A Grammatical sketch of the Siezan language
III. Nominal morphosyntax < > V. Derivational processes
IV. Verbal morphosyntax
Verbs have finite forms that agree in person and number with their subjects and are marked for tense, mood and aspect, and have simple and compound forms. They also have non-finite forms that lack some of the previous inflectional categories. They are classified into weak, strong and irregular verbs.
Finite, simple forms
The system of simple forms is divided into three subsystems, based on stem morphology.
Present system: indicative present and imperfect, subjunctive present, imperative present.
The present system
The following endings are used:
Perfective system: indicative perfective and subjunctive imperfect.
Future system: indicative future and conditional.
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||||||
Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | ||
Singular | 1 | -o | -ea | -a | |||||
2 | -as | -es | -eas | -as | -a | -e | |||
3 | -a | -e | -ea | -a | |||||
Plural | 1 | -om | -iam | -om | |||||
2 | -és | -íes | -és | ||||||
3 | -ont | -eont | -ont |
Examples with the verbs amar (to love, weak) and cozir (to run, strong):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||||||
Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | ||
Singular | 1 | amo | cozo | amea | cozea | ama | coza | ||
2 | amas | cozes | ameas | cozeas | amas | cozas | ama | coze | |
3 | ama | coze | amea | cozea | ama | coza | |||
Plural | 1 | amom | cozom | amiam | coziam | amom | cozom | amom | cozom |
2 | amés | cozés | amíes | cozíes | amés | cozés | amés | cozés | |
3 | amont | cozont | ameont | cozeont | amont | cozont |
When a singular imperative is followed by a clitic starting with a vowel, the ending is ellided:
Prende. (Take.) > Prend'ên. (Take one/some.)
An exception to this rule are a few verbs with a monosyllabic form in the singular imperative:
Fa. (Do.) > Fa-ên (Make one/some.)
Many strong verbs take a special augment -iss- in all forms of the present system, which is absent in other forms. Example with the verb finir (to end):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | finisso | finissea | finissa | |
2 | finisses | finisseas | finissas | finisse | |
3 | finisse | finissea | finissa | ||
Plural | 1 | finissom | finissiam | finissom | |
2 | finissés | finissíes | finissés | ||
3 | finissont | finisseont | finissont |
Some verbs can see an e transform into ie and an o transform into ue on forms stressed on the stem.
Example for e > ie, with the verb quezir (to search):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | quiezo | quezea | quieza | |
2 | quiezes | quezeas | quiezas | quieze | |
3 | quieze | quezea | quieza | ||
Plural | 1 | quezom | queziam | quezom | |
2 | quezés | quezíes | quezés | ||
3 | quiezont | quezeont | quiezont |
Example for o > ue, with the verb trovar (to find):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | truevo | trovea | trueva | |
2 | truevas | troveas | truevas | trueva | |
3 | trueva | trovea | trueva | ||
Plural | 1 | trovom | troviam | trovom | |
2 | trovés | trovíes | trovés | ||
3 | truevont | troveont | truevont |
On forms stressed on the stem, a few weak verbs gain an additional syllable, here illustrated with the verb manjar (to eat):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | manjúo | mangea | manjúa | |
2 | manjúas | mangeas | manjúas | manjúa | |
3 | manjúa | mangea | manjúa | ||
Plural | 1 | manjom | mangiam | manjom | |
2 | mangés | mangíes | mangés | ||
3 | manjúont | mangeont | manjúont |
A number of strong verbs with stems ending in -n or -l undergo palatalization of their final consonant in the first person singular of the indicative present, in the entire subjunctive present, and sometimes in the second person singular of the imperative present as well. This is often accompanied by vocalic transformations as well. Example with the verbs venir (to come) and falir (to fail):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||||||
Singular | 1 | vinho | felho | venea | falea | vinha | felha | ||
2 | vienes | fales | veneas | faleas | vinhas | felhas | viene | felhe | |
3 | viene | fale | venea | falea | vinha | felha | |||
Plural | 1 | venom | falom | veniam | faliam | vinhom | felhom | venom | falom |
2 | venés | falés | veníes | falíes | vinhés | felhés | venés | falés | |
3 | vienont | falont | veneont | faleont | vinhont | felhont |
Asides from the above semi-regular patterns, the present systems is also where irregular verbs manifest most of their irregular behavior, manifesting as irregular endings, contractions, suppletion and other unpredictable stem modifications.
Estre (to be, to exist):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | sui | estea | sea | |
2 | ês | esteas | seas | sea | |
3 | est | estea | sea | ||
Plural | 1 | somos | estiam | seyom | |
2 | estes | estíes | seyés | ||
3 | sont | esteont | seont |
Avar (to have):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | ê | avea | eya | |
2 | âs | aveas | eyas | eya | |
3 | â | avea | eya | ||
Plural | 1 | avom | aviam | eyom | |
2 | avés | avíes | eyés | ||
3 | ont | aveont | eyont |
Alar (to go):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | vê | alea | elha | |
2 | vas | aleas | elhas | va | |
3 | va | alea | elha | ||
Plural | 1 | alom | aliam | elhom | alom |
2 | alés | alíes | elhés | alés | |
3 | vont | aleont | elhont |
Fezir (to do, to make):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | fe | fezea | feça | |
2 | fas | fezeas | feças | fa | |
3 | fa | fezea | feça | ||
Plural | 1 | femos | feziam | feçom | femos |
2 | fetes | fezíes | feçés | fetes | |
3 | font | fezeont | feçont |
Povir (can, to be able to, this verb has no imperative):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
||
Singular | 1 | puisso | povea | puissa |
2 | pueves | poveas | puissas | |
3 | pueve | povea | puissa | |
Plural | 1 | povom | poviam | puissom |
2 | povés | povíes | puissés | |
3 | puevont | poveont | puissont |
Savir (to know):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | sê | savea | secha | |
2 | sas | saveas | sechas | secha | |
3 | sâ | savea | secha | ||
Plural | 1 | savom | saviam | sechom | |
2 | savés | savíes | sechés | ||
3 | savont | saveont | sechont |
Dizir (to say):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | dizo | dizea | diza | |
2 | dizes | dizeas | dizas | dize | |
3 | dize | dizea | diza | ||
Plural | 1 | dimos | diziam | dimos | |
2 | dites | dizíes | dites | ||
3 | dizont | dizeont | dizont |
Ovir (to listen):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | oyo | ovea | oya | |
2 | oves | oveas | oyas | ove | |
3 | ove | ovea | oya | ||
Plural | 1 | ovom | oviam | oyom | ovom |
2 | ovés | ovíes | oyés | ovés | |
3 | ovont | oveont | oyont |
Vere (to see):
Indicative present |
Indicative imperfect |
Subjunctive present |
Imperative present |
||
Singular | 1 | veyo | vea | veya | |
2 | ves | veas | veyas | veya | |
3 | ve | vea | veya | ||
Plural | 1 | veom | viam | veyom | veom |
2 | vés | víes | veyés | vés | |
3 | veont | veyont |
The perfective system
The perfective system most often uses the same stems as the present system, but occasionally use modified ones, thus warranting its analysis as a distinct group of tenses.
The following endings are used, with strong verbs being divided into two possible sets of endings, i-stem and u-stem:
Indicative perfective |
Subjunctive imperfect |
||||||
Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | ||||
i-stem | u-stem | i-stem | u-stem | ||||
Singular | 1 | -é | -í | -úi | -asse | -isse | -usse |
2 | -ás | -ís | -ús | -asses | -isses | -usses | |
3 | -á | -í | -ú | -asse | -isse | -usse | |
Plural | 1 | -amos | -imos | -umos | -assiam | -issiam | -ussiam |
2 | -astes | -istes | -ustes | -assíes | -issíes | -ussíes | |
3 | -aront | -iront | -uront | -assont | -issont | -ussont |
Examples with verbs amar (to love, weak), partir (to leave, strong i-stem) and vudre (to want, strong u-stem):
Indicative perfective |
Subjunctive imperfect |
||||||
Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | ||||
i-stem | u-stem | i-stem | u-stem | ||||
Singular | 1 | amé | partí | volúi | amasse | partisse | volusse |
2 | amás | partís | volús | amasses | partisses | volusses | |
3 | amá | partí | volú | amasse | partisse | volusse | |
Plural | 1 | amamos | partimos | volumos | amassiam | partissiam | volussiam |
2 | amastes | partistes | volustes | amassíes | partissíes | volussíes | |
3 | amaront | partiront | voluront | amassont | partissont | volussont |
While all verbs have regular endings in the perfective system, many strong and irregular verbs have altered stems. The alteration can be a contraction of the stem (the most frequent), a modification of the last consonant or consonants of the stem, a stem vowel change, and rarely, a stem completely unrelated to the main stem of the verb.
Examples with the verbs fezir (to do, to make), devre (must, to have to), nestre (to be born), dizir (to say), estre (to be) and avar (to have) (only perfective forms are shown here):
Singular | 1 | fí | dúi | nasquí | dezí | fúi | úi |
2 | fís | dús | nasquís | dezís | fús | ús | |
3 | fí | dú | nasquí | dezí | fú | ú | |
Plural | 1 | fimos | dumos | nasquimos | dezimos | fumos | umos |
2 | fistes | dustes | nasquistes | dezistes | fustes | ustes | |
3 | firont | duront | nasquiront | deziront | furont | uront |
The future system
The future system use the an extended stem, created by adding a suffix to the present stem. For weak verbs, this suffix is -ar. For strong verbs and irregular verbs, the suffix is -ir or -r.
Then an inflectional ending is added, with no difference for weak, strong or irregular verbs:
Indicative future |
Indicative conditional |
||
Singular | 1 | -é | -ea |
2 | -ás | -eas | |
3 | -á | -ea | |
Plural | 1 | -om | -iam |
2 | -és | -íes | |
3 | -ónt | -eont |
Examples with the verbs chantar (to sing, weak), partir (to come, strong) and devre (must, to have to, strong):
Indicative future |
Indicative conditional |
||||||
Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | ||||
Singular | 1 | chantaré | partiré | devré | chantarea | partirea | devrea |
2 | chantarás | partirás | devrás | chantareas | partireas | devreas | |
3 | chantará | partirá | devrá | chantarea | partirea | devrea | |
Plural | 1 | chantarom | partirom | devrom | chantariam | partiriam | devriam |
2 | chantarés | partirés | devrés | chantaríes | partiríes | devríes | |
3 | chantarónt | partirónt | devrónt | chantareont | partireont | devreont |
Strong and irregular verbs that take -r can see significant alteration of their stem. Some examples with quezir (to search), venir (to come), falir (to fail),vudre (to want, stem vol-) and avar (to have) (only the future is shown in those examples):
Singular | 1 | queré | viendré | fodré | vudré | oré |
2 | querás | viendrás | fodrás | vudrás | orás | |
3 | querá | viendrá | fodrá | vudrá | orá | |
Plural | 1 | querom | viendrom | fodrom | vudrom | orom |
2 | querés | viendrés | fodrés | vudrés | orés | |
3 | querónt | viendrónt | fodrónt | vudrónt | orónt |
Two verbs, estre (to be) and alar (to go) have future-conditional stems completely unrelated to their present tense stem:
Singular | 1 | seré | iré |
2 | serás | irás | |
3 | será | irá | |
Plural | 1 | serom | irom |
2 | serés | irés | |
3 | serónt | irónt |
Non-finite forms
Three non finite forms are distinguished: an infinitive, a past participle and a gerund.
The infinitive of weak verbs is always in -ar. The infinitive of strong verbs is in -ir or -re. Irregular verbs take any of the three infinitives.
The infinitive is suffixed to the present stem of the verbs (without an eventual augment). Verbs in -re often undergo consonant stem changes similar to that of future-conditional stem.
A few irregular verbs have a second, contracted infinitive used only when the infinitive receives one or several postposed pronouns:
estre > ser-lo
fezir > fer-lo
dizir > dir-lo
vere > ver-lo
In a more regular fashion, infinitives in -re lose their final vowel when followed by a pronoun starting with a vowel:
vudre (to want) > vudr'ên (to want one/some, to be determined)
Past participles can vary in gender and number, and come in different categories:
Type a | Type i | Type u | Type t | Type s | ||
Singular | Masculine | -ó | -ío | -úo | -to | -so |
Feminine | -á | -ía | -úa | -ta | -sa | |
Plural | Masculine | -ós | -íos | -úos | -tos | -sos |
Feminine | -ás | -ías | -úas | -tas | -sas |
Weak verb always have type a participles. Strong and irregular verbs can have any of the five types, though type i and type u are the most common.
Past participle endings are generally added to the present stem (with the eventual -iss augment absent), but significant modifications of the stem can occure: covrir (to cover) > coverto; prendre (to take) > priso.
Gerunds take the suffix -ando and do not decline. Gerunds are normally formed on the unstressed form of the present stem (including a possible -iss augment), but for verbs that display a modified subjunctive present stem, the gerund generally hesitates between a plain stem and a modified stem, depending on the verb, thus povir (to be able to) > povando but savir (to know) > sechando.
The irregular verb estre (to be) has a past participle estó and a gerund estando.
Analytic forms
Perfect series
The tenses of the perfect seris are formed with an auxiliary verb and a past participle. By default, the auxiliary verb is generally avar with transitive verbs, and estre with intransitive verbs. Reflexive verbs take estre as an auxiliary.
The past participle generally agrees in gender and number with the subject when estre is used; if there's no explicit subject (such as with an infinitive perfect), the participle is by default in the masculine singular. When avar is used, the participle agrees in gender and number with the direct object if that direct object is expressed by a personal pronoun adposed to avar. Otherwise the participle is undeclinable, defaulting to the masculine singular.
Nine perfect tenses are found, depending on the tense used for the auxiliary:
Infinitive perfect (auxiliary in the infinitive): avar chantó (to have sung).
Perfect (auxiliary in the present): as chantó (you have sung).
Pluperfect (auxiliary in the imperfect): aveas chantó (you had sung).
Subjunctive perfect (auxiliary in the subjunctive present): eyas chantó
Imperative perfect (auxiliary in the imperative): eya chantó (be done singing).
Perfective pluperfect (auxiliary in the perfective): ús chantó (you had sung).
Subjunctive plurperfect (auxiliary in the subjunctive imperfect): usses chantó.
Future perfect (auxiliary in the future): avrás chantó (you will have sung).
Conditional perfect (auxiliary in the conditional): avreas chantó (you would have sung).
III. Nominal morphosyntax < > V. Derivational processes