User:Hailey M D/sandbox

Some languages use auxiliary verbs to specify that an action was done with volition. Auxiliary verbs may also be used to mark the opposite condition, a lack of volition or control.

Japanese is one language that exhibits both auxiliaries indicating volition and auxiliaries indicating lack of volition. The verb aru has a basic meaning of 'be' or 'stay' and is used with inanimate subjects. As an auxiliary verb, in the form -te-aru, it can be used in conjunction with verbs of volition to express that something is in a certain state as the result of some purposeful human intervention.

volition:

ki ga taoshite-aru tree-NOM fell:TE-ASP: NONPAST

'the tree has been felled'

In contrast, the verb iru can be used as an auxiliary with non-volitional intransitive verbs to simply indicate a state of being, without the element of volition. Iru also has a basic meaning of 'be' or 'stay', but is used with animate subjects. In this use as an auxiliary verb, iru appears in the form -te-iru.

volition neutral:

ki ga taorete-iru

tree-NOM fell:TE-ASP: NONPAST

'the tree has fallen (and, is lying on the ground)'

In contrast with the previous volition indicating and volition neutral auxiliaries, an auxiliary form of the verb shimau ('finish, put away') can be used to mark a lack of volition. Used in the form -te-shimau (or -te-shimat-ta in the past), this auxiliary marks an action as completed, overlaid with sense of regret, embarrassment, surprise, or lack of control. . In casual speech, shimau may be shortened to -chau (or -chat-ta in the past) as seen in the first example.

lack of volition

neji hazure-chat-ta

screw come.off-COMPL-PST

'the screw came off (to my surprise)'

pasupooto o nakushite-shimat-ta

passport lose-COMPL-PST

'I lost my passport'