"sto" has the same syntax as "new"

[wm.annis]

A question about the possible modal syntax use of sto refuse came up during discussions for one example for the LEP proposal being worked on now.  Just to be sure, I asked for clarification.

Sto may take modal syntax,

    Stolo po hivum fohu.
    She refused to leave with them.  (Example approved by K. Pawl)

It may also be a normal transitive verb,

    Stolo oel stxenut peyä.
    I refused his offer.  (A Naviter.org blog example, IIRC)

Finally, it may take a clause with futa, a fì'ut + ‹iv›, like new,

    Poel stolatso futa mefo tivaron tsaha'ngir.
    She must have refused (their request) to hunt that afternoon.  (Approved)

[Alyara Arati]

Txantsana fmawn.  Oel kin tsalì'ut vurfpi oeyä.  Tafral, irayo nìtxan!

[Kamean]

Irayo!

[Kemaweyan]

Seiyi irayo nìtxan!

[Tanri]

Irayo ma wm.annis!
So we have another vtrm example of ‹iv› after futa. Interesting. Another few ones and a new rule is born.

[Kemaweyan]

I think any vtrm verbs could be used with futa + -iv-.

[Tanri]

I thought that it seems they have to be used that way.

[Plumps]

Thanks for asking ... been waiting for that for a long time

It may also be a normal transitive verb,

    Stolo oel stxenut peyä.
    I refused his offer.  (A Naviter.org blog example, IIRC)

Nope, that example was changed to be used with tsyär

[Vawmataw]

I have another example:

Sto oel futa fkol oeti miväkxu.

[Kemaweyan]

miväkxu

[Swoka Swizaw]

I know that Na'vi is different from English, but I venture that there are many verbs that could take modal status. Of what there is now, is there anything the modal verbs have in common? Explain why <iv> can't be used to turn mostly any transitive verb into a modal verb...as "nì-" can presumably change any adjective into any adverb.

Search your feelings, ma smuk, you know it to be true.

[wm.annis]

Explain why <iv> can't be used to turn mostly any transitive verb into a modal verb...as "nì-" can presumably change any adjective into any adverb.

Because real, natural languages don't work that way, and Frommer is aiming at naturalism.  We already have exceptions, such as sìlpey, as a warning.

[Swoka Swizaw]

Explain why <iv> can't be used to turn mostly any transitive verb into a modal verb...as "nì-" can presumably change any adjective into any adverb.

Because real, natural languages don't work that way, and Frommer is aiming at naturalism.  We already have exceptions, such as sìlpey, as a warning.

I know...I wasn't sure what I was thinking. I only meant there might be a few more modal verbs as "sto" now is.