A serial verb is created when two or more verbs are linked together. They are a very powerful construct in Toaq grammar: any verb with a “satisfies property…” or “is the case” slot can essentially act as an auxiliary verb to another.
juoq guaı | should work |
---|---|
deq koı | can walk |
sheo fıeq | regret inventing |
leo kuaq | try.to express |
bu suaojıe | not care.about |
taq loı | self- hate |
When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the serialization algorithm.
leo | ___ tries to satisfy property | ___ | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
baı | ___ | builds | ___ | |
leo baı | ___ tries to build ___ |
le | it is probable that | ___ | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
guq | ___ | is underneath | ___ | |
le guq | ___ is probably underneath ___ |
For more than two verbs, this merging process is right-grouping:
sheo (leo kuaq)
regret (trying to express)
le (haı (luı (shaı guaı)))
possibly (already (have (stopped working)))
The result can be used as a verb by saying each word in :
Dẻq kỏı súq moq?
Can you walk?
Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.
I don't care about that.
Only the first word is conjugated for tone, and everything else stays in .
táq lỏı
self- hater
täq lỏı
… who self- hates