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
u-class
p-r-ḫ (speak, 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
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i-class
n-m-r (be bad, 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
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a-class
r-b-d (guard, 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
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
Initial-Weak Verbs
The initial radical is either a ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and ???
I-y, u-class
y-b-l (smell)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
yabul-na
|
nī-bal-na
|
| 2fs
|
yabul-mu
|
nī-bal-mu
|
| 2ms
|
yabul-mi
|
nī-bal-mi
|
| 3fs
|
yabul-tu
|
nī-bal-tu
|
| 3ms
|
yabul-ti
|
nī-bal-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
yabul-ta
|
nī-bal-ta
|
| 2fp
|
yabul-mun
|
nī-bal-mun
|
| 2mp
|
yabul-min
|
nī-bal-min
|
| 3fp
|
yabul-tun
|
nī-bal-tun
|
| 3mp
|
yabul-tin
|
nī-bal-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I-w, i-class
w-ṣ-ḫ (be faithful, be loyal)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
waṣiḫ-na
|
nū-ṣaḫ-na
|
| 2fs
|
waṣiḫ-mu
|
nū-ṣaḫ-mu
|
| 2ms
|
waṣiḫ-mi
|
nū-ṣaḫ-mi
|
| 3fs
|
waṣiḫ-tu
|
nū-ṣaḫ-tu
|
| 3ms
|
waṣiḫ-ti
|
nū-ṣaḫ-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
waṣiḫ-ta
|
nū-ṣaḫ-ta
|
| 2fp
|
waṣiḫ-mun
|
nū-ṣaḫ-mun
|
| 2mp
|
waṣiḫ-min
|
nū-ṣaḫ-min
|
| 3fp
|
waṣiḫ-tun
|
nū-ṣaḫ-tun
|
| 3mp
|
waṣiḫ-tin
|
nū-ṣaḫ-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I-ʾ, a-class
ʾ-l-d (fight, battle, oppose)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
alad-na
|
nā-lad-na
|
| 2fs
|
alad-mu
|
nā-lad-mu
|
| 2ms
|
alad-mi
|
nā-lad-mi
|
| 3fs
|
alat-tu
|
nā-lat-tu
|
| 3ms
|
alat-ti
|
nā-lat-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
alat-ta
|
nā-lat-ta
|
| 2fp
|
alad-mun
|
nā-lad-mun
|
| 2mp
|
alad-min
|
nā-lad-min
|
| 3fp
|
alat-tun
|
nā-lat-tun
|
| 3mp
|
alat-tin
|
nā-lat-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I-ʾ, e-class
ʾ-p-d (be young, be new)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
eped-na
|
nē-ped-na
|
| 2fs
|
eped-mu
|
nē-ped-mu
|
| 2ms
|
eped-mi
|
nē-ped-mi
|
| 3fs
|
epet-tu
|
nē-pet-tu
|
| 3ms
|
epet-ti
|
nē-pet-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
epet-ta
|
nē-pet-ta
|
| 2fp
|
eped-mun
|
nē-ped-mun
|
| 2mp
|
eped-min
|
nē-ped-min
|
| 3fp
|
epet-tun
|
nē-pet-tun
|
| 3mp
|
epet-tin
|
nē-pet-tin
|
|
Middle-Weak Verbs
The middle radical is either a ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and ???.
II-w
d-w-l (dig, reveal)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
dūl-na
|
na-dūl-na
|
| 2fs
|
dūl-mu
|
na-dūl-mu
|
| 2ms
|
dūl-mi
|
na-dūl-mi
|
| 3fs
|
dūl-tu
|
na-dūl-tu
|
| 3ms
|
dūl-ti
|
na-dūl-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
dūl-ta
|
na-dūl-ta
|
| 2fp
|
dūl-mun
|
na-dūl-mun
|
| 2mp
|
dūl-min
|
na-dūl-min
|
| 3fp
|
dūl-tun
|
na-dūl-tun
|
| 3mp
|
dūl-tin
|
na-dūl-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II-y
r-y-b (plant [seeds], place)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
rīb-na
|
na-rīb-na
|
| 2fs
|
rīb-mu
|
na-rīb-mu
|
| 2ms
|
rīb-mi
|
na-rīb-mi
|
| 3fs
|
rīb-tu
|
na-rīb-tu
|
| 3ms
|
rīb-ti
|
na-rīb-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
rīb-ta
|
na-rīb-ta
|
| 2fp
|
rīb-mun
|
na-rīb-mun
|
| 2mp
|
rīb-min
|
na-rīb-min
|
| 3fp
|
rīb-tun
|
na-rīb-tun
|
| 3mp
|
rīb-tin
|
na-rīb-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II-ʾ, a-class
ṣ-ʾ-b (kill, slay)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
ṣāb-na
|
na-ṣāb-na
|
| 2fs
|
ṣāb-mu
|
na-ṣāb-mu
|
| 2ms
|
ṣāb-mi
|
na-ṣāb-mi
|
| 3fs
|
ṣāb-tu
|
na-ṣāb-tu
|
| 3ms
|
ṣāb-ti
|
na-ṣāb-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
ṣāb-ta
|
na-ṣāb-ta
|
| 2fp
|
ṣāb-mun
|
na-ṣāb-mun
|
| 2mp
|
ṣāb-min
|
na-ṣāb-min
|
| 3fp
|
ṣāb-tun
|
na-ṣāb-tun
|
| 3mp
|
ṣāb-tin
|
na-ṣāb-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II-ʾ, e-class
l-ʾ-b (yield, give up)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
lēb-na
|
ne-lēb-na
|
| 2fs
|
lēb-mu
|
ne-lēb-mu
|
| 2ms
|
lēb-mi
|
ne-lēb-mi
|
| 3fs
|
lēb-tu
|
ne-lēb-tu
|
| 3ms
|
lēb-ti
|
ne-lēb-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
lēb-ta
|
ne-lēb-ta
|
| 2fp
|
lēb-mun
|
ne-lēb-mun
|
| 2mp
|
lēb-min
|
ne-lēb-min
|
| 3fp
|
lēb-tun
|
ne-lēb-tun
|
| 3mp
|
lēb-tin
|
ne-lēb-tin
|
|
Final-Weak Verbs
The final radical is either ⟨y⟩ or ⟨w⟩ and becomes elided while lengthening the preceding vowel.
III-w
n-d-w (to begin)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
nadū-na
|
na-ndā-na
|
| 2fs
|
nadū-mu
|
na-ndā-mu
|
| 2ms
|
nadū-mi
|
na-ndā-mi
|
| 3fs
|
nadū-su
|
na-ndā-su
|
| 3ms
|
nadū-si
|
na-ndā-si
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
nadū-ta
|
na-ndā-ta
|
| 2fp
|
nadū-mun
|
na-ndā-mun
|
| 2mp
|
nadū-min
|
na-ndā-min
|
| 3fp
|
nadū-sun
|
na-ndā-sun
|
| 3mp
|
nadū-sin
|
na-ndā-sin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III-y
m-l-y (give)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
malī-na
|
na-mlā-na
|
| 2fs
|
malī-mu
|
na-mlā-mu
|
| 2ms
|
malī-mi
|
na-mlā-mi
|
| 3fs
|
malī-su
|
na-mlā-su
|
| 3ms
|
malī-si
|
na-mlā-si
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
malī-ta
|
na-mlā-ta
|
| 2fp
|
malī-mun
|
na-mlā-mun
|
| 2mp
|
malī-min
|
na-mlā-min
|
| 3fp
|
malī-sun
|
na-mlā-sun
|
| 3mp
|
malī-sin
|
na-mlā-sin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III-ʾ, a-class
ḫ-ṣ́-ʾ (be correct, be true)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
ḫaṣ́ā-na
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-na
|
| 2fs
|
ḫaṣ́ā-mu
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-mu
|
| 2ms
|
ḫaṣ́ā-mi
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-mi
|
| 3fs
|
ḫaṣ́ā-su
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-su
|
| 3ms
|
ḫaṣ́ā-si
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-si
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
ḫaṣ́ā-ta
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-ta
|
| 2fp
|
ḫaṣ́ā-mun
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-mun
|
| 2mp
|
ḫaṣ́ā-min
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-min
|
| 3fp
|
ḫaṣ́ā-sun
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-sun
|
| 3mp
|
ḫaṣ́ā-sin
|
na-ḫṣ́ā-sin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III-ʾ, e-class
k-m-ʾ (get up, stand up, rise, ascend)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
kemē-na
|
ne-kmē-na
|
| 2fs
|
kemē-mu
|
ne-kmē-mu
|
| 2ms
|
kemē-mi
|
ne-kmē-mi
|
| 3fs
|
kemē-su
|
ne-kmē-su
|
| 3ms
|
kemē-si
|
ne-kmē-si
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
kemē-ta
|
ne-kmē-ta
|
| 2fp
|
kemē-mun
|
ne-kmē-mun
|
| 2mp
|
kemē-min
|
ne-kmē-min
|
| 3fp
|
kemē-sun
|
ne-kmē-sun
|
| 3mp
|
kemē-sin
|
ne-kmē-sin
|
|
Extensions To the Verb
Causative Voice
u-class
t-p-r-ḫ (coerce)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
tapruḫ-na
|
na-tapraḫ-na
|
| 2fs
|
tapruḫ-mu
|
na-tapraḫ-mu
|
| 2ms
|
tapruḫ-mi
|
na-tapraḫ-mi
|
| 3fs
|
tapruḫ-tu
|
na-tapraḫ-tu
|
| 3ms
|
tapruḫ-ti
|
na-tapraḫ-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
tapruḫ-ta
|
na-tapraḫ-ta
|
| 2fp
|
tapruḫ-mun
|
na-tapraḫ-mun
|
| 2mp
|
tapruḫ-min
|
na-tapraḫ-min
|
| 3fp
|
tapruḫ-tun
|
na-tapraḫ-tun
|
| 3mp
|
tapruḫ-tin
|
na-tapraḫ-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i-class
t-n-m-r (spoil, corrupt)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
tanmir-na
|
na-tanmar-na
|
| 2fs
|
tanmir-mu
|
na-tanmar-mu
|
| 2ms
|
tanmir-mi
|
na-tanmar-mi
|
| 3fs
|
tanmir-tu
|
na-tanmar-tu
|
| 3ms
|
tanmir-ti
|
na-tanmar-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
tanmir-ta
|
na-tanmar-ta
|
| 2fp
|
tanmir-mun
|
na-tanmar-mun
|
| 2mp
|
tanmir-min
|
na-tanmar-min
|
| 3fp
|
tanmir-tun
|
na-tanmar-tun
|
| 3mp
|
tanmir-tin
|
na-tanmar-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a-class
t-r-b-d (station, employ)
|
|
Realis
|
Irrealis
|
| 1cs
|
tarbad-na
|
na-tarbad-na
|
| 2fs
|
tarbad-mu
|
na-tarbad-mu
|
| 2ms
|
tarbad-mi
|
na-tarbad-mi
|
| 3fs
|
tarbat-tu
|
na-tarbat-tu
|
| 3ms
|
tarbat-ti
|
na-tarbat-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
tarbat-ta
|
na-tarbat-ta
|
| 2fp
|
tarbad-mun
|
na-tarbad-mun
|
| 2mp
|
tarbad-min
|
na-tarbad-min
|
| 3fp
|
tarbat-tun
|
na-tarbat-tun
|
| 3mp
|
tarbat-tin
|
na-tarbat-tin
|
|
Applicative Voice
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:
- Kuwam rēbis bēdūk paltu.
| Kuw-am |
rēb-is |
bēd-ūk |
pal-tu
|
| 3fs.NOM |
man-ACC.MASC.SG |
book-INS.FEM.PL |
give\ACT-3fs
|
- "She gives a man some books."
In the passive voice, the recipient is promoted to subject, rather than the theme:
- Rēbim bēdūk pilti.
| Rēb-im |
bēd-ūk |
pil-ti
|
| man-NOM.MASC.SG |
book-INS.FEM.PL |
give\PASS-3ms
|
- "A man is given some books."
