Kuazhang Non-finite Verbs
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Infinitives and Participles
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 11 Dec 2017, 23:53.
[comments] izvverbsparticiplesinfinitives
3. Kuazhang Gender
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All verbs have a special non-finite form for forming infinitives and participles. Usually it's just the finite stem with the addition of -e (or replacement of final -ê with -a) and depalatalization, but a lot of verbs have irregular non-finite stems.Infinitives mark for tense and voice.
| Past | Present | Future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | -čêm | -iêm | -pêm |
| Passive | -tum | -hum | -pum |
One of the main uses of the infinitive is similar to the function of a gerund in other languages. They can also take modifiers, subjects, and objects like a finite verb. Since non-finite clauses can often act like a noun phrase, the infinitive declines for case (like a second declension noun, so it takes the feminine gender). Unlike a finite verb, infinitives take adjectives instead of adverbs (since they kind of act like nouns)
Iêna iêne un flôtehuv fražrên.
3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male.DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location thing-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity buy.NFINUnknown code-INFInfinitive (TAM)
non-tensed verb.PRSPresent tense (tense).PASSPassive voice (valency)
be verb-ed-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity want-INDIndicative mood (mood)
a common form of realis.PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing
He wants something to be bought for him.
Although one could just as easily use a subjunctive construction for the above example, it limits the freedom of word order (since finite clauses as a rule can't appear inside other clauses). However, sometimes it's better not to use an infinitive, since they don't mark aspect or mood.
Since infinitives can decline like nouns, it's possible to use the plural to show multiple instances of an action. This carries a different meaning than using a finite habitual.
Głečêmi lak vêrêhuz.
kill.NFINUnknown code-INFInfinitive (TAM)
non-tensed verb.PSTPast (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity 3PThird person plural (person)
neither speaker nor addressee, they/them.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument see-INDIndicative mood (mood)
a common form of realis.PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASSPassive voice (valency)
be verb-ed
They were seen killing (people).
Infinitives are never separate entries in dictionaries as nouns despite some having developed a largely different meaning as a noun. Any unpredictably different meanings of the non-finites are shown in a verb's notes.
Participles also mark for tense and voice. Participles function similarly to adjectives and by extension nouns and adverbs.
| Past | Present | Future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | -łêma | -miêma | -brêma |
| Passive | -lôza | -miôza | -blôza |
Głemiêmeh ńoh vêrên ča.
kill.NFINUnknown code-PARTUnknown code.PRSPresent tense (tense)-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient.NNeuter (gender)
neutral or neuter person-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity see-INDIndicative mood (mood)
a common form of realis.PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
I see a dying person.
Frazełême tuyrê iêma.
want.NFINUnknown code-PARTUnknown code.PSTPast (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech-ADVAdverbial
e.g. English '-ly' do-INDIndicative mood (mood)
a common form of realis.PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.FFeminine gender (gender)
feminine or female.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
She did (it) willingly.
Non-finites are used quite often, slightly reducing the amount of separate lexemes. There's no need for a separate word for death (which was lost by the time of Old Central Matlic) if an infinitive on głi kill will do. This is one of the rare examples of regularization in the Matlic languages, as opposed to the seemingly frequent irregularization. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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