Verbs in Vrkhazhian

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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.

Madsiṟom Dusaṟ (Dusarh verbs)

This is the simplest basic form of a verb, it gives the general idea of its root. The table below shows the conjugation of the root k-j-m (to support, to hold up):

Verb Conjugations
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 Lossaṟ (Lodsarh verbs)

The table below shows the conjugation of the root m-n-š (to write):

Verb Conjugations
Active Singular Active Plural Translation Passive Singular Passive Plural Translation
Infinitive ʾemnaššu to write to self ʾemnešši to be written by self
Past Simple numnaš numnašam wrote to self nimneš nimnešam was written by self
Past Prog. yomnaš yomnašam was writing to self yemneš yemnešam was being written by self
Present Simple munaš munšam writing to self maneš manšam is written by self
Present Prog. humnaš humnašam is writing to self himneš himnešam is being written by self
Future ʾamnaš ʾamnašam will write to self ʾimneš ʾimnešam will be written by self

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

Verb moods

Vrkhazhian has five moods other than the indicative mood: jussive, conditional, subjunctive, commissive, and propositive. The table below shows the present tense of the verb s-b-b (to kill)

Verb Mood
Active Singular Active Plural Translation Passive Singular Passive Plural Translation
Jussive wisbab wisbabam have to kill wisbeb wisbebam have to be killed
Conditional mosbab mosbabam would kill mesbeb mesbebam would be killed
Subjunctive bisbab bisbabam may kill bisbeb bisbebam may be killed
Commissive ḵastubab ḵastubbam promise to kill ḵestabeb ḵestabbam promise to be killed
Propositive mimsubab mimsubbam should kill mimsabeb mimsabbam should be killed
  • The jussive mood is mainly used for expressing obligation or duty, but when there are no subject pronouns or nouns in, it functions as the imperative, expressing direct commands to the adressee(s).
  • The conditional mood expresses a hypothetical situation, that is dependent on another set of circumstances.
  • The subjunctive mood expresses hypothetical actions or situations, usually in that-clauses.
  • The commissive mood expresses a commitment to do something, like a promise or threat.
  • The propositive mood express suggestions or propositions.
Weak Verbs

Verbs are considered weak if they contain a hollow consonant (called ʾahaẏwud).