The Present Stem
Todo
- Add mai-type verbs
Ablaut in Present Stems
Present stem is formed from a verb stem with either a zero- or lengthened-grade ablaut:
- zero-grade: causative, derivative, formative (b) verbs;
- lengthened-grade: basic verbs, a-verbs, u-verbs, and formative (a) verbs.
Exception
Long verbs make their present tense stem with short-grade ablaut, see below.
Reminder
Derivative and causative conjugations have only zero-grade stem (→@@).
Long conjugations have no lengthened-grade stem.
Thematic and Athematic Presents
Forms built on the present stem follow either a thematic or an athematic conjugation.
- thematic conjugation: derivative and causative verbs.
- athematic conjugation: all other verbs.
Late Tarquesta
Thematic conjugation eventually spread into the rest of secondary verbs, except u-verbs: fára
> fárea
, talata
> taltea
, síria
> sírea
, istya
> istea
.
Tense Endings
Tense endings are added after a theme vowel in thematic conjugations, or directly to stem in athematic conjugations.
- present tense endings:
-ya
in derivative, causative verbs, and formative verbs;-a
in other verbs; - imperfect tense ending:
-ane
in all conjugations;
Overview of Regular Forms
Examples (lengthened-grade ablaut stems and thematic vowels are highlighted):
verb stem | present tense stem | imperfect tense stem | |
---|---|---|---|
basic | cen- | cén-a | cén-ane |
vocalic u | lir-u- | lír-u-a | lír-u-ane > líruáne |
long | talat- | talat-a | talat-ane > talatáne |
formative (a) | sir-y- | sír-y-ya > síria | sír-y-ane > síriáne |
formative (b) | is-t- | ís-t-ya > istya | ís-t-ane > istane |
vocalic a | far-a- | fár-a | fár-ane |
derivative | tengu-a- | tengu-a-ya > tenguea | tengu-a-ane > tenguáne |
causative (a) | tul-ya- | tul-y-a-ya > tulyea | tul-y-a-ane > tulyáne |
causative (b) | tul-ta- | tul-t-a-ya > tultea | tul-t-a-ane > tultáne |
Particular Formations
Verbs Defective in Present
Verbs ending in -e(ng)a
are defective and use their aorist tense form for present: te(ng)a-
> tea
shows, is showing.