Syntactic and morphological patterns of the Georgian verb

Three different syntactic patterns are attested in Georgian:
1. Syntactic pattern A (the subject is always in the nominative, the object is in the dative) (Direct verbs, Class II) Click here for the table
2. Syntactic pattern B (the subject and the object change their case forms depending on the tense form) (Direct verbs, Class I and Class III) Click here for the table
3. Syntactic pattern C (the subject is always in the dative, the object is in the nominative) (Inversive verbs,  they are often Class IV verbs, but Class II and some Class I verbs can also behave as inversive verbs). Click here for the table

Morphological patterns of Georgian verb
All these rules concern the syntax of the Georgian verb: they explain how subjects and objects are governed by a verb-predicate.

Another question is how verbs change form in different tenses. The conjugation and syntactic types of verbs are summarised here:

Types of conjugation

There are four verb classes in Georgian. Within these four classes, several types of conjugation maybe identified.
The table below shows these types. Only the forms of the present tense and future tense are presented in this table. The future tense forms are presented in brackets.
Direct verbs may have their indirect, or inverisve counterparts. They have the similar morphology, but different syntactic structure. For example, the verbs elap'arak'eba and ezareba have the analogous morphological structure and belong to the Class II, but they differ in the syntactic structure: elap'arak'eba is a direct verb (bavshv-i elap'arak'eba), while ezareba is an indirect, or inversive verb (bavshv-s ezareba).
As the table shows, not all the morphological types may have both direct (A or B) and indirect (C) syntactic structure.

Only the forms of the present tense and future tens are presented. The future tense forms are presented in brackets.

 

Direct verbs
  

Inversive verbs

Morphologically:
Synt.
Morphologically:
 Synt.
VERB CLASS I
akeTeb-s (ga-akeTebs)
ak'eteb-s (a-k'eteb-s)
He is doing smth. (He will do smth.)
 B
  maxvelebs (da-maxvelebs)
maxvelebs (da-maxvelebs)
I have a cough		 C
VERB CLASS II  
 v-Tb-eb-i (ga-v-Tbebi)
v-tb-eb-i (ga-v- tbeb-i)
I am becoming warm (I will become warm)

Tb-eb-a (ga-Tbeba)
tb-eb-a (ga-tbeb-a)
He is becoming warm (He will become warm)		 A
 
 mezareba (damezareba)
mezareba  (damezareba)
I am lazy (to do smth) (I will be lazy to do smth)

ezareba
ezareba
He is lazy (to do smth)

 C
VERB CLASS III  
laparakobs (ilaparakebs)
lap'arak'obs (ilap'arak'ebs)
He is talking (He will talk)

Rrialebs
ghrialebs
He is roaring
 		B
  ---------
 
 
C
VERB CLASS III
(subgroup with the suffix -i)
 
 icinis (icinebs)
icin-i-s (icinebs)
he is laughing (He will laugh)

 
 ----
VERB CLASS III
(subgroup with auxiliary verb)
  

wux-s (i-wux-eb-s)
c'ux-s (i-c'ux-eb-s)
He is worried (He will be worried)

 B
 
 --
VERB CLASS IV
(subgroup that "borrows" suffixal passives)
  
 Can-s (gamo-Cn-d-eb-a)
chan-s  (gamo-chn-d-eb-a)
He is visible (He will be visible)
 A
 
 mikvirs (ga-m-ikvirdeba)
mik'virs (ga-m-ik'vir-d-eba)
I am being surprised (I will become surprised)
 C
VERB CLASS IV
(subgroup takes the 3rd person marker -s and "borrows" prefixal passives)
  
 vdgavar (vidgebi)
vdgavar (vidgebi)
I am standing (I will be standing)

dga-s (idgeba)
dgas (idgeba)
he is standing (He will be standing)

midgas
midgas
He is standing for me  		 A

 
 miyvars (meyvareba)
miq'vars (meq'vareba)
I love (I will love)


 C
VERB CLASS IV
(subgroup takes the 3rd person ending -i-a and "borrows" prefixal passives)

afenia (efineba)
apenia (epineba)
It is spread on smth. (It will be spread on smth.)		 A
  

mqvia (merqmeva) merqva
mkvia (merkmeva)
My name is (My name will be)

mimaCnia - miviCnev - mimaCnda


mgonia megoneba -megona


mrcxvenia (Semrcxveba) -oda
mwyuria
mSia

meSinia - SemeSindeba - meSinoda
VERB CLASS IV
(subgroup takes the 3rd person ending -a and "borrows" prefixal passives)
 		 
 cxela (ecxeleba)
cxela (ecxeleba)
It is hot (It will be hot) (Speaking of weather)		 A
  

mcxela (mecxeleba/damcxeba)
mcxela (mecxeleba/damcxeba)
I am hot/It is hot to me (I will be hot/It will be hot to me)

minda (mendomeba/momindeba)
minda (mendomeba/momindeba)
I want [I will want]

mciva - mecieba -mcioda

 

 
Below follows more detailed information regarding conjugation (you can also see Tables of Conjugation):


 Class I
 Class II
Preverb in the present
is not presented is not presented


xat-av-s
xat'-av-s (he paints)		 Tb-eb-a
tbeba (he warms himself, he is becoming warm)
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present
-s 
-s		 -eb-a 
-eb-a


xat-av-s
xat'-av-s (he paints)		 Tb-eb-a
tb-eb-a (he warms himself, he is becoming warm)
Form of the future
Preverb+Present Preverb+Present


da-xat-av-s
da-xat'-av-s (he will paint)		 ga-Tbeba
ga-tbeba (he will warm himself, he will become warm)
Augment (Suffix producing a stem of the imperfect)
-d -d -od -od


xat-av-d-a 
xat'-av-d-a (he was painting)		 Tbeb-od-a
tbeb-od-a (he was warming himself, he was becoming warm)
Form of the third series
Inversion occurs. The vowel prefix - object version marker by its origin - appears: No inversion, auxiliary verb occurs in the first and the second subject persons, the subject participle is used as a stem (m-Tb-ar- m-tb-ar-)


da-m-i-xatia da-m-ixat'ia (Apparently, I have painted) 
(cf. Present: v-xatavv-xat'av)
da-g-i-xatia da-g-i-xat'ia 
da-u-xatia da-u-xat'ia		 ga-v-mTbar-var ga-v-mtbar-var (Apparently, I have warmed myself) 
 (cf. v-Tbebi  v-tbebi)


Class III and its subgroups
 
Subgroup able take a preverb in the present tense
Subgroup ending in the -i
Preverb in the present No preverb Preverbs are allowed with the verbs of motion but the preverbs express only direction of motion and they do not form the future tense. No preverb

cxovrobs cxovrobs (he lives)

h-patronobs h-p'at'ronobs
(he takes care of somth)
frin-av-s/mi-frin-av-s
prin-av-s /mi-prin-av-s (he flies)

curavs /da-curavs 
curavs /da-curavs (he swims)

(da-)cunculebs
(da-)cunculebs

 mRer-i-s mgher-i-s

icin-i-s
icin-i-s
(new tendency - auxiliary verb in the first and the second subject persons)




The first subject person marker  No auxiliary verb No auxiliary verb No auxiliary verb
(but it is allowed in oral speech)

v-cxovrob
v-cxovrob (I live)		 v-frin-av v-mRer-i-//
v-mRer-i-var
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present -s -s -s -s -s -s

cxovrobs cxovrobs (he lives) frinav-s /mifrinav-s
prinav-s /miprinav-s		 mReri-s mgheri-s
(he is singing)

icini-s
icini-s
(he is laughing)




The third subject person marker (//ending) in the plural  in the present -en
-en		 -en
-en		 -an
-an

cxovr-ob-en frinav-en mReri-an
Form of the future Vowel prefix i-+Present(/+-eb/-eb-s) Vowel prefix i-+Present(/+-eb/-eb-s) Vowel prefix i-+Present(/+-eb/-eb-s)

i-cxovr-eb-s
i-cxovr-eb-s

u-+Present(/+eb-s)
upatronebs
u-p'at'ron-eb-s

 i-fren-s i-pren-s
i-cur-eb-s i-cur-eb-s
i-cuncul-eb-s i-cuncul-eb-s		 i-mRereb-s i-mgher-eb-s
i-cin-eb-s i-cin-eb-s




(Augment) Suffix producing the stem of imperfect -d -d -d -d -od -od in the present group/-d-d  in the future group



cxovrobd-a cxovrob-d-a
cur-av-d-a cur-av-d-a
bajbajeb-d-a bajbajeb-d-a
mReris - mRer-od-a
mgheris - mgher-od-a
imRerebs - imRereb-d-a
imgherebs - imghereb-d-a




Form of the third series Inversion Inversion Inversion

m-ipatronia m-ip'at'ronia mifrenia
miprenia		 mimReria
mimgheria

 ---
Class III - Exception - ending in an auxiliary verb
Class IV (-d-eb-)
Preverb in the present
is not presented
is not presented


wuxs
c'uxs (he is worried)
Can-s
chan-s (heis visible)
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present

-s
-s
-s 
-s
The first and second subject person - auxiliary verbs
v-wux-var, wux-xar
v-c'ux-var, c'ux-xar (I am worried, you are worried)
v-Can-var, Can-xar
v-chan-var, chan-xar (I am visible, you are visible)
Form of the future
vowel prefix+Root+-eb/-eb-s
Preverb+Present+d-eb-i/-d-eb-a


i-wux-eb-s
i-c'ux-eb-s (he will be worried)
gamo-Cn-d-eba
gamo-chn-d-eba (he will be visible)
Augment (Suffix producing a stem of the imperfect)
-d -d
-d -d


wux-d-a
c'ux-d-a (he was  worried)
Can-d-a 
chan-d-a (he was visible)
Form of the third series
Inversion
No Inversion 


m-i-wux-ia
m-i-c'ux-ia (Apparently, I have been worried)
gamo-v-Cenil-var gamo-v-chenil-var (Apparently, I have been visible)

---


---

.
Class IV (direct) (vowel prefix)
Preverb in the present
is not presented
.
dga-s
dga-s
He is standing
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present

-s 
-s
The first and second subject person - auxiliary verbs
v-dga-var
v-dga-var
I am standing
Form of the future
vowel prefix+Root+-eb-i/eb-a
.
v-i-dg-eb-i
v-i-dg-eb-i (I will be standing)
The aorist fulfills the functions both of the imperfect and the aorist
vowel prefix+Root+-i

.
v-i-deq-i
v-i-dek-i (I was standing; I stood)
Form of the third series
No inversion, auxiliary verb occurs in the first and the second subject persons, the subject participle is used as a stem.
.
v-mdgar-var v-mdgar-var (Apparently, I have been standing) 

---

.
Class IV, an inversive verb  
Preverb in the present
is not presented
is not presented
.
uyvar-s mas is
uq'var-s mas is
(He loves her)
m-i-yvar-s
miq'var-s (I love him)
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present

-s
-s
-s 
-s
The first and second subject person - auxiliary verbs
v-uyvar-var mas me v-uq'var-var mas me  (He loves me)
uyvar-xar mas Sen uq'var-xar mas shen (He loves you)
uyvar-s mas is v-uq'var-s mas is  (He loves her)
m-i-yvar-xar
miq'var-xar (I love you)
Form of the future
vowel prefix+Root+-ebi/-eba
vowel prefix+Root+-ebi/-eba
.
v-e-yvar-ebi v-eq'var-ebi (he will love me)
e-yvar-ebi eq'var-ebi (he will love you)
e-yvar-eba eq'var-eba (he will love her)
m-e-yvar-eba me is
m-eq'var-eba (I will love him)
g-e-yvar-eba Sen is
g-eq'var-eba (you will love him)
e-yvar-eba mas is
eq'var-eba (She will love him)
Suffix producing a stem of the imperfect
-d -d
-d -d
.
uyvar-d-a mas is
uq'var-d-a (he loved her)
m-i-yvar-d-a
miq'var-d-a (I loved him)
Form of the third series
No inversion, auxiliary verb occurs in the first and the second subject persons, the subject participle is used as a stem (m-Tb-ar- m-tb-ar-)
No inversion
.
v-yvareb-i-var v-q'vqr-eb-i-var (Apparently, that he loves me)  

m-yvareb-ia m-q'vqr-eb-ia (Apparently, I love him)  

-----

.
 Class IV, a subgroup ending in the suffix -i-a (direct verbs)
 
Class IV, a subgroup ending in the suffix -i-a (inversive pattern)
Preverb in the present No preverb No preverb
.
 a-b-ia
a-b-ia (it is tied)		 hqv-ia
h-kvia (His name is)



The first subject person marker  Auxiliary verb
.
 v-a-b-i-var
v-a-b-i-var (I am tied)

abi-xar
ab-i-xar

 m-qvia
m-kvia (My name is)

h-qvia mas
h-kvia mas (His name is)
The third subject person marker in the singular (//ending) in the present -i-a -i-a -ia
-ia
.
 a-b-ia
a-b-ia (it is tied)		  hqv-ia
h-kvia (His name is)



The third subject person marker (//ending) in the plural  in the present -a-n
-a-n		 -T
-t
.
 a-b-i-a-n
a-b-ia-n (They are tied)

h-qvia-T maT
h-kvia-t mat (Their name is)
Form of the future Vowel prefix i-+Root of the masdar++eb-i/-eb-a "borrowed forms" from the dynamic passive:
.
 e-bm-eb-a
i-bm-eb-a (It will be tied)
 m-erqm-ev-a m-erkm-ev-a
 (My name will be)



The aorist fulfills the functions both of the imperfect and the aorist Vowel prefix-Root-i/-a Vowel prefix-Root-i/-a

e-b-a m-erqv-a
Form of the third series No inversion
auxiliary verb occurs in the first and the second subject persons, the object past participle is used as a stem (bm-ul- bm-ul-)
 No inversion
 

v-bm-ul-var
v-bm-ul-var (Apparently, I have been tied) 		m-rqmev-ia
m-rkmev-ia (Apparently, my name has been)


.
Class IV, subgroup ending in the suffix -a (direct pattern)
 
Preverb in the present
is not presented
.
cxela
cxela
It's hot (speaking of weather)
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present

-a 
-a
.
 
Form of the future
vowel prefix+Root+-ebi/-eba
.
ecxeleba ecxeleba (I will be hot)
Suffix producing a stem of the imperfect
-od -od
.
cxel-od-a
cxel-od-a (It was hot)
Form of the third series
Metephrastic forms
.
sixce yofila
sicxe q'opila (Apparently, it is hot) 

-----

.
Class IV, subgroup ending in -a (inversive pattern)
 

Class IV, subgroup ending in -a (inversive pattern)
 
Preverb in the present
is not presented
is not presented
.
mtkiva me is
m-t'k'iva
(I have a pain)
mcxela me
m-cxela
(I am hot. it is hot to me)
The third subject person marker (//ending) in the singular  in the present

-a 
-a
-a 
-a
.
m-tkiva me is m-t'k'iva (I have a pain)
g-tkiva Sen is g-t'k'iva (You have a pain)
s-tkiva mas is s-t'k'iva (He has a pain)
mcxela
m-cxela
(I am hot. it is hot to me)
Form of the future
vowel prefix+Root+-ebi/-eba
Preverb+Present
.
m-e-tki-eb-a me is m-e-t'k'i-eb-a (I will have a pain)
g-e-tki-eb-a Sen is g-e-t'k'i-eb-a (You will have a pain)
e-tki-eb-a mas is e-t'k'i-eb-a (He will have a pain)
mecxeleba // da-m-cxeba da-m-cxeba
(I will be hot. it will be hot to me)
ecxeleba // da-s-cxeba da-s-cxeba
(He will be hot. it will be hot to him)
Suffix producing a stem of the imperfect
-od -od
-od -od
.
m-tki-od-a
m-t'k'i-od-a (I had a pain)
mcxeloda
m-cxel-od-a
(I was hot. it was hot to me)
Form of the third series
No inversion
No inversion
.
m-tkiebia m-t'k'iebia (Apparently, I had a pain) 

da-m-cxom-ia da-m-cxom-ia (Apparently, I have been hot) 
 

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