Verbs in Vrkhazhian

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

Verbs are considered weak if the root contains a weak radical, which are called called haẏwan. These weak radicals are ⟨y⟩, ⟨w⟩, and ⟨h⟩. Weak verbs have different morphophonological properties depending on the position of the radical with respect to the other radicals. Verbs where the first radical is weak are called madsiran ??? ("??? verbs")... Verbs where the second radical is weak are called madsiran mṛḵapan ("hollow verbs")... An exception to this is in the case of gemination whereby they are simply fortified. Lastly, verbs where the third radical is weak are called madsiran ṗṛšašan ("cut verbs")...

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. 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 Realis	nu-ṣrah	nu-ṣarh-əm	threw, said	ni-ṣrəh	ni-ṣərh-əm	was thrown, said
Present Realis	ṣarah	ṣarh-əm	throws, says	ṣarəh	ṣərh-əm	is thrown, said
Future	ṣaruh	ṣurh-əm	will throw, say	ṣarih	ṣirh-əm	will be thrown, be said

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 Realis	nu-dul	nu-dul-əm	dug out, revealed	ni-dul	ni-dul-əm	was dug out, revealed
Present Realis	dul	dul-əm	dig out, reveal	dul	dul-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 Realis	nu-nši	nu-našy-əm	wanted, desired	ni-nši	ni-nəšy-əm	was wanted, desired
Present Realis	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."