Wordlist: Modal verbs

This page will contain list of modal verbs and verbs that are not modal but may express modality.

English Nûrlâm Part of speech Etymology Comments
advice thrâh- v NL “thrag-” (bring) < TK “thrak-” (bring, hale, drag by force) with prefix “thu-” transforms into “thuthrâh-” (to insist);
target person should be marked with dative case
allow dabh- v NL < Noldorin “dâf” (permission) < Etym. “DAB” (give way, make room, permit, allow) use with objects in Dative case
amen gâkh expr AN, equivalent of Quenya “nai” wishing;
more like interjection than verb
answer gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
appear thak- v NL < Sindarin “thia-” < Etym. “THÊ” “look like”, not “look at”;
meaning depends on aspect: perfective = “appear” or “turn out”, partial = “seem”
ask for has- v LOS, probably from Quenya “cesta” (to seek, search for, ask) or Qenya “iqista” (“request”, “please”, n) < Etym. “IQI”
ask for khûl- v NL < HG “khul-” (to question, ask); changed to avoid ambiguity with suffixes “-ul” and “-ulg” add prefix “thu-” to clarify meaning “demand”
assume ton- v NL < LOS “tonprakh” < SV (to suppose, presume) < LL “prakh” (to lure)
await darb- v NL < Etym. “DAR”
be kul- v LOS, compare with Quenya “cuilë” (life) < Etym. “KUY” (come to life, awake)
be able (to) pâsh- v LOS ability to do something physically or with enough knowledge
be capable (of) pâsh- v LOS ability to do something physically or with enough knowledge
beg has- v LOS, probably from Quenya “cesta” (to seek, search for, ask) or Qenya “iqista” (“request”, “please”, n) < Etym. “IQI”
can pâsh- v LOS ability to do something physically or with enough knowledge
command gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
command kazh- v ZB < Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”
could pâsh- v LOS ability to do something physically or with enough knowledge
dare hûr- v LOS < TK PN “Mauhûr”, Noldorin “hûr” (vigour, fiery spirit) < Etym. “KHOR”
daresay ton- v NL < LOS “tonprakh” < SV (to suppose, presume) < LL “prakh” (to lure)
demand khûl- v NL < HG “khul-” (to question, ask); changed to avoid ambiguity with suffixes “-ul” and “-ulg” add prefix “thu-” to clarify meaning “demand”
dream taur- v NL < Summoning “taurzur” (dreams, n) dream about, not sleep
expect darb- v NL < Etym. “DAR”
fear furg- v NL, merging Quenya “þorya” (to dread, feel fear) < root “THOS”, with Qenya “varka” (to bode, dread, fear) < Primitive Elvish root “VṚKṚ” and with LOS “ufur-”, also “uf-” (to frighten) < TK PN “Ufthak”;
see also “uf-”, “ufur”
passive, fear of smth., not frighten smb. else
give oath gazd- v NL, combination of HG “gadhl” (to promise) < SV (but no source word given) with Noldorin “gwaedh”, “gwest” (oath, bond, troth) < Etym. “WED” (bind);
compare with “gaz” (mouth) and “gashn-” (say)
more obligatory promise, usually invoking some divine being or spirit, or by leaving a mortgage. E.g. “Gazd turkûrz sha!” (Swear on precious!);
if the oath is given to somebody, receiver should be marked with Dative case
guarantee fad- v NL < Quenya “vanda” (oath, pledge, solemn promise) promise to smb. - use with object Dative case
guarantee gazd- v NL, combination of HG “gadhl” (to promise) < SV (but no source word given) with Noldorin “gwaedh”, “gwest” (oath, bond, troth) < Etym. “WED” (bind);
compare with “gaz” (mouth) and “gashn-” (say)
more obligatory promise, usually invoking some divine being or spirit, or by leaving a mortgage. E.g. “Gazd turkûrz sha!” (Swear on precious!);
if the oath is given to somebody, receiver should be marked with Dative case
guess ton- v NL < LOS “tonprakh” < SV (to suppose, presume) < LL “prakh” (to lure)
have to bolk- v RE active = “need”, past/perfect passive (“bolkâkuz” = “have/had to”)
have to maug- v NL < Noldorin “bui” (I must), “baur” (need) < Etym. “MBAW” (compel, force, subject, oppress); compare with “mog” in name “Gothmog” closer to “must”.
Not used with passive constructions like “must be destroyed” – use gerundive instead
hope khard- v NL < Noldorin “hartha-”, “harthad” (n), Gnomish (n) “hodhir”, “hôth”
let dabh- v NL < Noldorin “dâf” (permission) < Etym. “DAB” (give way, make room, permit, allow) use with objects in Dative case
let it be gâkh expr AN, equivalent of Quenya “nai” wishing;
more like interjection than verb
let's gâkh expr AN, equivalent of Quenya “nai” wishing;
more like interjection than verb
like brogb- v LOS < HG “like, favor, fancy” but not in expression “I would like”
look (like) thak- v NL < Sindarin “thia-” < Etym. “THÊ” “look like”, not “look at”;
meaning depends on aspect: perfective = “appear” or “turn out”, partial = “seem”
love brogb- v LOS < HG “like, favor, fancy” but not in expression “I would like”
make oath gazd- v NL, combination of HG “gadhl” (to promise) < SV (but no source word given) with Noldorin “gwaedh”, “gwest” (oath, bond, troth) < Etym. “WED” (bind);
compare with “gaz” (mouth) and “gashn-” (say)
more obligatory promise, usually invoking some divine being or spirit, or by leaving a mortgage. E.g. “Gazd turkûrz sha!” (Swear on precious!);
if the oath is given to somebody, receiver should be marked with Dative case
make out thak- v NL < Sindarin “thia-” < Etym. “THÊ” “look like”, not “look at”;
meaning depends on aspect: perfective = “appear” or “turn out”, partial = “seem”
may ilf- v NL < Mitanni Hurrian suffixes “-(i)lefa”, “-(o)lefa” of potential mood probability of something to happen
may it be so gâkh expr AN, equivalent of Quenya “nai” wishing;
more like interjection than verb
might ilf- v NL < Mitanni Hurrian suffixes “-(i)lefa”, “-(o)lefa” of potential mood probability of something to happen
mortgage fad- v NL < Quenya “vanda” (oath, pledge, solemn promise) promise to smb. - use with object Dative case
must maug- v NL < Noldorin “bui” (I must), “baur” (need) < Etym. “MBAW” (compel, force, subject, oppress); compare with “mog” in name “Gothmog” closer to “must”.
Not used with passive constructions like “must be destroyed” – use gerundive instead
need bolk- v RE active = “need”, past/perfect passive (“bolkâkuz” = “have/had to”)
need narg- v DS (want), LOS “nargzab-” (need, want, have to) < SV, probably from “nar-” (no) and “zab-” (to own, possess), so lit. “do not have”
offer thrâh- v NL “thrag-” (bring) < TK “thrak-” (bring, hale, drag by force) with prefix “thu-” transforms into “thuthrâh-” (to insist);
target person should be marked with dative case
order gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
order kazh- v ZB < Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”
ought to maug- v NL < Noldorin “bui” (I must), “baur” (need) < Etym. “MBAW” (compel, force, subject, oppress); compare with “mog” in name “Gothmog” closer to “must”.
Not used with passive constructions like “must be destroyed” – use gerundive instead
permit dabh- v NL < Noldorin “dâf” (permission) < Etym. “DAB” (give way, make room, permit, allow) use with objects in Dative case
plead has- v LOS, probably from Quenya “cesta” (to seek, search for, ask) or Qenya “iqista” (“request”, “please”, n) < Etym. “IQI”
pledge fad- v NL < Quenya “vanda” (oath, pledge, solemn promise) promise to smb. - use with object Dative case
pledge gazd- v NL, combination of HG “gadhl” (to promise) < SV (but no source word given) with Noldorin “gwaedh”, “gwest” (oath, bond, troth) < Etym. “WED” (bind);
compare with “gaz” (mouth) and “gashn-” (say)
more obligatory promise, usually invoking some divine being or spirit, or by leaving a mortgage. E.g. “Gazd turkûrz sha!” (Swear on precious!);
if the oath is given to somebody, receiver should be marked with Dative case
predict gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
promise fad- v NL < Quenya “vanda” (oath, pledge, solemn promise) promise to smb. - use with object Dative case
propose thrâh- v NL “thrag-” (bring) < TK “thrak-” (bring, hale, drag by force) with prefix “thu-” transforms into “thuthrâh-” (to insist);
target person should be marked with dative case
recommend thrâh- v NL “thrag-” (bring) < TK “thrak-” (bring, hale, drag by force) with prefix “thu-” transforms into “thuthrâh-” (to insist);
target person should be marked with dative case
reply gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
request has- v LOS, probably from Quenya “cesta” (to seek, search for, ask) or Qenya “iqista” (“request”, “please”, n) < Etym. “IQI”
request khûl- v NL < HG “khul-” (to question, ask); changed to avoid ambiguity with suffixes “-ul” and “-ulg” add prefix “thu-” to clarify meaning “demand”
retell gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
risk hûr- v LOS < TK PN “Mauhûr”, Noldorin “hûr” (vigour, fiery spirit) < Etym. “KHOR”
say gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
say kazh- v ZB < Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”
seem bozd- v EH “bozd” (face, n) < Gnomish “gwint”, compare with LOS “ozt-” < HG “ozut-” (appear, seem) modal meaning in expressions like “it seems”
seem thak- v NL < Sindarin “thia-” < Etym. “THÊ” “look like”, not “look at”;
meaning depends on aspect: perfective = “appear” or “turn out”, partial = “seem”
shall maug- v NL < Noldorin “bui” (I must), “baur” (need) < Etym. “MBAW” (compel, force, subject, oppress); compare with “mog” in name “Gothmog” closer to “must”.
Not used with passive constructions like “must be destroyed” – use gerundive instead
should maug- v NL < Noldorin “bui” (I must), “baur” (need) < Etym. “MBAW” (compel, force, subject, oppress); compare with “mog” in name “Gothmog” closer to “must”.
Not used with passive constructions like “must be destroyed” – use gerundive instead
speak gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
suggest thrâh- v NL “thrag-” (bring) < TK “thrak-” (bring, hale, drag by force) with prefix “thu-” transforms into “thuthrâh-” (to insist);
target person should be marked with dative case
suppose ton- v NL < LOS “tonprakh” < SV (to suppose, presume) < LL “prakh” (to lure)
swear gazd- v NL, combination of HG “gadhl” (to promise) < SV (but no source word given) with Noldorin “gwaedh”, “gwest” (oath, bond, troth) < Etym. “WED” (bind);
compare with “gaz” (mouth) and “gashn-” (say)
more obligatory promise, usually invoking some divine being or spirit, or by leaving a mortgage. E.g. “Gazd turkûrz sha!” (Swear on precious!);
if the oath is given to somebody, receiver should be marked with Dative case
tell gashn- v LOS, probably from Valarin “akašân” = “he (Eru) says”;
compare with NL “goshn”, “gaz”, “gazd”, “kazh”;
compare with Sindarin “can” (to cry out, shout, call), “-gon” (either “command” or “revered”) in PN “Turgon”, “Firgon”, all from Etym. “KAN” (dare) and early Primitive Elvish root “KAN” (cry aloud, command, lead, rule)
just make a meaningful sounds, say a word or more, but it's not necessary if other person answered, if speaker heard it, if speaker take the answer into consideration, etc.;

with prefix “bhû-” means “predict”;
with prefix ”kru-” means “answer”, “reply”;
with prefix “ri-” means “interrupt”;
with prefix “thu-” means “command”, “order”;

do not mix with “ghâsh-” (to burn)
venture hûr- v LOS < TK PN “Mauhûr”, Noldorin “hûr” (vigour, fiery spirit) < Etym. “KHOR”
vow gazd- v NL, combination of HG “gadhl” (to promise) < SV (but no source word given) with Noldorin “gwaedh”, “gwest” (oath, bond, troth) < Etym. “WED” (bind);
compare with “gaz” (mouth) and “gashn-” (say)
more obligatory promise, usually invoking some divine being or spirit, or by leaving a mortgage. E.g. “Gazd turkûrz sha!” (Swear on precious!);
if the oath is given to somebody, receiver should be marked with Dative case
wait darb- v NL < Etym. “DAR”
want hiz- v NL < DS “hiz-”, “hizi-”, “izhi-” want for self
want irm- v NL < Gnomish “erth” (wish, n.), “irm” (wish, intention, n.), “irn” (desired, wished for, adj.), Quenya “írë” < Etym. “ID” (n) “desire, wish” want for others, want something to happen
want narg- v DS (want), LOS “nargzab-” (need, want, have to) < SV, probably from “nar-” (no) and “zab-” (to own, possess), so lit. “do not have”
warrant fad- v NL < Quenya “vanda” (oath, pledge, solemn promise) promise to smb. - use with object Dative case
will hiz- v NL < DS “hiz-”, “hizi-”, “izhi-” want for self
wish irm- v NL < Gnomish “erth” (wish, n.), “irm” (wish, intention, n.), “irn” (desired, wished for, adj.), Quenya “írë” < Etym. “ID” (n) “desire, wish” want for others, want something to happen
lexicon/verbs_modal.txt · Last modified: 2023/09/07 19:38 by 127.0.0.1