What are modal verbs in Frisian?
Like many other languages, Frisian also has modal verbs. Find out what these are and how they are used in a sentence by watching the video above and reading the explanation below.
Modal verbs
Modal verbs are used to complement another verb, the action verb.
For example:
| Ik kin net drave. | I cannot run. |
| Mei ik hjir sitte? | Can I sit here? |
| Sille we mei ús allen ite? | Shall we eat together? |
Meaning
In Frisian, there are five main modal verbs:
| kinne | possibility, ability (to be able to, can) |
| moatte | obligation (to have to, must) |
| meie | permission (to be allowed to, may) |
| wolle | desire (to want) |
| sille | promise, offer (will, would, should, shall) |
Formation
Modal verbs are conjugated irregularly in the third person singular. They do not have a -t at the end of the verb: hy kin, hy mei, hy moat, hy wol, hy sil.
| person/verb | kinne | meie | moatte | wolle | sille |
| ik | kin | mei | moat | wol | sil |
| do | kinst | meist | moatst | wolst | silst |
| hy-sy/se-it | kin | mei | moat | wol | sil |
| wy-we | kinne | meie | moatte | wolle | sille |
| jim | kinne | meie | moatte | wolle | sille |
| sy-se | kinne | meie | moatte | wolle | sille |
| jo | kinne | meie | moatte | wolle | sille |
Word order
The word order in a sentence with a modal verb is as follows:
subject – modal verb – rest – action verb
For example:
| Ik kin drave. | I can run. |
| Ik kin net drave. | I cannot run. |
| Ik wol ôfrekkenje. | I want to pay. |
| Ik wol graach ôfrekkenje. | I would like to pay. |
Yes/no questions
The word order in a yes/no question with a modal verb is as follows:
modal verb – subject – rest – action verb
| Mei ik sitte? | Can I sit? |
| Mei ik hjir sitte? | Can I sit here? |
| Sille we ite? | Shall we eat? |
| Sille we mei ús allen ite? | Shall we eat together? |
Practise with Quizlet
To practise Frisian grammar, please visit our grammar section on modal verbs on Quizlet.
