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Ability
Tag can / can’t on an activity or property. The vowel marks stance. Ordinary reference-suffix endings apply.
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Beginner
Ability (host + xa / xe / xo / xu)
When capability is one content root (sing, lift, lead), write that root, then mid-word x, then a stance vowel, then an ordinary ending:
PoS + HOST + x + {a|e|o|u} + {-l|-m|-n|-r}Use the host’s usual role letter (/v/ for an event, /ɡ/ for a property). The vowel says can or how they can’t; the ending is the host sense (-l literal, -m metaphorical, -n proper, -r resume).
Stance vowels
| Form | Stance | Reading | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|---|
xa | Capable | can (solo / underspecified scaffold) | a add: capability is in |
xe | Temporary can’t | can’t right now (usually able) | e order: this moment’s ranking |
xo | Modifiable can’t | can’t, and that may change (also soft default if grain unknown) | o one: one open can’t |
xu | Irreversible can’t | can’t (fixed / impossible as far as you can tell) | u undo: capability taken off |
`zazawan vuzunuxal.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `v-sing-able`
*Azawan can sing.*`zululon vuzunuxel.`
gloss: `z-courage@` · `v-sing-unable-temporary`
*Ululon can’t sing right now.*`zuhubun vuzunuxol.`
gloss: `z-beauty@` · `v-sing-unable-modifiable`
*Uhubun can’t sing yet (open to change; not claiming who will change it).*| Form | Reading |
|---|---|
vuzunuxal / guzunuxal | can sing (literal host) |
vuzunuxam | can express (metaphorical host sense) |
vuzunuxel | can’t sing right now |
vuzunuxol | can’t sing yet / may become able (or unknown grain) |
vuzunuxul | can’t sing (fixed / impossible as far as you can tell) |
Translation practice
Short drills on this Beginner band. Try each item before opening Show answer. Tag can / can’t on an activity or property host; one item is a plain event with no can / can’t tag.
Roots used here: azawa grace (name Azawan) · ululo courage (name Ululon) · uhubu beauty (name Uhubun) · odogo dog · uzunu sing · awala walk · urunu run · uwuru write · eje see · elebe sleep · aju sit
English → Agalan
1. Azawan can sing.
Show answer
zazawan vuzunuxal.
2. Ululon can’t sing right now.
Show answer
zululon vuzunuxel.
3. Uhubun can’t walk yet (that may change).
Show answer
zuhubun vawalaxol.
4. Azawan can’t run (it’s fixed).
Show answer
zazawan vurunuxul.
5. Ululon can write.
Show answer
zululon vuwuruxal.
6. Azawan sings. (ordinary event, no can / can’t tag)
Show answer
zazawan vuzunul.
7. Uhubun can’t sleep right now.
Show answer
zuhubun velebexel.
8. The dog can see.
Show answer
zodogol vejexal.
Agalan → English
1. zazawan vuzunuxal.
Show answer
Azawan can sing.
2. zululon vuzunuxel.
Show answer
Ululon can’t sing right now.
3. zuhubun vawalaxol.
Show answer
Uhubun can’t walk (may become able, or the grain is unspecified).
4. zazawan vurunuxul.
Show answer
Azawan can’t run (fixed / impossible as far as you can tell).
5. zazawan vuzunul.
Show answer
Azawan sings. (no can / can’t tag)
6. zululon vuwuruxam.
Show answer
Ululon can write (metaphorical host sense).
7. zuhubun vajuxol.
Show answer
Uhubun can’t sit yet (may become able, or the grain is unspecified).
8. guzunuxal.
Show answer
Can sing (as a property).
Intermediate
Ability fallback (egera)
When there is no single host root (a multi-root activity, a hostless can’t, or a clause-wide tag), use egera 🥣 cereal → capacity (ABIL):
[h|w] + egera + x + {a|e|o|u} + {-l|-m|-n|-r}| Prefix | Scope | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
/h/ | clause-level capability (with other /h/ words) | a bowl for the whole clause |
/w/ | capability on the preceding /ɡ/ | a bowl for that property |
Stance vowels match Beginner. Prefer host + stance whenever the activity fits one root. Bare hegeral / wegeral names ability as a topic only (ordinary reference-suffix). Ordinary zegeral still means cereal / a capacity.
On egera + stance, use -m when you mean capacity as a metaphor; use -l when you mean a literal bowl / cereal frame.
| Form | Stance | Reading | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|---|
bare egera (no x) | Topic | Ability named only | no stance vowel: just the bowl |
xa | Capable | can | a add |
xe | Temporary can’t | can’t right now | e order |
xo | Modifiable can’t | can’t; may change (or unknown grain) | o one open can’t |
xu | Irreversible can’t | can’t; fixed as far as you can tell | u undo |
`zazawan hegeraxel.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `h-ABIL-unable-temporary`
*Azawan can’t right now (no single host / clause-wide).*Need xu on a need root is unmet need (values), not a competence can’t. Applicability when / never is restrictors (hal, har, …). You can stack both: vuzunuxol holozoxum is modifiable can’t-sing and unmet competence.
| Form | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| host + stance | can / can’t this activity | zazawan vuzunuxel Azawan can’t sing right now |
hegera + stance | clause-wide / hostless capability | zuhubun hegeraxol Uhubun can’t (may change) |
hegeral | ability as topic | hegeral |
need xu | unmet need | holozoxum (competence) |
| restrictor | when the host applies | hal never |
Translation practice
Short drills on this Intermediate band. Try each item before opening Show answer. Prefer a host when one activity root fits; use egera when there is no single host.
Roots used here: azawa grace (name Azawan) · ululo courage (name Ululon) · uhubu beauty (name Uhubun) · ele size / big · uzunu sing · egera cereal → capacity (ABIL)
English → Agalan
1. Can’t right now (no single host / clause-wide).
Show answer
hegeraxel.
2. Azawan can’t sing right now.
Show answer
zazawan vuzunuxel.
3. Azawan can’t right now (clause-wide; no single activity root).
Show answer
zazawan hegeraxel.
4. Can’t (that may change) (clause-wide; grain unspecified).
Show answer
hegeraxol.
5. Can’t (fixed) (clause-wide).
Show answer
hegeraxul.
6. Ability (topic only: no can / can’t stance).
Show answer
hegeral.
7. Azawan can (clause-wide).
Show answer
zazawan hegeraxal.
Agalan → English
1. hegeraxel.
Show answer
Can’t right now (no single host / clause-wide).
2. zazawan vuzunuxel.
Show answer
Azawan can’t sing right now.
3. hegeral.
Show answer
Ability (topic only).
4. hegeraxul.
Show answer
Can’t (fixed; clause-wide / no single host).
5. zululon hegeraxol.
Show answer
Ululon can’t (may change, or the grain is unspecified; no single host).
6. zegeral.
Show answer
Cereal / a capacity (ordinary word: no ability stance).
7. gelem wegeraxel.
Show answer
Big: can’t right now (capability framed on that property).
See also
- Need unmet vs can’t: values.md
- Applicability when / never: restrictors.md