Allowed and required
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The gap
English can, may, should, and OK blur who allowed something, and whether the person it affects agreed or was only assumed to. Ageben has a word for each, and its ending says where the yes or no comes from.
The forms
| Drop-in | Meaning |
|---|---|
hwuval / hwuvam / hwuvar | allowed by a rule / by a person / tolerated |
hwuvul / hwuvum / hwuvur | forbidden by a rule / by a person / frowned on |
hwuvol / hwuvom / hwuvor | required by a rule / by a person / by custom |
hwudal / hwudam / hwudar | the affected person agreed in advance / said yes (and can take it back) / is assumed to be OK |
The endings have a new job here: the source. Cue: l ≈ law, m ≈ mouth, r ≈ read the room. -l is a rule, -m is a person's word (the default), and -r is no one's word at all.
On the consent words, -r is allowed but visibly weaker: it puts I assumed into the sentence instead of hiding it.
Examples
I borrowed your car
hwudar. I should have asked forhwudam.
You can leave earlyhwuvam.
We wear tieshwuvor, nothwuvol.
Visitors sign in at the deskhwuvol.
No phones at dinnerhwuvum.
We wear ties hwuvor, not hwuvol says it's custom, not a rule.
Practice
Add the drop-in that fits the note.
1. You can park here. (the rules allow it)
Show answer
You can park here hwuval.
2. I posted the photo of us. (you said yes)
Show answer
I posted the photo of us hwudam.
3. People bring a dish. (custom expects it)
Show answer
People bring a dish hwuvor.
4. Talking during the film. (frowned on)
Show answer
Talking during the film hwuvur.