2.3.1.4. Order of negation with respect to verb, modals and auxiliaries

Negative elements [Syntax 1.5] usually follow the verb and appear in sentence final position as in the example below.

 

                                     hs

e-v-a mikl buy not

         โ€˜Eva doesnโ€™t buy the milk.โ€™

                       

                                                                                               (based on Pfau, 2008: 46)

 

 

 

Negated modal verbs appear either in verb second or final position. This is exemplified below.

 

                                        hs 

                                        re

a.         max can.not swim

            โ€˜Max is not able to swim.โ€™

 

 

 

            re              hs  

b.         max swim  can.not                                                 

            โ€˜Unfortunately, Max cannot swim.โ€™