Vrkhazhian verbs are called narībūm (singular narībum). 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 a verb's transitivity. There are only two tenses (future and non-future) with the future tense indicated by a prefix attached to the base form. Additionally, there are also two moods (indicative and imperative) although the indicative is unmarked. Lastly, verbs are also conjugated for person (first, second, and third) and number (singular and plural) which are indicated by suffixes.
When referring to a particular verb pattern, they are referred to by a derivation of the canonical (exemplary) verb root P-R-Ḫ (to speak, to say). For example, when referring to the verb pattern of the citation form of a verb, which is the first person nonfuture singular indicative, it is called paruḫna because that is the first person nonfuture singular indicative 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⟩, ⟨w⟩, ⟨h⟩, and ⟨ḥ⟩ which lead to conjugations that are phonetically shortened or irregular. Such verbs are known as "weak verbs".
Thematic Vowels
(Triliteral Verbs)
Strong Verbs
u-class
P-R-Ḫ (speak, say)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
paruḫ-na
|
na-pruḫ-na
|
| 2fs
|
paruḫ-mu
|
na-pruḫ-mu
|
| 2ms
|
paruḫ-mi
|
na-pruḫ-mi
|
| 3fs
|
paruḫ-tu
|
na-pruḫ-tu
|
| 3ms
|
paruḫ-ti
|
na-pruḫ-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
paruḫ-ta
|
na-pruḫ-ta
|
| 2fp
|
paruḫ-mun
|
na-pruḫ-mun
|
| 2mp
|
paruḫ-min
|
na-pruḫ-min
|
| 3fp
|
paruḫ-tun
|
na-pruḫ-tun
|
| 3mp
|
paruḫ-tin
|
na-pruḫ-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i-class
N-M-R (be bad, be immoral)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
namir-na
|
na-nmir-na
|
| 2fs
|
namir-mu
|
na-nmir-mu
|
| 2ms
|
namir-mi
|
na-nmir-mi
|
| 3fs
|
namir-tu
|
na-nmir-tu
|
| 3ms
|
namir-ti
|
na-nmir-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
namir-ta
|
na-nmir-ta
|
| 2fp
|
namir-mun
|
na-nmir-mun
|
| 2mp
|
namir-min
|
na-nmir-min
|
| 3fp
|
namir-tun
|
na-nmir-tun
|
| 3mp
|
namir-tin
|
na-nmir-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a-class
R-B-D (guard, protect)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 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
|
|
u-class
P-R-Ḫ (speak, say)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 2ns
|
parḫ-ām
|
na-parḫ-ām
|
| 3ns
|
parḫ-āt
|
na-parḫ-āt
|
|
|
| 2np
|
parḫ-āman
|
na-parḫ-āman
|
| 3np
|
parḫ-ātan
|
na-parḫ-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i-class
N-M-R (be bad, be immoral)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 2ns
|
namr-ām
|
na-namr-ām
|
| 3ns
|
namr-āt
|
na-namr-āt
|
|
|
| 2np
|
namr-āman
|
na-namr-āman
|
| 3np
|
namr-ātan
|
na-namr-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a-class
R-B-D (guard, protect)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 2ns
|
rabd-ām
|
na-rabd-ām
|
| 3ns
|
rabd-āt
|
na-rabd-āt
|
|
|
| 2np
|
rabd-āman
|
na-rabd-āman
|
| 3np
|
rabd-ātan
|
na-rabd-ātan
|
|
Initial-Weak Verbs
The initial radical is either ⟨y⟩, ⟨w⟩, ⟨h⟩ or ⟨ḥ⟩ and becomes a long-vowel of a quality similar to its place of articulation in the future tense
I-y, u-class
Y-B-L (smell)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
yabul-na
|
nī-bul-na
|
| 2fs
|
yabul-mu
|
nī-bul-mu
|
| 2ms
|
yabul-mi
|
nī-bul-mi
|
| 2ns
|
yabl-ām
|
n-âbl-ām
|
| 3fs
|
yabul-tu
|
nī-bul-tu
|
| 3ms
|
yabul-ti
|
nī-bul-ti
|
| 3ns
|
yabl-āt
|
n-âbl-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
yabul-ta
|
nī-bul-ta
|
| 2fp
|
yabul-mun
|
nī-bul-mun
|
| 2mp
|
yabul-min
|
nī-bul-min
|
| 2np
|
yabl-āman
|
n-âbl-āman
|
| 3fp
|
yabul-tun
|
nī-bul-tun
|
| 3mp
|
yabul-tin
|
nī-bul-tin
|
| 3np
|
yabl-ātan
|
n-âbl-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I-w, i-class
W-S-Ḫ (be faithful, be loyal)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
wasiḫ-na
|
nū-siḫ-na
|
| 2fs
|
wasiḫ-mu
|
nū-siḫ-mu
|
| 2ms
|
wasiḫ-mi
|
nū-siḫ-mi
|
| 2ns
|
wasḫ-ām
|
n-âsḫ-ām
|
| 3fs
|
wasiḫ-tu
|
nū-siḫ-tu
|
| 3ms
|
wasiḫ-ti
|
nū-siḫ-ti
|
| 3ns
|
wasḫ-āt
|
n-âsḫ-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
wasiḫ-ta
|
nū-siḫ-ta
|
| 2fp
|
wasiḫ-mun
|
nū-siḫ-mun
|
| 2mp
|
wasiḫ-min
|
nū-siḫ-min
|
| 2np
|
wasḫ-āman
|
n-âsḫ-āman
|
| 3fp
|
wasiḫ-tun
|
nū-siḫ-tun
|
| 3mp
|
wasiḫ-tin
|
nū-siḫ-tin
|
| 3np
|
wasḫ-ātan
|
n-âsḫ-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I-h, a-class
H-L-D (fight, battle, oppose)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
alad-na
|
nā-lad-na
|
| 2fs
|
alad-mu
|
nā-lad-mu
|
| 2ms
|
alad-mi
|
nā-lad-mi
|
| 2ns
|
ald-ām
|
n-âld-ām
|
| 3fs
|
alat-tu
|
nā-lat-tu
|
| 3ms
|
alat-ti
|
nā-lat-ti
|
| 3ns
|
ald-āt
|
n-âld-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
alat-ta
|
nā-lat-ta
|
| 2fp
|
alad-mun
|
nā-lad-mun
|
| 2mp
|
alad-min
|
nā-lad-min
|
| 2np
|
ald-āman
|
n-âld-āman
|
| 3fp
|
alat-tun
|
nā-lat-tun
|
| 3mp
|
alat-tin
|
nā-lat-tin
|
| 3np
|
ald-ātan
|
n-âld-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I-ḥ, e-class
Ḥ-L-R (???)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
eler-na
|
nē-ler-na
|
| 2fs
|
eler-mu
|
nē-ler-mu
|
| 2ms
|
eler-mi
|
nē-ler-mi
|
| 2ns
|
alr-ām
|
n-âlr-ām
|
| 3fs
|
eler-tu
|
nē-ler-tu
|
| 3ms
|
eler-ti
|
nē-ler-ti
|
| 3ns
|
alr-āt
|
n-âlr-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
eler-ta
|
nē-ler-ta
|
| 2fp
|
eler-mun
|
nē-ler-mun
|
| 2mp
|
eler-min
|
nē-ler-min
|
| 2np
|
alr-āman
|
n-âlr-āman
|
| 3fp
|
eler-tun
|
nē-ler-tun
|
| 3mp
|
eler-tin
|
nē-ler-tin
|
| 3np
|
alr-ātan
|
n-âlr-ātan
|
|
Middle-Weak Verbs
The middle radical is either ⟨y⟩, ⟨w⟩, ⟨h⟩ or ⟨ḥ⟩ and becomes a long-vowel of a quality similar to its place of articulation. Because of this change, it is not possible to tell the theme vowel of the verb.
II-w
D-W-L (dig, reveal)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
dūl-na
|
na-dūl-na
|
| 2fs
|
dūl-mu
|
na-dūl-mu
|
| 2ms
|
dūl-mi
|
na-dūl-mi
|
| 2ns
|
dāl-ām
|
na-dāl-ām
|
| 3fs
|
dūl-tu
|
na-dūl-tu
|
| 3ms
|
dūl-ti
|
na-dūl-ti
|
| 3ns
|
dāl-āt
|
na-dāl-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
dūl-ta
|
na-dūl-ta
|
| 2fp
|
dūl-mun
|
na-dūl-mun
|
| 2mp
|
dūl-min
|
na-dūl-min
|
| 2np
|
dāl-āman
|
na-dāl-āman
|
| 3fp
|
dūl-tun
|
na-dūl-tun
|
| 3mp
|
dūl-tin
|
na-dūl-tin
|
| 3np
|
dāl-ātan
|
na-dāl-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II-y
R-Y-B (plant [seeds], place)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
rīb-na
|
na-rīb-na
|
| 2fs
|
rīb-mu
|
na-rīb-mu
|
| 2ms
|
rīb-mi
|
na-rīb-mi
|
| 2ns
|
rāb-ām
|
na-rāb-ām
|
| 3fs
|
rīb-tu
|
na-rīb-tu
|
| 3ms
|
rīb-ti
|
na-rīb-ti
|
| 3ns
|
rāb-āt
|
na-rāb-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
rīb-ta
|
na-rīb-ta
|
| 2fp
|
rīb-mun
|
na-rīb-mun
|
| 2mp
|
rīb-min
|
na-rīb-min
|
| 2np
|
rāb-āman
|
na-rāb-āman
|
| 3fp
|
rīb-tun
|
na-rīb-tun
|
| 3mp
|
rīb-tin
|
na-rīb-tin
|
| 3np
|
rāb-ātan
|
na-rāb-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II-h
S-H-B (kill, slay)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
sāb-na
|
na-sāb-na
|
| 2fs
|
sāb-mu
|
na-sāb-mu
|
| 2ms
|
sāb-mi
|
na-sāb-mi
|
| 2ns
|
sāb-ām
|
na-sāb-ām
|
| 3fs
|
sāb-tu
|
na-sāb-tu
|
| 3ms
|
sāb-ti
|
na-sāb-ti
|
| 3ns
|
sāb-āt
|
na-sāb-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
sāb-ta
|
na-sāb-ta
|
| 2fp
|
sāb-mun
|
na-sāb-mun
|
| 2mp
|
sāb-min
|
na-sāb-min
|
| 2np
|
sāb-āman
|
na-sāb-āman
|
| 3fp
|
sāb-tun
|
na-sāb-tun
|
| 3mp
|
sāb-tin
|
na-sāb-tin
|
| 3np
|
sāb-ātan
|
na-sāb-ātan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
II-ḥ
L-Ḥ-B (have, possess)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
lēb-na
|
ne-lēb-na
|
| 2fs
|
lēb-mu
|
ne-lēb-mu
|
| 2ms
|
lēb-mi
|
ne-lēb-mi
|
| 2ns
|
lāb-ām
|
na-lāb-ām
|
| 3fs
|
lēb-tu
|
ne-lēb-tu
|
| 3ms
|
lēb-ti
|
ne-lēb-ti
|
| 3ns
|
lāb-āt
|
na-lāb-āt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
lēb-ta
|
ne-lēb-ta
|
| 2fp
|
lēb-mun
|
ne-lēb-mun
|
| 2mp
|
lēb-min
|
ne-lēb-min
|
| 3np
|
lāb-āman
|
na-lāb-āman
|
| 3fp
|
lēb-tun
|
ne-lēb-tun
|
| 3mp
|
lēb-tin
|
ne-lēb-tin
|
| 3np
|
lāb-ātan
|
na-lāb-ātan
|
|
Final-Weak Verbs
The final radical is either ⟨y⟩, ⟨w⟩, ⟨h⟩ or ⟨ḥ⟩ and becomes a long-vowel of a quality similar to its place of articulation. The third person suffixes become -su(n) and -si(n) instead of -tu(n) and -ti(n). Like middle-weak verbs, it is not possible to tell the theme vowel of the verb.
III-w
N-D-W (to begin)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
nadū-na
|
na-ndū-na
|
| 2fs
|
nadū-mu
|
na-ndū-mu
|
| 2ms
|
nadū-mi
|
na-ndū-mi
|
| 2ns
|
nad-âm
|
na-nd-âm
|
| 3fs
|
nadū-su
|
na-ndū-su
|
| 3ms
|
nadū-si
|
na-ndū-si
|
| 3ns
|
nad-ât
|
na-nd-ât
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
nadū-ta
|
na-ndū-ta
|
| 2fp
|
nadū-mun
|
na-ndū-mun
|
| 2mp
|
nadū-min
|
na-ndū-min
|
| 2np
|
nad-âman
|
na-nd-âman
|
| 3fp
|
nadū-sun
|
na-ndū-sun
|
| 3mp
|
nadū-sin
|
na-ndū-sin
|
| 3np
|
nad-âtan
|
na-nd-âtan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III-y
R-S-Y (be good, be moral)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
rasī-na
|
na-rsī-na
|
| 2fs
|
rasī-mu
|
na-rsī-mu
|
| 2ms
|
rasī-mi
|
na-rsī-mi
|
| 2ns
|
ras-âm
|
na-rs-âm
|
| 3fs
|
rasī-su
|
na-rsī-su
|
| 3ms
|
rasī-si
|
na-rsī-si
|
| 3ns
|
ras-ât
|
na-rs-ât
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
rasī-ta
|
na-rsī-ta
|
| 2fp
|
rasī-mun
|
na-rsī-mun
|
| 2mp
|
rasī-min
|
na-rsī-min
|
| 2np
|
ras-âman
|
na-rs-âman
|
| 3fp
|
rasī-sun
|
na-rsī-sun
|
| 3mp
|
rasī-sin
|
na-rsī-sin
|
| 3np
|
ras-âtan
|
na-rs-âtan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III-h
Ḫ-Ś-H (be correct, be true)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
ḫaśā-na
|
na-ḫśā-na
|
| 2fs
|
ḫaśā-mu
|
na-ḫśā-mu
|
| 2ms
|
ḫaśā-mi
|
na-ḫśā-mi
|
| 2ns
|
ḫaś-âm
|
na-ḫś-âm
|
| 3fs
|
ḫaśā-su
|
na-ḫśā-su
|
| 3ms
|
ḫaśā-si
|
na-ḫśā-si
|
| 3ns
|
ḫaś-ât
|
na-ḫś-ât
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
ḫaśā-ta
|
na-ḫśā-ta
|
| 2fp
|
ḫaśā-mun
|
na-ḫśā-mun
|
| 2mp
|
ḫaśā-min
|
na-ḫśā-min
|
| 2np
|
ḫaś-âman
|
na-ḫś-âman
|
| 3fp
|
ḫaśā-sun
|
na-ḫśā-sun
|
| 3mp
|
ḫaśā-sin
|
na-ḫśā-sin
|
| 3np
|
ḫaś-âtan
|
na-ḫś-âtan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III-ḥ
K-M-Ḥ (get up, stand up, rise, wake up)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
kemē-na
|
ne-kmē-na
|
| 2fs
|
kemē-mu
|
ne-kmē-mu
|
| 2ms
|
kemē-mi
|
ne-kmē-mi
|
| 2ns
|
kem-êm
|
ne-km-êm
|
| 3fs
|
kemē-su
|
ne-kmē-su
|
| 3ms
|
kemē-si
|
ne-kmē-si
|
| 3ns
|
kem-êt
|
ne-km-êt
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
kemē-ta
|
ne-kmē-ta
|
| 2fp
|
kemē-mun
|
ne-kmē-mun
|
| 2mp
|
kemē-min
|
ne-kmē-min
|
| 2np
|
kem-êman
|
ne-km-êman
|
| 3fp
|
kemē-sun
|
ne-kmē-sun
|
| 3mp
|
kemē-sin
|
ne-kmē-sin
|
| 3np
|
kem-êtan
|
ne-km-êtan
|
|
Extensions To the Verb
Causative Voice
u-class
T-P-R-Ḫ (speak to)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
tapraḫ-na
|
na-tapraḫ-na
|
| 2fs
|
tapraḫ-mu
|
na-tapraḫ-mu
|
| 2ms
|
tapraḫ-mi
|
na-tapraḫ-mi
|
| 3fs
|
tapraḫ-tu
|
na-tapraḫ-tu
|
| 3ms
|
tapraḫ-ti
|
na-tapraḫ-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
tapraḫ-ta
|
na-tapraḫ-ta
|
| 2fp
|
tapraḫ-mun
|
na-tapraḫ-mun
|
| 2mp
|
tapraḫ-min
|
na-tapraḫ-min
|
| 3fp
|
tapraḫ-tun
|
na-tapraḫ-tun
|
| 3mp
|
tapraḫ-tin
|
na-tapraḫ-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i-class
T-N-M-R (spoil, corrupt)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 1cs
|
tanmar-na
|
na-tanmar-na
|
| 2fs
|
tanmar-mu
|
na-tanmar-mu
|
| 2ms
|
tanmar-mi
|
na-tanmar-mi
|
| 3fs
|
tanmar-tu
|
na-tanmar-tu
|
| 3ms
|
tanmar-ti
|
na-tanmar-ti
|
|
|
| 1cp
|
tanmar-ta
|
na-tanmar-ta
|
| 2fp
|
tanmar-mun
|
na-tanmar-mun
|
| 2mp
|
tanmar-min
|
na-tanmar-min
|
| 3fp
|
tanmar-tun
|
na-tanmar-tun
|
| 3mp
|
tanmar-tin
|
na-tanmar-tin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a-class
T-R-B-D (station, employ, assign)
|
|
nonfuture
|
future
|
| 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:
- Kumma bēdās lēbtu.
| Ku-mma |
bēd-ās |
∅-lēb-tu
|
| 3fs-nom |
book-acc.inan.pl |
nfut-have\act-3fs
|
- "She has some books."
In the applicative voice, an oblique (optional) element is promoted to primary object:
- Kumma rēbis bēdās tēlebtu.
| Ku-mma |
rēb-is |
bēd-ās |
∅-tēleb-tu
|
| 3fs-nom |
man-acc.masc.sg |
book-acc.inan.pl |
nfut-give\appl-3fs
|
- "She gives a man some books."
