Vrkhazhian verbs are called narīban (singular narība). Because Vrkhazhian is a triconsonantal root language, the fundamental part of the verb form is the transfix, a discontinuous affix inserted between a root, though they primarily only convey the grammatical voices (active and passive). There are only two tenses (future and non-future) and these are indicated by prefixes attached to the base form. Additionally, there are also two moods (indicative and subjunctive) although the indicative is unmarked. 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 ṣ-r-s (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 indicative, it is called ṣaras 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 the "fused verbs", the "short verbs", or the "cut verbs", depending on the position of the radical within the root.
(Triliteral Verbs)
Strong Verbs
p-r-ḫ (to speak, to say)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
paruḫ-na
|
na-praḫ-na
|
| 2fs
|
paruḫ-mu
|
na-praḫ-mu
|
| 2ms
|
paruḫ-mi
|
na-praḫ-mi
|
| 3fs
|
paruḫ-tu
|
na-praḫ-tu
|
| 3ms
|
paruḫ-ti
|
na-praḫ-ti
|
| 4fs
|
paruḫ-tūwa
|
na-praḫ-tūwa
|
| 4ms
|
paruḫ-tīya
|
na-praḫ-tīya
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
paruḫ-ta
|
na-praḫ-ta
|
| 2fp
|
paruḫ-mun
|
na-praḫ-mun
|
| 2mp
|
paruḫ-min
|
na-praḫ-min
|
| 3fp
|
paruḫ-tun
|
na-praḫ-tun
|
| 3mp
|
paruḫ-tin
|
na-praḫ-tin
|
| 4fp
|
paruḫ-tūwan
|
na-praḫ-tūwan
|
| 4mp
|
paruḫ-tīyan
|
na-praḫ-tīyan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n-m-r (to be bad, to be immoral)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
namir-na
|
na-nmar-na
|
| 2fs
|
namir-mu
|
na-nmar-mu
|
| 2ms
|
namir-mi
|
na-nmar-mi
|
| 3fs
|
namir-tu
|
na-nmar-tu
|
| 3ms
|
namir-ti
|
na-nmar-ti
|
| 4fs
|
namir-tūwa
|
na-nmar-tūwa
|
| 4ms
|
namir-tīya
|
na-nmar-tīya
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
namir-ta
|
na-nmar-ta
|
| 2fp
|
namir-mun
|
na-nmar-mun
|
| 2mp
|
namir-min
|
na-nmar-min
|
| 3fp
|
namir-tun
|
na-nmar-tun
|
| 3mp
|
namir-tin
|
na-nmar-tin
|
| 4fp
|
namir-tūwan
|
na-nmar-tūwan
|
| 4mp
|
namir-tīyan
|
na-nmar-tīyan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
r-b-d (to guard, to protect)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
rabad-na
|
na-rbad-na
|
| 2fs
|
rabad-mu
|
na-rbad-mu
|
| 2ms
|
rabad-mi
|
na-rbad-mi
|
| 3fs
|
rabat-tu
|
na-rbat-tu
|
| 3ms
|
rabat-ti
|
na-rbat-ti
|
| 4fs
|
rabat-tūwa
|
na-rbad-tūwa
|
| 4ms
|
rabat-tīya
|
na-rbat-tīya
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
rabat-ta
|
na-rbat-ta
|
| 2fp
|
rabad-mun
|
na-rbad-mun
|
| 2mp
|
rabad-min
|
na-rbad-min
|
| 3fp
|
rabat-tun
|
na-rbat-tun
|
| 3mp
|
rabat-tin
|
na-rbat-tin
|
| 4fp
|
rabat-tūwan
|
na-rbat-tūwan
|
| 4mp
|
rabat-tīyan
|
na-rbat-tīyan
|
|
Initial-Weak Verbs
The initial radical is either a ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and ???
y-b-l (to smell, to taste)
|
|
Active Singular |
Active Plural |
Translation |
Passive Singular |
Passive Plural |
Translation
|
| Nonfuture
|
Feminine
|
yabl-um |
yabl-ū |
smelled, tasted |
yabl-um |
yabl-ū |
was smelled, was tasted
|
| Masculine
|
yabl-im |
yabl-ī |
smelled, tasted |
yabl-im |
yabl-ī |
was smelled, was tasted
|
| Future
|
Feminine
|
nē-bal-um |
nē-bal-ū |
will smell, will taste |
nē-bil-um |
nē-bil-ū |
will be smelled, will be tasted
|
| Masculine
|
nē-bal-im |
nē-bal-ī |
will smell, will taste |
nē-bil-im |
nē-bil-ī |
will be smelled, will be tasted
|
Middle-Weak Verbs
The middle radical is either a ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and ???.
d-w-l (to dig out, to remove, to reveal, to uncover)
|
|
Active Singular |
Active Plural |
Translation |
Passive Singular |
Passive Plural |
Translation
|
| Nonfuture
|
Feminine
|
dūl-um |
dūl-ū |
dug out, revealed |
dīl-um |
dīl-ū |
was dug out, was revealed
|
| Masculine
|
dūl-im |
dūl-ī |
dug out, revealed |
dīl-im |
dīl-ī |
was dug out, was revealed
|
| Future
|
Feminine
|
na-dūl-um |
na-dūl-ū |
will dig out, will reveal |
na-dīl-um |
na-dīl-ū |
will be dug out, will be revealed
|
| Masculine
|
na-dūl-im |
na-dūl-ī |
will dig out, will reveal |
na-dīl-im |
na-dīl-ī |
will be dug out, will be revealed
|
Final-Weak Verbs
The final radical is either ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and becomes elided while lengthening the preceding vowel.
n-ś-y (to want, to desire)
|
|
Active Singular |
Active Plural |
Translation |
Passive Singular |
Passive Plural |
Translation
|
| Nonfuture
|
Feminine
|
naś-ûm |
naś-û |
wanted, desired |
naś-ûm |
naś-û |
was wanted, was desired
|
| Masculine
|
naś-îm |
naś-î |
wanted, desired |
naś-îm |
naś-î |
was wanted, was desired
|
| Future
|
Feminine
|
na-nś-ûm |
na-nś-û |
will want, will desire |
na-nś-ûm |
na-nś-û |
will be wanted, will be desired
|
| Masculine
|
na-nś-îm |
na-nś-î |
will want, will desire |
na-nś-îm |
na-nś-î |
will be wanted, will be desired
|
Extensions To the Verb
The Instrumental-Causative Applicative
ṣ-r-s (to throw, to say)
|
|
Active Singular |
Active Plural |
Translation |
Passive Singular |
Passive Plural |
Translation
|
| Nonfuture
|
Feminine
|
ṣars-um-śa |
ṣars-ū-śa |
made throw, made say |
ṣars-um-śa |
ṣars-ū-śa |
was made to throw, was made to say
|
| Masculine
|
ṣars-im-śa |
ṣars-ī-śa |
made throw, made say |
ṣars-im-śa |
ṣars-ī-śa |
was made to throw, was made to say
|
| Future
|
Feminine
|
na-ṣras-um-śa |
na-ṣras-ū-śa |
will make throw, will make say |
na-ṣris-um-śa |
na-ṣris-ū-śa |
will be made to throw, will be made to say
|
| Masculine
|
na-ṣras-im-śa |
na-ṣras-ī-śa |
will make throw, will make say |
na-ṣris-im-śa |
na-ṣris-ī-śa |
will be made to throw, will be made to say
|
The Dative-Locative Applicative
ṣ-r-s (to throw, to say)
|
|
Active Singular |
Active Plural |
Translation |
Passive Singular |
Passive Plural |
Translation
|
| Nonfuture
|
Feminine
|
ṣars-um-ku |
ṣars-ū-ku |
threw to, spoke to |
ṣars-um-ku |
ṣars-ū-ku |
was thrown to, was spoken to
|
| Masculine
|
ṣars-im-ku |
ṣars-ī-ku |
threw to, spoke to |
ṣars-im-ku |
ṣars-ī-ku |
was thrown to, was spoken to
|
| Future
|
Feminine
|
na-ṣras-um-ku |
na-ṣras-ū-ku |
will throw to, will speak to |
na-ṣris-um-ku |
na-ṣris-ū-ku |
will be thrown to, will be spoken to
|
| Masculine
|
na-ṣras-im-ku |
na-ṣras-ī-ku |
will throw to, will speak to |
na-ṣris-im-ku |
na-ṣris-ī-ku |
will be thrown to, will be spoken to
|
The Benefactive-Purposive Applicative
ṣ-r-s (to throw, to say)
|
|
Active Singular |
Active Plural |
Translation |
Passive Singular |
Passive Plural |
Translation
|
| Nonfuture
|
Feminine
|
ṣars-um-be |
ṣars-ū-bi |
threw for, spoke for |
ṣars-um-be |
ṣars-ū-bi |
was thrown for, was spoken for
|
| Masculine
|
ṣars-im-be |
ṣars-ī-bi |
threw for, spoke for |
ṣars-im-be |
ṣars-ī-bi |
was thrown for, was spoken for
|
| Future
|
Feminine
|
na-ṣras-um-be |
na-ṣras-ū-bi |
will throw for, will speak for |
na-ṣris-um-be |
na-ṣris-ū-bi |
will be thrown for, will be spoken for
|
| Masculine
|
na-ṣras-im-be |
na-ṣras-ī-bi |
will throw for, will speak for |
na-ṣris-im-be |
na-ṣris-ī-bi |
will be thrown for, will be spoken for
|
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.
Below is an example, in the active voice:
- Kū reba bēda kupāssutī.
| Kū |
reb-a |
bēd-a |
∅-ku-pās-su-tī
|
| 3fs.NOM |
man-OBL.MASC.SG |
book-OBL.FEM.SG |
NFUT-APPL-give\ACT-3fs>3ms
|
- "She gives the man a book."
In the passive voice, the recipient is promoted to subject, rather than the theme:
- Rebi bēda pīssitū.
| Reb-i |
bēd-a |
∅-pīs-si-tū
|
| man-NOM.MASC.SG |
book-OBL.FEM.SG |
NFUT-give\PASS-3ms>3fs
|
- "The man is given a book."
