Can and can't
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Ability and incapability
English can and can't usually sit in front of the verb (can sing, can't sing). In Ageben you fold that meaning into the verb or adjective itself. After the root, write x, then a vowel for can or for which kind of can't, then the same ending the word would have without it.
The ability vowel says how much can-do is in (full, a dip, not yet, never). You are not combining options: a dip is still can-do, not a shorter list.
Can (xa)
To say someone can do something (can sing) or can have a quality, keep the verb or adjective and add x and a after the root, before the usual ending. The first letter stays /v/ for an action or /ɡ/ for a quality, and no separate word for can is needed. Only a verb or an adjective takes the ability vowel; a noun, a name, or an /h/ word does not, apart from the special word in when there is no single verb. (Cue: a ≈ full can-do)
zazozon vozuyexal.z-Azozon | v-sing-able
"Azozon can sing."
As a quality, the same word goes on /ɡ/: zazozon gozuyexal (Azozon is able to sing). Without the ability vowel, zazozon vozuyel is just Azozon sings.
The ending is the one the verb or adjective would have anyway (-l concrete, -m abstract, -n name, -r resume). It does not change what kind of can you mean:
zalazun vozuyexam.z-Alazun | v-expression-able
"Alazun can express themself."
For English so can I / can too, resume the verb and keep the x and vowel: the whole stem, then x, the vowel, and -r. A plain resume would drop the can.
zazozon vowuroxal. zalazun vowuroxar.z-Azozon | v-walk-able . z-Alazun | v-←walk-able
"Azozon can walk, and so can Alazun."
Can be (role + ability)
To say someone can be something (can be the author, can be a teacher) rather than that they can do the act, put the ability vowel on a role compound on /ɡ/. Write the role compound, then x and the ability vowel, then the ending. This works only on /ɡ/, the same slot that says is a teacher (classification). The role compound keeps its scope at the front, so scope and ability combine: u is the role this once (can be the author of this), o the role as a practice (can be a teacher).
zalazun gwuzaruyoxam.z-Alazun | g-episode-agent-authorship-able
"Alazun can be the author."
zazozon gwozeduyoxul.z-Azozon | g-role-agent-teach-unable-irreversible
"Azozon can never be a teacher."
Compare with: veduyoxal is can teach (the act). gwozeduyoxal is can be a teacher, as a practice (fit for the role).
Can't (xe / xo / xu)
English can't does not say whether this is just for now, not yet, or never. After x, pick e, o, or u for that difference.
zalazun vozuyexol.z-Alazun | v-sing-unable-temporary
"Alazun can't sing right now."
| Ageben | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
xa | they can (this verb or quality) | can | a ≈ full |
xo | they can't, just for now (they usually can) | can't right now | o ≈ a dip |
xe | they can't yet (use this if you are not sure how lasting it is) | can't yet | e ≈ not yet |
xu | they can never / it is impossible | can never / impossible | u ≈ never |
zahelan vozuyexel.z-Ahelan | v-sing-unable-modifiable
"Ahelan can't sing yet."
zazozon veruvoxul.z-Azozon | v-run-unable-irreversible
"Azozon can never run."
Compare with: a sake word puts th and a vowel after a sake root: tha / thu is met / unmet (thuwathum competence unmet). x and a vowel after a verb or adjective root is can / can't.
When there is no single verb (oda)
Sometimes English can / can't is not about one named verb or quality: the activity takes more than one root, you just want a bare can't, or the can covers the whole sentence. Then there is no single root to put x into. Use the special word oda: after oda, write the same x, vowel, and ending as on a verb. Put it on /h/ when it is about the whole clause, or on /w/ immediately before the adjective it grades. That lets you say can / can't without naming the activity in that word. Prefer the verb itself whenever one root is enough. (Cue: 🥣 bowl: it holds what you can do)
zazozon hodaxol.z-Azozon | h-ABIL-unable-temporary
"Azozon can't right now."
Practice
Short drills for Beginner. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a workshop
New words:
| English | Ageben | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| clipboard | egowal | 📋 |
| capacity | odam | 🥣 from bowl; as hodaxol, a bare can't |
Review:
| English | Ageben |
|---|---|
| Azozon | azozon |
| Alazun | alazun |
| Ahelan | ahelan |
| write | varuyol |
| sit | vehohel |
| run | veruvol |
English → Ageben
1. Azozon can write on the clipboard.
Show answer
zazozon varuyoxal ael begowal.
z-Azozon | v-write-able | [on | b-clipboard]
2. Alazun can't write yet.
Show answer
zalazun varuyoxel.
z-Alazun | v-write-unable-modifiable
3. Ahelan can't sit right now. (Ahelan usually can)
Show answer
zahelan vehohexol.
z-Ahelan | v-sit-unable-temporary
Ageben → English
1. zalazun gwuzaruyoxam.
Show answer
z-Alazun | g-episode-agent-authorship-able
Alazun can be the author.
2. zazozon hodaxol.
Show answer
z-Azozon | h-ABIL-unable-temporary
Azozon can't right now.
3. zahelan veruvoxul.
Show answer
z-Ahelan | v-run-unable-irreversible
Ahelan can never run.
Pick one
1. Azozon can't sit right now. (Azozon usually can) zazozon vehohexol. or zazozon vehohexul.
Show answer
zazozon vehohexol.
z-Azozon | v-sit-unable-temporary
xo is can't, just for now; xu is can never.
Fix it
1. Ahelan can write. zahelan hodaxal varuyol.
Show answer
zahelan varuyoxal.
z-Ahelan | v-write-able
With one named verb, fold can into it with x and a; hodaxal is for a can with no single verb.