AUXILIARIES

by Roland Siang Nawl

Definition: Thilti phu chung ah aa tel ve nain, Thilti pawl bantuk in phainak hrampi a tlai thlu kholomi biafang cu Thiltichang a si. Mah hna cu, duh, ngam, kho, huam, zuam, siang, thiam

Verbs that accompany a principal verb, which they help complete the meaning are classified as auxiliaries. Namely, they are duh, ngam, kho, huam, zuam, siang, and thiam. These verbs may function as principal verbs when used before infinitives.

1. Zei dah na chim duh?
   What Q 2 tell want
   What do you want to say?
2. Zei paoh a chim ngam.
   What+every 3 tell dare
   He/She dare say anything.
3. Zeihmanh a tuah kho lo.
   What+even 3 do can NEG
   He/She cannot do anything.
4. Bia a chim huam/zuam lo.
   Word 3 speak willing NEG
   He is not willing to speak.
5. Sifaak bawmhnak caah phaisa a pe siang lo.
   Poor help+NOM for+pp money 3 give generous NEG
   He is not willing to give money as donation for the poor.
6. Zeihmanh a tuah thiam lo.
   Anything 3 do be-skilled NEG
   He cannot know how to do anything.

With the exclusion of ‘kho’ these auxiliaries sometimes function as principal verbs with similar meaning as when they are used as auxiliaries. Notice that there are some changes in verb stem forms both in the principal and auxiliary verbs.

1. Zei dah chim na duh?
   What Q tell 3 want
   What do you want to say?
2. Zei paoh chim a ngamh.
   What+every 3 tell 3 dare
   He/She dare say anything.
3. Bia chim a huam/zuam lo.
   Word speak 3 willing NEG
   He is not willing to speak.
4. Sifaak bawmhnak caah phaisa peek a sian.
   Poor help+NOM for+pp money give 3 generous
   He is willing to give money as donation for the poor.
5. Zei tuah hmanh a thiam lo.
   What do even 3 be-skilled NEG
   He cannot know how to do anything.