Auxiliary Verbs

An auxiliary verb is like English “can”, “might”. In English they are effectively intransitive verbs that modify an infinitive. Other intransitives that work similarly are “want”, “wish”.

In Lugso, to wish to do something, you dream for it. To want to do something, you hunger for it. Since Lugso is as always head-initial, the structure is [main verb] [auxiliary verb]. (The difference is partly of degree and partly of kind - dreaming is velleity: intellectual and often milder; hungering is sub-cognitive, visceral, strong.) To begin to do something uses begin as English does.

🔈 pur hu5 ipdir gu5lidlul

harvest hunger head-PL-ACC god-PL-BEN

I desire/want/yearn to harvest heads for the gods.

🔈 buz vgov ivihir no

finish can DET.PROX-ACC 1SG

I can do this.

🔈 fhtogi 3gur u3onuv no

die begin final-ADV.DER 1SG

Finally, I begin to die.

🔈 huf yog vgov lugir gu5lidso sotdso no

consume knowledge can blood-ACC deity_intelligent-PL-GEN thought-PL-GEN 1SG

I can learn the blood of the thoughts of the gods.

Questions

5u attaches to the auxiliary when forming a question.

🔈 huf yogi5 vgovoh sru3ir yiy lugso ivol do

consume knowledge-CONJ.but can-INT referent-ACC EMPH blood-GEN DET.DIST 2SG

But can you learn what that blood truly means?