Page:Handbook of the Swatow vernacular.djvu/62

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46
Lesson X.
爾今夜回得來或袂
Lṳ́ ke-mêⁿ õi-tit lâi a-bõi?
Can you come to-night or not?
我不閒。我今夜袂得去
Uá m̄-ôiⁿ, uá ke-mêⁿ bõi-tit khṳ̀
I am busy, I cannot go to-night.
爾早時呾爾袂得來。爾只囘如何會得來
Lṳ́ thâng-kùa tàⁿ-lṳ́ bõi-tit lái, lṳ́ chí-tsûn tsò-nîⁿ õi-tit lâi?
You said just now you could not come, how is it you can come now?
我只囘閒。故此就會得來
Uá chí-tsûn ôiⁿ, kù-tshṳ́ chiũ õi-tit lâi
I have leisure just now, and therefore I can come.
爾若是無共伊呾。伊袂得知
Lṳ́ nāⁿ-sĩ bô kah i tàⁿ, i bõi-tit tsai
If you did not tell him, he could not know it.

Hó 好 is very nearly the same as the English auxiliary verb may, and implies liberty.

我好去否
Uá hó-khṳ̀ mē?
May I go?
爾好去
Lṳ́ hó-khṳ̀
You may go.
我好呾否
Uá hó-tàⁿ mē?
May I speak?

Tiéh 着 (must, ought, or should) implies obligation.

爾着來
Lṳ́ tiéh-lâi
You must, (ought to, or should) come.
喊伊着靜靜
Hàm i tiéh tiām-tiām
Tell him he ought to be silent.
我着𭒡爾
Uá tiéh-hiâm lṳ́
I must blame you.
爾着認爾個不着
Lṳ́ tiéh-jīn lṳ́ kâi m̄-tiéh
You should admit your fault.