba ihúha’.

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