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Verbs

The verbal system of ancient Figo language is based on the fundamental dichotomy between two verbal roots, the present root and the preterite root. The basic root is usually the present one, while the preterite root is usually derived from the present one through an introflexive process of vowel switching, and by by means of the prefix ʔa-, known as augment,:

CV1CV2C → aCV2CV1C

Example:

Rimp = sōsun- → Rprf = asusōn-

In addition to vowels, the diphthongs -iə- and -əw- can be switched:

Rimp = ʔīsəwg- → Rprf = ʔəwsīg-

In disyllabic verbal root, all vowels are involved in the switching process.

However, multisyllabic verbal roots can be formed through morphological derivation by adding prefixes or suffixes or both of them. These morphological affixes are usually not involved in the switching process. The vowel involved are those belonging to the original disyllabic root:

Rimp = giəhēmon- → Rprf = giəhomēn-

Rimp = kəlokōr- → Rprf = koləkōr-

Rimp = həʈəgelōr- → Rprf = həʈegəlōr-

Monosyllabic roots, quite rare, are usually not involved in the vowel switching process, being thus deemed as invariable roots without a perfective form (or without an imperfective form, in the very rare case when the base meaning is intrisically perfective).

Irregular roots, mostly loanwords, derive their perfective form by adding the morpheme -iək-:

Rimp = akar- → Rprf = akariək-

Another distinction is made, on a temporal level, between a non-past tense, generally called “present”, and a past tense, by means of the prefix ʔa-, known as augment, which conveys the past tense, while non-past actions are marked by its absence.

Rimp = gagok- → Rimp-past = ʔagagok-

When the root begins with a vocalic phoneme, an adjoining consonant, usually -ʔ-, is added between the augment and the verbal root.

Rimp = akar- → Rimp-past = ʔaʔakar-

There are four verbal moods and three non-finite forms:

• Moods: indicative, subjunctive, conditional
• Non-finite: infinitive, active participle, passive participle

The citation form of verbs is the present imperfective infinitive, marked by the ending -əme, added to the imperfective root in its present form. From such form the imperfective root can be inferred and can be changed in its perfective equivalent.

The following personal endings are then added to the various aspectual and temporal forms. In this way, verbs show their agreement with the clause subject in person and number:

1st sing.	-ol
2nd sing.	-er
3rd sing.	-ət́
	-
1st plur.	-olon
2nd plur.	-eron
3rd plur.	-ət́on
	-on

The different moods are formed by adding the following infixes to the verbal root, before the personal endings:

• indicative: Ø
• subjunctive: -iəɳ-
• conditional: -oṕ-

The non-finite verbal forms are meant as nominal/adjectival forms of the same verbs. They do not add the personal endings, but they are declined as nouns or adjectives with the nominal declension endings.

As verbal forms can, however, be formed on both roots and add the past prefix. They can also add the modal infixes before their typical endings.

The non-finite endings are:

• infinitive: -əme
• agentive participle: -īto
• passive participle: -əwkiə-

The infinitival form is meant as a class II noun.