Page 323 - A GRAMMAR OF BHOJPURI _ PhD Dissertation 2020 TU

(ii) Expression of ability
In Bhojpuri, ability is expressed by the verb verb सक /sʌk/ 'can or be able'. It

always follows the infinitive form of the main verb as the principal character of most
of the OV languages, as in (45).

(45) पूव) सभासद भी हमनी कह सकतानी ।

purb sʌb ̤ ɑsʌd b ̤ i ɦʌmni [kʌɦ] VRB [sʌkʌtɑni] ABV
purb sʌb ̤ ɑsʌd b ̤ i ɦʌm-ni kʌɦ sʌk-ʌt bɑni

former CA Member also 1SG-PL say can-IMP be.PRES.H
'We can also call him a former CA Member.' (03.016)

In example (45), we see that in line with the characteristics of the OV languages,
the ability word सक /sʌk/ 'can' in Bhojpuri follows the main verb कह /kʌɦ/ 'say'.

9.2.3 Order of clauses in complex sentences
In this sub-section, the preferred/unmarked order of clauses in the complex

sentences in Bhojpuri is taken into consideration as displayed in Chitoniya Tharu
(Paudyal 2013:344), Maithili (Yadav 2014:82-106), Hindi (Koul 2008:179-82) and
Nepali (Adhikari 2016:420). Specifically, the order of relative clause in relation to

noun, the order of adverbial clauses and the order of complement clause in relation to
the main clause are discussed here.

a) Relative clause and the head noun
Just as the adjective precedes the noun it modifies in Bhojpuri, the relative

clause also precedes the relativized head noun it modifies. Besides, it may occur as
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post-nominal as well as internally headed or as headless.
b) Adverbial clause and main clause
The adverbial clauses generally precede the main clause in Bhojpuri. They are
temporal, conditional, counter-factual, concessive, purpose and participial (sequential

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and simultaneous) adverbial clauses.
c) Complement clause and verb

In Bhojpuri, complement clauses acquires the respective position of the noun
slot, i.e., they stand as a subject, direct or indirect object. Consequently, the subject

3. Chapter 13.4.2 examines the phenomenon in detail.
4. All these types of adverbial clauses are treated in Chapter 13.2.
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