Georgian verb paradigm
For non-native speakers, verb conjugation in Georgian remains a difficult subject even for those who have been studying the language for a while. This is because verbs in Georgian do not tend to conform to a "universal" conjugation system like in most European languages.
This article presupposes familiarity with Georgian grammar. In short, important factors to keep track of are the following:
- Georgian has four classes of verbs: transitive, intransitive, medial and indirect verbs. Each class has its own set of rules of conjugation for all screeves. What makes it even more difficult is that there are numerous verbs in Georgian that do not seem to conform to the conjugation of one class.
- Preverb. Although preverbs may have directional meanings, most of the time it is totally arbitrary which verb takes which preverb. In addition, there are many verbs in Georgian that have a common verb stem. Since preverbs are absent in the present screeves, these verbs are identical in the present series, and differ in the rest of the series, because different preverbs are prefixed to the verb stem. A learner of the language has no choice but to learn the preverb of each verb.
- Versions. The versioners in Georgian establish the language's polypersonalism. Although each version vowel has a specific meaning, most of the time, like preverbs, they have arbitrary meanings. Therefore, when learning a new verb, the version vowel the verb employs should also be learnt.
- Thematic suffix. Thematic suffixes are the stems that follow the root of the verb. They are used in the present and future screeves and are mostly absent in the aorist and perfective screeves. Like preverbs and versions, thematic suffixes are not only arbitrary, but they also determine the conjugation in the aorist and perfective screeves for transitive verbs. There are nine thematic suffixes in Georgian, and almost all the verbs have a specific thematic suffix. Again, when learning a new verb, the thematic suffix has to be learnt together with the other elements.
- In addition, one also has to take into account which suffixal nominal marker is to be used for each verb. This is, however, not arbitrary. The use of appropriate suffixal nominal marker depends on the thematic suffix. For each thematic suffix, there are set of rules whether the conjugation is strong or weak for the aorist series and the perfective series of screeves. These set of rules for each thematic suffix have to be mastered.
- Georgian has many irregular verbs. It is not possible to give an exact number, because there are different levels of irregularities. Some verbs have different verb roots in different screeves and, thus, are considered irregular. Some other verbs use the same verb root throughout all the screeves, but their conjugations deviate from the normal paradigm of the verb class that they belong to. In addition, some indirect verbs are also considered irregular, because they only behave like indirect verbs in the present screeves, and behave like transitive verbs in the rest of the screeves.
Class 1 (transitive verbs)
- In the present and future sub-series, the subject is in the nominative case and both the direct and indirect objects are in the dative case. The subject is indicated by the v- set marker, while the object is indicated by the m- set marker.
- In the aorist series, the subject is in the ergative case while the direct object is in the nominative case. Indirect object is in the dative case. The subject is indicated by the v- set marker, while the object is indicated by the m- set marker.
- In the perfective series, the subject is in the dative case while the direct object is in the nominative case. Indirect object is usually indicated with the post-position -tvis. The subject is indicated by the m- set marker, while the object is indicated by the v- set marker.
- In the present sub-series, the preverbs are absent, but the thematic suffixes do exist.
- In the future sub-series, the preverbs emerge, and the thematic suffixes remain.
- In the aorist series, the preverbs emerge, and the thematic suffixes are absent.
- In the perfective series, the preverbs emerge, and, if the thematic suffix is -eb, its presence depends on whether or not there is a vowel in the root of the verb. If there is a vowel, the thematic suffix remains, otherwise it is lost.
Verb root
შენ, shen; infinite form აშენება, asheneba
Present subseries
The thematic suffix -ებ, -eb is present, but without the preverb:
| Present indicative | Imperfect ¹ | Present subjunctive ² | |
| 1s | ვაშენებ, v-a-shen-eb | ვაშენებდი, v-a-shen-eb-d-i | ვაშენებდე, v-a-shen-eb-d-e |
| 2s | აშენებ, a-shen-eb | აშენებდი, a-shen-eb-d-i | აშენებდე, a-shen-eb-d-e |
| 3s | აშენებს, a-shen-eb-s | აშენებდა, a-shen-eb-d-a | აშენებდეს a-shen-eb-d-e-s |
| 1pl | ვაშენებთ, v-a-shen-eb-t | ვაშენებდით, v-a-shen-eb-d-i-t | ვაშენებდეთ, v-a-shen-eb-d-e-t |
| 2pl | აშენებთ, a-shen-eb-t | აშენებდით, a-shen-eb-d-i-t | აშენებდეთ, a-shen-eb-d-e-t |
| 3pl | აშენებენ, a-shen-eb-en | აშენებდნენ, a-shen-eb-d-nen | აშენებდნენ, a-shen-eb-d-nen |
Future subseries
The preverb a- emerges:
| Future indicative | Conditional | Future subjunctive | |
| 1s | ავაშენებ, a-v-a-shen-eb | ავაშენებდი, a-v-a-shen-eb-d-i | ავაშენებდე, a-v-a-shen-eb-d-e |
| 2s | ააშენებ, a-a-shen-eb | ააშენებდი, a-a-shen-eb-d-i | ააშენებდე, a-a-shen-eb-d-e |
| 3s | ააშენებს, a-a-shen-eb-s | ააშენება, a-a-shen-eb-d-a | ააშენებდეს, a-a-shen-eb-d-e-s |
| 1pl | ავაშენებთ, a-v-a-shen-ebt | ავაშენებდით, a-v-a-shen-eb-d-it | ავაშენებდეთ, a-v-a-shen-eb-d-et |
| 2pl | ააშენებთ, a-a-shen-ebt | ააშენებდით, a-a-shen-eb-d-it | ააშენებდეთ, a-a-shen-eb-d-et |
| 3pl | ააშენებენ, a-a-shen-eb-en | ააშენებდნენ, a-a-shen-eb-d-nen | ააშენებდნენ, a-a-shen-eb-d-nen |
Aorist series
The preverb is present; the thematic suffix is lost:
| Aorist indicative ³ | Optative | |
| 1s | a-v-a-shen-e | a-v-a-shen-o |
| 2s | a-a-shen-e | a-a-shen-o |
| 3s | a-a-shen-a | a-a-shen-o-s |
| 1pl | a-v-a-shen-e-t | a-v-a-shen-o-t |
| 2pl | a-a-shen-e-t | a-a-shen-o-t |
| 3pl | a-a-shen-es | a-a-shen-o-n |
Perfective series
The preverb is present; the thematic suffix is present. N.B. subject is marked with the m- set, and the verb form here assumes a 3rd person singular direct object:
| Perfect † | Pluperfect ‡ | Perfect subjunctive | |
| 1s | a-m-i-shen-eb-i-a | a-m-e-shen-eb-in-a | a-m-e-shen-eb-in-o-s |
| 2s | a-g-i-shen-eb-i-a | a-g-e-shen-eb-in-a | a-g-e-shen-eb-in-o-s |
| 3s | a-u-shen-eb-i-a | a-e-shen-eb-in-a | a-e-shen-eb-in-o-s |
| 1pl | a-gv-i-shen-eb-i-a | a-gv-e-shen-eb-in-a | a-gv-e-shen-eb-in-o-s |
| 2pl | a-g-i-shen-eb-i-a-t | a-g-e-shen-eb-in-a-t | a-g-e-shen-eb-in-o-t |
| 3pl | a-u-shen-eb-i-a-t | a-e-shen-eb-in-a-t | a-e-shen-eb-in-o-t |
Notes
¹ The imperfective screeve of class 1 verbs always takes the strong suffixal nominal marker -i
² The present subjunctive screeve of class 1 verbs always takes the weak suffixal nominal marker -e
³ Class 1 verbs which take the weak suffixal nominal marker in the aorist screeve, take the -o- nominal
marker in the optative screeve, and verbs which take the strong suffixal nominal marker in the aorist
screeve, take the -a- nominal marker in the optative screeve.
† The perfective screeve of class 1 verbs always uses the -i- versioner.
‡ The pluperfect and the perfect subjunctive screeves of class 1 verbs always employ the -e- versioner.
Class 2 (intransitive verbs)
- In class 2 verbs, the subject is in the nominative case for all series, using the v- set marker. Indirect objects are indicated with the m- set marker.
- The pattern of preverbs and thematic suffixes is generally the same as with class 1 verbs, except in the perfective series.
- Almost all intransitives utilise the thematic suffix -eb in formation. Additionally, intransitives may use formational affixes: resulting in a total of three types of formation pattern in intransitives:
- prefixal: i- appears immediately before the verb root
- suffixal: -d appears immediately after the verb root
- markerless: no affixes appear
Verb root
bad; infinite form dabadeba
This verb exhibits the prefixal intransitive pattern; i- is placed immediately before the verb root in all series apart from the perfective.
Present subseries
The thematic suffix -eb is present, without the preverb:
| Present indicative | Imperfect | Present subjunctive | |
| 1s | v-i-bad-eb-i | v-i-bad-eb-od-i | v-i-bad-eb-od-e |
| 2s | i-bad-eb-i | i-bad-eb-od-i | i-bad-eb-od-e |
| 3s | i-bad-eb-a | i-bad-eb-od-a | i-bad-eb-od-e-s |
| 1pl | v-i-bad-eb-i-t | v-i-bad-eb-od-i-t | v-i-bad-eb-od-e-t |
| 2pl | i-bad-eb-i-t | i-bad-eb-od-i-t | i-bad-eb-od-e-t |
| 3pl | i-bad-eb-i-an | i-bad-eb-od-nen | i-bad-eb-od-nen |
Future subseries
The preverb da- emerges:
| Future indicative | Conditional | Future subjunctive | |
| 1s | da-v-i-bad-eb-i | da-v-i-bad-eb-od-i | da-v-i-bad-eb-od-e |
| 2s | da-i-bad-eb-i | da-i-bad-eb-od-i | da-i-bad-eb-od-e |
| 3s | da-i-bad-eb-a | da-i-bad-eb-od-a | da-i-bad-eb-od-e-s |
| 1pl | da-v-i-bad-eb-i-t | da-v-i-bad-eb-od-i-t | da-v-i-bad-eb-od-e-t |
| 2pl | da-i-bad-eb-i-t | da-i-bad-eb-od-i-t | da-i-bad-eb-od-e-t |
| 3pl | da-i-bad-eb-i-an | da-i-bad-eb-od-nen | da-i-bad-eb-od-nen |
Aorist series
The preverb is present; the thematic suffix is lost:
| Aorist indicative | Optative | |
| 1s | da-v-i-bad-e | da-v-i-bad-o |
| 2s | da-i-bad-e | da-i-bad-o |
| 3s | da-i-bad-a | da-i-bad-o-s |
| 1pl | da-v-i-bad-e-t | da-v-i-bad-o-t |
| 2pl | da-i-bad-e-t | da-i-bad-o-t |
| 3pl | da-i-bad-nen | da-i-bad-o-n |
Perfective series
Formation comprises the past participle, followed by a form of the copula:
| Perfect | Pluperfect | Perfect subjunctive | |
| 1s | da-v-bad-eb-ul-v-a-r | da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i | da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o |
| 2s | da-bad-eb-ul-x-a-r | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o |
| 3s | da-bad-eb-ul-a | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-s |
| 1pl | da-v-bad-eb-ul-v-a-r-t | da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i-t | da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-t |
| 2pl | da-bad-eb-ul-x-a-r-t | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i-t | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-t |
| 3pl | da-bad-eb-ul-an | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'v-nen | da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-n |
Class 3 (medial verbs)
- These verbs have the same case marking as class 1 verbs, the difference being that they describe intransitive activities: verbs expressing movement, sound and weather are found in this category.
- Therefore, many class 3 verbs do not take a direct object; however some may, whilst others take an obligatory direct object.
- Almost all medials form the future/aorist in the same, very regular, way, outlined below.
Verb root
tamash; infinite form tamashob
Present subseries
The thematic suffix -ob is present:
| Present indicative | Imperfect | Present subjunctive | |
| 1s | v-tamash-ob | v-tamash-ob-d-i | v-tamash-ob-d-e |
| 2s | tamash-ob | tamash-ob-d-i | tamash-ob-d-e |
| 3s | tamash-ob-s | tamash-ob-d-a | tamash-ob-d-e-s |
| 1pl | v-tamash-ob-t | v-tamash-ob-d-i-t | v-tamash-ob-d-e-t |
| 2pl | tamash-ob-t | tamash-ob-d-i-t | tamash-ob-d-e-t |
| 3pl | tamash-ob-en | tamash-ob-d-nen | tamash-ob-d-nen |
Future subseries
A type of preverb i- emerges, in combination with the thematic suffix -eb which replaces -ob :
| Future indicative | Conditional | Future subjunctive | |
| 1s | v-i-tamash-eb | v-i-tamash-eb-d-i | v-i-tamash-eb-d-e |
| 2s | i-tamash-eb | i-tamash-eb-d-i | i-tamash-eb-d-e |
| 3s | i-tamash-eb-s | i-tamash-eb-d-a | i-tamash-eb-d-e-s |
| 1pl | v-i-tamash-eb-t | v-i-tamash-eb-d-i-t | v-i-tamash-eb-d-e-t |
| 2pl | i-tamash-eb-t | i-tamash-eb-d-i-t | i-tamash-eb-d-e-t |
| 3pl | i-tamash-eb-en | i-tamash-eb-d-nen | i-tamash-eb-d-nen |
Aorist series
Based on the future form with prefix, but with the loss of the thematic suffix:
| Aorist indicative | Optative | |
| 1s | v-i-tamash-e | v-i-tamash-o |
| 2s | i-tamash-e | i-tamash-o |
| 3s | i-tamash-a | i-tamash-o-s |
| 1pl | v-i-tamash-e-t | v-i-tamash-o-t |
| 2pl | i-tamash-e-t | i-tamash-o-t |
| 3pl | i-tamash-es | i-tamash-o-n |
Perfect series
There is no preverb or thematic suffix; subjects are marked in the same way as in class 1. The object is assumed to be 3rd person singular. N.B in this series, for some unknown reason, all screeves allow an optional -n- directly after the stem.
| Perfect | Pluperfect | Perfect subjunctive | |
| 1s | m-i-tamash-i-a | m-e-tamash-a | m-e-tamash-o-s |
| 2s | g-i-tamash-i-a | g-e-tamash-a | g-e-tamash--o-s |
| 3s | u-tamash-i-a | e-tamash-a | e-tamash--o-s |
| 1pl | gv-i-tamash--i-a | gv-e-tamash-a | gv-e-tamash--o-s |
| 2pl | g-i-tamash-i-a-t | g-e-tamash-a-t | g-e-tamash--o-t |
| 3pl | u-tamash-i-a-t | e-tamash-a-t | e-tamash--o-t |
Class 4 (indirect or 'inversion' verbs)
- This class of verb is known as indirect or 'inverted' as it marks the logical subject with the indirect object marker set and the direct object with the subject marker set. Nouns are declined in agreement: the logical subject is in the dative, and object in the nominative dzaghl-is.
- Verbs in this class denote feelings, sensations and endurant states of being, including verbs such as q'av - to have, kv - to have q'var - to love and nd - to want.
- Class 4 verbs also include 'desideratives', created using the circumfix e- --- -eb.
Verb root
q'var - to love
Present subseries
The verb takes the 'subjective' versioniser i- in the 1st and 2nd persons, 'objective' u- in the 3rd person. Note the ending of the 2nd and 3rd person plural marker -t takes precedence over the 3rd person singular marker -s:
| Present indicative | Imperfect | Present subjunctive | |
| 1s | m-i-q'var-s | m-i-q'var-d-a | m-i-q'var-d-e-s |
| 2s | g-i-q'var-s | g-i-q'var-d-a | g-i-q'var-d-e-s |
| 3s | u-q'var-s | u-q'var-d-a | u-q'var-d-e-s |
| 1pl | gv-i-q'var-s | gv-i-q'var-d-a | gv-i-q'var-d-e-s |
| 2pl | g-i-q'var-t | g-i-q'var-d-a-t | g-i-q'var-d-e-t |
| 3pl | u-q'var-t | u-q'var-d-a-t | u-q'var-d-e-t |
Future subseries
Here the verb forms its screeves by using a pre-radical vowel e-, and the thematic suffix -eb, in a way similar to the class 2 verbs :
| Future indicative | Conditional | Future subjunctive | |
| 1s | m-e-q'var-eb-a | m-e-q'var-eb-od-a | m-e-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 2s | g-e-q'var-eb-a | g-e-q'var-eb-od-a | g-e-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 3s | e-q'var-eb-a | e-q'var-eb-od-a | e-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 1pl | gv-e-q'var-eb-a | gv-e-q'var-eb-od-a | gv-e-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 2pl | g-e-q'var-eb-a-t | g-e-q'var-eb-od-a-t | g-e-q'var-eb-od-e-t |
| 3pl | e-q'var-eb-a-t | e-q'var-eb-od-a-t | e-q'var-eb-od-e-t |
Aorist series
Since the verb does not have an aorist form, and uses the imperfect instead, the aorist forms of shegiq'vardeba 'you'll fall in love with X' are substituted:
| Aorist indicative | Optative | |
| 1s | she-m-i-q'var-d-a | she-m-i-q'var-d-e-s |
| 2s | she-g-i-q'var-d-a | she-g-i-q'var-d-e-s |
| 3s | she-u-q'var-d-a | she-u-q'var-d-e-s |
| 1pl | she-gv-i-q'var-d-a | she-gv-i-q'var-d-e-s |
| 2pl | she-g-i-q'var-d-a-t | she-g-i-q'var-d-e-t |
| 3pl | she-u-q'var-d-a-t | she-u-q'var-d-e-t |
Perfect series
This series is not especially consistent: the perfect screeve uses versionisers before the root, whereas the pluperfect and perfect subjunctive screeves take no versioniser. The series forms using the suffix -eb, with -od as a further suffix in the pluperfect and perfect subjunctive screeves.
| Perfect | Pluperfect | Perfect subjunctive | |
| 1s | m-q'var-eb-i-a | m-q'var-eb-od-i-a | m-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 2s | g-q'var-eb-i-a | g-q'var-eb-od-i-a | g-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 3s | q'var-eb-i-a | q'var-eb-od-i-a | q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 1pl | gv-q'var-eb-i-a | gv-q'var-eb-od-i-a | gv-q'var-eb-od-e-s |
| 2pl | g-q'var-eb-i-a-t | g-q'var-eb-od-i-a-t | g-q'var-eb-od-e-t |
| 3pl | q'var-eb-i-a-t | q'var-eb-od-i-a-t | q'var-eb-od-e-t |
N.B. It is important to bear in mind that each verb form given in the tables has a further five forms corresponding to the 1st and 2nd person singular direct objects, and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person plural direct objects, giving a theoretical total of 396 bi-personal forms! In practice however these forms are not always distinct. For further discussion, see 'Direct and indirect objects'.
Direct and indirect objects
- The verb -ts'er-, "to write,"
- * Simplest, we have: v-ts'er, and ts'er-s,.
- * Adding the -u- versioner, we have v-u-ts'er,. Another way to think of this is as follows. In the sentence "I am writing to him/her," him/her is the indirect object. Since, for the verb "write," indirect objects are indicated with the m- set, one has to use the prefix u- to indicate the third person indirect object.
- * In order to say "I am writing to you ", we have to remember that you is the indirect object in this sentence. As stated in the verbal system, verbs which employ the v- set marker to indicate the subject, use the m- set marker to indicate the direct or the indirect object. Looking at the table of the m- set marker, we see that the prefixal nominal marker for the second person singular is g-. Therefore, "I am writing to you in Georgian is g-ts'er. If we want to say, "I am writing to you ", then we have g-ts'er-t.
- * Note, however, that some ambiguities arise, as the verb encapsulates the indirect object. While g-ts'er-t means "I am writing to you," it could also mean "he/she is writing to you. This is because the plural indirect object "you " requires both the prefixal nominal marker g- and the plural marker -t. The rule in Georgian is that, if a consonant plural marker is to be attached to the verb complex, another suffixal consonant nominal marker has to be dropped. For example, one cannot say g-ts'er-s-t in Georgian. Therefore, the verb, in cases like this, fails to indicate whether the performer of the action is the first person or the third person. One, then, has to consider the role of the verb in the entire sentence to understand the exact meaning of the verb.
- The verb -nd-, "to want," belongs to indirect verb class.
- * Simplest, we have m-i-nd-a, "I want," and u-nd-a, "he/she wants."
- * When we want to construct, "he wants me," me is the direct object. Since the verb "want" requires the m- set marker for the subject, it requires the v- set for the object. To do this, we need to put both the letter v- at the beginning of the verb and we need to add the auxiliary verb -var to the end. Therefore, we have v-u-nd-i-var. The letter -u- right after the letter v- establishes the meaning that it is the third person who wants. To say, "you want me," we, then, have g-i-nd-i-var. Here, the -i- means that it is the second person who wants.
- * Note that "he/she wants me" and "they want me" are both the same in Georgian: v-u-nd-i-var. If one says, v-u-nd-i-var-t, this rather means "he/she wants us." This is because the plurality of the subject is not reflected in the verbs that use the m- set marker when the direct object is either the first or the second person.
- * The Georgian language has perhaps one of the most complicated plural subject-verb and object-verb agreement systems. Even native speakers do not seem to have a consensus on the reflection of plurality to the verb. One general rule is that in the verbs that employ the v- set nominal marker, the priority of the indicating the plurality of the subject is higher than that of the object. In the verbs that use the m- set nominal marker, this is reversed. That is why in the example of v-u-nd-i-var-t the plural marker -t at the end refers to the plurality of the object rather than the plurality of the subject.
Preverbs
Since preverbs are absent in the present series, it is important to consider the role of the verb in the context of the entire sentence as the verb by itself could convey any meaning in the present screeves.
- the verb root -gh-:
- *Preverb a-: a-gh-eb-a, to raise, lift up.
- *Preverb amo-: amo-gh-eb-a, to take out.
- *Preverb ga-: ga-gh-eb-a, to open.
- *Preverb gadmo-: gadmo-gh-eb-a, to take down.
- *Preverb gamo-: gamo-gh-eb-a, to give forth.
- *Preverb mi-: mi-gh-eb-a, to receive.
- *Preverb shemo-: shemo-gh-eb-a, to introduce.
- *Preverb ts'amo-: ts'amo-gh-eb-a, to carry.
- the verb root -q'r-:
- *Preverb a-: a-q'r-a, put forth, throw upward.
- *Preverb ga-: ga-q'r-a, stick, put something through.
- *Preverb gada-: gada-q'r-a, throw down.
- *Preverb gadmo-: gadmo-q'r-a, cast something down.
- *Preverb da-: da-q'r-a, scatter, drop, let fall.
- *Preverb mo-: mo-q'r-a, ask many questions to someone.
- *Preverb she-: she-q'r-a, gather together.
- *Preverb cha-: cha-q'r-a, pour something.
- the verb root -tser-:
- *Preverb da-: da-ts'er-a, to write
- *Preverb a-: agh-ts'er-a, to describe, description, census
- *Preverb amo-: a-mo-ts'er-a, to write out, extract, to sign off, to deregister
- *Preverb cha-: cha-ts'er-a, to write into/onto something
- *Preverb cha-mo-: cha-mo-ts'er-a, to list, to decommission
- *Preverb mi-: mi-ts'er-a, to write someone
- *Preverb mi-mo-: mi-mo-ts'er-a, correspondence, conversation
- *Preverb gada-: gada-ts'er-a, copying text from one place to another
- *Preverb gad-mo-: gad-mo-ts'er-a, copying/writing out the text from the source, downloading of files
- *Preverb ga-: ga-ts'er-a, to plan, to stipulate
- *Preverb ga-mo-: ga-mo-ts'er-a, to subscribe, to order/buy some item
- *Preverb tsa-: tsa-ts'er-a, making/writing a note