NewLang/Verbs

From Allocosm

Finite Verbs

Verb Phrase

VERB PHRASE = (CONVERB PHRASE)* MAINVERB (ADVERBS)*

Verb Template

VERB+<ASPECT>+TRIGGER

Aspect Infixes

Verbs have lexical aspect, that is, they inherently have a sense of aspect. Can be:

  • Telic - the event has a definite endpoint
  • Atelic - the event has no definite endpoint (it may end, but an endpoint isn't inherent in the definition). Atelic includes states (no change over time) and activities (no change over time).

Grammatical aspect is indicated by an infix that is inserted before the stressed syllable (stress is unaffected).

Infix Telic Atelic
-Ø- Punctual Continuous
-ema- Continuitive (CT) Frequentive (FREQ)
-lha- Iterative (ITER) Progressive (PROG)
-u- Habitual (HAB)
-toa Gnomic (GNO)

Trigger Suffixes

In the table below E stands for the agreeing vowel from target noun class.
Target Case Singular Plural Paucal
Ergative -is -isE -uEn
Accusative -ts -dzE -dzuEn
Instrumental -lza -lzaE -lzuEn
Benefactive -a -E -rEn
Locative -zo -zE -zuEn
Commitiative -nua -nuE -nuEn

Adverbs

Adverbs are a closed class of words that can appear after the verb. See NewLang/Adverbs.

Non-Finite Verbs

Converbs

Converbs are formed via reduplication of the stressed vowel to the front of the verb, e.g. gura -> ugura. Converbs can also take aspect infixes, but not trigger suffixes.


Participles

Action Nominals