Development
The following endings were attached to the verb:
| Infinitive | -ok'â |
|---|---|
| Present perfective | -i |
| Past perfective | -gha |
| Present imperfective | -te |
| Past imperfective | -nu |
| Imperfective imperative | -u |
| Antipassive | -ka- |
| Optative | ya- |
| Subjunctive | sa- |
| 1st person inclusive dual imperative | kha- |
| 1st person inclusive plural imperative | tha- |
| 2rd person dual imperative | da- |
| 2rd person plural imperative | qa- |
The vowels prefixes /ka/-, /ja/-, /sa/-, /xa/-, /θa/-, /da/- and /qa/- harmonize in quality with the next vowel.
When vowel syllables are reduced, long vowels are turned into short vowels and short vowels are eliminated in unstressed syllables, except if it would result in CCC arising, where then the short vowel is replaced by the preceding or, if not available, following vowel's quality. Final vowels are not elided except for /i/.
The /t/ in the ending -/te/ is reduced to gemination of the preceding consonant when adjacent to a consonant.
The /n/ in the ending -/nu/ is reduced to gemination and nasalization of the preceding consonant which adjacent to a consonant.
When CCC is present, otherwise they are broken up by inserting a short vowel taking the quality of the preceding or, if not available, following vowel, with long vowels being preferably broken up, and otherwise the short vowel being inserted on the side further away from the edge of the word.
If /kV/- does not have any preceding prefix, the vowel is deleted (or if that would result in CCC or no vowels at all, metathesized with the next consonant), the /k/ merges with the following consonant to form a geminate, and then the geminate is split by inserting a short vowel equal in quality to the next vowel.
/jV/- undergoes metathesis with the following consonant and then the /j/ is lost, in the process palatalizing the preceding consonant. If the vowel precedes a vowel, the two vowels merge into a long vowel.
If /sV/- precedes a single consonant, the vowel is deleted and the /s/ is placed adjacent to the next consonant.
If /θV/- precedes a single consonant, the vowel is deleted and the /θ/ is placed adjacent to the next consonant.
If /xV/- precedes /kV/- it is deleted.
The /wV/- undergoes metathesis with the following consonant, resulting in C-w-V; if this would result in two adjacent vowels the vowels become a long vowel. The following vowel is now backed. An epethetic short vowel is then inserted between the /w/ and the preceding vowel, agreeing in quality with the following now-backed vowel.
The vowel in /qV/- is deleted, or if that would result in CCC or no vowels at all, metathesized with the next consonant. Then /q/ merges with the following consonant to form a backed geminate, and then the geminate is split by inserting a short vowel equal in quality to the next vowel.
Word-initial and word-final CC is split into CVC where the vowel is a short vowel taking the quality of the following (or if there is not, preceding) vowel. When Cː is an ejective geminate, only the first becomes ejective while the second is de-ejectified.
When final CC occurs, /ɒ/ is appended after it.
Person/number marking
The following are affixed to the verb marking the patient in the indicative, optative, and subjunctive:
| Singular | Exclusive dual | (Inclusive) dual | Exclusive plural | (Inclusive) plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person | -ma | -lha | -tse | -va | -na |
| 2nd person | -ya | -be | -za | ||
| 3nd person masc. | -ha | -dze | -cha | ||
| 3nd person fem. | -nya | -ghe | -ra | ||
| 3nd person neut. | -ta | -de | -wa |
Infinitive
CVC > C1V1C2-kâ
CVCC > C1V1C2C3-okâ
CCVC > C1C2V1C3-kâ
CVCVC > C1V1C2C3-okâ
Gerund
This is formed by marking the verb as a neuter noun.
Participles
See under Adjectival Morphology.
Indicative active present perfective
CVC > C1V1C2y
CVCC > C1V1C2C3y-â
CCVC > C1C2V1C3y
CVCVC > C1V1C2C3y-â
Indicative active present imperfective
CVC > C1V1C2l-e
CVCC > C1V1C2V1sC3l-e
CCVC > C1C2V1C3l-e
CVCVC > C1V1C2V1sC3l-e
Indicative active past perfective
CVC > C1V1C2-gha
CVCC > C1V1C2V1sC3-gha
CCVC > C1C2V1C3-gha
CVCVC > C1V1C2V1sC3-gha
Indicative active past imperfective
CVC > C1V1C2nl-u
CVCC > C1V1C2V1sC3nl-u
CCVC > C1C2V1C3nl-u
CVCVC > C1V1C2V1sC3nl-u
Indicative antipassive present perfective
CVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2y-â
CVCC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2C3y-â
CCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V1sC3y
CVCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V2C3y
Indicative antipassive present imperfective
CVC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2l-e
CVCC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2V1sC3l-e
CCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V1sC3l-e
CVCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V2C3l-e
Indicative antipassive past perfective
CVC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2-gha
CVCC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2V1sC3-gha
CCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V1sC3-gha
CVCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V2C3-gha
Indicative antipassive past imperfective
CVC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2nl-u
CVCC > C1sV1sC1gsV1sC2V1sC3nl-u
CCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V1sC3nl-u
CVCVC > C1sV1sC1gsC2V2C3nl-u
Optative active present perfective
CVC > C1yV1lC2
CVCC > C1yV1lC2C3-â
CCVC > C1yV1sC2V1sC3
CVCVC > C1yV1sC2V2C3
Optative active present imperfective
CVC > C1yV1lC2l-e
CVCC > C1yV1lC2V1sC3l-e
CCVC > C1yV1sC2V1sC3l-e
CVCVC > C1yV1sC2V2C3l-e
Optative active past perfective
CVC > C1yV1lC2-gha
CVCC > C1yV1lC2V1sC3-gha
CCVC > C1yV1sC2V1sC3-gha
CVCVC > C1yV1sC2V2C3-gha
Optative active past imperfective
CVC > C1yV1lC2nl-u
CVCC > C1yV1lC2V1sC3nl-u
CCVC > C1yV1sC2V1sC3nl-u
CVCVC > C1yV1sC2V2C3nl-u
Optative antipassive present perfective
CVC > c-V1sC1V1C2
CVCC > c-V1sC1V1C2C3-â
CCVC > c-V1lC1C2V1C3
CVCVC > c-V1sC1V1C2C3-â
Optative antipassive present imperfective
CVC > c-V1sC1V1C2l-e
CVCC > c-V1sC1V1C2V1sC3l-e
CCVC > c-V1lC1C2V1C3l-e
CVCVC > c-V1sC1V1C2V1sC3l-e
Optative antipassive past perfective
CVC > c-V1sC1V1C2-gha
CVCC > c-V1sC1V1C2V1sC3-gha
CCVC > c-V1lC1C2V1C3-gha
CVCVC > c-V1sC1V1C2V1sC3-gha
Optative antipassive past imperfective
CVC > c-V1sC1V1C2nl-u
CVCC > c-V1sC1V1C2V1sC3nl-u
CCVC > c-V1lC1C2V1C3nl-u
CVCVC > c-V1sC1V1C2V1sC3nl-u
Subjunctive active present perfective
CVC > s-C1V1sC2y
CVCC > s-C1V1sC2C3y-â
CCVC > s-V1sC1C2V1sC3y
CVCVC > s-V1sC1C2V2C3y
Subjunctive active present imperfective
CVC > s-C1V1sC2l-e
CVCC > s-C1V1sC2V1sC3l-e
CCVC > s-V1sC1C2V1sC3l-e
CVCVC > s-V1sC1C2V2C3l-e
Subjunctive active past perfective
CVC > s-C1V1sC2-gha
CVCC > s-C1V1sC2V1sC3-gha
CCVC > s-V1sC1C2V1sC3-gha
CVCVC > s-V1sC1C2V2C3-gha
Subjunctive active past imperfective
CVC > s-C1V1sC2nl-u
CVCC > s-C1V1sC2V1sC3nl-u
CCVC > s-V1sC1C2V1sC3nl-u
CVCVC > s-V1sC1C2V2C3nl-u
Subjunctive antipassive present perfective
CVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2y
CVCC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3y-â
CCVC > s-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3y
CVCVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3y-â
Subjunctive antipassive present imperfective
CVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2l-e
CVCC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2V1sC3l-e
CCVC > s-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3l-e
CVCVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2V1sC3l-e
Subjunctive antipassive past perfective
CVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2-gha
CVCC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2V1sC3-gha
CCVC > s-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3-gha
CVCVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2V1sC3-gha
Subjunctive antipassive past imperfective
CVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2nl-u
CVCC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2V1sC3nl-u
CCVC > s-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3nl-u
CVCVC > s-V1s-k-C1V1C2V1sC3nl-u
Imperative 1st person dual active perfective
CVC > kh-V1sC1C2-â
CVCC > kh-V1sC1V1sC2C3-â
CCVC > kh-V1sC1C2V1sC3
CVCVC > kh-V1sC1C2V2C3
Imperative 1st person dual active imperfective
CVC > kh-V1sC1C2-u
CVCC > kh-V1sC1V1sC2C3-u
CCVC > kh-V1sC1C2V1sC3-u
CVCVC > kh-V1sC1C2V2C3-u
Imperative 1st person dual antipassive perfective
CVC > k-C1V1C2
CVCC > k-C1V1C2C3-â
CCVC > k-V1sC1C2V1C3
CVCVC > k-C1V1C2C3-â
Imperative 1st person dual antipassive imperfective
CVC > k-C1V1C2-u
CVCC > k-C1V1C2C3-u
CCVC > k-V1sC1C2V1C3-u
CVCVC > k-C1V1C2C3-u
Imperative 1st person plural active perfective
CVC > th-C1V1sC2
CVCC > th-C1V1sC2C3-â
CCVC > th-V1sC1C2V1sC3
CVCVC > th-V1sC1C2V2C3
Imperative 1st person plural active imperfective
CVC > th-C1V1sC2-u
CVCC > th-C1V1sC2C3-u
CCVC > th-V1sC1C2V1sC3-u
CVCVC > th-V1sC1C2V2C3-u
Imperative 1st person plural antipassive perfective
CVC > th-V1s-k-C1V1C2
CVCC > th-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-â
CCVC > th-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3
CVCVC > th-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-â
Imperative 1st person plural antipassive imperfective
CVC > th-V1s-k-C1V1C2-u
CVCC > th-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-u
CCVC > th-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3-u
CVCVC > th-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-u
Imperative 2nd person singular active perfective
CVC > C1V1C2
CVCC > C1V1C2C3-â
CCVC > C1C2V1C3
CVCVC > C1V1C2C3-â
Imperative 2nd person singular active imperfective
CVC > C1V1C2-u
CVCC > C1V1C2C3-u
CCVC > C1C2V1C3-u
CVCVC > C1V1C2C3-u
Imperative 2nd person singular antipassive perfective
CVC > C1sV1sC1dsV1sC2
CVCC > C1sV1sC1dsV1sC2C3-â
CCVC > C1sV1sC1dsC2V1sC3
CVCVC > C1sV1sC1dsC2V2C3
Imperative 2nd person singular antipassive imperfective
CVC > C1sV1sC1dsV1sC2-u
CVCC > C1sV1sC1dsV1sC2C3-u
CCVC > C1sV1sC1dsC2V1sC3-u
CVCVC > C1sV1sC1dsC2V2C3-u
Imperative 2nd person dual active perfective
CVC > d-V1sC1C2-â
CVCC > d-V1sC1V1sC2C3-â
CCVC > d-V1sC1C2V1sC3
CVCVC > d-V1sC1C2V2C3-
Imperative 2nd person dual active imperfective
CVC > d-V1sC1C2-u
CVCC > d-V1sC1V1sC2C3-u
CCVC > d-V1sC1C2V1sC3-u
CVCVC > d-V1sC1C2V2C3-u
Imperative 2nd person dual antipassive perfective
CVC > d-V1s-k-C1V1C2
CVCC > d-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-â
CCVC > d-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3
CVCVC > d-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-â
Imperative 2nd person dual antipassive imperfective
CVC > d-V1s-k-C1V1C2-u
CVCC > d-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-u
CCVC > d-V1s-k-V1sC1C2V1C3-u
CVCVC > d-V1s-k-C1V1C2C3-u
Imperative 2nd person plural active perfective
CVC > C1qsV1s-w-C2-â
CVCC > C1qsV1s-w-V1sC2C3-â
CCVC > C1qsV1s-w-C2V1sC3
CVCVC > C1qsV1s-w-C2V2C3
Imperative 2nd person plural active imperfective
CVC > C1qsV1s-w-C2-u
CVCC > C1qsV1s-w-V1sC2C3-u
CCVC > C1qsV1s-w-C2V1sC3-u
CVCVC > C1qsV1s-w-C2V2C3-u
Imperative 2nd person plural antipassive perfective
CVC > q-C1V1C2
CVCC > q-C1V1C2C3-â
CCVC > q-V1sC1C2V1C3
CVCVC > q-C1V1C2C3-â
Imperative 2nd person plural antipassive imperfective
CVC > q-C1V1C2-u
CVCC > q-C1V1C2C3-u
CCVC > q-V1sC1C2V1C3-u
CVCVC > q-C1V1C2C3-u