Keβag is a constructed phantasy language. Some phonetical changes (similar to those as in Celtic languages) are very important in its morphology.
Phonology
Every consonant comes with a lenited and palatalized counterpart. They are basic for declinantion and conjugation:
| Alternative Lenited form |
|
dh |
fh |
gh |
kh |
lh |
mh |
|
|
|
|
|
th |
vh
|
| Lenited form |
bh |
ð |
ɸ |
ɣ |
x |
ł |
μ |
nh |
ph |
qh |
rh |
z |
θ |
β
|
| Full form |
b |
d |
f |
g |
k |
l |
m |
n |
p |
q |
r |
s |
t |
v
|
| Palatalized form |
b' |
d' |
f' |
ż |
c |
l' |
m' |
ň |
p' |
q' |
r' |
ş |
t' |
v'
|
Vowels are:
- a [a] ← ancient vowel: A
- e [e] ← ancient vowel: E
- i [i] ← ancient vowel: I
- o [o] ← ancient vowel: O
- u [u] ← ancient vowel: U
- ë [ə] ← from reduction of ancient vowels
- ä [æ] ← ancient group: AHE
- ö [ɶ] ← ancient group: OHE
- ü [y] ← ancient group: UHE
- y [ɨ] ← ancient group: IHE
Morphology
The basic word order is VSO - Verb-Subject-Object.
Article
There is both indefinite and definite article
Indefinite article
The indefinite article (English a, an) has a plural form, which traslates the meaning of some.
| Masculine
|
| Case |
Singular |
Plural
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| Nominative |
VOM |
vë |
VE |
v'ë
|
| Genitive |
VI |
v'ë |
VOS |
ve
|
| Dative |
VON |
vë |
VIA |
v'a
|
| Accusative |
VIU |
v'u |
VIO |
v'ë
|
| Feminine
|
| Case |
Singular |
Plural
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| Nominative |
VO |
vë |
VE |
v'ë
|
| Genitive |
VAS |
ve |
VOS |
ve
|
| Dative |
VON |
vë |
VIA |
v'a
|
| Accusative |
VIU |
v'u |
VIO |
v'ë
|
Definite article
| Masculine
|
| Case |
Singular |
Plural
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| Nominative |
EN |
ë |
EMI |
en
|
| Genitive |
ENI |
ë |
EMOS |
en
|
| Dative |
EHO |
e |
EMIA |
eňa
|
| Accusative |
EH |
ë |
EMO |
en
|
| Feminine
|
| Case |
Singular |
Plural
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| Nominative |
EN |
e |
ENI |
e
|
| Genitive |
ENAS |
en |
ENOS |
enu
|
| Dative |
EHA |
e |
ENIA |
eňa
|
| Accusative |
ENA |
e |
ENIO |
eň
|
Noun morphology
Substantives flect according to number (singular-plural) and case (nominative-genitive-dative-accusative). Since the original endings were cancelled by phonetical changes (loss of final vowels, palatalization, lenition), declension is expressed by phonetical mutations of the starting and final consonant.
Nouns are divided in three declensions, depending on their genre and their ancient ending (vowel-consonant)
- 1st declension - Nouns starting in consonant and ending in consonant - Masculine
| vad (son)
|
|
|
|
Definite declension |
Indefinite declension
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
VADOM |
VADE |
ë vad |
en βad' |
vë vad |
v'ë βad'
|
| Genitive |
VADI |
VADOS |
ë βad' |
enu vad |
v'ë βad' |
ve vad
|
| Dative |
VADON |
VADIA |
e βad |
eňa βad'a |
vë vad |
v'a βad'a
|
| Accusative |
VADIU |
VADO |
ë vad'u |
en βad |
v'u βad'u |
v'ë βad
|
- 1st declension - Nouns starting in consonant and ending in vowel - Feminine
| vad (daughter)
|
|
|
|
Definite declension |
Indefinite declension
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
VADO |
VADI |
e vad |
e βad' |
vë βad |
v'ë βad'
|
| Genitive |
VADAS |
VADOS |
en vad |
enu vad |
ve vad |
ve vad
|
| Dative |
VADIO |
VADIA |
e βad' |
eňa βad'a |
vë vad' |
v'a βad'a
|
| Accusative |
VADIU |
VADIO |
e βad'u |
eň βad' |
v'u βad'u |
v'ë βad'
|
- 2nd declension - Nouns starting in vowel and ending in consonant - Masculine
| eθen (hand)
|
|
|
|
Definite declension |
Indefinite declension
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
ETENOS |
ETENE |
ënh eθen |
eμ eθeň |
vëμ eθen |
v'ë eθeň
|
| Genitive |
ETENI |
ETENOS |
ëň eθeň |
eμëz eθen |
v'ë eθeň |
vëz eθen
|
| Dative |
ETENON |
ETENIA |
e-eθen |
em'-eθeňa |
vënh eθen |
v'a eθeňa
|
| Accusative |
ETENIU |
ETENO |
ë-eθeňu |
eμ eθen |
v'u eθeňu |
v'ë eθen
|
- 2nd declension - Nouns starting in vowel and ending in vowel - Feminine
| um (mother)
|
|
|
|
Definite declension |
Indefinite declension
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
UMO |
UMI |
enh um |
eň um' |
v-um |
v'ë um'
|
| Genitive |
UMAS |
UMOS |
enhëz um |
enhëz um |
vëz um |
vëz um
|
| Dative |
UMIO |
UMIA |
e-um' |
eň-um'a |
vënh um' |
v'a um'a
|
| Accusative |
UMIU |
UMIO |
enh um'u |
eň-um'o |
v'u um'u |
v'ë um'o
|
- 3rd declension - Nouns starting in consonant and ending in consonant
Nouns belonging to the 3rd declension are said "neutre". They take masculine articles and adjectives in singular, and feminine articles and adjectives in plural.
| da (house)
|
|
|
|
Definite declension |
Indefinite declension
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
DAK |
DAKI |
ë da |
e ðac |
vë da |
v'ë ðac
|
| Genitive |
DAKI |
DAKOS |
ë ðac |
enu dak |
v'ë ðac |
ve dak
|
| Dative |
DAKON |
DAKIA |
e ðak |
eňa ðaca |
vë dak |
v'a ðaca
|
| Accusative |
DAKIU |
DAKIO |
ë dacu |
eň ðac |
v'u ðacu |
v'ë ðac
|
Foreign borrowings
Keβag borrowed some words from other languages, as ancient terms from Latin or today words from modern languages. Since Keβag words' declension is based on their ancient forms, foreign terms adapted to its particular declension.
Words from Latin entered the language in different periods, and could endure Keβag typical phonetical changes. Latin words are used to adapt to Keβag declension patterns:
- - Latin words ending in -us were declined as Keβag words in -OM
- - Latin words ending in -a were declined as Keβag feminine words in -O
- - Latin words ending in consonant were declined as Keβag words belonging to the 3rd declension.
Examples:
- Avoxat (from Latin advocatus)
| avoxat (lawyer)
|
|
Definite declension
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular
|
| Nominative |
ënh avoxat |
eμ avoxat'
|
| Genitive |
ëň avoxat' |
eμëz avoxat
|
| Dative |
e-avoxat |
em'-avoxat'a
|
| Accusative |
ë-avoxatu |
eμ avoxat
|
- Proceşo (from Latin processio, -onis)
| proceşo (procession)
|
|
Definite declension
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular
|
| Nominative |
ë proceşo |
e phroceşoň
|
| Genitive |
ë phroceşoň |
enu proceşon
|
| Dative |
e phroceşon |
eňa phroceşoňa
|
| Accusative |
ë proceşoňu |
eň phroceşoň
|
Words from modern languages (usually from English, French, German, but also Spanish, Italian and Russian) have entered the Keβag lexycon. On the contrary to Latin these languages have no declension pattern matching Keβag ones and nouns are placed in a declension pattern arbitrarily (sometimes respecting the original genre in some language). Orthography usually adapts to Keβag writing rules, but phonetics do not; in this way when a noun ends with an unusual consonant for Keβag phonology, this consonant remains unchanged in declension.
- Këmp'uter (from English computer) - 1st masculine declension
| këmp'uter (computer)
|
|
Definite declension
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular
|
| Nominative |
ë këmp'uter |
en xëmp'uter'
|
| Genitive |
ë xëmp'uter' |
enu këmp'uter
|
| Dative |
e xëmp'uter |
eňa xëmp'uter'a
|
| Accusative |
ë këmp'uter'u |
en xëmp'uter
|
Adjective morphology
Adjectives have a simpler morphology than nouns' one. They decline according their nouns' gender and number. As the position of adjectives is always after their nouns, if they begin in consonant, their first consonant undergoes lenition if required by the ancient last vowel of the noun. If they begin with a vowel the ancient last consonant of the desinence of the nouns could be restored (and lenited).
We have to enlist the entire declension path of nouns and adjective together, to show the changes they both may undergo.
- 1st adjectival declension - Adjectives starting in consonant after a noun ending in consonant (masculine)
| bok (new)
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
VADOM BOKO |
VADE BOKE |
ë vad bok |
en βad' bhoc
|
| Genitive |
VADI BOKI |
VADOS BOKU |
ë βad' bhoc |
enu vad boku
|
| Dative |
VADON BOKI |
VADIA BOKI |
e βad boc |
eňa βad'a bhoc
|
| Accusative |
VADIU BOKU |
VADO BOKO |
ë vad'u bhoku |
en βad bhok
|
- 1st adjectival declension - Adjectives starting in consonant after a noun ending in vowel (feminine)
| bok (new)
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
VADO BOKO |
VADI BOKE |
e vad bhok |
e βad' bhoc
|
| Genitive |
VADAS BOKAS |
VADOS BOKU |
en vad bok |
enu vad boku
|
| Dative |
VADIO BOKA |
VADIA BOKI |
e βad' bhok |
eňa βad'a bhoc
|
| Accusative |
VADIU BOKA |
VADIO BOKO |
e βad'u bhok |
eň βad' bhok
|
- 2st adjectival declension - Adjectives starting in vowel after a noun ending in consonant (masculine)
| aɣon (old)
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
VADOM AGONO |
VADE AGONE |
ë vaðëμ aɣon |
en βad' aɣoň
|
| Genitive |
VADI AGONI |
VADOS AGONU |
ë βad' aɣoň |
enu vaðëz aɣonu
|
| Dative |
VADON AGONI |
VADIA AGONI |
e βaðënh aɣoň |
eňa βad'a aɣoň
|
| Accusative |
VADIU AGONU |
VADO AGONO |
ë vad'u aɣonu |
en βad aɣon
|
- 2nd adjectival declension - Adjectives starting in vowel after a noun ending in vowel (feminine)
| aɣon (old)
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
VADO AGONO |
VADI AGONE |
e vad aɣon |
e βad' aɣoň
|
| Genitive |
VADAS AGONAS |
VADOS AGONU |
en vaðëz aɣon |
enu vaðëz aɣonu
|
| Dative |
VADIO AGONA |
VADIA AGONI |
e βad' aɣon |
eňa βad'a aɣoň
|
| Accusative |
VADIU AGONA |
VADIO AGONO |
e βad'u aɣon |
eň βad' aɣon
|
- 3rd adjectival declension - Adjective starting in consonant with a noun ending in consonant
| bok (new)
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
DAK BOKO |
DAKI BOKE |
ë da bok |
e ðac bhoc
|
| Genitive |
DAKI BOKI |
DAKOS BOKU |
ë ðac bhoc |
enu dak boku
|
| Dative |
DAKON BOKI |
DAKIA BOKI |
e ðak boc |
eňa ðaca bhoc
|
| Accusative |
DAKIU BOKU |
DAKIO BOKO |
ë dacu bhoku |
eň ðac bhoc
|
- 3rd adjectival declension - Adjective starting in vowel with a noun ending in consonant
| aɣon (old)
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
DAK AGONO |
DAKI AGONE |
ë dax aɣon |
e ðac aɣoň
|
| Genitive |
DAKI AGONI |
DAKOS AGONU |
ë ðac aɣoň |
enu daxëz aɣonu
|
| Dative |
DAKON AGONI |
DAKIA AGONI |
e ðaxënh aɣoň |
eňa ðaca aɣoň
|
| Accusative |
DAKIU AGONU |
DAKIO AGONO |
ë dacu aɣonu |
eň ðac aɣon
|
Pronouns
Personal
| English |
Nominative |
Genitive |
Dative |
Accusative |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
|
| I |
GA |
gë |
GOS |
go |
GOSIA |
goşë |
GAMO |
gëm
|
| Thou |
DA |
dë |
DOS |
do |
DOSIA |
doşë |
DAMO |
dëm
|
| He |
LO |
le |
LU |
lë |
LUIA |
lëjë |
LUMO |
lëm
|
| She |
SO |
se |
SA |
së |
SAIA |
sëjë |
SAMO |
sëm
|
| It |
NA |
në |
NES |
në |
NESIA |
nëşë |
NAMO |
nëm
|
| We |
MAN |
ma |
MANES |
man |
MANESIA |
manheşë |
MANEMO |
manhëm
|
| You |
TEL |
t'e |
TELOS |
t'el |
TELOSIA |
t'ełëşë |
TELOMO |
t'ełëm
|
| They |
KOD |
ke |
KODOS |
kod |
KODOSIA |
koðëşë |
KODOMO |
koðëm
|
Possessive
| English |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Modern lenited form
|
| My |
GOS |
go |
ɣo
|
| Your (thou) |
DOS |
do |
ðo
|
| His |
LU |
lë |
łë
|
| Her |
SA |
së |
zë
|
| Its |
NES |
në |
nhë
|
| Our |
MANES |
man |
μan
|
| Your |
TELOS |
tel |
θel
|
| Their |
KODOS |
kod |
xod
|
Possessive pronouns (a genitive form of personal pronouns) come after their nouns and endure lenition, if required. Examples:
- my house: ë da go
- of my house: ë ðac ɣo
- to her daughter: ë βad' zë
- we see their daughter: lo kat e vad'u xod
Interrogative
| Case |
What? |
Who?
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| Nominative |
PATO |
pat |
PAHETOM |
pät
|
| Genitive |
PATI |
pat' |
PAHETI |
pät'
|
| Dative |
PATO |
pat |
PAHETON |
pät
|
| Accusative |
PATIU |
pat'u |
PAHETIU |
pät'u
|
Which: [POHETO]: pöt (declined and treated as an adjective)
Relative
The relative pronoun in pöt [POHETOM], declined as a noun, with the definite article.
| Masculine
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
POHETOM |
POHETE |
ë pöt |
en phöt'
|
| Genitive |
POHETI |
POHETOS |
ë phöt' |
enu pöt
|
| Dative |
POHETON |
POHETIA |
e phöt |
eňa phöt'a
|
| Accusative |
POHETIU |
POHETO |
ë pöt'u |
en phöt
|
| Feminine
|
|
Ancient term |
Modern term
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural
|
| Nominative |
POHETO |
POHETI |
e pöt |
e phöt'
|
| Genitive |
POHETAS |
POHETOS |
en pöt |
enu pöt
|
| Dative |
POHETIO |
POHETIA |
e phöt' |
eňa phöt'a
|
| Accusative |
POHETIU |
POHETIO |
e phöt'u |
eň phöt'
|
Verb morphology
Verbs conjugate according to person, number and aspect. They do not conjugate according to tense.
- 1st conjugation - Verbs starting in consonant
| kato (to see)
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
LA KATE |
lë xat' |
OLAS KATE |
olë kat'
|
| Thou |
LEM KATEN |
lë kat' |
OLEM KATEN |
ol kat'
|
| He/She/It |
LO KAT |
le xa |
OLO KATO |
ol xat
|
| We |
LUV KATOM |
lo kat |
OLU KATOM |
olë xat
|
| You |
LUS KATI |
lo kat' |
OLU KATIS |
olë xat'
|
| They |
LI KATUN |
l'ë xatu |
OLI KATUN |
ol' xatu
|
- 2nd conjugation - Verbs starting in vowel
| aso (to eat)
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
LA ASE |
l-aş |
OLAS ASE |
olëz aş
|
| Thou |
LEM ASEN |
lëμ aş |
OLEM ASEN |
olëμ aş
|
| He/She/It |
LO AS |
l-a |
OLO ASO |
ol-as
|
| We |
LUV ASOM |
loβ as |
OLU ASOM |
olë as
|
| You |
LUS ASI |
loz aş |
OLU ASIS |
olë aş
|
| They |
LI ASUN |
l'-asu |
OLI ASUN |
ol'-asu
|
The meaning of past is expressed by an adverbial particle, placed after the verb:
- DA → dë (lenited form: ðe)
Negative declensions
Verbs form negative sentences with special negative declensions:
- 1st conjugation - Verbs starting in consonant
| kato (to see)
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
ME LA KATE |
μë xat' |
ME OLAS KATE |
μolë kat'
|
| Thou |
ME LEM KATEN |
μë kat' |
ME OLEM KATEN |
μol kat'
|
| He/She/It |
ME LO KAT |
μe xa |
ME OLO KATO |
μol xat
|
| We |
ME LUV KATOM |
mo kat |
ME OLU KATOM |
μolë xat
|
| You |
ME LUS KATI |
mo kat' |
ME OLU KATIS |
μolë xat'
|
| They |
ME LI KATUN |
m'ë xatu |
ME OLI KATUN |
μol' xatu
|
- 2nd conjugation - Verbs starting in vowel
| aso (to eat)
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
ME LA ASE |
m-aş |
ME OLAS ASE |
μolëz aş
|
| Thou |
ME LEM ASEN |
μëμ aş |
ME OLEM ASEN |
μolëμ aş
|
| He/She/It |
ME LO AS |
m-a |
ME OLO ASO |
μol-as
|
| We |
ME LUV ASOM |
moβ as |
ME OLU ASOM |
μolë as
|
| You |
ME LUS ASI |
moz aş |
ME OLU ASIS |
μolë aş
|
| They |
ME LI ASUN |
m'-asu |
ME OLI ASUN |
μol'-asu
|
Passive declension
To express a passive form, verbs have a special passive conjugation, normal and negative.
- 1st passive conjugation - Verbs starting in consonant
| kato (to see)
|
|
Positive |
Negative
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
LARO KATE |
lër xat' |
OLASOR KATE |
olëzër kat' |
ME LARO KATE |
μër xat' |
ME OLASOR KATE |
μozër kat'
|
| Thou |
LEMOR KATEN |
lemër kat' |
OLEMOR KATEN |
olëμër kat' |
ME LEMOR KATEN |
μër kat' |
ME OLEMOR KATEN |
μolër kat'
|
| He/She/It |
LOR KAT |
lër ka |
OLORO KATO |
olër xat |
ME LOR KAT |
μër ka |
ME OLORO KATO |
μolor xat
|
| We |
LUVOR KATOM |
loβër kat |
OLURU KATOM |
oloru xat |
ME LUVOR KATOM |
moβër kat |
ME OLURU KATOM |
μolur xat
|
| You |
LUR KATI |
lër kat' |
OLURU KATIS |
oloru xat' |
ME LUR KATI |
mor kat' |
ME OLURU KATIS |
μolur xat'
|
| They |
LIR KATUN |
l'ër katu |
OLIRI KATUN |
ol'ër xatu |
ME LIR KATUN |
m'ër katu |
ME OLIRI KATUN |
μol'ër xatu
|
- 2nd passive conjugation - Verbs starting in vowel
| aso (to eat)
|
|
Positive |
Negative
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
LARO ASE |
larh aş |
OLASOR ASE |
olëzërh aş |
ME LARO ASE |
μërh aş |
ME OLASOR ASE |
μolëzërh aş
|
| Thou |
LEMOR ASEN |
lëμërh aş |
OLEMOR ASEN |
olëμërh aş |
ME LEMOR ASEN |
μëμërh aş |
ME OLEMOR ASEN |
μolëμërh aş
|
| He/She/It |
LOR AS |
lërh a |
OLORO ASO |
olërh as |
ME LOR AS |
μërh a |
ME OLORO ASO |
μolërh as
|
| We |
LUVOR ASOM |
loβërh as |
OLURU ASOM |
olorh as |
ME LUVOR ASOM |
moβërh as |
ME OLURU ASOM |
μolorh as
|
| You |
LUR ASI |
lorh aş |
OLURU ASIS |
olorh aş |
ME LUR ASI |
morh aş |
ME OLURU ASIS |
μolorh aş
|
| They |
LIR ASUN |
l'ërh asu |
OLIRI ASUN |
ol'ërh asu |
ME LIR ASUN |
m'ërh asu |
ME OLIRI ASUN |
μol'ërh asu
|
Subordinate declension
Subordinate/subjunctive forms did not exist in the ancient language, but they were created by fusion of the subordinating conjunction SA + the other forms of verbs.
- 1st active conjugation - Verbs starting in consonant
| kato (to see)
|
|
Positive |
Negative
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
SA LA KATE |
së xat' |
SA OLAS KATE |
zlë kat' |
SA ME LA KATE |
zμë xat' |
SA ME OLAS KATE |
zμolë kat'
|
| Thou |
SA LEM KATEN |
së kat' |
SA OLEM KATEN |
sol kat' |
SA ME LEM KATEN |
zμë kat' |
SA ME OLEM KATEN |
zμol kat'
|
| He/She/It |
SA LO KAT |
se xa |
SA OLO KATO |
sol xat |
SA ME LO KAT |
zμë xa |
SA ME OLO KATO |
zμol xat
|
| We |
SA LUV KATOM |
so kat |
SA OLU KATOM |
zlë xat |
SA ME LUV KATOM |
zmo kat |
SA ME OLU KATOM |
zμolë xat
|
| You |
SA LOS KATI |
su kat' |
SA OLU KATIS |
zlë xat' |
SA ME LUS KATI |
zmo kat' |
SA ME OLU KATIS |
zμolë xat'
|
| They |
SA LI KATUN |
şë xatu |
SA OLI KATUN |
şol' xatu |
SA ME LI KATUN |
zm'ë xatu |
SA ME OLI KATUN |
zμol' xatu
|
- 2nd active conjugation - Verbs starting in vowel
| aso (to eat)
|
|
Positive |
Negative
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
SA LA ASE |
s-aş |
SA OLAS ASE |
zlëz aş |
SA ME LA ASE |
zμ-aş |
SA ME OLAS ASE |
zμolëz aş
|
| Thou |
SA LEM ASEN |
sëμ aş |
SA OLEM ASEN |
zlëμ aş |
SA ME LEM ASEN |
zμëμ-aş |
SA ME OLEM ASEN |
zμolëμ aş
|
| He/She/It |
SA LO AS |
s-a |
SA OLO ASO |
sol-as |
SA ME LO AS |
zm-a |
SA ME OLO ASO |
zμol-as
|
| We |
SA LUV ASOM |
soβ as |
SA OLU ASOM |
zlë as |
SA ME LUV ASOM |
zmoβ as |
SA ME OLU ASOM |
zμolë as
|
| You |
SA LUS ASI |
sol aş |
SA OLU ASIS |
zlë aş |
SA ME LUS ASI |
zmoz aş |
SA ME OLU ASIS |
zμolë aş
|
| They |
SA LI ASUN |
şl-asu |
SA OLI ASUN |
şol'-asu |
SA ME LI ASUN |
zm'-asu |
SA ME OLI ASUN |
zμol'-asu
|
- 1st passive conjugation - Verbs starting in consonant
| kato (to see)
|
|
Positive |
Negative
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
SA LARO KATE |
sër xat' |
OLASOR KATE |
zlëzër kat' |
SA ME LARO KATE |
zμër xat' |
SA ME OLASOR KATE |
zμozër kat'
|
| Thou |
SA LEMOR KATEN |
semër kat' |
SA OLEMOR KATEN |
zlëμër kat' |
SA ME LEMOR KATEN |
zμër kat' |
SA ME OLEMOR KATEN |
zμolër kat'
|
| He/She/It |
SA LOR KAT |
sër ka |
SA OLORO KATO |
zlër xat |
SA ME LOR KAT |
zμër ka |
SA ME OLORO KATO |
zμolor xat
|
| We |
SA LUVOR KATOM |
soβër kat |
SA OLURU KATOM |
zloru xat |
SA ME LUVOR KATOM |
zmoβër kat |
SA ME OLURU KATOM |
zμolur xat
|
| You |
SA LUR KATI |
sër kat' |
SA OLURU KATIS |
zloru xat' |
SA ME LUR KATI |
zmor kat' |
SA ME OLURU KATIS |
zμolur xat'
|
| They |
SA LIR KATUN |
şër katu |
SA OLIRI KATUN |
żl'ër xatu |
SA ME LIR KATUN |
żm'ër katu |
SA ME OLIRI KATUN |
zμol'ër xatu
|
- 2nd passive conjugation - Verbs starting in vowel
| aso (to eat)
|
|
Positive |
Negative
|
| Person |
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
Imperfective |
Perfective |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
SA LARO ASE |
sarh aş |
SA OLASOR ASE |
zlëzërh aş |
SA ME LARO ASE |
zμërh aş |
SA ME OLASOR ASE |
zμolëzërh aş
|
| Thou |
SA LEMOR ASEN |
sëμërh aş |
SA OLEMOR ASEN |
zlëμërh aş |
SA ME LEMOR ASEN |
zμëμërh aş |
SA ME OLEMOR ASEN |
zμolëμërh aş
|
| He/She/It |
SA LOR AS |
sërh a |
SA OLORO ASO |
zlërh as |
SA ME LOR AS |
zμërh a |
SA ME OLORO ASO |
zμolërh as
|
| We |
SA UVOR ASOM |
soβërh as |
SA OLURU ASOM |
zlorh as |
SA ME LUVOR ASOM |
zmoβërh as |
SA ME OLURU ASOM |
zμolorh as
|
| You |
SA LUR ASI |
sorh aş |
SA OLURU ASIS |
zlorh aş |
SA ME LUR ASI |
zmorh aş |
SA ME OLURU ASIS |
zμolorh aş
|
| They |
SA LIR ASUN |
şërh asu |
SA OLIRI ASUN |
zl'ërh asu |
SA ME LIR ASUN |
zm'ërh asu |
SA ME OLIRI ASUN |
zμol'ërh asu
|
The subordinating forms of verbs are used to create every kind of subordinate sentences (except for relative clauses and indirect questions). Some examples:
- I tell you I saw Karl: lë μem' doşë zlë kat' Karl'u
- I want to see her: lë phel' së xat' ðë sëm
Imperative
Imperative is build regardless of aspect and usually without the first conjugating particle. As the verb usually come at first in sentences, in positive forms the first consonant of the verbs does not undergo any lenition.
| kato (to see)
|
| Person |
Positive |
Negative |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
- |
- |
- |
-
|
| Thou |
KATEU |
katë |
ME KATEU |
μë xatë
|
| He/She/It |
KATIA |
kat'a |
ME KATIA |
μë xat'a
|
| We |
KATOME |
katëm |
ME KATOME |
μë xatëm
|
| You |
KATEVI |
katëv |
ME KATEVI |
μë xatëv
|
| They |
KATIO |
kat'ë |
ME KATIO |
μë xat'ë
|
| aso (to eat)
|
| Person |
Positive |
Negative |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
- |
- |
- |
-
|
| Thou |
ASEU |
asë |
ME ASEU |
μ-asë
|
| He/She/It |
ASIA |
aşa |
ME ASIA |
μ-aşa
|
| We |
ASOME |
asëm |
ME ASOME |
μ-asëm
|
| You |
ASEVI |
asëv |
ME ASEVI |
μ-asëv
|
| They |
ASIO |
aşë |
ME ASIO |
μ-aşë
|
| kato (to see' - Passive')
|
| Person |
Positive |
Negative |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
- |
- |
- |
-
|
| Thou |
ER KATEU |
ër katë |
MER KATEU |
μër katë
|
| He/She/It |
ER KATIA |
ër kat'a |
MER KATIA |
μër kat'a
|
| We |
ER KATOME |
ër katëm |
MER KATOME |
μër katëm
|
| You |
ER KATEVI |
ër katëv |
MER KATEVI |
μër katëv
|
| They |
ER KATIO |
ër kat'ë |
MER KATIO |
μër kat'ë
|
| aso (to eat - Passive)
|
| Person |
Positive |
Negative |
|
|
Ancient form |
Modern form |
Ancient form |
Modern form
|
| I |
- |
- |
- |
-
|
| Thou |
ER ASEU |
ërh asë |
MER ASEU |
μërh asë
|
| He/She/It |
ER ASIA |
ërh aşa |
MER ASIA |
μërh aşa
|
| We |
ER ASOME |
ërh asëm |
MER ASOME |
μërh asëm
|
| You |
ER ASEVI |
ërh asëv |
MER ASEVI |
μërh asëv
|
| They |
ER ASIO |
ërh aşë |
MER ASIO |
μërh aşë
|
Verbal adjective
Verbs build two verbal adjectives, with a perfective sense, and an active and a passive meaning respectively, (similar to past participles).
Active adjective: The desinence -ön [-OHENO] is added to the root of the verb, and the previous consonant is lenited.
- kato [KATO] to see → kat- + -ön [KAT- + -OHENO] → kaθön [KATOHENO], which saw
- aso [ASO] to eat → azön [ASOHENO], which ate
Passive adjective: The desinence -öt [-OHETO] is added to the root of the verb, and the previous consonant is lenited.
- kato [KATO] to see → kat- + -öt [KAT- + -OHETO] → kaθöt [KATOHETO], seen
- aso [ASO] to eat → azöt [ASOHETO], eaten
Sentences
- Did you see my house?: ol kat' dë po ë dacu ɣo?
- My name is Marco: le bhe ë seɸo go Marco
- He was eating your apple: l-a dë e galoňu ðo
- Did you read the book?: olëμ arec dë po ë rucu?
- Did they see my new house?: ol' xatu ðë po ë dacu bhoku ɣo?
- What are you writing?: lë tawş po pat'u?
- What are he doing?: le za po pat'u?
- Who were they searching for?: l'-yμavu dë po pät'u?
- I speak Keβag: lë qhal' gë e Keβażu
- Don't you speak Keβag?: μë qal' po e Keβażu?
- They don't speak your language: m'ë qhalu e vörhişu θel
- I'm at my home: lë bheş taɸ ë ðac ɣo
- I'll speak with her father: olë qal' sunh e ɸät së
- Which book do you search for?: lëμ ymav' po recu phöt'u?
- The man, you see, is my father: lë kat' ë pöt'u, le bhe ë kal ë fät go.
- Whom did you give my book?: olëμ ovin' dё po pät ë rucu ɣo?
- Where do you want to go?: lë pel' po sol gev' pyň?
- Didn't they tell you that she bought our book?: mol' μemu ðë po sol phek ðë ë rucu μan?
The Lord's prayer
- Fät man, lë beş ë pöt taɸ ë nheμet'
- lo seintsat ë seɸot'u ðo
- qeşa e dewönhoxul ðo
- ër sat'a ë pełäk do
- aże taɸ ë nheμet', aże taɸ ë nhujm'
- ovinë manheşë ekys ë nałecu ekyşoru μan
- cë danosë en μyg μan
- lo danos aże en μyɣocuv μan
- cë μë phonë manhëm taɸ ë rhejżaxaş
- aca püksatё manhëm renh e-ekwaň.
- Amen
Babel text
- Le qha dë e nujm ɣok e βörhişu ðäp cë eň ðenoc ɣoc
- ...
Vocabulary
- Main article: Keβag-English dictionary
