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Laqme

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-'''Modals''' express under what conditions something happens. Toaq has four of them: {{t|she}}, {{t|dai}}, {{t|ao}}, and {{t|ea}}. When used with a complement, like {{t|âo x nä y}}, (where x is a CP) they work like this:
+A '''modal''' is a kind of Toaq particle that quantifies over possible worlds. They are used to make statement about what is necessarily or possibly the case, and to make "if-then" statements. There are four basic modal words:
-{| class="wikitable"
-|-
-!
-!does x happen<br />in this world?
-!if it did,<br />would y happen?
-|-
-!{{t|she}}
-|yes
-|yes
-|-
-!{{t|dai}}
-|yes
-|maybe
-|-
-!{{t|ao}}
-|no
-|yes
-|-
-!{{t|ea}}
-|no
-|maybe
-|}
-This is presented in the refgram as
 {| class="wikitable"
@@ Line 32: / Line 7: @@
 |-
 !necessity
-|{{t|she}}
+|{{t|she}} “(necessarily) is”
-|{{t|ao}}
+|{{t|ao}} “(necessarily) would”
 |-
 !possibility
-|{{t|dai}}
+|{{t|dai}} “can”
-|{{t|ea}}
+|{{t|ea}} “could”
 |}
-Without a complement, they are given the falling tone, {{t|nä}} isn't used, and the restriction is left a mystery.
+In the falling tone {{done|1}}, these words simply precede a clause to add a shade of necessity-or-possibility:
+{{Example|She kaqkıu núım.|The star is (necessarily) visible. <small>(in all "possible worlds")</small>}}
+{{Example|Ao kaqkıu núım.|The star would be visible. <small>(e.g.: if it were nighttime, which it is not, it would have definitely been visible)</small>}}
+{{Example|Daı kaqkıu núım.|The star can/may be visible. <small>(in some "possible worlds")</small>}}
+{{Example|Ea kaqkıu núım.|The star could have been visible. <small>(e.g.: if it were nighttime, which it is not, there would have been a chance)</small>}}
+In the rising-falling tone {{done|4}}, there is an additional "restriction", a [[complementizer phrase]], adding an if-then structure. The pattern is {{t|Shê ꝡä if-clause nä then-clause}}.
+{{Example|Shê, ꝡä tı há Námıguaq, nä kaqkıu núım.|If one is on Antarctica, the star is (necessarily) visible.}}
+{{Example|Âo, ꝡä moku séoq, nä kaqkıu núım.|If the sky were dark, the star would be (necessarily) visible.}}
+{{Example|Dâı, ꝡä tı há Námıguaq, nä kaqkıu núım.|If one is on Antarctica, the star may be visible.}}
+{{Example|Êa, ꝡä moku séoq, nä kaqkıu núım.|If the sky were dark, the star could have been visible.}}
+== Other modals ==
+Some other words can be considered modals, or at least have the same grammar:
+* {{t|he}}: As a rule, whenever X is the case, Y is the case. / As a rule, Y is the case.
+* {{t|noeq}}: Despite X being the case, Y is the case. / Nevertheless, Y is the case.
+* {{t|ıaq}}: No matter what the answer to X is, Y is the case. / No matter what, Y is the case.