Partículas modales de la flexión verbal

Abstract

The author recalls the existence in Basque of three types of particle that may precede the conjugated verb, always following this sequence: a) ba/ez, focusing particles for affirmation and negation; b) al/bide/ei/omen/ote, modal particles; c) ba-/bait-, subordinative particles. Forming a part of the auxiliary, these particles affect the whole of the sentence and are subject to various restrictions on use. This study examines some characteristics of group (b), the modals, and establishes a soundly-based list between them, as against lists proposed by other authors, giving special attention to the case of the verb particle ohi.