PsblSitNonEp: Situational and epistemic possibility are totally distinguished in terms of verbal modality.

(1) wɔ̄jək kənč-čə jɔ̄ɣ ār ʌāŋki qɔ̄ʌəmtə-tə kīm toj-ət.

game search_for-prs.ptc people lot squirrel kill-prs.ptc possibility possess-pst.3pl

‘The hunters could catch a lot of squirrels.’(They had the permission and the skills.) (L. N. K.)

(2) wɔ̄jək kənč-čə jɔ̄ɣ əťə pə ār ʌāŋki qɔ̄ʌəmtə-ʌ-ət.

game search_for-prs.ptc people certainly lot squirrel kill-prs-3pl

‘The hunters must have caught a lot of squirrels.’ (L. N. K.)

In Surgut Khanty, situational possibility is expressed by constructions which entail a present participle and a modal meaning word (1). Epistemic possibility is expressed by modal adverbs (2).