Description:

The term 'perat' refers to ability. It is an important as a modal verb in chained verb constructions.

Noun:

As a noun, 'perat' means 'ability'. It can mean a specific ability or ability in general. The derived form 'peratysyn' means 'power', although in many contexts, 'perat' alone will be used with that sense.

The derived form ikpérat refers to a disability.

Verb:

As a verb, 'perat' glosses as 'be able' or 'can'. The object of perat takes on a very verbal quality, and it is most commonly seens as a chained verb meaning that the subject of the main verb can execute the action of the verb. The valence agreement in the sentence remains that of the main verb.

Perat can also be used on its own as a semitransitive noxaj verb. It takes an absolutive subject which is the entity with the ability, and a dative indirect object which is the thing that can be done. It can either be a dependent clause which implicity takes the same subject as the main clause, or a noun with an implied verb.

For example, 'perat' can be used in one of the constructions of being able to speak a language:

A sy nox perat ija Ankelzisse.
The(ABS) sir go(NP.IM) can the(DAT) English.

'Sir or Madam can speak English.'

This statement refers to a third person politely and says they can speak English.

The happat causative form adds an ergative agent that gives the ability to the absolutive object and means to enable or empower. The sense of empower can be clarified with the emphatic form ropérat, which otheriwse works just like perat.

The derived form ikpérat is a skurun verb meaning to disable, such as when something is rendered intentionally inactive rather than being recklessly broken.

Modifier:

As a modifier, 'peratys' means 'able', 'capable' or 'powerful'

The derived form 'ikpératys' means 'disabled'. The set phase 'ny ikpératys atuin' is a polite way to refer to a person with a disability.