Other Verbal Forms

11.1 Derived Tenses

Standard Alashian also has three derived tenses. These can be formed from any verb in any case, whether regular or irregular, by adding regular affixes to one of the basic forms.

However, the addition of these suffixes can create some irregularities in some verbs, since a consonant that was once word-final may suddenly find itself in intervocalic position. More often that not, however, these adjustments that have to be made to the base form when a derived form is created actually serve to make them more regular, such as (for example) by eliminating the need for monophthongization in C₃ = Y/W roots.

11.1.1 The Imperfective Subjunctive

11.1.1.1 Regular Formation

The imperfective subjunctive, though logically the counterpart of the perfective subjunctive, is instead a derived form of the present tense. There are two variants in common usage, one used in the northern dialects and one in the southern.

In the northern dialects (and standard Alashian), the imperfective subjunctive is formed by taking the present tense, lengthening the vowel between C₂ and C₃ if it is not already long, and adding the suffix *-a. This is unproblematic in the for the forms that are unsuffixed in the present tense, but if the base form is suffixed, the two endings merge, with the feminine marker *-ī + *-a becoming *-iya and the plural marker *-ū + *-a becoming *-uwa.

In the southern dialect zone, the imperfect subjunctive is formed similarly, except that the feminine and plural markers drop entirely before adding the imperfective subjunctive marker *-a. This means that the second and third persons do not distinguish gender or number at all, much like in the perfective subjunctive.

Shown below are the imperfect subjunctive forms of κάταβ katab “write” as seen in the northern dialects and southern dialects, along with the present tense for reference:

11.1.1.2 Geminate Roots

One apparent exception to these rules applies to geminate roots when behaving in a biconsonantal manner. These verbs do not show lengthening of the stem vowel since this vowel is integral (as in true biconsonantal roots), and gemination will surface in all forms, not just the forms with gemination in the present tense.

The table below demonstrates the Scale VI geminate verb στάσαβ stasab “come into being, appear, turn up”.

If the present tense form conjugates as a triconsonantal verb, however, vowel lengthening will once again take place, since stem integrity is less of an issue with triconsonantal roots.

11.1.1.3 C3 = Ř

Root-final *Ř is only irregular in the northern/standard imperfective subjunctive, where the merged feminine/imperfect subjunctive ending is *-eya rather than *-iya: τιφτώρ̄εια tiftāřeya “[that] you (f) open” (cf. present τιφταρ̄ήι tiftařēyi).

11.1.1.4 C3 = '

In the present tense final glottal stops are lost. In the imperfective subjunctive these reemerge: αβρώα 'abrā'a “[that] I make” (cf. present αβρώ 'abrā).

11.1.1.5 C3 = H

In the imperfective subjunctive of katab verbs, root-final *h is reinserted where it is lost in the present tense: τισμώηα tismāha “[that] you (m) hear” (cf. present τισμώ tismā).

The imperfect subjunctive of other scales are regular, since C₃ = H verbs in these scales conjugate biconsonantally.

11.1.1.6 C3 = Y/W

Root-final glides are a little trickier. In scales where the glide simply drops in the present tense, it will be restored: αβνώια 'abnāya “[that] I build” (cf. present 'abnā). In scales where monophthongization takes place, the glide will be restored and the vowel will return to its previous unmonophthongized quality: τιβάδδαυα tibəddawa “[that] you (m) empty” (cf. present τιβαδδού tibəddū).

11.1.1.7 C3 = PH/TH/KH/TSH/ČH

Root-final aspirates that surface in an unaspirated form in the present become aspirated: ιαρμείτζζα yarmīčha “[that] it (m) shines” (cf. present ιαρμείτζ yarmīč).

11.1.2 The Volitive

11.1.2.1 Regular Formation

The volitive mood is also derived from the present tense by suffixation, and corresponds to a number of English modals such as 'may', 'let', and 'should'. It is typically formed by adding the suffix *-anna to the present tense if it ends in a consonant and *-na if it ends in a vowel.

11.1.2.2 Geminate Roots

Gemination is restored in forms with the suffix -anna: αστασάββαννα 'astasabbanna “may I turn” (cf. present άστασαβ 'astasab).

11.1.2.3 C3 = Ř

The feminine suffix *-ēyi of the present tense contracts to just *-ē: τιφταρ̄ήνα tiftařēna “may you (f) open” (cf. present τιφταρ̄ήι tiftařēyi).

11.1.2.4 C3 = '

The final glottal stop is not restored to verb forms that lose it in the present tense; these conjugate as though they were vowel-final: αβρώνα 'abrāna “may I make” (cf. present αβρώ 'abrā).

11.1.2.5 C3 = H

The final *H is not restored to verb forms that lose it in the present tense; these conjugate as though they were vowel-final: τισμώνα tismāna “may you (m) hear” (cf. present τισμώ tismā).

Verb forms where C₃ = H roots are treated biconsonantally are regular.

11.1.2.6 C3 = Y/W

Root final *Y and *W are not restored, whether they are simply dropped in the present tense or undergo monophthongization. Any vowel changes remain: αβνώνα 'abnāna “may I build” (cf. present αβνώ 'abnā), τιβάδδουνα tibəddūna “may you (m) empty” (cf. present τίβαδδου tibəddū).

11.1.2.7 C3 = PH/TH/KH/TSH/ČH

Root-final aspirates always appear in their aspirated form: ιαρμείτζζαννα yarmīčhanna “may it (m) shine” (cf. present ιαρμείτζ yarmīč).

11.1.3 The Precative

11.1.3.1 Regular Formation

The precative mood is a derivative of the imperative, and as such only exists for active half-scales plus nuktāb. It marks requests and supplications and is formed quite regularly by suffixing *-na to the imperative.

The precative for the most part is formed very regularly, so only a couple notes need to be made regarding irregular forms.

11.1.3.2 C3 = Ř

As in the volitive, the feminine ending *-ēyi contracts to just *-ē: φατρ̄ήνα fatřēna “please open! (f)” (cf. imperative φρατρ̄ήι fatřēyi).

11.1.3.3 S-Type Imperatives in Scale III

The s-type imperative seen in a handful of old Scale III verbs cannot be used to form precatives. For verbs that use them, the precative will be formed based off the regular imperative pattern *'aC₁C₂ēC₃-/*aC₁C₂eC₃- rather than the s-imperative *'isC₁eC₂ēC₃-/*'isC₁eC₂C₃-, even though the regular imperative form does not actually exist: ασκήβνα 'askēbna “please lay down (m)” (cf. imperative ισσεκήβ 'issekēb).

11.2 Complex Tenses

The complex tenses are those that must be formed periphrastically. Alashian has three complex tenses, all of which consist of either a defective verb or conjugating particle plus the perfective subjunctive. Both components must agree with their subject.

11.2.1 The Future Tense

The future tense consists of a form of the unstressed defective verb *lək plus the perfective subjunctive. This auxiliary verb only has present tense forms and is related to the extant Scale II verb ηαλλήκ hallēk “behave” (which originally meant “go, walk”). The following table shows the future tense forms of κάταβ katab “write”:

11.2.2 The Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is formed with the conjugating preposition of possession λι- li- plus the perfective subjunctive. The use of this preposition elsewhere and the notion of conjugating prepositions will be discussed at a later point; for now these forms may be taken as-is.

11.2.3 The Pluperfect Tense

The pluperfect tense is formed using the invariant word υή wē (the third person singular masculine imperfect form of “to be”) plus the conjugated form of λι- li- plus the perfective subjunctive: