Verbs in Vrkhazhian

Vrkhazhian verbs are called ṣarhəwwən (singular ṣarhəwwə). Because Vrkhazhian is a triconsonantal root language, the fundamental part of the verb form is the transfix, a discontinuous affix inserted between a root. The verb only conjugates for three tenses (past, present, and future), two voices (active and passive), and two numbers (singular and plural).

When referring to a particular verb pattern, they are referred to by a derivation of the canonical (exemplary) verb ṣ-r-h (to throw, to say). For example, when referring to the verb pattern of the citation form of a verb, which is the active present singular, it is called ṣarah because that is the active present singular form of the verb.

Verb Patterns

Most verbs are typically conjugated in their full phonetic forms, known as "full verbs". However, many roots contain the radicals ⟨y⟩ and ⟨w⟩ which lead to conjugations that are phonetically shortened or irregular. Such verbs are known as "short verbs" and "cut verbs" depending on the position of the radical in the root.

Ṣarhəwwən Šəǧǧišən (Full Verbs)

ṣ-r-h (to throw, to say)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Past	nu-ṣrah	nu-ṣarh-əm	threw, said	ni-ṣrəh	ni-ṣərh-əm	was thrown, said
Present	ṣarah	ṣarh-əm	throws, says	ṣarəh	ṣərh-əm	is thrown, said
Future	ṣaruh	ṣurh-əm	will throw, say	ṣarih	ṣirh-əm	will be thrown, said

Ṣarhəwwən Šəgšagən (Fused Verbs)

The initial root is either a ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and becomes /i/ or /u/ in the past singular while part of the past tense prefix is elided.

y-b-ž (to smell)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Past	n-ibaž	nu-yabž-əm	smelled	n-ibəž	ni-yəbž-əm	was smelled
Present	yabaž	yabž-əm	smell	yabəž	yəbž-əm	is smelled
Future	yabuž	yubž-əm	will smell	yabiž	yibž-əm	will be smelled

Ṣarhəwwən Ləšlašən (Short Verbs)

The middle root is either a ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and becomes the corresponding /i/ or /u/, respectively, when conjugated.

d-w-l (to dig out, to remove, to reveal, to uncover)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Past	nu-dul	nu-dawl-əm	dug out, revealed	ni-dul	ni-dəwl-əm	was dug out, revealed
Present	dul	dawl-əm	dig out, reveal	dul	dəwl-əm	is dug out, revealed
Future	dul	dul-əm	will dig out, reveal	dul	dul-əm	will be dug out, revealed

Ṣarhəwwən Nərruṣ́ən (Cut Verbs)

The final root is either ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and becomes the corresponding /i/ or /u/, respectively, when conjugated.

n-š-y (to want, to desire)

	Active Singular	Active Plural	Translation	Passive Singular	Passive Plural	Translation
Past	nu-nši	nu-našy-əm	wanted, desired	ni-nši	ni-nəšy-əm	was wanted, desired
Present	naši	našy-əm	want, desire	naši	nəšy-əm	is wanted, desired
Future	naši	nušy-əm	will want, desire	naši	nišy-əm	will be wanted, desired

Vrkhazhian as a secundative language

Unlike most languages, Vrkhazhian has a secundative alignment with regards to ditransitive verbs. This means that the recipient of a verb is treated like the patient of a transitive verb rather than the theme. The theme of the verb is indicated with the instrumental prefix sa-.

Below is an example, in the active voice:

ʾUlda tuhazə pall sabəda.

∅-ʾUld-a	tu-haz-ə	pall	sa-bəd-a
NOM-soldier-FEM.SG	ACC-man-MASC.SG	give\ACT.PRES.SG	INS-book-FEM.SG

"The soldier gives the man a book."

In the passive voice, the recipient is promoted to subject, rather than the theme:

Pəll hazə sabəda ʾalwat məñ.

Pəll	∅-haz-ə	sa-bəd-a	ʾalwat	məñ
give\PASS.PRES.SG	NOM-man-MASC.SG	INS-book-FEM.SG	soldier-CONS.SG	by

"The man is given a book by the soldier."