Hrmitt reference grammar

3.3. Verbs

Almost all verbs are derived from nouns and adjectives with the verbalising suffixes -mi and -ni. Verbs derived with -mi coincide with the instrumental forms of the corresponding nouns (see section 3.1.4.2).

Recent analysis seems to suggest that the actual verbs are the suffixes themselves, with -mi being the verb “to use” or the default action of the associated noun, and -ni being the verb “to become”. While promising, such an analysis isn't without problems; so for the purposes of this grammar, we have chosen to stay with the more traditional analysis that -mi and -ni are verbalising suffixes that derive verbs from nouns and adjectives.

3.3.1. Verbs in -mi

A large number of verbs is constructed from nouns by using the suffix -mi. The pronominal suffix attached to the noun doubles as person marking on the resulting verb.

The prononimal suffix retains its possessive meaning even in verbal form; when the subject of a verb is not coreferent with the pronominal suffix of the base noun, it no longer serves as the person marking of the verb, but modifies only the base noun. See section 4.1.2.3 for more details.

The meaning of a verbalized noun roughly corresponds with the “default action” of a particular noun, or to perform some action using the noun referent. For example:

This base meaning is subject to modification by other noun phrases in a clause, however. This is discussed in more detail in section 4.1.

3.3.2. Verbs in -ni

Another class of verbs is constructed with the verbalising suffix -ni, applied both to nouns and adjectives. Verbs in this class generally have the meaning of “to become”.

Typical examples include:

Unlike the -mi verbs, the pronominal suffix in a -ni verb is generally always coreferent with the subject.

3.3.3. Subject Incorporation

An explicit possessive (section 3.1.1.2) on the base noun of the verb, when present, serves as an incorporated subject:

Note, however, that when a separate subject is present in the clause, the explicit possessive on the base noun no longer serves as the subject, but applies only to the base noun. See section 4.1.2.3 for more details.

3.3.4. Verbs of Being and Becoming

There's a special class of -mi verbs that express belonging to a particular group of people. These are generally derived from nouns that refer to people, as an extension of the meaning “to act like” to “to be”. It often also carries the meaning of “to speak the language of”.

The cognate -ni forms of these verbs generally mean to become one among the group. It can also mean to learn their language.

3.3.5. Negation

Verbs are negated by inserting the negation affix -opf- before the verbalising suffix -mi or -ni.

The exact position of -opf- is important: immediately preceding the verbal suffix -mi or -ni, after any pronominal affixes. Some nouns also contain the phoneme sequence /opf/, and one ought not confuse it with a negation affix:

The -opf here is not a negation affix; it is part of the noun hrashopf. Note the difference in the order of morphemes in the next example with an actual negation affix:

3.3.6. Interrogative Verbs

The interrogative particle -ai, inserted before the verbalising suffix -mi or -ni, turns a verb into a question.

If the negation affix opf is present, ai follows it.

3.3.7. Verbs without Corresponding Noun Stems

A small number of attested verbs have no corresponding noun forms. Among these verbs are:

Preliminary data suggests that these verbs are actually regular -mi verbs derived from nouns, except that the nouns in question have since fallen out of use. These verbs and their postulated archaic noun stems appear to be cognate with modern-day nouns like ish, ipf, and mov.