“May” or “can” is expressed by \{°khau-°i}/ (可以). Thus “I may or can
eat” is \{°ngoo °khau-°i chuh}/ (我可以吃). When physical ability is
implied \{nung-keu°}/ (能彀) is frequently used. Thus “I have the
physical ability to do,” is \{°ngoo nung-keu° tsoo°}/ (我能彀做). When
acquired ability is to be expressed \{we°}/ (會) is generally used.
Thus: “I have the ability to speak Chinese” is \{°ngoo we° wo°
Tsoong-kok wo°}/ (我會話中國話).
The Subjunctive Mood is expressed exactly like the Indicative Mood
except that some word meaning “If” is placed at the beginning of the
clause, and that the particle \{meh}/ (末) is generally placed at the
end of the clause.
“If” is \{zak}/ (若), \{zak-s°}/ (若使), \{zak-zen}/ (若然), \{°thaung-zen}/
(倘然), \{°thaung-s°}/ (倘使). Thus “If I go, I will call you,” is
expressed \{zak-zen °ngoo chi° meh, °ngoo iau° kyau° noong°}/
(若然我去末我要叫儂).
Very often the word implying “If” is omitted at the beginning of the
clause, and the condition is implied simply by the use of the \{meh}/
(末) the end of the clause. Thus: “When he has finished it, come and
tell me” is \{yi tsoo° °hau meh, le te° °ngoo wo°}/ (伊做好末來對我話).
“How” is \{°na-nung}/ (那能). Thus “How do you know”. is \{noong°
°na-nung °hyau-tuh?}/ (儂那能曉得).
“When?” is \{°kyi-z}/ (幾時). Thus “When did you come?” is \{noong°
°kyi-z le kuh?}/ (儂幾時來個). “When did you arrive?”, is \{noong° kyi-z
tau°?}/ (濃幾時到). Beginners in Chinese often make the mistake of
using \{°kyi-z}/ as the ordinary adverb of time. To express such a
sentence as “When I come he will go,” we say \{°ngoo le-°ts meh yi
iau° chi°}/ (我來仔末伊要去), the past participle being used, and \{meh}/
implying that it is conditional. It is incorrect to say \{°ngoo °kyi-z
le, yi iau° chi°}/. Let it be remembered that \{°kyi-z}/ is only used
in asking a question.
We have the \{°kyi-z}/ used after the verb in such a sentence as
\{noong° tau°-ts °kyi-z tse?}/ (濃到仔幾時哉) meaning, “How long since
you arrived?” or \{yi chi°-°ts °kyi-z tse?}/ (伊去仔幾時哉) meaning, “How
long since he went?”