L2.5: The G Durative
Contents
L2.5: The G Durative#
The durative denotes an action that takes place over a period of time or an action that has not taken place. It can thus be translated according to the context as simple future, present tense, durative/circumstancial, habitual and modal. In other textbooks the durative is called Present or Present-Furture
Important
Pattern: Prefix + R₁aR₂R₂vR₃ (+ suffix)
Personal Affixes#
The personal affixes for the durative are the same as the those of the G preterite. 😌
G-Stem |
Example |
|
|---|---|---|
3s.c. |
i- |
iparras |
2s.m. |
ta-, (te-) |
taparras |
2s.f. |
ta-, (te-) … -ī |
taparrasī |
1s.c. |
a-, (e-) |
aparras |
3pl.m. |
i- … -ū |
iparrasū |
3pl.f. |
i- … -ā |
iparrasā |
2pl.c. |
ta-, (te-) … -ā |
taparrasā |
1pl.c. |
ni-, (ne-) |
niparras |
Theme Vowels#
The theme vowel in the durative pattern R₁aR₂R₂vR₃ is a short one. They are the same as in the G preterite, with the only difference that in the theme vowel u of the preterite the durative can have an a or u. It is thus called vowel class.
Vowel Classes#
There are four vowel classes:
a/u-Class#
This group of verbs have the theme vowel -u in preterite and -a in durative:
Infinitive |
Translation |
Preterite |
Durative |
|---|---|---|---|
batāqu |
to cut off, divide |
ibtuq |
ibattaq |
kamāru |
to pile up |
ikmur |
ikammar |
gamāru |
to complete |
igmur |
igammar |
Note
This is the most common vowel class and is also known as Ablaut-class, which is the German designation for this class. Verbs in this class are mostly active-transitive.
a/u-Class in the Dictionary
The dictionary will show right after the infinitive to which class a verb belongs.
i-Class#
This group of verbs have the theme vowel -i in preterite as well as in durative:
Infinitive |
Translation |
Preterite |
Durative |
|---|---|---|---|
damāqum |
to be/become good |
idmiq |
idammiq |
halāqu |
to be/become fugitive |
ihliq |
ihalliq |
pašāṭu |
to erase |
ipšiṭ |
ipaššiṭ |
Note
Verbs in this class are mostly adjectival verbs (damāqu). There are some active-intransitive (halāqu) and a few active-transitive (pašāṭu).
u-Class#
This group of verbs have the theme vowel -u in preterite as well as in durative:
Infinitive |
Translation |
Preterite |
Durative |
|---|---|---|---|
maqātu |
to fall |
imqut |
imaqqut |
šagāmu |
to roar |
išgum |
išaggum |
šamāhu |
to be/become magnificient |
išmuh |
išammuh |
Note
Verbs in this class are mostly active-intransitive (maqātu). There are some active-transitive (šagāmu) and a few adjectival verbs (šamāhu).
a-Class#
This group of verbs have the theme vowel -a in preterite as well as in durative:
Infinitive |
Translation |
Preterite |
Durative |
|---|---|---|---|
ṣabātu |
to seize |
iṣbat |
iṣabbat |
mahāṣu |
to strike |
imhaṣ |
imahhaṣ |
lamādu |
to learn |
ilmad |
ilammad |
Note
Verbs in this class are rare. There are some active-transitive verbs.