Verbs in Vrkhazhian

Vrkhazhian verbs are called madsiṟud (singular madsiṟu). Because Vrkhazhian is a triconsonantal root language, the fundamental part of the verb form is the transfix, a discontinuous affix inserted between a root (which is collectively called masčišu and translated as "pattern"), though they primarily only convey the grammatical voices (active, passive, causative, and reflexive). There are five tenses (past, past progressive, present, present progressive, and future) and these are indicated by prefixes attached to the base form. There is only one aspect: the perfect, called saẕkeru, which is indicated by reduplicating the entire verb. Additionally, there are also five moods (indicative, jussive, subjunctive, commissive, and propositive) and these are also indicated by prefix, placed closer to the base form than the tense prefixes. Lastly, verbs are also conjugated for number, singular and plural, with the plural indicated by the suffix -am.

When referring to a particular verb pattern, they are referred to by a derivation of the canonical (exemplary) verb d-s-ṟ (to do, to perform, to execute, to act). For example, when referring to the verb pattern of the citation form of a verb, which is the active present singular indicative, it is called dusaṟ because that is the active present singular form of the verb.

Verb Patterns

Madsiṟom Dusaṟaẇ (Dusarh verbs)

This is the simplest basic form of a verb, it gives the general idea of its root.

k-j-m (to support, to hold up)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Infinitive	ʾekjammu		to support	ʾekjemmi		to be supported
Past Simple	nukjam	nukjamam	supported	nikjem	nikjemam	was supported
Past Prog.	yokjam	yokjamam	was supporting	yekjem	yekjemam	was being supported
Present Simple	kujam	kujmam	support	kajem	kajmam	is supported
Present Prog.	hukjam	hukjamam	is suppoting	hikjem	hikjemam	is being supported
Future	ʾakjam	ʾakjamam	will support	ʾikjem	ʾikjemam	will be supported

Madsiṟom Lodsaṟaẇ (Lodsarh verbs)

This stem is created by prefixing an -l- between the base form and the tense prefix. The meaning this stem imparts is reflexive.

m-n-š (to write)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Infinitive	lomnaššu		to write to self	lomnešši		to be written by self
Past Simple	nulmonaš	nulmonšam	wrote to self	nilmoneš	nilmonšam	was written by self
Past Prog.	yolmonaš	yolmonšam	was writing to self	yelmoneš	yelmonšam	was being written by self
Present Simple	lomnaš	lomnašam	writing to self	lomneš	lomnešam	is written by self
Present Prog.	hulmonaš	hulmonšam	is writing to self	hilmoneš	hilmonšam	is being written by self
Future	ʾalmonaš	ʾalmonšam	will write to self	ʾilmoneš	ʾilmonšam	will be written by self

Additionally, the genitive pronouns are used to indicate the subject of a verb in a reflexive construction.

Madsiṟom Dussaṟaẇ (Dussarh verbs)

This stem is created by gemminating the middle root. The meaning this stem imparts is causative.

l-n-d (to learn)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Infinitive	lunnaddu		to teach	lanneddi		to be taught
Past Simple	nulunnad	nulunnadam	taught	nilanned	nilannedam	was taught
Past Prog.	yolunnad	yolunnadam	was teaching	yelanned	yelannedam	was being taught
Present Simple	lunnad	lunnadam	teach	lanned	lannedam	is taught
Present Prog.	hulunnad	hulunnadam	is teaching	hilanned	hilannedam	is being taught
Future	ʾalunnad	ʾalunnadam	will teach	ʾilanned	ʾilannedam	will be taught

Madsiṟom Lodussaṟaẇ (Lodussarh verbs)

This stem is created by gemminating the middle root and prefixing an -l-, which is dissimilated to -n- near another ⟨l⟩, between the base form and the tense prefix. The meaning this stem imparts is autocausative.

č-h-r (to bathe)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Infinitive	ločuhharru		to cause self to bathe	ločahherri		to cause self to be bathed
Past Simple	nulčohhar	nulčohharam	caused self to bathe	nilčohher	nilčohheram	caused self to be bathed
Past Prog.	yolčohhar	yolčohharam	was causing self to bathe	yelčohher	yelčohheram	was causing self to be bathed
Present Simple	ločohhar	ločohharam	cause self to bathe	ločohher	ločohheram	cause self to be bathed
Present Prog.	hulčohhar	hulčohharam	is causing self to bathe	hilčohher	hilčohheram	is causing self to be bathed
Future	ʾalčohhar	ʾalčohharam	will force self to bathe	ʾilčohher	ʾilčohheram	will force self to be bathed

Verb moods

Vrkhazhian has five moods, which are indicated by prefixed placed closer to the base form than the tense prefixes. These are the indicative, the jussive, the subjunctive, the commissive, and the propositive.

The indicative mood is the default mood of verbs and indicates what the speakers believes to be a statement of fact. The jussive mood is mainly used for expressing obligation or duty, but when there are no subject pronouns or nouns, it functions as the imperative mood, expressing direct commands to the adressee(s). The subjunctive mood expresses hypothetical actions or situations, primarily in that-clauses, and functions as the conditional mood in conditional sentences. Additionally, if it is neither part of a conditional sentence nor found in a that-clause, it functions as the optative mood, expressing a wish or desire. The commissive mood expresses a commitment to do something, like a promise or threat, and the propositive mood simply expresses suggestions or propositions.

s-b-b (to kill)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Jussive	wisbab	wisbabam	have to kill	wisbeb	wisbebam	have to be killed
Subjunctive	bisbab	bisbabam	may kill	bisbeb	bisbebam	may be killed
Commissive	ḵapsubab	ḵapsubbam	shall kill	ḵepsabeb	ḵepsabbam	shall be killed
Propositive	gimsubab	gimsubbam	should kill	gimsabeb	gimsabbam	should be killed

Weak Verbs

Verbs are considered weak if the root contains a weak radical, which are called called haẏwud. These weak radicals are ⟨y⟩, ⟨w⟩, and ⟨h⟩. Weak verbs have different morphophonological properties depending on the position of the radical with respect to the other radicals. Verbs where the first radical is weak are called madsiṟud ʾeššamud ("strengthened verbs") because the consonants ⟨y⟩ and ⟨w⟩ having the phonemic value of /j w/ are fortified to [ʝ β], except if there is an /a/ preceding them, where they become non-syllabic vowels. However, the consonant ⟨h⟩ is unaffected. Verbs where the second radical is weak are called madsiṟud ʾemḵapud ("hollow verbs") because the weak consonants are converted to their vocalic counterparts: ⟨y w⟩ become /i u/ with ⟨h⟩ unaffected. An exception to this is in the case of gemination whereby they are fortified just like strengthened verbs. Lastly, verbs where the third radical is weak are called madsiṟud ʾeṗšašud ("cut verbs") because, like hollow verbs, the weak consonants are converted to their vocalic counterparts, thus making the verb end in a vowel.