User:Bukkia/sandboxVIII
Verbs
Verbs in Rertu language usually have a multisyllabic form. Each verbal form carries only the semantical information, while othere feature are conveyed by other grammatic particles.
On the morphological level the verb display no person, or number, exhibiting always the same unaltered form:
kotnez (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) hear
The verbal person is conveyed by nouns and personal pronouns, which can convey also the number, unlike nouns:
kotnez ɔn I hear
kotnez ešeš you (pl.) hear
The verb, however, can be adjoined by particles, which convey either the aspectual or the temporal value of an action or a state. The set of the verb form, carrying the meaning, together with the temporal and the aspectual particles is called verb cluster.
kotnez ŋu pɔ hear - past - perfective
The aspectual particles are:
| progressive | |
| perfective | |
| resultative | |
| habitual | |
| repetitive | |
| experiential | |
| prospective |
The absence of an aspectual particle is understood as a gnomic aspect, namely pointing to an always extant and true action or state. The aspectual particle are always place after the verb, and are not usually left out. Examples:
kotnez ɔn I hear (always)
kotnez moc ɔn I am hearing
kotnez ŋu ɔn I heard
The temporal particles are:
| present | |
| past | |
| future |
Temporal particles are similar to temporal adverbs, and sometimes they are regarded as such. However, they are somehow tied to the verb, as part of the verb cluster. They tend to be placed in the clause position for time referements.
These forms are not always expressed, only if deemed necessary for the temporal identification of the clause. In a common clause, only the aspect is expressed. The temporal referement is substantially indefinite and they are not expressed if a more definite temporal referement is already present in the clause.
kotnez moc ɔn sā́ I will be hearing
kotnez bo ɔn re I've heard just a bit ago
Two additional particles can be placed after the verb, tī́, which conveys a meaning of command, being thus an imperative particle, and nī́, which conveys a meaning of negative command or prohibition, being thus a prohibitive particle.
| imperative | |
| prohibitive |
These particles are mandatorily used when orders and prohibitions are to be conveyed. When used, personal pronouns, aspectual particles, and temporal particles are usually not required, but they can be optionally used. Both particles are placed before the verb.
tī́ gocaʔ go!
tī́ gocaʔ ŋu go! (up to destination)
tī́ gocaʔ eš mu tī́ konpɑ̄́drɛ̄́ ucmi you go, but he stay!
