Appearance
Intention
English will and going to can describe either intention (the course someone means to take) or a forecast (what someone thinks will happen later). Agazan marks intention with a /th/ word before an ordinary verb. A forecast has no word of its own: it is a channel that says how you know, plus a later offset (taught later). The distinction lets you show whether you are describing someone's chosen course or making a claim about a future event.
On this page
Beginner
Plan
To say what someone means to do, put thama before the ordinary verb, such as walk or write. The /th/ marks the mood across the clause; the ending on thama says how fully the person has planned the course. This separates an intention from English will used as a forecast. (Cue: 🗺️ A map charts a course you mean to take.)
zazawan thamam vowogal.z-Azawan | th-plan-itinerary | v-walk
"Azawan plans to walk."
Ordinary content stays available (zamal a map; vamal to plan). Leave PLAN off when you are not framing intention.
Endings — map resolution
On ama, -l / -m / -r say how fully drawn the intention is: a map that already includes backups, steps filled in, or just the direction. That split shows how much of the route is drawn. No level is better: match the detail to the plan, and a sketch is often all a small or early plan needs. -n is ordinary proper. When you are unsure how detailed the course is, use thamam: it claims a plan without saying how much is filled in.
| Agazan | Use | English | Same root as | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
thamal | atlas | is fully prepared to … — hurdles are anticipated and prepared for | amal plan-atlas | -l ≈ locked in (detours already drawn) |
thamam | itinerary (soft default) | plans to … — steps laid out, or detail unstated | amam plan-itinerary | -m ≈ middle (the route, no backups) |
thamar | sketch | intends to … / is thinking of … — the direction, details left open | amar plan-sketch | -r ≈ rough (a direction for now) |
zalahen thamar vowogal.z-Alahen | th-plan-sketch | v-walk
"Alahen is thinking of a walk." (a sketch is plenty here)
zahaben thamal vowogal.z-Ahaben | th-plan-atlas | v-walk
"Ahaben is fully prepared to walk."
Saying I will in English can hide whether you have a direction, the steps, or backups too. Picking the ending makes that level of detail audible, so others know how firm the details are.
Compare with: a forecast about the world (it will rain) is not PLAN. PLAN says what someone means to do, and needs no warrant. A forecast always names how you know it: a channel plus a later offset (forecasts, taught later). To say how much later someone means to act (in three hours), add a + offset after PLAN.
Translation practice
Short drills for Beginner. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a chess club
Roots used here:
| English | Agazan | Same root as |
|---|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan | |
| Alahen | alahen | |
| Ahaben | ahaben | |
| sit | vehahel | ehahel chair |
| pawn | obohul | |
| see | vahahal | ahahal eye |
| tell | vezebel | ezebel speech |
| punch | vabahel | |
| scream | vezugel | |
| fight | vavadal |
English → Agazan
1. Azawan intends to sit.
Show answer
zazawan thamar vehahel.
z-Azawan | th-plan-sketch | v-sit
2. Alahen intends to see a pawn.
Show answer
zalahen thamar dobohul vahahal.
z-Alahen | th-plan-sketch | d-pawn | v-see
3. Azawan plans to tell Ahaben.
Show answer
zazawan bahaben thamam vezebel.
z-Azawan | b-Ahaben | th-plan-itinerary | v-tell
4. Ahaben is fully prepared to sit.
Show answer
zahaben thamal vehahel.
z-Ahaben | th-plan-atlas | v-sit
5. Ahaben plans to see Azawan.
Show answer
zahaben thamam dazawan vahahal.
z-Ahaben | th-plan-itinerary | d-Azawan | v-see
6. Alahen is fully prepared to punch Azawan.
Show answer
zalahen thamal dazawan vabahel.
z-Alahen | th-plan-atlas | d-Azawan | v-punch
7. Alahen plans to scream.
Show answer
zalahen thamam vezugel.
z-Alahen | th-plan-itinerary | v-scream
8. Alahen is fully prepared to fight.
Show answer
zalahen thamal vavadal.
z-Alahen | th-plan-atlas | v-fight
Agazan → English
1. zalahen thamar vehahel.
Show answer
z-Alahen | th-plan-sketch | v-sit
Alahen intends to sit.
2. zazawan thamar dobohul vahahal.
Show answer
z-Azawan | th-plan-sketch | d-pawn | v-see
Azawan intends to see a pawn.
3. zahaben bazawan thamam vezebel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | b-Azawan | th-plan-itinerary | v-tell
Ahaben plans to tell Azawan.
4. zahaben thamar vehahel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | th-plan-sketch | v-sit
Ahaben intends to sit.
5. zazawan bahaben thamar vezebel.
Show answer
z-Azawan | b-Ahaben | th-plan-sketch | v-tell
Azawan intends to tell Ahaben.
6. zalahen thamam dobohul vahahal.
Show answer
z-Alahen | th-plan-itinerary | d-pawn | v-see
Alahen plans to see a pawn.
7. zahaben thamal vezugel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | th-plan-atlas | v-scream
Ahaben is fully prepared to scream.
8. zazawan thamam vavadal.
Show answer
z-Azawan | th-plan-itinerary | v-fight
Azawan plans to fight.
Intermediate
Ability and incapability
English can and can't usually sit in front of the verb (can sing, can't sing). In Agazan you fold that meaning into the verb or adjective itself. After the root, write x, then a vowel that means can or how they can't, then the same ending that word would have had without can.
Can (xa)
To say someone can do something you name with one verb (sing, walk), or can have a quality you name with one adjective, keep that verb or adjective. After the root, add x and a, then the usual ending. Keep the first letter the same: /v/ for an action, /ɡ/ for a quality. You do not need a separate helping verb like English can. If you are not talking about ability, leave the word ordinary. Ability goes on /v/ and /ɡ/ only (the hostless root of when there is no single verb aside); a noun, name, or /h/ takes none. (Cue: a ≈ add — capability is in)
zazawan vezehexal.z-Azawan | v-sing-able
"Azawan can sing."
For English could about a skill someone used to have, add FORMER thenom: the ability is not today's report.
zazawan vezehexal thenom.z-Azawan | v-sing-able | th-FORMER
"Azawan could sing." (as a former ability)
The same idea as a quality uses /ɡ/: zazawan gezehexal (Azawan is able to sing, as a quality). Ordinary action, no can: zazawan vezehel (Azawan sings).
The ending still belongs to that verb or adjective (-l concrete, -m abstract, -n proper, -r resume). It does not change what kind of can you mean:
zalahen vezehexam.z-Alahen | v-expression-able
"Alahen 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.
zazawan vowogaxal. zalahen vowogaxar.z-Azawan | v-walk-able . z-Alahen | v-←walk-able
"Azawan can walk, and so can Alahen."
Can be (role + ability)
To say someone can be a doer, place, undergoer, or recipient, not that they can do the act, put the ability vowel on a role compound used as a kind 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).
zalahen gaxaradaxam.z-Alahen | g-agent-x-authorship-able
"Alahen can be the author."
zazawan gaxedehoxul.z-Azawan | g-agent-x-teach-unable-irreversible
"Azawan can never be a teacher."
Compare with: vedehoxal is can teach (the act). gaxedehoxal is can be a teacher (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.
zalahen vezehexel.z-Alahen | v-sing-unable-temporary
"Alahen can't sing right now."
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
xa | they can (this verb or quality) | can | a ≈ add (capability is in) |
xe | they can't, just for now (they usually can) | can't right now | e ≈ order (this moment's ranking) |
xo | they can't yet (use this if you are not sure how lasting it is) | can't yet | o ≈ one (one open can't) |
xu | they can never / it is impossible | can never / impossible | u ≈ undo (capability taken off) |
zahaben vezehexol.z-Ahaben | v-sing-unable-modifiable
"Ahaben can't sing yet."
zazawan varahaxul.z-Azawan | v-run-unable-irreversible
"Azawan can never run."
Compare with: a sakes word joins a sake root with th, not x: tha / thu is met / unmet sake (thulothum competence unmet). xa / xu after a verb or quality is can / can't.
When there is no single verb (eze)
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 eze: after eze, write the same x, vowel, and ending as on a verb. Put it on /th/ 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: 🥣 cereal: a bowl that holds what you can do)
zazawan thezexel.z-Azawan | th-ABIL-unable-temporary
"Azawan can't right now (no single verb / whole clause)."
Decision (revisability)
To say that someone has decided to do something, put thehu before the ordinary verb. The ending on thehu tells you whether the decision is irreversible, still changeable, or temporary. You can keep the action the same and change only the ending to show how open the decision remains. (Cue: ✅ A checkmark confirms a choice.)
Ordinary content is still available (zehul a checkmark; vehul to check / tick).
zalahen thehum vezehel.z-Alahen | th-DECISION-modifiable | v-sing
"Alahen has decided to sing, and can still change that."
Compare with PLAN: PLAN says how fully someone has planned a course of action. DECISION says how readily they may change their choice.
Endings — changeability
On ehu, -l / -m / -r match unmet changeability: irreversible / modifiable / temporary. -n is ordinary proper. If you do not know how locked the pick is, use -m.
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
thehul | irreversible | has decided for good to … | -l hard / locked |
thehum | modifiable (soft default if unknown) | has decided to …, and can still change that | -m open to change |
thehur | temporary | has decided for now to … | -r light / this-moment only |
You can stack this mood after PLAN when the clause needs both map grain and pick firmness:
zazawan thamam thehul vowogal.z-Azawan | th-plan-itinerary | th-DECISION-irreversible | v-walk
"Azawan plans to walk, and that choice is final."
PLAN and DECISION endings run the same way: -l is the most settled, -m the default, and -r the lightest.
zalahen thamar thehur vowogal.z-Alahen | th-plan-sketch | th-DECISION-temporary | v-walk
"Alahen is thinking of walking, and has decided only for now."
A decision can also follow the hook uem, like a plan (contrary to a stance): the event goes against that decision. It is the subject's own decision unless a /b/ names whose it is.
zazawan vowogal uem thehum.z-Azawan | v-walk | [contrary-to | th-DECISION-modifiable]
"Azawan walks, though they had decided not to."
zazawan vowogal uem thehul bamagon.z-Azawan | v-walk | [contrary-to | [th-DECISION-irreversible | b-speaker]]
"Azawan walks against my final decision."
Try
To say that someone is trying to do something, put thudu before the ordinary verb. The outcome stays open: the sentence says the attempt happens, not whether it works. The ending tells you how committed the attempt is. (Cue: 🧪 A test tube tries a sample to see what happens.)
Ordinary content is still available (zudul a test tube).
zazawan thudum varadal.z-Azawan | th-ATTEMPT-unstated | v-write
"Azawan tries to write."
Endings — commitment
On udu, -l / -m / -r say how far the attempt will go. -n is ordinary proper. If you do not know, use -m.
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
thudul | committed | commits to trying … / keeps trying to … until it works or is ruled out | -l the full run |
thudum | unstated (soft default) | tries to … | -m middle |
thudur | trial run | tries out … / gives … a shot: a low-stakes probe, and failing is useful to know | -r a small sample |
zalahen thudur vezehel.z-Alahen | th-ATTEMPT-trial | v-sing
"Alahen gives singing a try."
zalahen thudul vowogal.z-Alahen | th-ATTEMPT-committed | v-walk
"Alahen keeps trying to walk."
A trial run (-r) plans for failure: if it fails, that is what the probe was for. Use it when you want to lower the stakes, for yourself or for someone else.
Fallback (xon)
For try A; failing that, B, join the attempt to the backup with the clause sequence join xon. It goes between the two clauses. The backup comes into play only if the attempt before it fails, and exactly one of them ends up holding.
zazawan thudur vowogal xon zazawar vezehel.[z-Azawan | th-ATTEMPT-trial | v-walk | x-or-else | z-←Azawan | v-sing]
"Azawan tries walking; failing that, Azawan sings."
Each clause keeps its own ending, so you can probe the first option and commit to the backup:
zazawan thudur vowogal xon zazawar thudul vezehel.[z-Azawan | th-ATTEMPT-trial | v-walk | x-or-else | z-←Azawan | th-ATTEMPT-committed | v-sing]
"Azawan tries walking; failing that, Azawan commits to trying singing."
A PLAN atlas (thamal) already includes backups. Chain them with xon to name them, first choice first:
zazawan thamal vowogal xon zazawar vezehel xon zazawar vezebal.[z-Azawan | th-plan-atlas | v-walk | x-or-else | z-←Azawan | v-sing | x-or-else | z-←Azawan | v-sleep]
"Azawan's plan is to walk; failing that, to sing; failing that, to sleep."
Compare with: ability says whether someone can do something; an attempt makes no claim either way. PLAN is intention before acting; an attempt is acting with the outcome open. Unordered or is xol (clause joins): no first choice and no backup.
Want
To say that someone wants to do something, put thohu before the ordinary verb. The mood says the wanting is theirs. It does not say the act happens, and it does not say they mean to do it. The ending says how long the wanting lasts. (Cue: 🌠 A shooting star is where you make a wish.)
zazawan thohum vowogal.z-Azawan | th-WANT-unstated | v-walk
"Azawan wants to walk."
For a wanted person or thing, use the verb that would get it (see, take) and keep the object in /d/.
zalahen thohum vahahal dazawan.z-Alahen | th-WANT-unstated | v-see | d-Azawan
"Alahen wants to see Azawan."
Endings: lastingness
On ohu, -l / -m / -r say how long the wanting lasts. -n is ordinary proper. If you do not know, use -m.
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
thohul | a want that keeps coming back | really wants to … / has long wanted to … | -l ≈ locked in (a steady star) |
thohum | duration unstated (soft default) | wants to … | -m ≈ open |
thohur | a want that will pass | feels like … / has a whim to … | -r ≈ right now (a streak) |
zalahen thohur vezehel.z-Alahen | th-WANT-passing | v-sing
"Alahen feels like singing." (a whim)
A want, a plan, and a decision are three different steps, so they stack in that order:
zazawan thohul thamam vowogal.z-Azawan | th-WANT-lasting | th-plan-itinerary | v-walk
"Azawan has long wanted to walk, and plans to."
After the hook uem, a want is what the event goes against (contrary to a stance). That is English against their will when the want is the subject's own, and against Alahen's wishes when a /b/ names Alahen.
zazawan vowogal uem thohum.z-Azawan | v-walk | [contrary-to | th-WANT-unstated]
"Azawan walks against their will."
zalahen vezebal uem thohum bazawan.z-Alahen | v-sleep | [contrary-to | [th-WANT-unstated | b-Azawan]]
"Alahen sleeps, against Azawan's wishes."
Compare with: hopefully (thevegem) is your attitude toward a whole claim; thohum is the subject's own wanting. Motive says which sake the act serves, not that it is wanted. In emotion compose, SEEKING is a feeling turning toward someone for comfort, not a plain want.
Someone else's want, plan, or decision
English Alahen wants Azawan to walk, Alahen plans for Azawan to walk, and Alahen has decided that Azawan walks give the wanting, planning, or deciding to someone other than the one who acts. Put that person in /b/ right after the mood word, the same way a person who allows or demands something sits after that word. With no /b/, the want, plan, or decision is the subject's own. Either way, the clause does not say the act happens.
zazawan thohum balahen vowogal.z-Azawan | [th-WANT-unstated | b-Alahen] | v-walk
"Alahen wants Azawan to walk."
zazawan thamam balahen vowogal.z-Azawan | [th-plan-itinerary | b-Alahen] | v-walk
"Alahen plans for Azawan to walk."
zazawan thehum balahen vowogal.z-Azawan | [th-DECISION-modifiable | b-Alahen] | v-walk
"Alahen has decided that Azawan walks, and can still change that."
A plan has one /b/ slot. It holds either whose plan it is or how much later the act comes (thamam bral). When you need both, keep the person there and put the time on huwem during:
zazawan thamam balahen vowogal huwem bral.z-Azawan | [th-plan-itinerary | b-Alahen] | v-walk | [h-while | b-later]
"Alahen plans for Azawan to walk later."
Compare with: requirement zazawan vowogal thumem balahen. (Alahen makes Azawan walk) puts a demand on Azawan, who now owes the walk. thehum balahen says only that Alahen chose how things go, the way a coach decides who plays, with nothing asked of Azawan. Keeping someone else's want apart from the subject's own is the difference between Azawan wants to walk and Azawan is walking because Alahen wants it.
Plan or forecast
English will can be a plan or a forecast. A plan uses PLAN and needs no warrant. A forecast about the world uses an evidential channel plus the later offset bral (forecasts): the channel says what the forecast rests on.
thobam bral verehel.[th-PATTERN | b-later] | v-rain
"It will rain (going by the usual pattern)."
zalahen thamam thunel bral vehahel.z-Alahen | th-plan-itinerary | [th-INFERRED.strong | b-later] | v-sit
"Alahen plans to sit, and the clues strongly say it will happen."
Compare with: a channel with no offset is a claim about this stretch (thodom if you are observing it now; thevom if you remember observing it). Add bral when the claim is about a later event, not a guess about what is already so.
Translation practice
Short drills for Intermediate. Try each item before opening Show answer. These combine ability with planning, decisions, and attempts.
Setting: a board meeting
Roots used here:
| English | Agazan | Same root as |
|---|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan | |
| Alahen | alahen | |
| Ahaben | ahaben | |
| PLAN (itinerary) | thamam | amam plan-itinerary |
| DECISION (modifiable) | thehum | ehul check |
| attempt-committed | thudul | udul test-tube |
| attempt-trial | thudur | udul test-tube |
| want-unstated | thohum | ohul shooting-star |
| want-lasting | thohul | ohul shooting-star |
| sit | vehahel | ehahel chair |
| tell | vezebel | ezebel speech |
| write | varadal | |
| sing | vezehel | |
| see | vahahal | ahahal eye |
| clipboard | egabol | |
| pen | ebewel | |
| PATTERN | thobam | obal paw-prints |
| punch | vabahel | |
| scream | vezugel | |
| fight | vavadal | |
| climb | vagayal | |
| stand | vazadol | |
| run | varahal |
English → Agazan
1. Alahen has decided to sit, and can still change that.
Show answer
zalahen thehum vehahel.
z-Alahen | th-DECISION-modifiable | v-sit
2. Azawan has decided to tell Ahaben, and can still change that.
Show answer
zazawan bahaben thehum vezebel.
z-Azawan | b-Ahaben | th-DECISION-modifiable | v-tell
3. Ahaben has decided for now to write.
Show answer
zahaben thehur varadal.
z-Ahaben | th-DECISION-temporary | v-write
4. Going by the usual pattern, Alahen will sit.
Show answer
zalahen thobam bral vehahel.
z-Alahen | [th-PATTERN | b-later] | v-sit
5. Azawan plans to sit, and that choice is final.
Show answer
zazawan thamam thehul vehahel.
z-Azawan | th-plan-itinerary | th-DECISION-irreversible | v-sit
6. Alahen has decided for now to see a clipboard.
Show answer
zalahen thehur degabol vahahal.
z-Alahen | th-DECISION-temporary | d-clipboard | v-see
7. Alahen has decided for good to punch Azawan.
Show answer
zalahen thehul dazawan vabahel.
z-Alahen | th-DECISION-irreversible | d-Azawan | v-punch
8. Alahen has decided for good to fight.
Show answer
zalahen thehul vavadal.
z-Alahen | th-DECISION-irreversible | v-fight
9. Azawan can climb.
Show answer
zazawan vagayaxal.
z-Azawan | v-climb-able
10. Ahaben can't stand yet.
Show answer
zahaben vazadoxol.
z-Ahaben | v-stand-unable-modifiable
11. Azawan can't right now. (the whole thing, not one verb)
Show answer
zazawan thezexel.
z-Azawan | th-ABIL-unable-temporary
12. Azawan keeps trying to climb.
Show answer
zazawan thudul vagayal.
z-Azawan | th-ATTEMPT-committed | v-climb
13. Azawan gives standing a try; failing that, Azawan sits.
Show answer
zazawan thudur vazadol xon zazawar vehahel.
[z-Azawan | th-ATTEMPT-trial | v-stand | x-or-else | z-←Azawan | v-sit]
14. Alahen wants to see Azawan.
Show answer
zalahen thohum vahahal dazawan.
z-Alahen | th-WANT-unstated | v-see | d-Azawan
15. Azawan has long wanted to sit, and plans to.
Show answer
zazawan thohul thamam vehahel.
z-Azawan | th-WANT-lasting | th-plan-itinerary | v-sit
16. Alahen wants Ahaben to sing.
Show answer
zahaben thohum balahen vezehel.
z-Ahaben | [th-WANT-unstated | b-Alahen] | v-sing
17. Azawan plans for Alahen to write.
Show answer
zalahen thamam bazawan varadal.
z-Alahen | [th-plan-itinerary | b-Azawan] | v-write
Agazan → English
1. zazawan thehum vehahel.
Show answer
z-Azawan | th-DECISION-modifiable | v-sit
Azawan has decided to sit, and can still change that.
2. zalahen thehul varadal.
Show answer
z-Alahen | th-DECISION-irreversible | v-write
Alahen has decided for good to write.
3. thobam bral vezugel.
Show answer
[th-PATTERN | b-later] | v-scream
Going by the usual pattern, someone will scream.
4. zahaben thehur vehahel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | th-DECISION-temporary | v-sit
Ahaben has decided for now to sit.
5. zazawan thehur debewel vahahal.
Show answer
z-Azawan | th-DECISION-temporary | d-pen | v-see
Azawan has decided for now to see a pen.
6. zalahen bahaben thamam thehul vezebel.
Show answer
z-Alahen | b-Ahaben | th-plan-itinerary | th-DECISION-irreversible | v-tell
Alahen plans to tell Ahaben, and that choice is final.
7. zalahen thehur dazawan vabahel.
Show answer
z-Alahen | th-DECISION-temporary | d-Azawan | v-punch
Alahen has decided for now to punch Azawan.
8. zahaben thehul vezugel.
Show answer
z-Ahaben | th-DECISION-irreversible | v-scream
Ahaben has decided for good to scream.
9. zalahen varahaxul.
Show answer
z-Alahen | v-run-unable-irreversible
Alahen can never run.
10. zazawan vagayal.
Show answer
z-Azawan | v-climb
Azawan climbs.
11. zalahen thezexul.
Show answer
z-Alahen | th-ABIL-unable-irreversible
Alahen can never do it. (the whole thing, not one verb)
12. zalahen thohur vezehel.
Show answer
z-Alahen | th-WANT-passing | v-sing
Alahen feels like singing.
13. zazawan thehum bahaben vazadol.
Show answer
z-Azawan | [th-DECISION-modifiable | b-Ahaben] | v-stand
Ahaben has decided that Azawan stands, and can still change that.
See also
- How you know a forecast: knowing.md
- Choosing as an act: join-across-roles.md
- Autonomy as a sake: sakes.md