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:

1. Georgian has four classes of verbs: transitive, intransitive, medial and indirect verbs.^[1] Each class has its own set of rules of conjugation for all screeves.^[2] 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 (see irregular verbs below).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 (though not always) 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 (class 1) 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.
5. 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 (as stated above). 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.
6. 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 (class 4) are also considered irregular, because they only behave like indirect verbs in the present screeves, and behave like transitive verbs (class 1) 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.^[1]
• 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 (for). 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 (mostly).
• 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.

Here is a full conjugation of a verb with all persons in all screeves:

Verb root

შენ, shen; infinite form აშენება, asheneba (to build)

Present subseries

The thematic suffix -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	ავ���შენებდი, 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	ავაშენე, a-v-a-shen-e	ავაშენო, a-v-a-shen-o
2s	ააშენე, a-a-shen-e	ააშენო, a-a-shen-o
3s	ააშენა, a-a-shen-a	ააშენოს, a-a-shen-o-s
1pl	ავაშენეთ, a-v-a-shen-e-t	ავაშენოთ, a-v-a-shen-o-t
2pl	ააშენეთ, a-a-shen-e-t	ააშენოთ, a-a-shen-o-t
3pl	ააშენეს,a-a-shen-es	ააშენონ,a-a-shen-o-n

Perfective series

The preverb is present; the thematic suffix is present (due to vowel in root). 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	ამიშენებია, a-m-i-shen-eb-i-a	ამეშენებინა, a-m-e-shen-eb-in-a	ამეშენებინოს, a-m-e-shen-eb-in-o-s
2s	აგიშენებია, a-g-i-shen-eb-i-a	აგეშენებინა, a-g-e-shen-eb-in-a	აგეშენებინოს, a-g-e-shen-eb-in-o-s
3s	აუშენებია, a-u-shen-eb-i-a	აეშენებინა, a-e-shen-eb-in-a	აეშენებინოს, a-e-shen-eb-in-o-s
1pl	აგვიშენებია, a-gv-i-shen-eb-i-a	აგვეშენებინა, a-gv-e-shen-eb-in-a	აგვეშენებინოს, a-gv-e-shen-eb-in-o-s
2pl	აგიშენებიათ, a-g-i-shen-eb-i-a-t	აგეშენებინათ, a-g-e-shen-eb-in-a-t	აგეშენებინოთ, a-g-e-shen-eb-in-o-t
3pl	აუშენებიათ, a-u-shen-eb-i-a-t	აეშენებინათ, a-e-shen-eb-in-a-t	აეშენებინოთ, 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 (the benefactor or possessive) 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:

1. prefixal: i- appears immediately before the verb root
2. suffixal: -d appears immediately after the verb root
3. markerless: no affixes appear

Below is a full conjugation of an intransitive verb:

Verb root

ბად, bad; infinite form დაბადება, dabadeba (to be born)

This verb exhibits the prefixal intransitive pattern; ი-, 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	ვიბადები, v-i-bad-eb-i	ვიბადებოდი, v-i-bad-eb-od-i	ვიბადებოდე, v-i-bad-eb-od-e
2s	იბადები, i-bad-eb-i	იბადებოდი, i-bad-eb-od-i	იბადებოდე, i-bad-eb-od-e
3s	იბადება, i-bad-eb-a	იბადებოდა, i-bad-eb-od-a	იბადებოდეს, i-bad-eb-od-e-s
1pl	ვიბადებით, v-i-bad-eb-i-t	ვიბადებოდით, v-i-bad-eb-od-i-t	ვიბადებოდეთ, v-i-bad-eb-od-e-t
2pl	იბადებით, i-bad-eb-i-t	იბადებოდით, i-bad-eb-od-i-t	იბადებოდეთ, i-bad-eb-od-e-t
3pl	იბადებიან, i-bad-eb-i-an	იბადებოდნენ, i-bad-eb-od-nen	იბადებოდნენ, i-bad-eb-od-nen

Future subseries

The preverb da- emerges:

	Future indicative	Conditional	Future subjunctive
1s	დავიბადები, da-v-i-bad-eb-i	დავიბადებოდი, da-v-i-bad-eb-od-i	დავიბადებოდე, da-v-i-bad-eb-od-e
2s	დაიბადები, da-i-bad-eb-i	დაიბადებოდი, da-i-bad-eb-od-i	დაიბადებოდე, da-i-bad-eb-od-e
3s	დაიბადება, da-i-bad-eb-a	დაიბადებოდა, da-i-bad-eb-od-a	დაიბადებოდეს, da-i-bad-eb-od-e-s
1pl	დავიბადებით, da-v-i-bad-eb-i-t	დავიბადებოდით, da-v-i-bad-eb-od-i-t	დავიბადებოდეთ, da-v-i-bad-eb-od-e-t
2pl	დაიბადებით, da-i-bad-eb-i-t	დაიბადებოდით, da-i-bad-eb-od-i-t	დაიბადებოდეთ, da-i-bad-eb-od-e-t
3pl	დაიბადებიან, da-i-bad-eb-i-an	დაიბადებოდნენ, da-i-bad-eb-od-nen	დაიბადებოდნენ, da-i-bad-eb-od-nen

Aorist series

The preverb is present; the thematic suffix is lost:

	Aorist indicative	Optative
1s	დავიბადე, da-v-i-bad-e	დავიბადო, da-v-i-bad-o
2s	დაიბადე, da-i-bad-e	დაიბადო, da-i-bad-o
3s	დაიბადა, da-i-bad-a	დაიბადოს, da-i-bad-o-s
1pl	დავიბადეთ, da-v-i-bad-e-t	დავიბადოთ, da-v-i-bad-o-t
2pl	დაიბადეთ, da-i-bad-e-t	დაიბადოთ, da-i-bad-o-t
3pl	დაიბადნენ, da-i-bad-nen	დაიბადონ, da-i-bad-o-n

Perfective series

Formation comprises the past participle (da-(v)-bad-eb-ul-i), followed by a form of the copula:

	Perfect	Pluperfect	Perfect subjunctive
1s	დავბადებულვარ, da-v-bad-eb-ul-v-a-r	დავბადებულიყავი, da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i	დავბადებულიყო, da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o
2s	დაბადებულხარ, da-bad-eb-ul-x-a-r	დაბადებულიყავი, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i	დაბადებულიყო, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o
3s	დაბადებულა, da-bad-eb-ul-a	დაბადებულიყო, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o	დაბადებულიყოს, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-s
1pl	დავბადებულვართ, da-v-bad-eb-ul-v-a-r-t	დავბადებულიყავით, da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i-t	დავბადებულიყოთ, da-v-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-t
2pl	დაბადებულხართ, da-bad-eb-ul-x-a-r-t	დაბადებულიყავით, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'av-i-t	დაბადებულიყოთ, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-t
3pl	დაბადებულან, da-bad-eb-ul-an	დაბადებულიყვნენ, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'v-nen	დაბადებულიყონ, da-bad-eb-ul-i-q'-o-n

Class 3 (medial verbs)[]

• These verbs have the same case marking as class 1 verbs (i.e. aorist series - ergative-nominative; present/future series - nominative-dative; perfective series - dative-nominative), the difference being that they describe intransitive activities: verbs expressing movement, sound and weather are found in this category.^[1]
• Therefore, many class 3 verbs do not take a direct object; however some may (e.g. tamashob - to play), whilst others take an obligatory direct object (e.g. q'idulob - to buy).
• Almost all medials form the future/aorist in the same, very regular, way, outlined below.

Full conjugation follows:

Verb root

თამაშ, tamash; infinite form თამაშობა, tamashoba (to play)

Present subseries

The thematic suffix -ob is present:

	Present indicative	Imperfect	Present subjunctive
1s	ვთამაშობ, v-tamash-ob	ვთამაშობდი, v-tamash-ob-d-i	ვთამაშობდე, v-tamash-ob-d-e
2s	თამაშობ, tamash-ob	თამაშობდი, tamash-ob-d-i	თამაშობდე, tamash-ob-d-e
3s	თამაშობს, tamash-ob-s	თამაშობდა, tamash-ob-d-a	თამაშობდეს, tamash-ob-d-e-s
1pl	ვთამაშობთ, v-tamash-ob-t	ვთამაშობდით, v-tamash-ob-d-i-t	ვთამაშობდეთ, v-tamash-ob-d-e-t
2pl	თამაშობთ, tamash-ob-t	თამაშობდით, tamash-ob-d-i-t	თამაშობდეთ, tamash-ob-d-e-t
3pl	თამაშობენ, tamash-ob-en	თამაშობდნენ, tamash-ob-d-nen	თამაშობდნენ, tamash-ob-d-nen

Future subseries

A type of preverb i- emerges, in combination with the thematic suffix -eb which replaces -ob (or any thematic suffix):

	Future indicative	Conditional	Future subjunctive
1s	ვითამაშებ, v-i-tamash-eb	ვითამაშებდი, v-i-tamash-eb-d-i	ვითამაშებდე, v-i-tamash-eb-d-e
2s	ითამაშებ, i-tamash-eb	ითამაშებდი, i-tamash-eb-d-i	ითამაშებდე, i-tamash-eb-d-e
3s	ითამაშებს, i-tamash-eb-s	ითამაშებდა, i-tamash-eb-d-a	ითამაშებდეს, i-tamash-eb-d-e-s
1pl	ვითამაშებთ, v-i-tamash-eb-t	ვითამაშებდით, v-i-tamash-eb-d-i-t	ვითამაშებდეთ, v-i-tamash-eb-d-e-t
2pl	ითამაშებთ, i-tamash-eb-t	ითამაშებდით, i-tamash-eb-d-i-t	ითამაშებდეთ, i-tamash-eb-d-e-t
3pl	ითამაშებენ, i-tamash-eb-en	ითამაშებდნენ, i-tamash-eb-d-nen	ითამაშებდნენ, 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	ვითამაშე, v-i-tamash-e	ვითამაშო, v-i-tamash-o
2s	ითამაშე, i-tamash-e	ითამაშო, i-tamash-o
3s	ითამაშა, i-tamash-a	ითამაშოს, i-tamash-o-s
1pl	ვითამაშეთ, v-i-tamash-e-t	ვითამაშოთ, v-i-tamash-o-t
2pl	ითამაშეთ, i-tamash-e-t	ითამაშოთ, i-tamash-o-t
3pl	ითამაშეს, i-tamash-es	ითამაშონ, i-tamash-o-n

Perfect series

There is no preverb or thematic suffix; subjects are marked in the same way as in class 1 (i.e. with the m- set and appropriate formant vowels). The object (if present in context) 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	მითამაშ(ნ)ია, m-i-tamash-(n-)i-a	მეთამაშ(ნ)ა, m-e-tamash-(n-)a	მეთამაშ(���)ოს, m-e-tamash-(n-)o-s
2s	გითამაშ(ნ)იაg-i-tamash-(n-)i-a	გეთამაშ(ნ)ა, g-e-tamash-(n-)a	გეთამაშ(ნ)ოს, g-e-tamash-(n-)-o-s
3s	უთამაშ(ნ)ია, u-tamash-(n-)i-a	ეთამაშ(ნ)ა, e-tamash-(n-)a	ეთამაშ(ნ)ოს, e-tamash-(n-)-o-s
1pl	გვითამაშ(ნ)ია, gv-i-tamash-(n-)-i-a	გვეთამაშ(ნ)ა, gv-e-tamash-(n-)a	გვეთამაშ(ნ)ოს, gv-e-tamash-(n-)-o-s
2pl	გითამაშ(ნ)ია, g-i-tamash-(n-)i-a-t	გეთამაშ(ნ)ათ, g-e-tamash-(n-)a-t	გეთამაშ(ნ)ოს, g-e-tamash-(n-)-o-t
3pl	უთამაშ(ნ)იათ, u-tamash-(n-)i-a-t	ეთამაშ(ნ)ათ, e-tamash-(n-)a-t	ეთამაშ(ნ)ოს, e-tamash-(n-)-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 (m- set) and the direct object with the subject marker set (v- set). Nouns are declined in agreement: the logical subject is in the dative, and object in the nominative (or sometimes genitive, as in gogo-s (dat.) dzaghl-is (gen.) e-shin-i-a - the girl is afraid of the dog).
• Verbs in this class denote feelings, sensations and endurant states of being (see also stative verbs), including verbs such as q'av - to have (X, animate), kv - to have (X, inanimate) q'var - to love and nd - to want.
• Class 4 verbs also include 'desideratives' (verbs of desiring), created using the circumfix e- --- -eb (compare tsek'v-av-s 'he dances' and e-tsek'v-eb-a 'he feels like dancing').

The verb paradigm follows. For simplicity, the verb form always assumes a 3rd person singular object:

Verb root

ყვარ, 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 (subject) marker -t takes precedence over the 3rd person singular (object) marker -s:

	Present indicative	Imperfect	Present subjunctive
1s	მიყვარს, m-i-q'var-s	მიყვარდა, m-i-q'var-d-a	მიყვარდეს, m-i-q'var-d-e-s
2s	გიყვარს, g-i-q'var-s	გიყვარდა, g-i-q'var-d-a	გიყვარდეს, g-i-q'var-d-e-s
3s	უყვარს, u-q'var-s	უყვარდა, u-q'var-d-a	უყვარდეს, u-q'var-d-e-s
1pl	გვიყვარს, gv-i-q'var-s	გვიყვარდა, gv-i-q'var-d-a	გვიყვარდეს, gv-i-q'var-d-e-s
2pl	გიყვართ, g-i-q'var-t	გიყვარდათ, g-i-q'var-d-a-t	გიყვარდეთ, g-i-q'var-d-e-t
3pl	უყვარს, u-q'var-t	უყვარდათ, u-q'var-d-a-t	უყვარდეთ, 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 (but without the preverb):

	Future indicative	Conditional	Future subjunctive
1s	მეყვარება, m-e-q'var-eb-a	მეყვარებოდა, m-e-q'var-eb-od-a	მეყვარებოდეს, m-e-q'var-eb-od-e-s
2s	გეყვარება, g-e-q'var-eb-a	გეყვარებოდა, g-e-q'var-eb-od-a	გეყვარებოდეს, g-e-q'var-eb-od-e-s
3s	ეყვარება, e-q'var-eb-a	ეყვარებოდა, e-q'var-eb-od-a	ეყვარებოდეს, e-q'var-eb-od-e-s
1pl	გვეყვარება, gv-e-q'var-eb-a	გვეყვარებოდა, gv-e-q'var-eb-od-a	გვეყვარებოდეს, gv-e-q'var-eb-od-e-s
2pl	გეყვარებათ, g-e-q'var-eb-a-t	გეყვარებოდათ, g-e-q'var-eb-od-a-t	გეყვარებოდეთ, g-e-q'var-eb-od-e-t
3pl	ეყვარებათ, e-q'var-eb-a-t	ეყვარებოდათ, e-q'var-eb-od-a-t	ეყვარებოდეთ, e-q'var-eb-od-e-t

Aorist series

Since the verb does not have an aorist form, and uses the imperfect instead (as many other class 4 verbs), the aorist forms of shegiq'vardeba 'you'll fall in love with X' are substituted:

	Aorist indicative	Optative
1s	შემიყვარდა, she-m-i-q'var-d-a	შემიყვარდეს, she-m-i-q'var-d-e-s
2s	შეგიყვარდა, she-g-i-q'var-d-a	შემიყვარდეს, she-g-i-q'var-d-e-s
3s	შეუყვარდა, she-u-q'var-d-a	შეუყვარდეს, she-u-q'var-d-e-s
1pl	შეგვიყვარდა, she-gv-i-q'var-d-a	შეგვიყვარდეს, she-gv-i-q'var-d-e-s
2pl	შეგიყვარდათ, she-g-i-q'var-d-a-t	შეგიყვარდეთ, she-g-i-q'var-d-e-t
3pl	შეუყვარდათ, she-u-q'var-d-a-t	შეუყვარდეთ, 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	მყვა��ებია, m-q'var-eb-i-a	მყვარებოდა, m-q'var-eb-od-a	მყვარებოდეს, m-q'var-eb-od-e-s
2s	გყვარებია, g-q'var-eb-i-a	გყვარებოდა, g-q'var-eb-od-a	გყვარებოდეს, g-q'var-eb-od-e-s
3s	ჰყვარებია, h-q'var-eb-i-a	ჰყვარებოდა, h-q'var-eb-od-a	ჰყვარებოდეს, h-q'var-eb-od-e-s
1pl	გვყვარებია, gv-q'var-eb-i-a	გვყვარებოდა, gv-q'var-eb-od-a	გვყვარებოდეს, gv-q'var-eb-od-e-s
2pl	გყვარებიათ, g-q'var-eb-i-a-t	გყვარებოდათ, g-q'var-eb-od-a-t	გყვარებოდეს, g-q'var-eb-od-e-t
3pl	ჰყვარებიათ, h-q'var-eb-i-a-t	ჰყვარებოდათ, h-q'var-eb-od-a-t	ჰყვარებოდეს, h-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 example the plurality of the 3rd person is not always present in the form). For further discussion, see 'Direct and indirect objects'.

Direct and indirect objects[]

• The verb -ts'er- (წერ), "to write," (transitive verb)
  • Simplest, we have: v-ts'er (ვწერ), ("I am writing (it)") and ts'er-s (წერს), ("he/she is writing (it)").
  • Changing the version, the grammatical feature indicated by the versioner/version vowel, changes the role of the indirect object: v-ts'er is in the neutral version, which is the default version for most Class I verbs, and is indicated either by a zero marker or an -a- versioner, depending on the verb. In the objective version (which for Class I verbs usually changes the role of the indirect object to that of benefactor of the action or possessor of the direct object), the version vowel is -i- for 1st and 2nd person indirect objects and -u- for 3rd person indirect objects. Therefore, we have v-u-ts'er (ვუწერ) for "I am writing it for/on behalf of him/her".^[1]
  • In order to say "I am writing to you (singular)", 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 (singular) in Georgian is g-ts'er (გწერ). If we want to say, "I am writing to you (plural)", then we have g-ts'er-t (გწერთ).
  • Note, however, that some ambiguities arise, as the verb encapsulates the indirect object. While g-ts'er-t (გწერთ) means "I am writing to you (plural)," it could also mean "he/she is writing to you (plural). This is because the plural indirect object "you (plural)" requires both the prefixal nominal marker g- and the plural marker -t. The rule in Georgian is that, if a consonant plural marker (-t) 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 ("he/she is writing to you (plural)") 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- (ნდ), "to want," belongs to indirect verb class (class 4).
  • Simplest, we have m-i-nd-a (მინდა), "I want," and u-nd-a (უნდა), "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 (this is exactly the opposite in verb "write"). 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 (as auxiliary verbs are needed in the present and perfective screeves of indirect verbs when the direct object is the first or the second person). Therefore, we have v-u-nd-i-var (ვუნდივარ). 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 (გინდივარ). 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 (ვუნდივარ). If one says, v-u-nd-i-var-t (ვუნდივართ), 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 (just like everything else is reversed). That is why in the example of v-u-nd-i-var-t (ვუნდივართ) the plural marker -t at the end refers to the plurality of the object rather than the plurality of the subject.

Preverbs[]

Preverbs in Georgian can either add directionality to a verb, or can change the meaning of the verb entirely. It is also important to use the appropriate versioner in each case.

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- (ღ):
  • Preverb a-: a-gh-eb-a (აღება), to raise, lift up (preverb a- generally implies an upward motion). (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb amo-: amo-gh-eb-a (ამოღება), to take out. (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb ga-: ga-gh-eb-a (გაღება), to open. (Used with versioner -a)
  • Preverb gadmo-: gadmo-gh-eb-a (გადმოღება), to take down. (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb gamo-: gamo-gh-eb-a (გამოღება), to give forth. (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb mi-: mi-gh-eb-a (მიღება), to receive. (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb shemo-: shemo-gh-eb-a (შემოღება), to introduce. (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb ts'amo-: ts'amo-gh-eb-a (წამოღება), to carry. (Used with versioner -u)
• the verb root -q'r- (ყრ):
  • Preverb a-: a-q'r-a (აყრა), put forth, throw upward. (Used with versioner -i)
  • Preverb ga-: ga-q'r-a (გაყრა), stick, put something through. (Used with versioner -u)
  • Preverb gada-: gada-q'r-a (გადაყრა), throw down (preverb gada- (გადა) generally implies a downward motion). (Used with no versioner, but when used in the meaning "throw down to someone", the -u versioner is used)
  • Preverb gadmo-: gadmo-q'r-a (გადმოყრა), cast something down. (Used with versioner -a)
  • Preverb da-: da-q'r-a (დაყრა), scatter, drop, let fall. (Used with no versioner)
  • Preverb mo-: mo-q'r-a (მოყრა), ask many questions to someone. (Used with versioner -a)
  • Preverb she-: she-q'r-a (შეყრა), gather together. (Used with no versioner)
  • Preverb cha-: cha-q'r-a (ჩაყრა), pour something (onto someone's head). (Used with versioner -a)
• the verb root -tser- (წერ):
  • Preverb da-: da-ts'er-a (დაწერა), to write
  • Preverb a(gh)-: agh-ts'er-a (აღწერა), to describe, description, census
  • Preverb amo-: a-mo-ts'er-a (ამოწერა), to write out, extract, to sign off, to deregister
  • Preverb cha-: cha-ts'er-a (ჩაწერა), to write into/onto something (including files)
  • Preverb cha-mo-: cha-mo-ts'er-a (ჩამოწერა), to list (by writing), to decommission
  • Preverb mi-: mi-ts'er-a (მიწერა), to write (to) someone
  • Preverb mi-mo-: mi-mo-ts'er-a (მიმოწერა), correspondence, conversation (by post or mail)
  • Preverb gada-: gada-ts'er-a (გადაწერა), copying text (or files) from one place to another
  • Preverb gad-mo-: gad-mo-ts'er-a (გადმოწერა), copying/writing out the text from the source, downloading of files
  • Preverb ga-: ga-ts'er-a (გაწერა), to plan, to stipulate
  • Preverb ga-mo-: ga-mo-ts'er-a (გამოწერა), to subscribe (newspaper etc.), to order/buy some item
  • Preverb tsa-: tsa-ts'er-a (წაწერა), making/writing a note (on the document)

References[]