Analytical constructions with negative verbs e= and ate= in Udihe

Abstract

The paper considers two Udihe auxiliary verbs with negative semantics. Also, analytical constructions formed with them and their functioning in the language are examined. The negative auxiliary verb e= ‘not to do something, not to be’ is the primary tool to express negation analytically. It forms two-component NEG1=TNS=PERS + INF and three-component NEG1=TNS=PERS + MOD=INF + INF analytical constructions. It has tense, mood, and person-number markers. The main verb has the form of infinitive (simple, intentional, or causal). The negative verb e= allows nominal verbal forms with the semantics of purpose and condition to be formed, with analytical constructions of two types being possible: NEG1=NPURP=POSS + INF and NEG1=NCOND=POSS + INF. In this case, the person-number is expressed with personal-attributive markers. The negative auxiliary verb ate= ~ ata= ʻnot to do something, not to beʼ is used as part of the analytic construction NEG2=PERS + INF. It differs from the verb e- in several features: when forming analytical construction, its morphemic structure has only mood and personal markers, but not temporal. Functioning of ate- differs from e-. Ate- is more often found in the contexts describing situations that imply warnings about the future or categorical impossibility to perform an action in the future. It has been revealed that the use of the negative verb e- and ate- in Udihe is related to modal characteristics of the construction: the verb e= is used in sentences with real modality, while the verb ate= is used in sentences with unreal modality.