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.

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 ʾilmneš 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 a -l-, which is dissimilated to -n- near another ⟨l⟩, between the base form and the tense prefix. In both the active voice and the passive voice, the meaning this stem imparts is autocausative.

l-n-d (to learn)
Active Singular Active Plural Translation Passive Singular Passive Plural Translation
Infinitive lolunnaddu to teach self lolanneddi to be taught self
Past Simple nunlunnad nunlunnadam taught self ninlanned ninlannedam was taught self
Past Prog. yonlunnad yonlunnadam was teaching self yenlanned yenlannedam was being taught self
Present Simple lolunnad lolunnadam teach self lolanned lolannedam is taught self
Present Prog. hunlunnad hunlunnadam is teaching self hinlanned hinlannedam is being taught self
Future ʾanlunnad ʾanlunnadam will teach self ʾinlanned ʾinlannedam will be taught self

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 shall kill ḵestabeb ḵestabbam shall 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).