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Verb complexes
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A description of the verbal complex in Mulel
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 21 Dec 2023, 22:03.

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Menu 1. Basics: tense and pronoun clitics 2. Simple negation and questions 3. Modal adverbs
[top]Basics: tense and pronoun clitics


The simplest verbal complexes in Mulel consist of a the verb stem and a personal pronoun clitic. This is a gnomic tense and expresses timeless and/or habitual statements, that is statements which are neither about the past, the present or the future but rather all of them at once.

Examples:
  • Krésmtan krésmia móle A builder builds a house. (Explaination of what a builder does)
  • Tréklfet krásani. Birds fly.
  • Kráksdån flásbo. He drinks alcohol. (Either "he is not morally opposed to do so/teetotaler" or "he regularly/habitually does so")


The personal pronoun clitic depends on number, person and gender.

1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I
2CSecond person close/familiar (person)
for friends etc
3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee
.FFeminine gender (gender)
feminine or female
3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee
.NNeuter (gender)
neutral or neuter
3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee
.MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male
3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee
.ANAnimate (gender/class)
alive, moving
3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee
.INInanimate (gender/class)
for non-living things
5Fifth person (person)
indefinite or generic; one, "they" say that
SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
-sag-stig-tan-sdån-fit-mim-un
PLPlural (number)
more than one/few
-sen-tel-tenfel-sden-fet-mel


When referring to humans the default is to use neuter in plural and ones own gender in singular. The default when not speaking of humans is -fit. Of course the defaults are only used if there is no noun and no concrete reference which can overwrite them.

-un is used when the subject is generic or unimportant. Some statements with -un are best translated into English with passives, others with a generic you or one (German man). Sometimes corresponds to German or Icelandic passives without subject.

  • Nóni kítúgåsun, krákun. If you are thirsty, drink, People drink if they are thirsty, Man trinkt, wenn man durst hat.
  • Tásjun kófit sidéselgab. People dance in the city (regularly, it isn't banned), In der Stadt wird getanzt.


The other tenses (non-gnomic) are marked with prefixes, e- for past, i- for presence and år- for future. Second person future is also used as imperative. Presence is often best translated with the progressive.

Examples:
  • Ekráktan kója. She drank water.
  • Ijéámfit pígo dúglmim sidófal. A flower is growing in front of the house.
  • Imáffel sjepóre. The children are sleeping.
  • Årmáfstig. Go to bed/go to sleep.
  • Årbríesansjaf lágfel. I will listen to them.
  • Etásjun kófit sidéselgab. People were dancing in the city.


[top]Simple negation and questions

To negate simple statements a negative infix is inserted between the stem and the personal pronoun. To turn a statement into a question a interrogative infix is inserted at same place. For negative questions the negative infix comes first and then the interrogative. The negative infix is -ni- and the interrogative one is -ju-

Examples:
  • Epásnnisag dámim. I didn’t see it.
  • Århífjuun? Will someone sing?
  • Imúlniuten säten? Aren’t they talking to each other?
  • Etásjsag. I danced.
  • Etásjnisag. I did not dance.
  • Etásjusag. Did I dance?
  • Etásjniusag. Didn’t I dance?


[top]Modal adverbs

Similarly to the negative and interrogative infixes modal adverbs are inserted between the stem and the personal pronoun. If negation or interrogative are also present the order of the infixes is negation, modal adverb(s), interrogative.

säm - willingly, gladly, want to
Säm infers that the subject of a verb wants or likes to do the action. It can also be used in questions to ask someone politely to do something.

  • Tásjsämsag. I like dancing, I like to dance, I (always, regularly, habitually) want to dance.
  • Itásjsämsag. I want to dance (right now).
  • Etásjsämjustig. Did you want to dance?
  • Ispístesansämjutel fófmim sidésel? Would you (pl) give me directions to the market, please?
  • Årtásjnisämfel. They will not want to dance. (At an unspecified later point.)


kén - have to
kén infers that the subject of a verb has to do the action, either because of circumstance, own decision or someone else making them.

  • Edúskkénsag, esásnfésbfit sigéda. I had to leave, it was getting dark (literally: the evening was already dimming).
  • Itásjnikénstig, nóni itásjnisämstig. You do not have to dance if you do not want to
  • Årdúskkénjustig? Will you have to leave?
  • Ebríesannikénjustig mätsdyn? Didn’t you have to listen to him?
  • Díólalkénun. People/You have to eat.


séb - maybe, might
séb infers that the subject of a verb might do the action, the speaker does not know (but thinks it likely). It is often used for recounting events the speaker did not witness.

  • Etásjsébtan. Maybe she danced, She is said to have danced.
  • Etásjnisébtan. Maybe she did not dance, She is said not to have danced.
  • Årdúsksébsag éjlfit sidéselgab. Maybe I will leave the town.
  • Ipásnsébsag dásdån. I might see him (might be someone else, I am not sure) (at this moment).
  • Pásnsébun dásdån. He might be/have been seen, He might be visible (in general).
  • Ipásnsébun dásdån. Someone might see him (right now), He might be visible (at this moment).


nlést - can, be able to, know how to
nlést infers that the subject of the verb can do the action, is able to and/or know how to. It does not say whether the subject of the verb does the action or not. It also does not imply the subject is good at doing the action.

  • Etásjnlésttan. She could dance, She knew how to dance.
  • Etásjnléstnitan.She couldn't dance (something stopped her or she didn't know how).
  • Pásnnléstun dásdån. He is visible, He can be seen (in general).
  • Ipásnnléstniun dásdån. He can't be seen (he is hiding or invisible at the moment).
  • Etásjnléstjustig? Were you able to dance?
  • Etásjninléstjustig? Weren't you able to dance?




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