In Kabardian, like all Northwest Caucasian languages, the verb is the most inflected part of speech. Verbs are typically head final and are conjugated for tense, person, number, etc. Some of Circassian verbs can be morphologically simple, some of them consist only of one morpheme, like: кӏуэ "go", щтэ "take". However, generally, Circassian verbs are characterized as structurally and semantically difficult entities. Morphological structure of a Circassian verb includes affixes (prefixes, suffixes) which are specific to the language. Verbs' affixes express meaning of subject, direct or indirect object, adverbial, singular or plural form, negative form, mood, direction, mutuality, compatibility and reflexivity, which, as a result, creates a complex verb, that consists of many morphemes and semantically expresses a sentence. For example: уакъыдэсогъэпсэлъэжы "I am forcing you to talk to them again" consists of the following morphemes: у-а-къы-дэ-со-гъэ-псэлъэ-жы, with the following meanings: "you (у) with them (а) from there (къы) together (дэ) I (со) am forcing (гъэ) to speak (псэлъэн) again (жы)".
Verbs in Kabardian can be transitive or intransitive.
In a sentence with a transitive verb, nouns in the absolutive case (marked as -р) play the role of direct object. In the sentences of this type the noun in the subject's position is in the ergative case (marked as -м):
In these sentences the verbs етх "is writing", къэщтащ "took out", къиубыдащ "has caught" are transitive verbs, and the nouns письмор "letter", уадэр "hammer", тхьакIумкӏыхьыр "hare" are in the absolutive case (suffix -р) and express direct object in the sentences, while the nouns щӏалэм "boy", пхъащӏэм "carpenter", хьэм "dog" are subjects expressed in the ergative case.
In a sentence with an intransitive verb, there is no direct object, and the real subject is usually expressed by a noun in the absolutive case.
In these sentences with intransitive verbs, nouns that play role of subject are expressed in the absolutive case: жэмахъуэ-р "shepherd", пэсакӏуэ-р "guard", лӏы-р "man".
There are verbs in the Kabardian language that in different contexts and situations can be used both as transitive and intransitive. For example:
In the first sentence the verb мэкъутэ "is being broken" is used as an intransitive verb that creates an absolutive construction. In the second sentence the verb е-къутэ "is breaking" creates an ergative construction. Both of the verbs are formed from the verb къутэ-н "to break".
In the Kabardian language, intransitive verbs can have indirect objects in a sentence. The indirect objects are expressed by a noun in the oblique case (which is also marked as -м). For example:
In these sentences with intransitive verbs, nouns that play role of indirect object are expressed in the oblique case: пщащэ-м "girl", жыгы-м "tree", тхылъы-м "book".
Intransitive verbs can be turned into transitive with the causative affix -гъэ- (meaning "to force, to make"). For example:
The verbs in the first sentences мажэ "is running", матхэ "is writing" are intransitive, and the verbs in the second sentences егъажэ "forces ... to run", егъатхэ "makes ... to write" are already transitive.
| Tense | Suffix | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | ~∅ | макӏуэ /maːkʷʼa/ | (s)he is going; (s)he goes |
| Preterite | ~ащ /~aːɕ/ | кӏуащ /kʷʼaːɕ/ | (s)he went |
| Pluperfect/Discontinuous past | ~гъащ /~ʁaːɕ/ | кӏуэгъащ /kʷʼaʁaːɕ/ | (s)he went a long time ago" |
| Categorical Future | ~нщ /~nɕ/ | кӏуэнщ /kʷʼanɕ/ | (s)he will go |
| Factual Future | ~нущ /~nəwɕ/ | кӏуэнущ /kʷʼanəwɕ/ | (s)he will go, (s)he is about to go |
| Imperfect | ~(р)т /~(r)t/ | макӏуэ(р)т /maːkʷʼa(r)t/ | (s)he was going; (s)he used to go |
| Pluperfect/Discontinuous past | ~ат /~aːt/ | кӏуат /kʷʼaːt/ | (s)he had gone; (s)he went (but not there anymore) |
| (Categorical) Future Conditional | ~нт /~nt/ | кӏуэнт /kʷʼant/ | (s)he was about to go / (s)he would go |
| (Factual) Future Conditional | ~нут /~nəwt/ | кӏуэнут /kʷʼanəwt/ | (s)he was about to go / (s)he would go |
Type 1 :
The past tense of verbs of type 1 are formed by adding -aщ /-aːɕ/. In intransitive verbs it indicate that the action took place, but with no indication as to the duration, instant nor completeness of the action.
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | седжащ | sajd͡ʒaːɕ | I [have] read it | седжакъым | sajd͡ʒaːqəm | I did not read it |
| Second-person | уеджащ | wajd͡ʒaːɕ | You [have] read it | уеджакъым | wajd͡ʒaːqəm | You did not read it | |
| Third-person | еджащ | jad͡ʒaːɕ | He [has] read it | еджакъым | jad͡ʒaːqəm | He did not read it | |
| Plural | First-person | деджащ | dajd͡ʒaːɕ | We [have] read it | деджакъым | dajd͡ʒaːqəm | We did not read it |
| Second-person | феджащ | fajd͡ʒaːɕ | You (pl.) [have] read it | феджакъым | fajd͡ʒaːqəm | You (pl.) did not read it | |
| Third-person | еджахэщ | jad͡ʒaːxaɕ | They [have] read it | еджахэкъым | jad͡ʒaːxaqəm | They did not read it | |
In transitive verbs it convey more specific information as regards to completeness of the action, and therefore they indicate some certainty as to the outcome of the action.
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | слъэгъуащ | sɬaʁʷaːɕ | I [have] seen it | слъэгъуакъым | sɬaʁʷaːqəm | I did not see it |
| Second-person | плъэгъуащ | pɬaʁʷaːɕ | You [have] seen it | плъэгъуакъым | pɬaʁʷaːqəm | You did not see it | |
| Third-person | илъэгъуащ | jəɬaʁʷaːɕ | He [has] seen it | илъэгъуакъым | jəɬaʁʷaːqəm | He did not see it | |
| Plural | First-person | тлъэгъуащ | tɬaʁʷaːɕ | We [have] seen it | тлъэгъуакъым | tɬaʁʷaːqəm | We did not see it |
| Second-person | флъэгъуащ | fɬaʁʷaːɕ | You (pl.) [have] seen it | флъэгъуакъым | fɬaʁʷaːqəm | You (pl.) did not see it | |
| Third-person | ялъэгъуащ | jaːɬaʁʷaːɕ | They [have] seen it | ялъэгъуакъым | jaːɬaʁʷaːqəm | They did not see it | |
Type 2 :
This is the past perfect tense. It is formed by adding ~гъащ. It indicates that the action took place formerly at some certain time.
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | стхыгъащ | stxəʁaːɕ | I wrote it | стхыгъакъым | stxəʁaːqəm | I didn't write it |
| Second-person | птхыгъащ | ptxaːʁaːɕ | You wrote | птхыгъакъым | ptxaːʁaːqəm | You didn't write it | |
| Third-person | итхыгъащ | jətxəʁaːɕ | He wrote | итхыгъакъым | jətxəʁaːqəm | He didn't write it | |
| Plural | First-person | ттхыгъащ | ttxəʁaːɕ | We wrote | ттхыгъакъым | ttxəʁaːqəm | We didn't write it |
| Second-person | фтхыгъащ | ftxəʁaːɕ | You wrote | фтхыгъакъым | ftxəʁaːqəm | You didn't write it | |
| Third-person | ятхыгъащ | jaːtxəʁaːɕ | They wrote | ятхыгъакъым | jaːtxəʁaːqəm | They didn't write it | |
Type 3 :
Verbs of this group designate repetition of action in a vividly expressed manner. They are formed by adding the suffix –т.
Negative forms:
Intransitive verbs :
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | солажьэ | sawɮaːʑa | I work, I am working | сылажьэркъым | səɮaːʑarqəm | I don't work, I am not working |
| Second-person | уолажьэ | wawɮaːʑa | You work, You are working | улажьэркъым | wəɮaːʑarqəm | You don't work, You are not working | |
| Third-person | мэлажьэ | maɮaːʑa | He does works, He is working | лажьэркъым | ɮaːʑarqəm | He doesn't work, He is not working | |
| Plural | First-person | долажьэ | dawɮaːʑa | We work, We are working | дылажьэркъым | dəɮaːʑarqəm | We don't work, We are not working |
| Second-person | фолажьэ | fawɮaːʑa | You (pl.) work, You are working | фылажьэркъым | fəɮaːʑarqəm | You (pl.) don't work, You are not working | |
| Third-person | мэлажьэх | maɮaːʑax | They work, They are working | лажьэхэркъым | ɮaːʑaxarqəm | They don't work, They are not working | |
Transitive verbs :
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | соджэ | sawd͡ʒa | I read, I am reading | седжэркъым | sajd͡ʒarqəm | I don't read, I am not reading |
| Second-person | уоджэ | wawd͡ʒa | You read, You are reading | уеджэркъым | wajd͡ʒarqəm | You don't read, You are not reading | |
| Third-person | йоджэ | jawd͡ʒa | He read, He is reading | еджэркъым | jad͡ʒarqəm | He doesn't read, He is not reading | |
| Plural | First-person | доджэ | dawd͡ʒa | We read, We are reading | деджэркъым | dajd͡ʒarqəm | We don't read, We are not reading |
| Second-person | фоджэ | fawd͡ʒa | You (pl.) read, You are reading | феджэркъым | fajd͡ʒarqəm | You don't read, You are not reading | |
| Third-person | йоджэх | jawd͡ʒax | They study, They are studying | еджэхэркъым | jad͡ʒaxarqəm | They don't read, They are not reading | |
Transitive verb examples :
Intransitive poly-personal verb examples :
Indicating certainty :
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | сылэжьэнущ | səɮaʑanəwɕ | I will [definitely] work | сылэжьэнукъым | səɮaʑanəwqəm | I won't work |
| Second-person | улэжьэнущ | wəɮaʑanəwɕ | You will [definitely] work | улэжьэнукъым | wəɮaʑanəwqəm | You won't work | |
| Third-person | лэжьэнущ | ɮaʑanəwɕ | He will [definitely] work | лэжьэнукъым | ɮaʑanəwqəm | He won't work | |
| Plural | First-person | дылэжьэнущ | dəɮaʑanəwɕ | We will [definitely] work | длэжьэнукъым | dəɮaʑanəwqəm | We won't work |
| Second-person | фылэжьэнущ | fəɮaʑanəwɕ | You will [definitely] work | флэжьэнукъым | fəɮaʑanəwqəm | You (pl.) won't work | |
| Third-person | лэжьэнухэщ | ɮaʑanəwɕ | They will [definitely] work | лэжьэнухэкъым | ɮaʑanəwxaqəm | They won't work | |
Indicating some uncertainty :
| Plurality | Person | Positive | Negative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | ||
| Singular | First-person | сылэжьэнщ | səɮaʑanɕ | I will/may work | сылэжьэнкъым | səɮaʑanqəm | I won't work |
| Second-person | улэжьэнщ | wəɮaʑanɕ | You will/may work | улэжьэнкъым | wəɮaʑanqəm | You won't work | |
| Third-person | лэжьэнщ | ɮaʑanɕ | He will/may work | лэжьэнкъым | ɮaʑanqəm | He won't work | |
| Plural | First-person | дылэжьэнщ | dəɮaʑanɕ | We will/may work | длэжьэнкъым | dəɮaʑanqəm | We won't work |
| Second-person | фылэжьэнщ | fəɮaʑanɕ | You will/may work | флэжьэнкъым | fəɮaʑanqəm | You (pl.) won't work | |
| Third-person | лэжьэнхэщ | ɮaʑanxaɕ | They will/may work | лэжьэнхэкъым | ɮaʑanxaqəm | They won't work | |
The imperfect tense is formed with the additional suffix ~(р)т /~(r)t/ to the verb. It can have meanings similar to the English "was walking" or "used to walk".
Examples:
The tense ~ат /~aːt/ can be used for both past perfect (pluperfect) and discontinuous past:
Examples:
The suffix ~нут /~nəwt/ applies to actions that may occur or stand contrary to factual certainty.
Examples:
The Kabardian language has an especially complex morphology. A verb by its set of morphemes can express subject's and object's person, place, time, manner of action, negative, and other types of grammatical categories. A verb can have some combinations of different affixes to describe specific verbs in different situations.
The verbal suffix гъэ~ (ʁa~) designates causation; rendered by the verbs: to force, compel, make; to order, tell; to allow, permit; to give the opportunity to do something.; also forms transitive verbs; for example :
This preverb can be used with dynamic as well as static verbs. With this preverb, verbal stems are created which denote a motion to the speaker.
With dynamic verbs the preverb къэ- doesn't necessarily have a directional meaning.
It can also result into verbs with a more resultative meaning.
The verbal prefix къэ~ designates arrival, approach, movement directed to the speaker; for example :
It also designates approach of some season, time; for example :
It also adds a tinge of definiteness to the verb; for example :
The verbal prefix нэ~ (ны~) designates direction of motion from speaker to second person; for example :
It also forms verbs that convey a sense of completion of an action; for example :
The verbal prefix и~ (jə~) designates movement or position inside something.
It can denote motion downward and inward:
It can denote being inside:
It can denote removal from something:
The verbal prefix хэ~ (xa~) designates movement or position inside something.
It can denote being somewhere in some sort mass, in an abstract and practical way:
It can denote motion towards a mass:
The verbal prefix дэ~ (da~) designates movement or position inside something.
It can denote the presence in a certain territory or landscape:
It can denote motion towards a certain territory or landscape:
It can denote motion from a certain territory or landscape:
The verbal suffix блэ~ (bɮa~) designates movement bypass somebody or something; for example :
The verbal prefix пхы~ (пхыры~) designates action, motion directed through some obstacle, object; ex.: * пхырыжын: to run through smth.;
The verbal prefix пыры~ designates action of transference over object that is of comparatively small height; ex.:
It also designates action, motion directed across some obstacle; ex.:
The verbal prefix кӏэлъ~ (tʃʼaɬ) indicates action that happened towards after something or somebody; for example.:
The verbal suffix дэ~ (da~) designates action performed jointly with somebody.
The verbal prefix зэ~ is used in formation of reciprocal verbs; for example :
зэдэ~ is used in formation of reciprocal verbs; for example :
The verbal prefix з~ designates reflexive action; for example :
The verbal suffix здэ~ designates destination of action; for example :
The verbal prefix ӏэщӏэ~ (ʔaɕʼa~) designates an action which was done unintentionally. for example :
The verbal prefix фӏэ~ (фӏы~) designates action done against somebody's will or interest. This verbal prefix can also be used indicate that the action was done to take an object or an opportunity away from somebody else.; for example :
The verbal prefix хуэ~ (xʷa~) designates action performed to please somebody, for somebody's sake, in somebody's interests; for example :
~мы~ negatory infix; for example :
Directional suffixes denote a certain directionality. They usually can only be attached in combination with directional preverbs.
The verbal suffix ~и designates action in an upward direction or against a flow. It is used in combination with the preverb дэ-.
Examples:
The verbal suffix ~х designates downward direction of action. It is always used with the preverb е-. The resulting verb is always dynamic.
Verbs are divided into groups depending on how this suffix interacts with ablaut alteration.
One group alternates, the other doesn't.
Group 1:
Group :
Examples:
The verbal suffix ~лӏ designates action directed towards, or applied to smb., smth.; ex.:
The verbal suffix ~хь designates action performed on a definite location or repetition of the action;
It also designates movement round an object :
The verbal suffix ~гъэхэ designates absolute accomplishment/realization of the action; for example :
The verbal suffix ~ж designates recurrence/repetition of action; for example :
~и (connective suffix) and, also; for example :
~къым (verbal suffix) negatory suffix; for example :
The conditional suffix is indicated by ~м(э); for example :
The verbal suffix ~ми designates concessive mood; for example :
~н infinitive forming suffix; for example :
The verbal suffix ~рей (~raj) designates recurrence, presence of a characteristic; for example :
The verbal suffix ~рт designates repetition/recurrence of action; ex.:
The verbal suffix ~т designates the imperative mood; for example :
The verbal suffix ~тэмэ designates subjunctive mood; for example :
The verbal suffix ~тэми designates concessive mood; for example :
The verbal suffix ~ф designates the ability to perform the indicated action; for example :
The verbal suffix ~пэ designates completeness and fulfilment of the action; ex.:
The verbal suffix ~кӏэ designates absolute completeness of action; ex.:
The verbal suffix ~ӏуэ designates slight excessiveness; ex.:
The verbal suffix ~къуэ designates excessiveness; ex.:
The pluralizing suffix is indicated by ~хэ; for example :
The verbal suffix ~хэ designates preliminary condition; for example :
~ххэ (verbal suffix) designates absolute negation; for example :
The verbal suffix ~щэрэ (~щэрэт) designates optative mood; ex.:
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