Adyghe morphology
In Adyghe, like all Northwest Caucasian languages, morphology is the most important part of the grammar. An Adyghe word, besides that it has its own lexical meaning, sometimes, by the set of morphemes it is built of and by their aggregate grammatical meanings, can reproduce a sentence. For example, 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. For example: къыпфэсхьыщтэп "I will not bring it for you" consists of these morphemes: къы-п-фэ-с-хьы-щт-эп – which have these literal meanings "from there (къы) you (п) for you (фэ) I (с) bring (хьы) will (attribute of the future tense - щт) not (эп)".
Verbal Prefixes
In Adyghe there are two kind of prefixes : Directional prefixes and informative prefixes. Directional prefixes express the direction of the verb while informative prefixes add additional information related to the verb like the location, the reason and the participants.
| Directional prefixes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case | Prefix | Example | Translation | ||
| Directional | къ~ (q~) | къаплъэ (qaːpɬa) | (s)he is looking toward here | ||
| Towards | лъ~ (ɬ~) | лъэплъэ (ɬapɬa) | (s)he is looking towards him | ||
| Backwards | зэкӏ~ (zat͡ʃʼ~) | зэкӏаплъэ (zat͡ʃʼaːpɬa) | (s)he is looking backwards | ||
| Bypass | блэ~ (bɮa~) | блэплъы (bɮapɬə) | (s)he is looking bypass | ||
| Pass through | пхыры~ (pxərə~) | пхырыплъы (pxərəpɬə) | (s)he is looking pass through | ||
| Backwards | зэкӏ~ (zat͡ʃʼ~) | зэкӏаплъэ (zat͡ʃʼaːpɬa) | (s)he is looking backwards | ||
| Beyond | шъхьэпы~ (ʂħapə~) | шъхьапыплъы (ʂħaːpəpɬə) | (s)he is looking beyond it | ||
| Over | шъхьадэ~ (ʂħaːda~) | шъхьадэплъы (ʂħaːdapɬə) | (s)he is looking over it | ||
| Neck | шӏохэ~ (ʃʷʼaxa~) | шӏохаплъэ (ʃʷʼaxaːpɬa) | (s)he is looking at the neck of | ||
| Informative prefixes | |||||
| Case | Prefix | Example | Translation | ||
| Definiteness | къ~ (q~) | къаплъэ (qaːpɬa) | (s)he is looking | ||
| Location | щ~ (ɕ~) | щеплъы (ɕajpɬə) | (s)he is looking at that place | ||
| Causative | гъэ~ (ʁ~) | егъаплъэ (jaʁaːpɬa) | (s)he is making him look | ||
| Comitative | дэ~ (da~) | деплъы (dajpɬə) | (s)he is looking with him | ||
| Benefactive | фэ (fa~) | Феплъы (fajpɬə) | (s)he is looking for him | ||
| Against | шӏо~ (ʃʷʼa~) | шӏуеплъы (ʃʷʼajpɬə) | (s)he is looking against his will | ||
| Instrumental | ре~ (raj~) | реплъы (rajpɬə) | (s)he is looking using it | ||
| Reflexive | з~ (z~) | зэплъыжьы (zapɬəʑə) | (s)he is looking at himself | ||
| Functionally | зэрэ~ (zara~) | зэраплъэрэ (zaraːpɬara) | the way (s)he is looking | ||
Directional prefixes
Directional prefixes express the movement of the object and the direction of the verb.
Positional prefixes
Cislocative (къэ~)
Towards (лъ~)
The verbal suffix ~лъ (~ɬ) designates action directed towards someone or something. for example:
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ (s)he is going → лъэкӏо /ɬakʷʼa/ (s)he is going after; (s)he is following.
- мачъэ /maːt͡ʂa/ (s)he is running → лъэчъэ /ɬat͡ʂa/ (s)he is running after.
- мэкуо /makʷəwa/ (s)he is shouting → лъэкуо /ɬakʷəwa/ (s)he is shouting toward.
- маплъэ /mapɬə/ (s)he is looking → лъэплъэ /ɬapɬa/ (s)he is looking after.
- ео /jawa/ (s)he is hitting → лъэо /ɬawa/ (s)he is hitting toward.
- едзы /jad͡zə/ (s)he is throwing → лъедзы /ɬajd͡zə/ (s)he is throwing toward.
- ехьэ /jaħa/ (s)he is entering → лъехьэ /ɬajħa/ (s)he is entering after.
- мэӏабэ /maʔaːba/ (s)he is trying to reach → лъыӏэбэн /ɬəʔaban/ (s)he is trying to reach toward.
шъо кӏалэхэмкӏэ шъукъэслъыкӏу шъо кӏалэхэ-мкӏэ шъу-къэ-с-лъы-кӏу [ʃʷa t͡ʃʼaːɮaxamt͡ʃʼa ʃʷəqasɬəkʷʼ] you (plural) from the boys (ins.) follow me (said to plural). "You boys follow me (said to plural)."
кӏалэр мыжъокӏэ къэслъэгъуе [t͡ʃʼaːɮam məʒʷat͡ʃʼa qasɬaʁʷəja] the boy (abs.) using a rock (ins.) (s)he is throwing at me "The boy is throwing at me rocks."
Backwards (зэкӏ~)
To indicate a verb that was done backwards, the prefix зэкӏ- (zat͡ʃʼ-) is added. It indicates that the verb was done toward behind the subject, for example:
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ (s)he is going → зэкӏакӏо /zat͡ʃʼaːkʷʼa/ (s)he is going backwards.
- мачъэ /maːt͡ʂa/ (s)he is running → зэкӏачъэ /zat͡ʃʼaːt͡ʂa/ (s)he is running backwards.
- маплъэ /mapɬə/ (s)he is looking → зэкӏаплъэ /zat͡ʃʼaːɬapɬa/ (s)he is looking backwards.
- едзы /jad͡zə/ (s)he is throwing → зэкӏедзы /zat͡ʃʼajd͡zə/ (s)he is throwing backwards.
- мэӏабэ /maʔaːba/ (s)he is trying to reach → зэкӏэӏабэ /zat͡ʃʼaʔaːba/ (s)he is trying to reach out backwards.
зэкӏаплъи плъэгъущт кӏалэр зэкӏа-плъ-и п-лъэгъу-щт кӏалэ-р [zat͡ʃʼaːpɬəj pɬaʁʷəɕt t͡ʃʼaːɮar] look backwards in order to you will see the boy (abs.) "Look behind and you will see the boy."
нахьыеу тӏэкӏу зэкӏакӏу нахьы-еу тӏэкӏу зэкӏа-кӏу [naːħəjaw tʼakʷʼ zat͡ʃʼaːkʷʼ] more a bit move backward "Move backward a bit more."
Bypass (блэ~)
The verbal prefix блэ~ /bɮa~/ designates action bypass someone or something for example:
- блэкӏын /bɮat͡ʃʼən/ to go pass something or someone.
- блэшъутын /bɮəʃʷtən/ to run pass something or someone.
- блихын /bɮəjxən/ to barely miss something or someone.
- дзын /d͡zən/ to throw → блэдзын /bɮad͡zən/ to throw bypass.
- плъэн /pɬən/ to look → блэплъын /bɮapɬən/ to look bypass.
- пкӏэн /pt͡ʃʼan/ to jump → блэпкӏын /bɮapt͡ʃʼən/ to jump bypass.
- быбын /bəbən/ to fly → блэбыбын /bɮabəbən/ to fly bypass.
- он /wan/ to hit; to shoot → блэун /bɮawən/ to miss.
гъогум сэ сыблэкӏы гъогу-м сэ сы-блэкӏы [ʁʷaɡʷəm sa səbɮat͡ʃʼə] road (erg.) I I go bypass "I go pass the road."
сыкъашти цӏыфыхэмэ саблэгъэплъ сы-къашт-и цӏыфы-хэ-мэ с-а-блэ-гъэ-плъ [səqaːʃtəj t͡sʼəfxama saːbɮaʁapɬ] hold me up and people (abs.) let my look bypass them "Hold me up and let me look bypass the people."
псыхъом къэздачъи блэпкӏ псыхъо-м къэздачъ-и блэпкӏ [psəχʷam qazdaːt͡ʂəj blapt͡ʃʼ] river (erg.) to run from a distance jump bypass "Start running from a distance and jump over the river."
Pass through (пхы~)
The verbal prefix пхы~ (пхыры~) (pxə~) designates action, motion directed through some obstacle, object; for example:
- пхырыкӏын /pxərət͡ʃʼən/ to pass through.
- плъэн /pɬən/ to look → пхырыплъын /pxərəpɬən/ to look pass through something
кӏалэр мэзым пхырыкӏыгъ кӏалэ-р мэз-ым пхыры-кӏы-гъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar mazəm pxərət͡ʃʼəʁ] boy (abs.) forest (erg.) (s)he passed through "The boy passed through the forest."
Beyond (шъхьапы~)
The verbal prefix шъхьапы~ /ʂħaːpə~/ designates movement of an object beyond something. Transference of an object beyond something. for example:
- шъхьэпыкӏын /ʂħapət͡ʃʼən/ to exceed; to go beyond something.
- шъхьэпыхын /ʂħapəxən/ to barely miss someone; to pass something very closely and quickly.
- дзын /d͡zən/ to throw → шъхьэпыдзын /ʂħapəd͡zən/ to throw beyond something.
- плъэн /pɬən/ to look → шъхьэпыплъын /ʂħapəppɬən/ to look beyond something
- пкӏэн /pt͡ʃʼan/ to jump → шъхьэпыппкӏын /ʂħapəpt͡ʃʼən/ to jump beyond something.
- он /wan/ to hit; to shoot → шъхьэпыун /ʂħapəwən/ to shoot beyond something or someone.
цӏыфыхэмэ сашъхьэпэплъы цӏыфы-хэ-мэ с-а-шъхьэпэ-плъы [t͡sʼfəxama saːʂħapapɬə] people (erg.) I am looking beyond their heads "I am looking beyond the people."
унэм мыжъор шъхьэпыдзын ӏо унэ-м мыжъо-р шъхьэпы-дзы-н ӏо [wənam məʒʷar ʂħapəd͡zən ʔʷa] house (erg.) rock (abs.) to throw beyond try "Try throwing the rock beyond the house."
Мыжъор кӏалэм шъхьэпихэгъ Мыжъо-р кӏалэ-м шъхьэпи-хэ-гъ [məʒʷaw t͡ʃʼaːɮam ʂħapəd͡zən] rock (abs.) boy (erg.) it missed one's head "The rock barely passed beyond the boy."
Over (шъхьадэ~)
The verbal prefix шъхьадэ~ /ʂħaːda~/ designates movement of an object over something. Transference of an object over something. for example:
- шъхьэдэкӏын /ʂħapat͡ʃʼən/ to go pass over something.
- дзын /d͡zən/ to throw → шъхьэдэдзын /ʂħadad͡zən/ to throw over something.
- плъэн /pɬən/ to look → шъхьэдэплъын /ʂħadapɬən/ to look over something or someone.
- пкӏэн /pt͡ʃʼan/ to jump → шъхьэдэпкӏын /ʂħadapt͡ʃʼən/ to jump over something.
къэлапчъэм кӏалэр шъхьэдэплъы къэлапчъэ-м кӏалэ-р шъхьэдэплъы [t͡sawpt͡ʂam t͡ʃʼaːɮar ʂħadapɬə] gate (erg.) boy (abs.) to look over something "The boy is looking over the gate."
боксым шъхьэдэпкӏ боксым шъхьэдэ-пкӏ [boksəm ʂħadapt͡ʃʼ] box (erg.) jump over something "Jump over the box."
Adjacent (кӏэлъыры~)
The verbal prefix кӏэлъыры~ /t͡ʃʼaɬərə~/ designates action adjacent to something, for example:
- кӏэлъырысын /t͡ʃʼaɬərəsən/ to sit adjacent to something or someone.
- кӏэлъырытын /t͡ʃʼaɬərətən/ to stand adjacent to something or someone.
- кӏэлъырыон /t͡ʃʼaɬərəwan/ to hit adjacent to something or someone.
- кӏэлъырыкӏын /t͡ʃʼaɬərət͡ʃʼən/ to move away adjacent from something or someone.
кӏалэхэр машӏом кӏэлъырысых кӏалэ-хэ-р машӏо-м кӏэлъыры-сы-х [t͡ʃʼaːɮaxar maːʃʷʼam t͡ʃʼaɬərətəx] the boys (abs.) fire (erg.) they are siting adjacent to "The boys are sitting adjacent to the fire."
Spread to different directions (Зэбгы~)
The verbal prefix Зэбгы~ /zabɣə~/ indicates the spread of action in different directions.
- зэбгырыфын /zabɣəfən/ to scatter driving away
- зэбгырыон /zabɣəfən/ to fall to pieces
- зэбгырыдзын /zabɣərəd͡ʒən/ to scatter by throwing
- зэбгырыкӏын /zabɣərət͡ʃʼən/ to disperse (in different directions)
On the neck (шӏохэ~)
The verbal prefix шӏохэ~ /ʃʷʼaxa~/ designates action directed to the neck for example:
- шӏохэлъын /ʃʷʼaxaɬən/ to be wore on one's neck.
- шӏохэфэн /ʃʷʼaxafan/ to fit on one's neck.
- шӏохэзын /ʃʷʼaxazən/ to fall from one's neck.
- шӏохэлъхьэн /ʃʷʼaxaɬħan/ to wear on one's neck.
- дзын /d͡zən/ to throw → шӏохэдзэн /ʃʷʼaxad͡zan/ to throw on one's neck.
- плъэн /pɬən/ to look → шӏохэплъэн /ʃʷʼaxapɬan/ to look on one's neck.
- пкӏэн /pt͡ʃʼan/ to jump → шӏохэпкӏын /ʃʷʼaxapapt͡ʃʼən/ to jump on one's neck.
пшъэдалъхьэр къэсшӏохалъхь пшъэдалъхь-р къэ-с-шӏоха-лъхь [pʂadaːɬħar qasʃʷʼaxaːɬħ] necktie (abs.) Wear it on my neck "Wear the necktieon my neck."
кӏалэм джэгъукӏэлъ шӏохэлъ кӏалэ-м джэгъукӏэлъ шӏохэ-лъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam d͡ʒaʁʷt͡ʃʼaɬ ʃʷʼaxaɬ] boy (erg.) necklace it is wore on one's neck "The necklace is wore on the boy's neck."
Informative prefixes
Informative prefixes add additional information related to the verb like the location, the reason and the participants.
Definiteness (къэ~)
The prefix къэ~ /qa~/ can also be used to add a tinge of definiteness to the verb. In this case the verb does not necessarily have to be done towards the speaker. For example:
кӏалэр къэгущыӏэ кӏалэ-р къэ-гущыӏэ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qaɡʷəɕəːʔa] boy (abs.) (s)he speaks "The boy speaks."
кӏалэр пщынэм къео кӏалэ-р пщынэ-м къ-ео [t͡ʃʼaːɮar pɕənam qajwa] boy (abs.) accordion (erg.) (s)he worked "The boy is playing the accordion."
кӏалэр ӏофым макӏуи къэлэжьагъ кӏалэ-р ӏофэ-ым макӏу-и къэ-лэжь-агъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar ʔʷafəm maːkʷʼəj qaɮaʑaːʁ] boy (abs.) work / job (erg.) (s)he went and (s)he worked "The boy went to work and worked."
Causative (гъэ~)
The verbal suffix гъэ~ (ʁ~) designates causation; rendered by the verbs. It designates that the object was forced to, compelled to, made to, was ordered to, was allowed to, was permitted to, was given the opportunity to do something. Verbs receive an additional argument in the causative construction, i.e. their valence is increased by one. All Adyghe verbs can form the causative, including intransitives, transitives, and ditransitives.
Examples :
- кӏо! /kʷʼa/ go! → гъакӏу /ʁaːkʷʼ/ make him go!
- макӏо! /maːkʷʼa/ he is going → егъакӏо /jaʁaːkʷʼa/ he is making him go.
- къакӏу /qaːkʷʼ/ come! → къэгъакӏу /qaʁaːkʷʼ/ make him come back!
- ӏо /ʔʷa/ say! → гъаӏу /ʁaːʔʷ/ make him say!
- шхэ /ʃxa/ eat! → гъашх /ʁaːʃx/ make him eat!; feed him!
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ he is eating → егъашхэ /jaʁaːʃxa/ he is making him eat; he is feeding him.
фылымым сегъэплъ фылым-ым се-гъэ-плъ [fələməm sajʁapɬ] film (erg.) let me watch it "let me watch the film."
шъхьэхъор ӏанэм тэгъауцу шъхьэхъо-р ӏанэ-м тэ-гъа-уцу [ʂħaχʷar ʔaːnam taʁaːwt͡sʷ] flowerpot (abs.) table (erg.) make it stand on "place the flowerpot on the table."
| Subject pronouns |
Object pronouns | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To me | To you | To him | To us | To you (plural) | To them | To self | ||
| Singular | 1st person | - | осэгъакӏо | сэгъакӏо | - | шъосэгъакӏо | сэгъакӏох | зэсэгъэкӏожьы |
| 2nd person | сэбэгъакӏо | - | огъакӏо | тэбэгъакӏо | - | огъакӏох | зэбэгъэкӏожьы | |
| 3rd person | сегъакӏо | уегъакӏо | егъакӏо | тегъакӏо | шъуегъакӏо | егъакӏох | зегъэкӏожьы | |
| Plural | 1st person | - | отэгъакӏо | тэгъакӏо | - | шъотэгъакӏо | тэгъакӏох | зэтэгъэкӏожьы |
| 2nd person | сэшъогъакӏо | - | шъогъакӏо | тэшъогъакӏо | - | шъогъакӏох | зэшъогъэкӏожьы | |
| 3rd person | сагъакӏо | уагъакӏо | агъакӏо | тагъакӏо | шъуагъакӏо | агъакӏох | загъэкӏожьы | |
By adding prefix гъэ- (ʁa-), it is possible to create transitive verbs from nouns, adjectives and intransitive verbs.
Examples :
- фабэ /faːba/ hot → гъэфаб /ʁafaːb/ make it hot; heat it
- дахэ /daːxa/ pretty → гъэдах /ʁadaːx/ make him/it pretty
- плъыжьы /pɬəʑə/ red → гъэплъыжь /ʁapɬəʑ/ make him/it red
- дышъэ /dəʂa/ gold → гъэдышъ /ʁadəʂ/ make him/it gold
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ long → гъэукӏэхьын /ʁat͡ʃʼaħən/ to make it long; to extend; to lengthen
- хьазыр /ħaːzər/ ready → гъэухьэзырын /ʁawħazərən/ to make it ready; to prepare
санэ псым хапкӏэмэ егъэплъыжьыщт санэ псы-м ха-пкӏэ-мэ е-гъэ-плъыжьы-щт [saːna psəm xaːpt͡ʃama jaʁapɬəʑəɕt] grape water (erg.) if you pour it he will make it red "If you spill grape on water it will make it red"
фылымыр бащэу агъэукӏэхьэгъ фылым-ыр ба-щэ-у а-гъэ-укӏэхьэ-гъ [fələmər baːɕaw jaːʁawt͡ʃʼaħaʁ] film (abs.) a lot (adv.) they extended it "they extended the film too much."
Adyghe allows "double causatives", i.e. the causative suffix can be added to a transitive verb that has already been derived by causativization: thus the causative гъэжъон /ʁaʒʷan/ "make boil, cook" can be causativized to гъэгъэжъон /ʁaʁaʒʷan/ "make someone cook", taking three arguments.
сэ пшъашъэм есгъэгъашхэ шхыныр кӏэлэцӏыкӏум сэ пшъашъэ-м е-с-гъэ-гъ-ашхэ шхын-ыр кӏэлэцӏыкӏу-м [sa pʂaːʂam jasʁaʁaːʃxa ʃxənər t͡ʃʼaɮat͡sʼəkʷʼəm] I girl (erg.) I am making him/her feed someone food (abs.) little boy (erg.) "I am making the girl feed the little boy with the food."
кӏалэм егъэгъакӏо пшъашъэр кӏэлэцӏыкӏур кӏалэ-м е-гъэ-гъа-кӏо пшъашъэ-р кӏэлэцӏыкӏу-р [t͡ʃʼaːɮam jaʁaʁaːkʷʼa pʂaːʂar t͡ʃʼaɮat͡sʼəkʷʼər] boy (erg.) (s)he is making him/her make someone go girl (abs.) little boy (abs.) "The boy is making the girl force then boy to go."
Causative reflexive (зыгъэ~)
A verb that one does to himself has the prefix зыгъэ~ /zəʁa~/
Examples :
- фабэ /faːba/ hot → зыгъэфаб /zəʁafaːb/ heat yourself
- дахэ /daːxa/ pretty → зыгъэдах /zəʁadaːx/ make yourself pretty (usually by clothing)
- кIо! /kʷʼa/ go! → зыгъакIу /zəʁaːkʷʼ/ make yourself go!
- макIо /maːkʷʼa/ he is going → зегъакIо /zeʁaːkʷʼa/ he is making himself go.
- шхэ /ʃxa/ eat! → зыгъашх /zəʁaːʃx/ make yourself eat! or feed yourself!
- машхэх /maːʃxa/ they are eating → загъашхэх /zaːʁaːʃxax/ they are making themselves eat, they are feeding themselves.
кукунэгъэбылъымкӏэ кӏэлэцыкӏухэмэ загъэбылъы [kʷəkʷnaʁabəɬəmt͡ʃʼa zajʁadaːxa d͡ʒaːnaxamt͡ʃa] hide and seek (ins.) the little boys (erg.) they are hiding themselves "In hide and seek, the little boys are hiding themselves."
кӏалэм зыкъемыгъэдел кӏалэ-м зы-къе-мы-гъэ-дел [t͡ʃʼaːɮam zəqajməʁadajl] the boy (erg.) don't make him fool you "don't get the boy fool you."
кӏалэм дахэу зыкъегъэлъагъо джанэхэмкӏэ кӏалэ-м дахэ-у зы-къе-гъэ-лъагъо джанэ-хэ-мкӏэ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam daːxae zajʁadaːxa d͡ʒaːnaxamt͡ʃa] the boy (erg.) beautify (s)he is making himself look with (using) the clothes (ins.) "the boy is making himself look pretty using the clothes"
Time (з~)
To indicate the time a certain verb was done, the prefix з~ (z~) and the past tense suffix ~гъэ (~ʁa) are added. To indicate the time the verb gonna happen, the prefix з~ (z~) and the future tense suffix ~щтэ (~ɕta) are added. For example:
- аукӏэгъ /jaːwt͡ʃʼaʁ/ they killed him → заукӏыгъэр /zaːwt͡ʃʼəʁa/ the time they killed him is
- ышхэгъ /jəʃxaʁ/ (s)he ate it → зышхыгъэр /zəjʃxəʁar/ the time (s)he ate it is
- еплъэгъ /japɬaʁ/ (s)he watched it → зеплъыгъэр /zepɬəʁar/ the time he watched it is
- еплъыщт /japɬəɕt/ (s)he gonna watch it → зеплъыщтэр /zepɬəɕtar/ the time he gonna watch it is
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ (s)he went → зыкӏуагъэр /zəkʷʼaːʁar/ the time he went is
- мэкӏощт /makʷʼaɕt/ (s)he gonna watch it → зыкӏощтэр /zəkʷʼaɕtar/ the time he gonna go is
щэджэгъожэ сэ сызычъагъэр щэджэгъожэ сэ сызычъагъэр [ɕad͡ʒaːʁʷaʒar sa səzət͡ʂaːʁar] after noon (abs.) I the time I ran "The time I ran was after noon."
кӏалэр чэщыр залъэгъугъэр [t͡ʃʼaːɮar t͡ʃaɕər zaːɬaʁʷəʁar] the boy (abs.) the night (abs.) the time they saw him "The time they saw the boy was the night."
To indicate an event, a plan or something that gonna happen after a certain verb will take place, will have the prefix з- (z-) and the conditional suffix -кӏэ (-t͡ʃʼa) (-гьэ in Shapsug dialect and -джэ in Bzhedugh dialect). For example:
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ (s)he is going → зыкӏокӏэ /zəkʷʼat͡ʃʼa/ at the time (s)he goes.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ I am going → сызкӏокӏэ /səzkʷʼat͡ʃʼa/ at the time I go.
- еплъы /japɬə/ (s)he is looking at it → зеплъыкӏэ /zajpɬət͡ʃʼa/ at the time (s)he looks at it.
- уеплъы /wajpɬə/ you are looking at it → узеплъыкӏэ /wzajpɬət͡ʃʼa/ at the time you gonna look at it.
- елъэгъу /jaɬaʁʷə/ (s)he is seeing it → зилъэгъукӏэ /zəjɬaʁʷət͡ʃʼa/ at the time (s)he sees it.
- сэбэлъэгъу /sabaɬaʁʷə/ you are seeing me → сызыбэлъэгъукӏэ /səzəbɬaʁʷət͡ʃʼa/ at the time you will see me.
- реӏо /rajʔʷa/ (s)he is saying it to him → зриӏокӏэ /zrəjʔʷat͡ʃʼa/ at the time (s)he gonna say it to him.
- уесэты /wajsatə/ I am giving you to him → узестыкӏэ /wzajstət͡ʃʼa/ at the time I will give you to him.
кӏалэр макӏоу зыплъэгъукӏэ къысадж кӏалэ-р макӏо-у зы-п-лъэгъу-кӏэ къы-са-дж [t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːkʷʼaw zəpɬaʁʷət͡ʃʼa] qəsaːd͡ʒ] boy (abs.) while (s)he is going at the time you see it call me "At the time you see the boy is going, call me."
фылымэр къызежьэкӏэ къыосӏощт зэрэкъежьагъэр фылым-эр къы-зе-жьэ-кӏэ къы-о-с-ӏо-щт зэрэ-къ-ежь-агъ-эр [fələmar qəzajʑat͡ʃʼa qəwasʔʷaɕt zaraqajʑaːʁar] the film (abs.) at the time it starts I will tell you the moment it started "At the time the film starts I will tell you it is started."
сызкъэплъэгъукӏэ еплъ джанэу къэсщыгъым сы-з-къэ-п-лъэгъу-кӏэ еплъ джанэ-у къэ-с-щыгъэ-м [səzqapɬaʁʷt͡ʃʼa japɬ d͡ʒaːnaw qasɕəʁəm] when you see me look shirt (adv.) the thing I am wearing (erg.) "When you see me, look at what I am wearing."
банкэр затыгъукӏэ пулисым феу [baːnkar zaːtəʁt͡ʃʼa pulisəm few] the bank (abs.) when they steal it from the police (erg.) call him "When they rob the bank, call the police."
To indicate an event that happened after a certain verb took place on a certain time, the prefix з- (z-) and suffix -эм (-am) are added. For example:
- аукӏэгъ /jaːwt͡ʃʼaʁ/ they killed him → заукӏым /zaːwt͡ʃʼəm/ when they killed him.
- ышхэгъ /jəʃxaʁ/ (s)he ate it → зешхым /zeʃxəm/ when he ate it.
- еплъэгъ /japɬaʁ/ (s)he looked at it → зеплъым /zepɬəm/ when he looked at it.
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ (s)he went → зэкӏом /zakʷʼam/ when he went.
кӏалэр тучаным зэкӏом силъэгъогъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar pɕəna zewarar səjɬaʁʷaʁ] the boy (abs.) to the shop (erg.) when (s)he went (s)he saw me "When the boy went to the shop he saw me."
кӏалэр зэгуабжым къэтлъежагъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar zaɡʷaːbʒəm qatɬeʒaːʁ] the boy (abs.) when (s)he got angry (s)he chased after us "When the boy got angry he chased after us."
Location (щ~)
The verbal prefix щ~ (ɕ~) designates abode/residence somewhere. It is used to indicate the location or place an action occurred. For example:
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ - (s)he is eating → щэшхэ /ɕaʃxa/ - (s)he is eating on that place
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → щэкӏо /ɕakʷʼa/ - (s)he is going on that place
- сеплъы /sajpɬə/ - I am looking at it → сыщеплъы /səɕajpɬə/ - I am looking at it on that place
- седжагъ /sajd͡ʒaːʁ/ - I studied → сыщеджагъ /səɕajd͡ʒaːʁ/ - I studied at that place
- реӏо /rajʔʷa/ - (s)he is telling him/her → щреӏо /ɕraʔʷa/ - (s)he is telling him/her at that place
кӏалэр щагум щэджэгу кӏалэ-р щагу-м щэ-джэгу [t͡ʃʼaːɮar ɕaːgʷəm ɕad͡ʒaɡʷə] the boy (abs.) yard (erg.) (s)he is playing at that place "the boy is playing in the yard."
кӏалэр еджапӏэм непэ щеджагъ кӏалэ-р еджапӏэ-м непэ щ-еджэ-агъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar jad͡ʒaːpʼam najpa ɕajd͡ʒaːʁ] the boy (abs.) school (erg.) today (s)he studied in that place "the boy studied in school today."
кӏалэр тучаным къэсщэӏукӏагъ кӏалэ-р тучан-ым къэ-с-щэ-ӏукӏэ-агъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar tuːt͡ʃaːnəm qasɕaʔʷət͡ʃʼaːʁ] the boy (abs.) shop (erg.) I met him/her on that place "I met the boy in the shop."
Comitative (дэ~)
The verbal prefix дэ~ (da~) designates action performed jointly with somebody, or stay/sojourn with somebody, for example:
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ - (s)he is eating → дашхэ /daːʃxa/ - (s)he is eating with him
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → дакӏо /daːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going with him
- щыс /ɕəc/ - (s)he sits → дэщыс /daɕəs/ - (s)he is sitting with him
- тэкӏо /takʷʼa/ - we are going → тыдакӏо /tədaːkʷʼa/ - we are going with him
- сеплъы /sajpɬə/ - I am looking at it → сыдеплъы /qasdajpɬə/ - I am looking at it with him
- реӏо /rajʔʷa/ - (s)he is telling it to him → дреӏо /drajʔʷa/ - (s)he is telling it to someone with him
кӏалэр пшъашъэм дакӏо кӏалэ-р пшъашъэ-м д-макӏо [t͡ʃʼaːɮar pʂaːʂam daːkʷʼa] the boy (abs.) the girl (erg.) he is going with "the boy is going with the girl"
шхынэр къэсдэшх шхын-эр къэ-с-дэ-шх [ʃxənar qasdaʃx the food (abs.) eat it with me "eat the food with me"
кӏалэр лӏыхэмэ адэлажьэ яӏофкӏэ кӏалэ-р лӏы-хэ-мэ а-дэ-лажьэ я-ӏоф-кӏэ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar ɬʼəxama jaːdaɮaːʑa jaːʔʷaft͡ʃʼa] the boy (abs.) old men (erg.) he is working with them with their works (ins.) "the boy is working with the men with their work."
with me
with you
with him
with us
with you plural
with them
Benefactive (фэ~)
The prefix фэ~ /fa~/ designates action performed to please somebody, for somebody's sake or in somebody's interests.
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ - (s)he is eating → фашхэ /faːʃxa/ - (s)he is eating for him
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → факӏо /faːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going for him
- тэкӏо /takʷʼa/ - we are going → тыфакӏо /fədaːkʷʼa/ - we are going for him
- сеплъы /sajpɬə/ - I am looking at it → сыфеплъы /qasfajpɬə/ - I am looking at it for him
- реӏо /rajʔʷa/ - (s)he is telling it to him → фреӏо /frajʔʷa/ - (s)he is telling it to someone for him
кӏалэр иянэ тучаным фэкӏо кӏалэ-р и-янэ тучан-ым фэ-кӏо [t͡ʃʼaːɮar jəjaːna təwt͡ʃaːnəm fakʷʼa] the boy (abs.) his other shop (erg.) (s)he is going with for "the boy is going for his mother."
уатэр сэ къэсфэхь уатэ-р сэ къэ-с-фэ-хь [waːtar sa qasfaħ] hammer (abs.) I bring it for me "bring me the hammer."
ащ непэ гъончэдж зыфищэфыжьыгъ ащ непэ гъончэдж зы-ф-ищэфы-жь-ыгъ [aːɕ najpa ʁʷant͡ʃad͡ʒ zəfəjɕafəʑəʁ] (s)he (erg.) today pants (s)he bought it for himself "today (s)he bought pants for himself."
for me
for you
for him
for us
for you plural
for them
Malefactive (шӏо~)
The verbal prefix шӏо~ (ʃʷʼa~) designates action done against somebody's will or interest. It also designates that the action was done to take an object or an opportunity away from somebody else, for example:
- шӏуекӏы /ʃʷʼajt͡ʃʼə/ - (s)he is getting away from him
- етыгъу /jatəʁʷə/ - (s)he is stealing it → шӏуетыгъу /ʃʷʼajtəʁʷə/ - (s)he is stealing it from him
- ехьы /jaħə/ - (s)he is taking it → шӏуехьы /ʃʷʼajħə/ - (s)he is taking it away from him
- ешхы /jaʃxə/ - (s)he is eating it → шӏуешхы /ʃʷʼajʃxə/ - (s)he is consuming someone's food or property
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → шӏуакӏо /ʃʷʼaːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going away from him; (s)he is losing it
кӏалэм мыӏэрысыр къэсшӏуешхы кӏалэ-м мыӏэрыс-ыр къэ-с-шӏу-ешхы [t͡ʃʼaːɮam məʔarəsər qasʃʷʼajʃxə] boy (erg.) apple (abs.) (s)he is eating it against my interest "The boy is eating the apple against my interest."
It can be understood from the sentence that "the boy (кӏалэ) is eating the apple (мыӏэрыс) to take away my opportunity to eat it myself".
| Subject pronouns |
Object pronouns | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To me | To you | To him | To us | To you (plural) | To them | To self | ||
| Singular | 1st person | - | пшӏосэхьы къыпшӏосэхьы |
шӏосэхьы къышӏосэхьы |
- | шъушӏосэхьы къышъушӏосэхьы |
ашӏосэхьы къашӏосэхьы |
зшӏосэхьыжьы къызшӏосэхьыжьы |
| 2nd person |
сшӏобэхьы къэсшӏобэхьы |
- | шӏобэхьы къышӏобэхьы |
тшӏобэхьы къэтшӏобэхьы |
- | ашӏобэхьы къашӏобэхьы |
зшӏобэхьыжьы къызшӏобэхьыжьы | |
| 3rd person | сшӏуехьы къэсшӏуехьы |
пшӏуехьы къыпшӏуехьы |
шӏуехьы къышӏуехьы |
тшӏуехьы къэтшӏуехьы |
шъушӏуехьы къышъушӏуехьы |
ашӏуехьы къашӏуехьы |
зшӏуехьыжьы къызшӏуехьыжьы | |
| Plural | 1st person | - | пшӏотэхьы къыпшӏотэхьы |
шӏотэхьы къышӏотэхьы |
- | шъушӏотэхьы къышъушӏотэхьы |
ашӏотэхьы къашӏотэхьы |
зышӏотэхьыжьы къызшӏотэхьыжьы |
| 2nd person | сшӏошъохьы къэсшӏошъохьы |
- | шӏобэхьы къышӏошъохьы |
тшӏошъохьы къэтшӏошъохьы |
- | ашӏошъохьы къашӏошъохьы |
зышӏошъохьыжьы къызшӏошъохьыжьы | |
| 3rd person | сшӏуахьы къэсшӏуахьы |
пшӏуахьы къыпшӏуахьы |
шӏуахьы къышӏуахьы |
тшӏуахьы къэтшӏуахьы |
шъушӏуахьы къышъушӏуахьы |
ашӏуахьы къашӏуахьы |
зышӏуахьыжьы къызшӏуахьыжьы | |
сишхын къэсшӏобэшхыжьы си-шхын къэ-с-шӏо-бэ-шхы-жьы [siʃxən qasʃʷʼabaʃxəɕə] my food you are eating it instead of me "You are eating my food!" Видео джэгумкӏэ сицӏыф кӏалэм къэсшӏуиукӏыгъ Видео джэгу-мкӏэ си-цӏыф кӏалэ-м къэ-с-шӏуи-укӏы-гъ [vɪdioʊ d͡ʒaɡʷəmt͡ʃʼa səjt͡sʼəf t͡ʃʼaːɮam qasʃʷʼəjwt͡ʃʼəʁ] with the video game (ins.) my human the boy (erg.) (s)he killed it against me "(S)he killed my human in the video game."
кӏалэм мыеу чъыгым къыпигъэтэкъухэрэр пшъашъэм шӏуештэжьых кӏалэ-м мые-у чъыгы-м къы-пи-гъэ-тэкъу-хэ-рэ-р пшъашъэ-м шӏу-ештэ-жьы-х [t͡ʃʼaːɮam məjaw t͡ʂəɣəm qəpəjʁataqʷxarar pʂaːʂam ʃʷʼajʃtaʑəx] boy (erg.) apple (adv.) the tree (erg.) the ones that (s)he drops from hanging (abs.) girl (erg.) (s)he is taking them away from him "The girl is taking away the apples the boy dropped from the tree."
Unintentional (ӏэкӏэ~)
The verbal prefix ӏэкӏэ~ (ʔat͡ʃʼa~) denotes unintentional actions or actions that occurred unexpectedly.
сикомпютэр сӏэкӏэкӏосагъ си-компютэ-р с-ӏэкӏэ-кӏос-агъ [səjkompəjutar sʔat͡ʃʼakʷʼasaːʁ] my computer (abs.) it switched off unexpectedly to me "My computer switched off unexpectedly to me."
пысмэ бэ сӏэкӏэтхагъ пысмэ бэ с-ӏэкӏэ-тх-агъ [pəsma ba sʔat͡ʃʼatxaːʁ] letter a lot I wrote unintentionally "I wrote a lot of letters (though I didn’t intend to write so many)"
сихьакӏэхэмэ зэкӏэ мыӏэрысхэр сӏэкӏашхыхьагъ си-хьакӏэ-хэ-мэ зэкӏэ мыӏэрыс-хэ-р с-ӏэкӏ-а-шхы-хь-агъ [səjħaːt͡ʃʼaxama zat͡ʃʼa məʔarəsxar qasʔat͡ʃʼaːʃəħaːʁ] my guests (erg.) all apples (abs.) they ate them unexpectedly to me "My guests ate all the apples unexpectedly to me."
сэ мыӏэрысхэр сӏэкӏэшхыхьагъ сэ мыӏэрыс-хэ-р с-ӏэкӏэ-шхы-хь-агъ [sa məʔarəsxar sʔat͡ʃʼaʃxəħaːʁ] I apples (abs.) I ate them unintentionally "I ate the apples unintentionally."
Instrumental (ре~)
To indicate the tool or instrument the verb was done with, the prefix (ре-) (raj-) is added
- макӀо /maːkʷʼa/ - he is going (makʷʼa), рекӀо /rajkʷʼa/ - he is going on it or he is going with it
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ - he is eating, решхэ /rajʃxa/ - he is eating with it
- сэлажьэ /salaːʑa/ - i am working, сырелажьэ /sərajlaːʑa/ - i am working with it
къэлэмым шъуретхэ [qalaməm ʂʷəretxa] the pencil (erg.) you (plural) writing with it "you (plural) are writing with a pencil"
къалэм сырикӀорагъу [qaːlam sərikʷʼaraːʁʷ] the wall (erg.) i want to go on it "i want to go on the wall"
Reflexive (зэ~)
To indicate a verb that the subject does to himself, the suffix зэ- (za-) is added. verbs in reflexive also usually have the suffix -жьы (-ʑə).
- мэзао /mazaːwa/ - he fights → зэзэожьы /zazawaʑə/ - (s)he fights himself.
- мэзаох /mazaːwax/ - they fight → зэзэожьых /zazawaʑəx/ - they are fighting themselves.
- маплъэ /maːpɬa/ - He looks → зэплъыжьы /zapɬəʑə/ - (s)he looks at himself.
- еплъых /japɬəx/ - They are looking at → зэплъыжьых /zapɬəʑəx/ - They are looking at themselves.
- уемыплъ /wajməpɬ/ - don't look at → узэмыплъыжьы /wəzaməpɬəʑ/ - don't look at yourself.
- сэукӏы /sawt͡ʃʼə/ - I am killing → /zasawt͡ʃʼəʑə/ - зэсэукӏыжьы /zasawt͡ʃʼəʑə/ - I am killing myself.
Гъунджэмкӏэ зэплъыжь [ʁʷənd͡ʒamt͡ʃʼa zapɬəʑ] using the mirror (ins.) look at yourself "Look at yourself in the mirror."
Сыкъызэгъэлъэгъу уиджанэ кӏэхэ къыпшыгъэхэу [seqəzaʁaɬaʁʷ wəjd͡ʒaːna t͡ʃʼaxa qəpʃəʁaxaw] Let me see you Your shirt news while you are wearing them "Let me see you wearing your new shirts."
It can also be used to indicate a verb that some subjects (more than one; group) do to themselves.
Кӏалэмрэ пшъашъэмрэ зэбэух Кӏалэ-м-рэ пшъашъэ-м-рэ зэ-бэу-х [t͡ʃʼaːɮamra pʂaːʂamra zabawəx] the boy and (abs.) the girl and (abs.) they are kissing each other "The boy and the girl are kissing each other."
Шъузэзэонэу шъуфаемэ мэу шъузэмызау [ʃʷəzazawanaw ʃʷəfaːjama maw ʃʷəzaməzaːʷ] You (plural) (to) fight each other if you (plural) want here don't fight each other (said to plural) "If you wanna fight each other, don't fight here"
Comitative reflexive (зэдэ~)
To indicate a verb that is done by some subjects (more than one; group) together, the suffix зэдэ~ (zada~) is added.
- мэзаон /mazaːwan/ - to fight → зэдэзэон /zadazawan/ - to fight together.
- мэкӏон /makʷʼan/ - to walk → зэдэкӏон /zadaakʷʼan/ - to walk together.
- еон /jawan/ - to hit → зэдэон /zadawan/ - to strike together.
- плъэн /pɬan/ - to look → зэдэплъэн /zadapɬan/ - to look together.
Сиунэ тисэу тызэдэшхэщт [siwna təjsaw təzadaʃxaɕt] my house while we are sitting inside we will eat together "We will eat together while sitting in my house."
Томымрэ Джекобрэ тестэр зэдашӏы [toməmra d͡ʒekobra testar zadaːʃʼə] Tom and Jacob the test (arg.) they are doing it together "Tom and Jacob are doing the test together."
Reciprocity (зэры~)
Transitive verb in the reciprocal form expresses that its two core arguments (the Actor and the Undergoer) act on each other simultaneously. The reciprocal form has the prefix зэры~ (zara~), for example:
- зэрылъaгъун "to see each other".
- зэрыӏукӏэн "to meet each other".
- зэрыхьын "to carry each other".
Оррэ сэррэ тызэрэлъэгъу Ор-рэ сэр-рэ ты-зэрэ-лъэгъу you and me and we see each other "We see each other."
Functionally (зэрэ~)
To indicate the way a certain action is performed, the prefix зэрэ~ (zara~) and the suffix ~рэ /~ra/ are added.
- макӏо /maːkʷa/ - he walks → зэракӏорэ /zaraːkʷara/ - how (s)he walks; the way (s)he walks
- мэлажьэ /maɮaːʑa/ - (s)he is working → зэрэлажьэрэ /zaraɮaːʑara/ - how (s)he works; the way (s)he works
- еплъы /japɬə/ - (s)he looks at → зэреплъырэ /zarajpɬəra/ - the way (s)he looks at
- едзы /jad͡zə/ - (s)he throws → зэридзырэ /zarəjd͡zəra/ - the way (s)he throws it
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → зэрэфабэ /zarafaːba/ - the way it is hot
- шъуцӏэ /ʃʷʼət͡sʼa/ - black → зэрэшъуцӏэ /zaraʃʷʼət͡sʼa/ - the way it is black
кӏалэр псынкӏэу зэрачъэрэ олъэгъуа? кӏалэ-р псынкӏэ-у зэрэ-чъэ-рэ о-лъэгъу-а? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar psənt͡ʃʼaw zaraːt͡ʂara waɬaʁʷaː] the boy (abs.) quickly the way (s)he runs do you see it? "do you see the way the boy runs fast?"
пшъашъэр зэратхэрэр дахэ пшъашъэi-р зэра-матхэ-рэ-р дахэ [pʂaːʂar zaraːtxarar daːxa] girl (abs.) the way (s)he writes beautiful "The way the girl writes is beautiful."
непэ зэрэфабэр хэпшӏыкӏрэба? непэ зэрэ-фабэ-р хэ-п-шӏыкӏ-рэ-ба? [najpa zarafaːbar xapʃʼət͡ʃʼrabaː] today the way it is hot don't you feel it? "Don't you feel how it is hot today?"
The prefix зэрэ~ (zara~) and the suffix ~рэ /~ra/ can also be used to indicate a fact.
- макӏо /maːkʷa/ - he walks → зэракӏорэ /zaraːkʷara/ - the fact (s)he goes
- мэлажьэ /maɮaːʑa/ - (s)he is working → зэрэлажьэрэ /zaraɮaːʑara/ - how fact (s)he works
- еплъы /japɬə/ - (s)he looks at → зэреплъырэ /zarajpɬəra/ - the fact (s)he looks
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → зэрэфабэ /zarafaːba/ - the fact it is hot.
- шъуцӏэ /ʃʷʼət͡sʼa/ - black → зэрэшъуцӏэ /zaraʃʷʼət͡sʼa/ - the fact it is black.
лӏыжъыр зэрэхъужьыгъэр пшӏагъэба? лӏыжъ-ыр зэрэ-хъужьы-гъэ-р п-шӏ-агъэ-ба? [ɬʼəʐər zaraχʷəʑəʁar pʃʼaːʁabaː] old man (abs.) the fact (s)he became healthy again didn't you know" "Didn't you know the old man became healthy again?"
пшъашъэр зэрэдахэр сылъэгъогъ пшъашъэр зэрэ-дахэ-р сы-лъэгъо-гъ [pʂaːʂar zaradaːxar səɬaʁʷaʁ] girl (abs.) the fact (s)he is pretty I saw "I saw that the girl is pretty."
унэшъуа? ор зэрэплъыжьэ улъэгъурэба? у-нэшъу-а? ор зэрэ-плъыжьэ у-лъэгъу-рэ-ба? [wənaʃʷaː war zarapɬəʑa wəɬaʁʷərabaː] are you blind? that (arg.) the fact it is red don't you see it? "are you blind? don't you see it is red?"
Instantly after (зэрэ~) and (~эу)
To indicate an event that happened instantly at the beginning of a certain verb, the prefix зэрэ- (zara-) and the suffix -эу / -ыу (-aw/-əw) are added. Can only be used on verbs and nouns.
- макӏо /maːkʷa/ - he walks → зэрэмакӏоу /zaramaːkʷaw/ - as he started walking
- мэлажьэ /maɮaːʑa/ - he is working → зэрэмэлажьэу /zaramaɮaːʑaw/ - as he began working
- еплъы /japɬə/ - he looks at → зэреплъэу /zarajapɬaw/ - as he started looking at
- къэушӏуцӏэгъ /qawʃʷʼət͡sʼaʁ/ - it became black → зэрэкъэушӏуцӏэгъэу /zaraqawʃʷʼət͡sʼaʁ/ - as it became black
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → зэрэмафэу /zaramaːfaw/ - as it was day
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → зэрэфабэу /zarafaːbaw/ - as it was hot
кӏалэр псы зэрешъоу сыкъэсэгъ кӏалэ-р псы зэрэ-ешъо-у сы-къэсы-эгъ [t͡ʃaːlar psə zarajaʃʷaw səqasaʁ] the boy (abs.) water as he started drinking I got here "as the boy started drinking water I got here"
кӏалэр еджапӏэм зэрежьэу къещхэу къиублагъ кӏалэ-р еджапӏэ-м зэрэ-ежь-эу къещхы-эу къеублэ-агъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar jad͡ʒaːpʼam zarajaʑaw qajɕxaw qəjwbɮaːʁ] the boy (abs.) the school (erg.) as he started while it was raining (s)he/it started "as the boy started to go to school, it started to rain."
Verbal Infixes
Negative (~мы~)
It is posited most often before root of verb, after all other prefixes.
- кIо /kʷʼa/ "go" → умыкIу /wəməkʷʼ/ "don't go"
- Iо (Iуэ) /ʔʷa/ "say" → умыIу /wməʔʷ/ "don't say"
- шъушх /ʂʷʃx/ "eat (plural)" → шъумышх /ʂʷəməʃx/ "don't eat (plural)"
When to use this Prefix :
- In Imperative case (To order someone to do a certain verb) - умыкӀу /wəməkʷʼ/ "don't go".
- In case to use together with the suffixes -ми (-mi), -эм (-am), -мэ (-ma), -ыу (-əw) and -и (-i) -
умыкӀомэ /wəmkʷʼama/ "if you don't go", умыкӀорагъоми /wəmkʷʼaraːʁʷami/ "even if you don't want to
go", мамкӀуу /maːmkʷʼəw/ "while he didn't want to go".
- In Infinitive suffix - мэмкӀон /wamkʷʼan/ "to not go".
Ащтыу умышI! [aːɕtu wməʂʼ] like that don't do it "Do not do this"
ау шъумыкӏу! [aːw ʂʷəɕəmət] there don't go (plural) "Don't go there (Said to several people)"
зыгори ащ ешъумыӏу [zəɡʷari aːɕ jaʂʷəməʔʷ] something him/that don't tell him (plural) "Do not tell him anything"
Cannot be used simultaneously with both the negative prefix (мы~) (mə~) and the negative suffix (-п) (-p).
Optative mood (~рэ~)
To indicate a verb that someone wishes to happen, the verbal infix ~рэ~ (~ra~) is added.
Examples :
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he goes → мэрэкӏу /marakʷʼ/ - may (s)he go.
- малӏэрэп /maːɬʼarap/ - (s)he doesn't die → мэрэмылӏ /maraməɬʼ/ - may (s)he won't die.
- охъужьы /waχʷəʑə/ - you are becoming healthy again → орэхъужь /waraχʷəʑ/ - may you become healthy again.
- сыкӏуачӏэ /səkʷʼaːt͡ʂʼa/ - I am strong → сэрэкӏуачӏ /sarakʷʼaːt͡ʂʼ/ - may I be strong.
- удахэ /wədaːxa/ - you are beautiful → орэдах /waradaːx/ - may you become beautiful.
мы уцым уерэгъэхъужь мы уцы-м у-е-рэ-гъэ-хъу-жь [mə wət͡səm wajraʁaχʷəʑ] this plant (erg.) may it cure you "may this plant cure you"
кӏалэм сишхын ерэшх кӏалэ-м си-шхын е-рэ-шх [t͡ʃʼaːɮam səʃxən jaraʃx] boy (erg.) my food may (s)he eat it "may the boy just eat my food."
кӏалэр мэрэмыкӏуи джары [t͡ʃʼaːɮar maraməkʷʼəj d͡ʒaːrə] the boy (abs.) may (s)he doesn't go then that's it "If the boy just won't go that's it."
Verbal Suffixes
| Suffix | Example | Translation | |
| Frequentative | ~жь (~ʑ) | мэплъэжьы (mapɬaʑə) | (s)he is looking again |
| Non-intervention | (s)he is looking without interference | ||
| Too late | (only now) (s)he is looking | ||
| Realization | ~гъах (~ʁaːx) | мэплъэгъах (mapɬaʁaːx) | (s)he already looked |
| While | ~эу (~aw) | маплъэу (maːpɬaw) | while (s)he was looking |
| Plural | ~хэ (~xa) | маплъэх (maːpɬax) | they are looking |
| Negative | ~эп (~ap) | маплъэрэп (maːpɬarap) | (s)he is not looking |
| Desirement | ~рагъу (~raːʁʷ) | мэплъэрагъу (mapɬaraːʁʷ) | (s)he wants to look |
| Capability | ~шъу (~ʃʷə) | мэплъэшъу (mapɬaʃʷə) | (s)he can look |
| Connective | ~и (~əj) | маплъи (maːpɬəj) | (s)he looked and |
| Connective II | ~зэ (~za) | мэплъэзэ (mapɬaza) | (s)he looked and |
| Until | ~фэ (~fa) | мэплъэфэ (mapɬafa) | until (s)he looks |
| Downward | ~хы (~xə) | еплъэхы (japɬaxə) | (s)he is looking down |
| Upward | ~е (~ja) | дэплъые (dapɬəja) | (s)he is looking up |
| For a while | ~гу (~ɡʷə) | маплъэго (maːpɬaɡʷa) | (s)he is looking for now |
| Optative mood | ~гъэет (~ʁahat) | мэплъэгъэет (mapɬaʁajat) | wish (s)he would have looked |
| Diminution of degree | ~рашъу (~raːʃʷ) | мэплъэрашъу (mapɬaraːʃʷ) | (s)he kind of looking |
| Surprise | ~уи (~wəj) | маплъэуи (maːpɬawəj) | (s)he is looking!? |
| Moment of completion | ~эм (~am) | маплъэм (maːpɬam) | when (s)he looked |
| Recurrence | ~рас (~raːs) | мэплъэрас (mapɬaraːs) | (s)he usually looks |
| About to | ~пэт (~pat) | мэплъэпэт (mapɬapat) | (s)he is about to look |
| Always | ~зэпыт (~zapət) | мэплъэзэпыт (mapɬazapət) | (s)he always looks |
| Just recently | ~гъакӏ (~ʁaːt͡ʃʼ) | мэплъэгъакӏ (mapɬaʁaːt͡ʃʼ) | (s)he just looked |
| Should have | ~пхъагъ (~pxaːʁ) | мэплъэпхъагъ (mapɬapχaːʁ) | (s)he should have looked |
| Around | ~хь (~ħ) | зеплъэхьы (zajpɬaħə) | (s)he is looking around |
| Manner | ~кӏэ (~t͡ʃʼa) | ыплъакӏэ (əpɬaːt͡ʃʼa) | the manner (s)he is looking |
| Difficult | ~гъуай (~ʁʷaːj) | еплъыгъуай (japɬəʁʷaːj) | (s)he is looking with difficulty |
| Easily | ~гъошӏу (~ʁʷaʃʷʼ) | еплъыгъошӏу (japɬəʁʷaʃʷʼ) | (s)he is looking easily |
| Willingly | ~п (~p) | еплъыпэ (japɬəpa) | (s)he is looking willingly |
| Absolutely | ~х (~x) | еплъыхэ (japɬəxa) | (s)he is definitely looking |
| Concessive mood | ~ми (~məj) | маплъэми (maːpɬaməj) | even if (s)he is looking |
| Conditional mood | ~мэ (~ma) | маплъэмэ (maːpɬama) | if (s)he is looking |
| Interrogative mood | ~а (~aː) | маплъа (maːpɬaː) | is (s)he looking? |
| Warning mood | ~къон (~qʷan) | мэплъэкъон (mapɬaqʷan) | should (s)he not dare to look |
Interrogative mood (~а)
Questions are indicated by the suffix ~a /aː/, which, in verbs that end with /a/, lengthens the end vowel.
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ "he is going" → макӏуа? /maːkʷʼaː/ "is he going?"
- мэтхагъ /matxaːʁ/ "he wrote" → мэтхагъа? /matxaːʁaː/ "did he wrote?"
- кӏалэр машхэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxa/ "the boy is eating" → кӏалэр машха? /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxaː/ "is the boy eating?"
- шъокӏо /ʃʷakʷʼa/ "you (plural) are going → шъокӏуа? /ʃʷakʷʼaː/ "are you (plural) going?"
- отхэ /watxa/ "you are writing" → отха? /watxaː/ "are you writing?"
- машхэх /maːʃxax/ "they are eating" → машхэха? /maːʃxaxaː/ "are they eating?"
кӏалэр къэущыжьыгъа? кӏалэ-р къэущыжь-агъ-а [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qawɕəʑəʁaː] the boy (arg.) did (s)he woke up? "Did the boy woke up?"
дэгуха мы унэм исыхэр? дэгу-х-а мы унэ-м ис-ыхэ-р [daɡʷəxaː mə wənam jəsəxar] are they deaf? this house the people that are in "Are the people that are in this house deaf?"
If question is posited to word having negative suffix ~п (~p), it is converted to suffix ~ба (~baː). for example:
- макӏуа? /maːkʷʼaː/ "is he going?" → макӏоба? /maːkʷʼabaː/ "isn't he going?"
- ошӏа /waʃʼaː/ "do you know?" → ушӏэрэба? /pʃʼarabaː/ "don't you know?"
- мэтхагъа /matxaːʁaː/ "did he wrote" → мэтхагъэба? /matxaːʁabaː/ "didn't he wrote?"
- кӏалэр машха /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxaː/ "is the boy is eating?" → кӏалэр машхэба? /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxabaː/ "isn't the boy eating?"
- шъокӏуа /ʃʷakʷʼaː/ "are you (plural) going? → шъокӏоба? /ʃʷakʷʼabaː/ "aren't you (plural) going?"
- сыдаха /sədaːxaː/ "am I look beautiful" → сыдахэба /sədaːxabaː/ "doesn't I look beautiful"
кӏалэр къэущыжьыгъэба? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qawɕəʑəʁabaː] boy (abs.) isn't he woke up? "Has not the boy woke up?"
кӏалэр тиунэ къакӏорэба? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar tiwna qaːkʷarabaː] boy (abs.) our house isn't he coming? "Isn't the boy coming to my house?"
кӏалэр тиунэ къакӏоба? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar tiwna qaːkʷabaː] boy (abs.) our house he is coming to right? "The boy is coming to my house right?"
Optative mood (~гъот)
Optative mood is expressed with the complex suffix ~гъот or ~гъует or ~гъэмэ :
- укIуа-гъот "If only you had gone".
- птхы-гъагъот "If only you had written".
- сыкӏо-гъагъует: If only I had gone.
- седжэ-гъагъоет: If only I had studied.
- сыкӏо-гъагъэмэ: If only I had gone.
- седжэ-гъамэ: If only I had studied.
экзамыным сыфеджэгъагъот, джэщгъум дэгъоу сышӏышъущтыгъ [akzaːmənəm səfajd͡ʒaʁaːʁʷat d͡ʒaɕʁʷəm daʁʷaw səʃʼəʃʷəɕtəʁ] exam (erg.) if only I studied for it then good (adv.) I could have done it "If only I would have studied for the exam, then I could have done it good."
Frequentative (~жь)
The verbal suffix ~жь (~ʑ) designates recurrence/repetition of action. It can also be used to indicate an action that someone was doing before and now continuing it.
Examples :
- кӏо! /kʷʼa/ go → кӏожь /kʷʼaʑ/ go back
- къакӏу /qaːkʷʼ/ come → къакӏожь /qaːkʷʼaʑ/ come back
- къаӏу /qaːʔʷ/ say → къэӏожь /qaʔʷaʑ/ say again
- шхэ /ʃxa/ eat → шхэжь /ʃxaʑ/ eat again
- шхы /ʃxə/ eat it → шхыжь /ʃxəʑ/ eat it again; continue eating it
| Tense | Suffix | To look at (еплъы) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~жьыгъагъ | ~ʑəʁaːʁ | еплъыжьыгъагъ | makʷʼaʑəʁaːʁ | (s)he looked at it again (then) |
| Recent past | ~жьыгъ | ~ʑəʁ | еплъыжьыгъ | japɬəʑəʁ | (s)he looked at it again |
| Present | ~жьы | ~ʑə | еплъыжьы | japɬəʑə | (s)he looks at it again |
| Future | ~жьыщт | ~ʑəɕt | еплъыжьыщт | japɬəʑəɕt | (s)he will look at it again |
| Future of the past | ~жьыщтэгъ | ~ʑəɕtaʁ | еплъыжьыщтэгъ | japɬəʑəɕtaʁ | (s)he was going to look at it again |
- In case the verb is being continued :
уиунэ кӏожьи уиӏанэ лэжь уи-унэ кӏо-жь-и уи-ӏанэ лэ-жь [wiwna kʷʼaʑi wiʔana laʑ] your house go back and your table color it again "Go back to your house and continue coloring your table."
- In case the verb is being repeated :
фылымым зэдегъэплъыжь фылым-ым зэ-де-гъэ-плъы-жь [fələməm zadajʁapɬəʑ] film (erg.) let us watch it again together "Let us watch the film again together."
- In case the verb is being repeated by someone else :
кӏэлэегъаджэм къиӏогъагъэр къэсфэӏотэжь кӏэлэегъаджэ-м къ-и-ӏо-гъагъэ-р къэ-с-фэ-ӏотэ-жь [t͡ʃʼaɮajaʁaːd͡ʒam qəjʔʷaʁaːʁar qasfaʔʷataʑ] teacher (erg.) the thing (s)he said (abs.) explain it to me "Explain me the things the teacher said."
Non-intervention (~жь)
The verbal suffix ~жь (~ʑ) designates performance of the action directly, without the intervention of another agent.
кӏалэм тишхынхэр къэтшӏуешхыжьых кӏалэ-м ти-шхын-хэ-р къэ-т-шӏу-е-шхы-жьы-х [t͡ʃʼaːɮam təjʃxənxar qatʃʷʼajʃxəʑəx] boy (erg.) our foods (abs.) (s)he is eating without an intervention against our interests "The boy is eating our foods."
дэпкъыр уизакъоу улэжьын фай дэпкъы-р уи-закъо-у у-лэ-жьы-н фай [dapqər wəjzaːqʷaw wɮaʑən faːj] wall (abs.) you alone (you) to color it without an intervention must "You will have to color the wall alone."
This is also used to designates that the action was completed finally. For example:
- Лӏым иӏоф ышӏэжьыгъ - The man has finished his work (finally)
- Кӏалэм филымым еплъыжьы - The boy is (finally) watching the film
Too late (~жь)
The verbal suffix ~жь (~ʑ) also indicates an action that was done with a great delay, to the point it even might be too late or pointless.
къэгъэгъэ лӏагъэм псы чӏэбэгъэхьажьа? къэгъэгъэ лӏагъэ-м псы чӏэ-бэ-гъэ-хьа-жь-а? [qaʁaʁa ɬʼaːʁam psə tʂʼabaʁaħaːʑaː] dead flower water are you making it go under it just now? "Are you watering a dead flower?"
кӏалэм нэущы иэкзамен феджэжьы кӏалэ-м нэущы и-экзамен ф-е-джэ-жьы [t͡ʃʼaːɮan nawɕə jəʔakzaːmen fajd͡ʒadʑə] boy (erg.) tomorrow exam (s)he is studying for it just now "The boy is studying for the exam tomorrow."
To indicate to someone, not to bother doing a certain action, the negative infix ~мы~ (~mə~) and the suffix ~жьы (~ʑə) are added.
чэщы мэхъумэ сиунэ укъэмыкӏожь чэщы мэхъу-мэ ти-унэ у-къэ-мы-кӏо-жь [t͡ʃaɕə maχʷəma təjwəna wəqaməkʷʼaʑ] night if it becomes my house do not bother coming to my house "If it becomes night, don't bother coming to my house."
цӏыфым умышӏ емыӏожь ышӏэгъахэу цӏыфы-м у-м-ышӏ е-мы-ӏо-жь ы-шӏы-гъа-хэу [t͡sʼəfəm wəməʃʼ jaməʔʷaʑ əʃʼaʁaːxaw] person (erg.) don't do that don't bother telling him after (s)he already done it "Don't bother telling the person, "don't do it" after he already done doing it."
Completion (~гъах)
The verbal suffix ~гъах (~ʁaːx) designates absolute accomplishment/realization of the action.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ "I am going" → сыкӏогъах /səkʷʼaʁaːx/ "I already went"
- ощхэ /waɕxa/ "you are eating" → ущхэгъах /wəɕxaʁaːx/ "you already ate".
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мэфэгъах /mafaʁaːx/ - it was already day.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дэхэгъах /daxaʁaːx/ - (s)he was already pretty.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьыгъах /t͡ʃʼaħəʁaːx/ - it was already long.
кӏалэр еджапӏэм мэкӏогъах кӏалэ-р еджапӏэ-м мэкӏо-гъах [t͡ʃaːɮar jad͡ʒaːpʼam makʷʼaʁaːx] the boy (abs.) school (erg.) he already went "the boy already went to school."
тэ теджэгъах экзаменым Фэшӏыкӏэ тэ т-еджэ-гъах экзамен-ым Фэшӏыкӏэ [ta ted͡ʒaʁaːx akzaːmenəm faʃʼət͡ʃʼa] we we already studied exam (erg.) for "we already studied for the exam."
To indicate an event that is happening after the absolute accomplishment/realization of an action, the suffixes ~гъах (~ʁaːx) and ~эу (~aw) are added. For example:
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ "I am going" → сыкӏогъахэу /səkʷʼaʁaːxaw/ "While I done going.
- ощхэ /waɕxa/ "you are eating" → ущхэгъахэу /wəɕxaʁaːxaw/ "While you done eating".
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мэфэгъахэу /mafaʁaːxaw/ - While it was day.
сымышхэгъахэу лаж къысэмыӏу сы-мы-шхэ-гъах-эу лаж къы-сэ-мы-ӏо [səməʃxaʁaːxaw laːʒ qəsaməʔʷ] while I am not done eating work! (Imperative mood) don't tell me "Don't tell me to work while I haven't done eating"
мыӏэрысэр сышхыгъахэу къысэбэӏожьа умышх мыӏэрысэ-р сы-шхы-гъах-эу къы-сэ-бэ-ӏо-жьа у-мы-шх [məʔarəsar səməʃxəʁaːxaw qəsabaʔʷaʑaː wəməʃx] apple (abs.) after I done eating it are you telling me? don't eat it! "After I done eating the apple, are you telling me not to eat it?"
To indicate an event that happened after the absolute accomplishment/realization of an action, the suffixes -гъах (-ʁaːx) and -эм (-am) are added. For example:
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ "I am going" → сыкӏогъахэм /səkʷʼaʁaːxam/ "When I already done going.
- ошхэ /waʃxa/ "you are eating" → ущхэгъахэм /wəɕxaʁaːxam/ "When you already done eating".
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мэфэгъахэм /mafaʁaːxam/ - When it was already a day.
сылэжьэгъахэм сылъэгъогъ кӏалэр сы-лажьэ-гъах-эм сы-лъэгъу-эгъ кӏалэр [səlaʑaʁaːxam sɬaʁʷaʁ t͡ʃʼaːɮar] when i done working I saw the boy (abs.) "When I done working, I saw the boy."
экзаменым уфеджэгъахэмэ къэтдэджэгу экзамен-ым у-ф-е-джэ-гъахэ-мэ къэ-т-дэ-джэгу [akzaːmenəm wfajd͡ʒaʁaːxama qatdad͡ʒaɡʷ] exam (erg.) when you done studying for it play with us "When you done studying for the exam, play with us."
To indicate not accomplishment/realization of an action, the suffix -гъах (-ʁaːx) and the negative suffix (~эп) (~ap) are added.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ "I am going" → сыкӏогъахэп /səkʷʼaʁaːxap/ "I still haven't done going.
- ошхэ /waʃxa/ "you are eating" → ущхэгъахэп /wəɕxaʁaːxap/ "You still haven't done eating".
экзаменым феджэгъахэп кӏалэр экзамен-ым ф-е-джэ-гъах-эп кӏалэ-р [akzaːmenəm fajd͡ʒaʁaːxap t͡ʃʼaːɮar] exam (erg.) (s)he still have not studied for boy (abs.) "The boy still have not studied for the exam."
сышхэгъахэп [səʃxaʁaxap] I haven't done eating "I still have not done eating."
While (~эу)
To indicate an event that is happening while a certain verb is done, the suffix ~эу (-aw) is added to the verb. Usually this suffix is added to present tense verbs regardless if the whole sentence is about the past or future. For example:
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ I am going → сыкӏоу /səkʷʼaw/ while I was going
- тэлажьэ /talaːʑa/ we are working → тылажьэу /talaːʑaw/ while we were working
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ (s)he is eating → машхэу /maːʃxaw/ while (s)he was eating
The verb with the suffix ~эу is usually followed by another verb that has a tense suffix indicating the time the sentence occurred. For example:
- сыкӏоу сылъэгъогъ /səkʷʼaw səɬaʁʷaʁ/ while I was going I saw.
- сыкӏоу сэлъэгъу /səkʷʼaw saɬaʁʷə/ while I am going I see.
- сыкӏоу сылъэгъущт /səkʷʼaw səɬaʁʷəɕt/ while I go I will see.
- сыкӏоу сылъэгъущтэгъ /səkʷʼaw səɬaʁʷəɕtaʁ/ I was going to see while going.
сыкӏоу кӏалэр слъэгъогъ [səkʷʼaw t͡ʃʼaːɮar sɬaʁʷaʁ] while I was going the boy (erg.) I saw "while I was going, I saw the boy"
кӏалэр мэщынэу псым хэхьэшъугъэп кӏалэ-р мэщынэ-у псы-м хэ-хьэ-шъу-гъэ-п [t͡ʃʼaːɮar maɕənaw psəm xaħaʃʷʁap] boy (abs.) while (s)he was afraid water (erg.) (s)he couldn't enter it "The boy couldn't enter the water while being afraid."
зыпакӏэ сыкӏощтыгъэу укъысэджагъ зыпакӏэ сы-кӏо-щтыгъэ-у у-къы-сэ-дж-агъ zəpaːt͡ʃʼa səkʷʼaɕtəʁaw wəqsad͡ʒaːʁ] somewhere while I was going to go you called me "You called me while I was going to go somewhere."
To indicate an action that occurred instead of another action, the action that did not happen is expressed in the present tense form and it gets the suffix ~эу and the negative infix ~мы~. For example:
- сымыкӏоу сычъагъ /səməkʷʼaw sət͡ʂaːʁ/ instead of going I ran.
- сымыкӏоу сэчъэ /səməkʷʼaw sat͡ʂa/ instead of going I am running.
- сымыкӏоу сычъэщт /səməkʷʼaw sət͡ʂaɕt/ instead of going I will run.
- сымыкӏоу сычъэщтэгъ /səməkʷʼaw sət͡ʂaɕtaʁ/ instead of going I was going to run.
уемыджэу тэ къэтдэджэгу уе-мы-джэ-у тэ къэ-т-дэ-джэгу [wajməd͡ʒaw ta qatdad͡ʒaɡʷ] instead of studying we play with us "Instead of studying play with us."
умышхэу лажь у-мы-шхэ-у лажь [wəməʃxaw ɮaːʑ] instead of eating work "Instead of eating work."
кӏалэр сэ синэмым къэсдэмыкӏоу пшъашъэм дэкӏуагъ кӏалэ-р сэ синэм-ым къэ-с-дэ-мы-кӏо-у пшъашъэ-м дэ-кӏу-агъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar sa səjnaməm qasdaməkʷʼaw pʂaːʂam dakʷʼaːʁ] boy (abs.) I cinema (erg.) instead of coming with me girl (erg.) (s)he went with "The boy instead of coming with me went with the girl to the cinema."
To indicate something before a certain verb was done, the suffix ~эу and the negative infix ~мы~ are added. In this case the verb should also get the tense suffix indicating the time.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъэу | ~ʁaːʁaw | мэмыкӏогъагъэу | maməkʷʼaːʁaːʁaw | before (s)he went (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъэу | ~ʁaw | мэмыкӏуагъэу | maməkʷʼaːʁaw | before (s)he went |
| Future | ~щтэу | ~ɕtaw | мэмыкӏощтэу | maməkʷʼaɕtaw | before (s)he will be going |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъэу | ~ɕtəʁaw | мэмыкӏощтэгъэу | maməkʷʼaɕtaʁaw | before (s)he was going to go |
унэм умыкӏыгъэу зыгъэпсыкӏ унэ-м у-мы-кӏы-гъэу зы-гъэ-псыкӏ [wənam wəmət͡ʃʼəʁaw zəʁapsət͡ʃʼ] house (erg.) before you get out of take a shower "Before you get out of the house, take a shower."
умыджэгугъэу тӏэкӏу едж у-мы-джэгу-гъэ-у тӏэкӏу едж [wəməd͡ʒaɡʷəʁaw tʼakʷʼ jad͡ʒ] before you play a bit study "Before you play study a bit."
еджапӏэм семыжьэгъагъэу къещхэу къиублэгъагъ еджапӏэ-м се-мы-жьэ-гъагъэ-у къещхэ-у къ-иублэ-гъагъ [jad͡ʒaːpʼam sajmaʑaʁaːʁaw qajɕxaw qəjwbɮaʁaːʁ] school (erg.) before I started going to while raining it started (then) "Before I went to school it stated raining."
Plural (~хэ)
In addition to distinguishing between singular and plural nouns by marking the latter with the suffix '-хэ' /-xa/.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кӏалэхэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮaxa/ - boys.
- шхын /ʃxən/ - food → шхынхэ /ʃxənxa/ - foods.
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэхэ /maːfaxa/ - days.
- мэкӏуагъэ /makʷʼaːʁa/ - the one that went → мэкӏуагъэхэ /makʷʼaːʁaxa/ - the ones that went.
- макӏорэ /maːkʷʼara/ - the one that is going → макӏохэрэ /maːkʷʼaxara/ - the ones that are going.
- мэкӏотэ /makʷʼata/ - the one that will go → мэкӏотхэ /makʷʼatxa/ - the ones that will go.
- еджэрэ /jad͡ʒa/ - he one that is reading → еджэхэрэ /jad͡ʒa/ - he ones that are reading
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахэхэ /daːxəxa/ - the pretty ones.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьыхэ /t͡ʃʼaħəxa/ - the long ones.
у мэлажьэхэрэр сишых у мэлажьэ-хэ-рэ-р си-шы-х [wə maɮaːʑaxarar səjʃəx] those the ones that are working (abs.) they are my brothers "Those guys that are working are my brothers"
To indicate a plural verb (verb that was done by more than one thing) also has the additional suffix '-хэ' /-xa/.
илъэсхэр псынкӏэу блэкӏых илъэсхэ-р псынкӏэ-у блэкӏ-ых [jəɬasxar psənt͡ʃʼaw bɮat͡ʃʼəx] the years (abs.) fast (adv.) they are passing "the years are passing fast"
Negative (~эп)
The Negation suffix is ~п (~p) and it's ~рэп (~rap) when the verb is
in present tense:
- мэкӀуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - he went → мэкӀуагъэп /makʷʼaːʁap/ - "he did not go".
- окIо /wakʷʼa/ "you are going" → уыкIорэп /wəkʷʼarap/ "you are not going"
- тыкӀощт /təkʷʼaɕt/ - we will go → тыкӀощтэп /təkʷʼaɕtap/ - "we will not go".
- сэIо /saʔʷa/ "I am saying" → сыIорэп /səʔʷarap/ "I am not saying"
- шъушхагъ /ʂʷəʃxaːʁ/ "you (plural) ate" → шъушхагъэп /ʂʷəʃxaːʁap/ "you (plural) didn't ate"
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэп /maːfap/ - it's not a day.
- кӀалэ /t͡ʃaːla/ - boy → кӀалэп /t͡ʃaːlap/ - it's not a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахэп /daːxap/ - he/she/it is not pretty.
- кӀэхьы /t͡ʃaħə/ - long → кӀэхьэп /t͡ʃaħai/ - he/she/it is not long.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъэп | ~ʁaːʁap | мэкӏогъагъэп | makʷʼaʁaːʁap | (s)he did not go (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъэп | ~ʁap | мэкӏуагъэп | makʷʼaːʁap | (s)he did not go |
| Present | ~рэп | ~rap | макӏорэп | maːkʷʼarap | (s)he does not go |
| Future | ~штэп | ~ɕtap | мэкӏоштэп | makʷʼaɕtap | (s)he will not go |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъэп | ~ɕtəʁap | мэкӏощтыгъэп | makʷʼaɕtəʁap | (s)he was not going to go |
Ахэр къэкӏуагъэхэп Ахэ-эр къэ-кӀо-агъ-эх-эп [aːxar qakʷʼaːʁaxap] the those (erg.) they didn't come "they did not come."
Кӏалэр иныбджэгъумэ ядэджэгурэп [t͡ʃʼaːlar jənəbd͡ʒaʁʷəma jaːdad͡ʒaɡʷərap] the boy (arg.) his friends (erg.) he doesn't play with them "the boy does not play with his friends."
Непэ чъыӏэп фабэ нахь [najpa t͡ʂəʔap faːba naːħ] today it is not cold it is actually hot "Today is not cold, it is actually hot."
Desirement (~рагъу)
To indicate something desired, the suffix (~рагъу) (~raːʁʷ) is added For example:
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ "I am going" → сыкӏорагъу /səkʷʼaraːʁʷ/ "I want to go/.
- ушхагъ /wəʃxaːʁ/ "you ate" → ушхарэгъуагъ /wəʃxaraʁʷaːʁ/ "you wanted to eat".
- мэплъэт /mapɬat/ "he will look" → мэплъэрэгъот /mapɬaraʁʷat/ "(s)he will want to look".
- плъыжьы /pɬəʑə/ - red → плъыжьырагъу /pɬəʑəraːʁʷ/ - (s)he wants to be red.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːla/ - boy → кӏэлэрагъу /t͡ʃʼalaraːʁʷ/ - (s)he wants to be a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дэхэрагъу /daxaraːʁʷ/ -(s)he wants to be pretty.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьырагъу /t͡ʃʼaħəraːʁʷ/ - (s)he wants to be long.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~рэгъогъагъ | ~raʁʷaʁaːʁ | мэкӏо | maːkʷʼ | (s)he wanted to go (then) |
| Recent past | ~рэгъуагъ | ~raʁʷaːʁ | мэкӏо | maːkʷʼa | (s)he wanted to go |
| Present | ~рагъу | ~raːʁʷ | макӏо | maːkʷʼ | (s)he wants to go |
| Future | ~рэгъощт | ~raʁʷaəɕt | мэкӏо | makʷʼa | (s)he will want to go |
| Future of the past | ~рэгъощтэгъ | ~raʁʷaɕtaʁ | мэкӏо | makʷʼa | (s)he would want to go |
кӏалэр пшъашъэм иунэ мэкӏорагъоп кӏалэ-эр пшъашъэ-эм и-унэ мэ-кӀо-рагъу-эп [t͡ʃʼaːɮar pʂaːʂam jəwna makʷʼaraːʁʷap] the boy (abs.) the girl (erg.) his house he don't want to go "the boy don't want to go to the girl's house" дышъэм фэдэу пшъашъэр дэхэрагъу [dəʂam fadaw pʂaːʂar daxaraːʁʷ] the gold (erg.) like him the girl (abs.) (s)he wants to be pretty "the girl wants to be pretty like a gold" лxым фэдэу сыкӏочӏэрэгъуагъ [ɬʼəm fadaw səkʷʼat͡ʃʼaraʁʷaːʁ] the man (erg.) like him I wanted to be strong "I wanted to be strong like the man"
Capability (~шъу)
The suffix ~шъу (~ʃʷə) designates the ability to perform the indicated action. It is used to indicated that the subject is able to carry out the indicated action. For example:
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Past | ~шъогъ | ~ʃʷaʁ | мэкӏошъогъ | makʷʼaʃʷaʁ | (s)he went successfully; (s)he managed to go |
| Past 2 | ~шъугъагъ | ~ʃʷʁaːʁ | мэкӏошъугъагъ | makʷʼaʃʷʁaːʁ | (s)he was going successfully |
| Present | ~шъу | ~ʃʷəː | мэкӏошъу | makʷʼaʃʷəː | (s)he manages to go |
| Future | ~шъущт | ~ʃʷəɕt | мэкӏошъущт | makʷʼaʃʷəɕt | (s)he will be able to go; (s)he is able to go |
| Future of the past | ~шъущтэгъ | ~ʃʷəɕtaʁ | мэкӏощтэгъ | makʷʼaʃʷəɕtaʁ | (s)he was able to go; (s)he could have gone |
кӏалэм шхыныр фэшхышъурэп кӏалэ-м шхыны-р фэ-шхы-шъу-рэп [t͡ʃʼaːɮa, ʃxənər faʃxəʃʷrap] boy (erg.) the food (abs.) (s)he does not manages to eat it "The boy doesn't manages to eat the food."
лӏыжъэр ныбжьыкӏэм мэкӏошъущтыгъагъ тэрэзэу лӏыжъ-эр ныбжьыкӏ-эм мэкӏо-шъу-щт-эгъ тэрэз-эу [ɬʼəʐar nəbʑət͡ʃʼam makʷʼaʃʷəɕtəʁaːʁ tarazaw] old man (abs.) when he was young (s)he was able to go correctly "When the old man was young, he was able to go correctly."
унэм уехьэмэ псы къысфэпхьышъущта? унэ-эм у-ехьэ-эм псы къы-с-фэ-п-хьы-шъу-щт-а [wənam wajħam psə qəsfapħəʃʷəɕtaː] house (erg.) when you enter the house a water could you bring it for me? "when you enter the house, could you bring me a water?"
When the suffix ~шъу (~ʃʷə) is used on adjectives or nouns, it is to indicate the possibility of what the indicated adjective or noun can be.
- мэфэщт /mafaɕt/ - it will be day → мэфэшъущт /mafaʃʷəɕt/ - it could be a day.
- лъэжъуагъ /ɬaʒʷaːʁ/ - late → лъэжъогъэшъущтэгъ /ɬaʒʷaʁaʃʷəɕtaʁ/ - it could have been late.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/- boy → кӏэлэшъущт /t͡ʃʼaɮaʃʷəɕt/ - it could be a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дэхэшъущт /daxaʃʷəɕt/ - it could be beautiful.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃaħə/ - long → кӏэхьышъущтэгъ /t͡ʃʼaħəʃʷəɕtaʁ/ - it could have been long.
мы шхыныри ӏэшӏушъущт мы шхыны-ри ӏэшӏу-шъу-щт [mə ʃxənərəj ʔaʃʷʼəʃʷəɕt] this the food as well (abs.) it could be tasty "This food also could be tasty."
иджы мэфэшъущтыгъагъэба? иджы мэфэ-шъу-щты-гъагъэ-ба [jəd͡ʒə mafaʃʷəɕtəʁaːʁabaː] now couldn't it be a day? "Couldn't it be a day now?"
Concessive mood (~ми)
To indicate an event that will happen even if something/someone does a specific verb, has the Suffix ~ми (~məj).
- мэкIуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - he went → мэкIуагъэми /makʷʼaːʁaməj/ - even if he went.
- сэкIо /saːkʷʼa/ - I am going → сыкIоми /səkʷʼaməj/ - even if I am going.
- тыкIощт /təkʷʼaɕt/ - we will go → тыкIощтми /təkʷʼaɕtməj/ - even if we will go.
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэми /maːfaməj/ - even if it's a day.
- кIалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кIалэми /t͡ʃʼaːɮaməj/ - even if it's a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахэми /daːxaməj/ - even if he/she/it is pretty.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьыми /t͡ʃʼaħəməj/ - even if he/she/it is long.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъми | ~ʁaːʁməj | мэкӏогъагъми | maːkʷʼaʁaːʁməj | even if (s)he went (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъми | ~ʁməj | мэкӏуагъми | maːkʷʼaːʁməj | even if (s)he went |
| Present | ~рэми | ~raməj | макӏорэми | maːkʷʼaraməj | even if (s)he is going |
| Close future | ~ми | ~məj | макӏоми | maːkʷʼaməj | even if (s)he goes |
| Future | ~щтми | ~ɕtməj | мэкӏощтми | makʷʼaɕtməj | even if (s)he will go |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъми | ~ɕtəʁməj | мэкӏощтыгъэми | makʷʼaəɕtəʁaməj | even if (s)he was going to go |
кӏалэм епӏуагъэми къыодэӏущтэп кӏалэ-м епӏо-агъэ-ми къы-о-дэӏу-щт-эп [t͡ʃʼaːɮam japʔʷaːʁaməj qəwadaʔʷəɕtap] the boy (erg.) even if you told him (s)he will not listen to you "even if you told the boy he will not listen to you"
кӏалэр мэкӏошъущтыми нахьышӏу мамыкӏомэ кӏалэ-р мэ-кӏо-шъу-щты-ми нахьышӏу ма-мы-кӏо-мэ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar makʷʼaʃʷəɕtəməj naːhəʃʷʼə maːməkʷʼama] the boy (abs.) even if (s)he can go it is better if (s)he don't go "even if the boy could go it is better if he don't go"
улажьэми ахъщэ къыуатыщтэп у-лажьэ-ми ахъщэ къы-у-а-ты-щт-эп [wəɮaːʑaməj aːχɕa qəwaːtətaɕp] even if you work money they will not give it to you "even if you work they will not give you money"
Conditional mood (~мэ)
To indicate a result of a certain verb that if someone/something done, doing or will do, has the Suffix -мэ (-ma).
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - he went → мэкӏуагъэмэ /makʷʼaːʁama/ - if he went.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ - I am going → сыкӏомэ /səkʷʼama/ - if I go.
- тыкӏощт /təkʷʼaɕt/ - we will go → тыкӏощтмэ /təkʷʼaɕtma/ - if we will go.
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэмэ /maːfama/ - if it's a day.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кӏалэмэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮama/ - if it's a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахэмэ /daːxama/ - if he/she/it is pretty.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьымэ /t͡ʃʼaħəma/ - if he/she/it is long.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъмэ | ~ʁaːʁma | мэкӏогъагъмэ | maːkʷʼaʁaːʁma | if (s)he went (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъмэ | ~ʁma | мэкӏуагъмэ | maːkʷʼaːʁma | if (s)he went |
| Present | ~рэмэ | ~rama | макӏорэмэ | maːkʷʼarama | if (s)he is going |
| Close future | ~мэ | ~ma | макӏомэ | maːkʷʼama | if (s)he goes |
| Future | ~щтмэ | ~ɕtma | мэкӏощтмэ | makʷʼaɕtma | if (s)he will go |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъэмэ | ~ɕtəʁama | мэкӏощтыгъэмэ | makʷʼaəɕtəʁama | if (s)he was going to go |
кӏалэр мэлажьэмэ ахъщэ къыратыщт кӏалэ-р мэлажьэ-мэ ахъщэ къы-р-а-ты-щт [t͡ʃʼaːɮar maɮaːʑama aːχɕa qəraːtəɕt] the boy (abs.) if he work money they will give him "if the boy work they will give him money"
усымаджэу удэкӏымэ нахьиу усымэджэщт у-сымаджэ-у у-дэкӏы-мэ нахьиу у-сымэджэ-щт [wəsəmaːd͡ʒaw wədat͡ʃʼəma naːħjəw wəsəmad͡ʒaɕt] while you are sick if you go out even more you will get sick "if you go out while you are sick, you will get even more sick"
учъэрагъомэ унэм икӏи чъэ у-чъэ-рагъо-мэ унэ-м икӏый чъэ [wət͡ʂaraːʁʷama wənam jət͡ʃʼəj t͡ʂa] if you want to run the house (erg.) get out (in order for something to happen) run! "if you want to go, get out from the house and go"
Can not be used simultaneously both the suffix -мэ (-ma) and the suffix -ми (-mi).
Conditional Mood II (~кӏэ)
The conditional mood can be indicated by adding the suffix ~кӏэ (~t͡ʃʼ). For example: Натрыфыр зы мафэ-мэфит1у губгъэм еты-к1э, зи щыш1ыщтэп - If the corn will be in the field a day or two, nothing will happen to it.
It is mostly used with the time prefix з~:
Фылымыр къызыублэкӏэ къысаӏу Фылымы-р къы-зы-ублэ-кӏэ къы-с-аӏу [fələmər qəzəwbɮat͡ʃʼa qəsaːd͡ʒ] film (Abs.) when it starts tell me "tell me when the movie starts."
Шъхьэнгъупчъэр къегъас къызещхыкӏэ Шъхьэнгъупчъэ-р къегъас къы-з-ещхы-кӏэ [ʂħanʁʷəpt͡ʂa qajʁaːs qəzajɕxət͡ʃʼa] windows (Abs.) close when it rains "close the windows when it rains."
Connective (~и)
When the connective suffix ~и (-əj) is used on present tense verbs, it is to indicate a chain of different verbs that occurred in the past.
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → макӏуи /maːkʷʼəj/ - (s)he went and.
- сэкӏо /saʷʼa/ - I am going → сыкӏуи /səkʷʼəj/ - I went and.
- еплъы /japɬə/ - s(he) is looking at → еплъи /japɬəj/ - (s)he looked at it and.
кӏалэр макӏуи унэм къеплъи къэкӏожьэгъ кӏалэ-р макӏу-и унэ-м къ-еплъ-и къэ-кӏо-жь-эгъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːkʷʼəj wənam qajpɬəj qakʷʼaʑaʁ] the boy (abs.) (s)he went and house (erg.) (s)he look at it and (s)he returned "the boy went, looked at the house and returned"
кӏалэр мэкӏожьи мые къэсфихьэгъ кӏалэ-р мэкӏожь-и мые къэ-с-ф-ихь-эгъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar makʷʼaʑəj məja qasfəjħaʁ] the boy (abs.) (s)he went back and an apple s(he) brought it for me "the boy went back and brought me an apple"
When the suffix ~ни (-nəj) is used on present tense verbs, it is to indicate a chain of different verbs that will occur in the future or planned to be done in the future.
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → мэкӏони /makʷʼanəj/ - (s)he will go and.
- сэкӏо /saʷʼa/ - I am going → сыкӏони /səkʷʼanəj/ - I will go and.
- еплъы /japɬə/ - s(he) is looking at → еплъыни /japɬənəj/ - (s)he will look at it and.
кӏалэр мэкӏони псы къэтфихьыщт кӏалэ-р мэкӏо-ни псы къэ-т-ф-ихьы-щт [t͡ʃʼaːɮar makʷʼanəj psə qatfəjħəɕt] the boy (abs.) (s)he will go and water (s)he will bring us it "the boy will go and will bring us water."
уиунэ сыкъэкӏони тызэдеджэщт уи-унэ сы-къэ-кӏо-ни ты-зэ-де-джэ-щт [wəjwəna səqakʷʼanəj təzadajd͡ʒaɕt] you house I will come and we will study together "I will come to your house and we gonna study together."
мары, зысгъэпсыкӏыни сыкъыдэкӏыщт мары, зы-с-гъэ-псыкӏы-ни сы-къы-дэкӏы-щт [maːrə zəsʁapsət͡ʃʼənəj səqədat͡ʃʼəɕt] just a moment I gonna take a shower and I gonna come out "A moment, I gonna take a shower and gonna come out."
When the connective suffix ~и (-əj) is used in imperative mood, it is to indicate a chain of different verbs that the listener(s) should do at that moment.
- кӏон /kʷʼan/ - to go → кӏуи /makʷʼanəj/ - go and.
- еплъын /japɬən/ - to look at → еплъи /japɬəj/ - look at it and.
- шъушхын /ʃʷəʃxən/ - (you plural) to eat → шъушхи /ʃʷəʃxən/ - you (plural) eat and.
кӏуи кӏалэр улъэгъущт кӏо-и кӏалэ-р у-лъэгъу-щт [kʷʼəj t͡ʃʼaːɮar wɬaʁʷəɕt] go and the boy (abs.) you will see it "go and you will see the boy"
лажьи ахъщэ къыуатыщт лажь-и ахъщэ къы-у-а-ты-щт [ɮaːʑəj aːχt͡ʃa qʷaːtəɕt] work (in order for the event to occur) money they will give you money "work and they will give you money"
When the suffix ~и (-əj) is added to past and future tense verbs, nouns and adjectives, it is to indicate the cause of a certain event.
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - (s)he went → мэкӏуагъи /makʷʼaːʁəj/ - because (s)he went.
- сыкӏошт /səkʷʼaɕt/ - I will go → сыкӏошти /səkʷʼaɕtəj/ - because I will go.
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафи /maːfəj/ - because it is a day.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кӏали /t͡ʃʼaːɮəj/ - because he is a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахи /daːxəj/ - because s(he) is pretty.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьи /t͡ʃʼaħəj/ - because s(he) is long.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъи | ~ʁaːʁəj | мэкӏогъагъи | maːkʷʼaʁaːʁəj | because (s)he went (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъи | ~ʁəj | мэкӏуагъи | maːkʷʼaːʁəj | because (s)he went |
| Future | ~щти | ~ɕtəj | мэкӏощти | makʷʼaɕtəj | because (s)he will go |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъи | ~ɕtəʁəj | мэкӏощтыгъи | makʷʼaəɕtəʁaəj | because (s)he was going to go |
улэжьагъи ахъщэ къыуатэгъ у-лэжь-агъ-и ахъщэ къыу-а-тэ-гъ [wəɮaʑaːʁəj aːχɕa qəwaːtaʁ] because you worked money they gave you it "because you worked, they gave you money"
уцӏапӏи ӏаеу къыпдэзакӏох у-цӏапӏ-и ӏае-у къып-дэзакӏо-х [wət͡sʼaːpʼəj ʔaːjaw qəpdazaːkʷʼax] because are mean in a bad way they are treating you like it "because you are mean, they are treating you bad"
кӏалэр мэкӏощтгъагъи цуакъэхэр щилъагъэх кӏалэ-р мэкӏо-щт-гъагъ-и цуакъэ-хэ-р щылъ-агъ-эх [t͡ʃʼaːɮar makʷʼaɕtəj t͡sʷaːqaxar t͡ʃaːlar] the boy (abs.) because (s)he was going to go the shoes (abs.) (s)he wear them "because the boy was going to go, he wore the shes on."
пшъашъэр дахи кӏалэхэр къеплъых пшъашъэ-р дахэ-и кӏалэ-хэ-р къе-плъы-х [pʂaːʂar daːxəj t͡ʃʼaːɮaxar qajpɬəx] the girl (abs.) because he/she is pretty the boys (abs.) they are looking at it "because the girl is pretty, the boys are looking at her"
Until (~фэ)
To indicate an event that will happen until the verb is done, the verbal suffix ~фэ /~fa/ is added. For example:
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ I am going → сыкӏофэ /səkʷʼafa/ until I am going
- сэкIуагъ /sakʷʼaːʁ/ I was going → сыкIуагъэфэ /səkʷʼaːʁafa/ until I was going
- тэлажьэ /talaːʑa/ we are working → тылажьэфэ /talaːʑafa/ until we were working
- мэшхэ /maʃxa/ he is eating → мэшхэфэ /maʃxafa/ until he was eating
The suffix ~нэс /~nas/ can also be used for the same meaning :
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ I am going → сыкӏонэс /səkʷʼanas/ until I am going
- сэкIуагъ /sakʷʼaːʁ/ I was going → сыкIуагъэнэс /səkʷʼaːʁanas/ until I was going
- тэлажьэ /talaːʑa/ we are working → тылажьэнэс /talaːʑanas/ until we were working
- мэшхэ /maʃxa/ he is eating → мэшхэнэс /maʃxanas/ until he was eating
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кӏалэнэс /t͡ʃʼaːɮanas/ - until it is a boy
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэнэс /maːfanas/ - until it is a day
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → фабэнэс /faːbanas/ - until it is hot
- шӏуцӏэ /ʃʷət͡sʼa/ - black → шӏуцӏэнэс /ʃʷət͡sʼanas/ - until it is black
- сыкӏуачӏэ /səkʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - I am strong → сыкӏуачӏэнэс /səkʷʼaːt͡ʃʼanas/ - until I am strong
- чэщы /t͡ʃaɕə/ - night → чэщынэс /t͡ʃaɕənas/ - until it's night.
кӏалэр мэкӏофэ паплъ кӏалэ-р мэкӏо-фэ паплъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮar makʷʼafa paːpɬ] the boy (abs.) until (s)he goes wait "wait until the boy goes"
кӏалэр къэсыфэ зыб ригъэхьыра? кӏалэ-р къэсы-фэ зыб ригъэхьыра? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qasəfa zəb riʁaħraː] boy (abs.) until (s)he arrive so much he is taking (time) "it's taking so much time until the boy arrives"
чэщынэс лажьэгу чэщы-нэс лажьэ-гу [t͡ʃaɕənas ɮaːʑaɡʷ] until it is night work for now "work until it is night"
Downward (~хы)
The verbal suffix ~хы /~xə/ designates action performed downwards or action performed towards a lower level :
- ехы /jaxə/ - to go down
- ефэхы /jafaxə/ - to fall down
- чъэн /t͡ʂan/ - to run → ечъэхын /jat͡ʂaxən/ - to run down
- плъэн /pɬan/ - to look → еплъэхын /japɬaxən/ - to look down
- пкӏэн /pt͡ʃʼan/ - to jump → епкӏэхын /japt͡ʃʼaxən/ - to jump down to
- итӏэрэн /jətʼaran/ - to fall into → етӏэрэхын /jatʼaraxən/ - to fall down into
- джыджэн /d͡ʒəd͡ʒan/ - to roll → еджыджэхын /jad͡ʒəd͡ʒaxən/ - to roll down
- еон /jawan/ - to hit → еохын /jawaxən/ - to strike down; to be shut downed
- дзын /d͡zən/ - to throw → едзыхын /jad͡zəxən/ - to fall down
- тӏысын /tʼəsən/ - to sit → етӏысыхын /jatʼəsəxən/ - to land
кӏалэр унэм еплъэхы кӏалэ-р ун-эм еплъэ-хы [t͡ʃʼaːɮar wənam japɬaxə] the boy (abs.) house (erg.) (s)he is looking down "The boy is looking down from the house."
бзыор уашъом къедзыхы бзыу-р уашъо=м къ-едзы-хы [bzəwar waːʃʷam qajd͡zəxə] the bird (abs.) sky (erg.) it is falling "The bird is falling down from the sky."
унашъхьэм укъемыпкӏэх унашъхьэ-м у-къ-е-мы-пкӏэ-х [wənaːʂħam wəqajməpt͡ʃʼax] roof (erg.) don't jump down "Don't jump down from the roof."
Upward (~е)
To designate action in an upward direction, the prefix д~ (d~) and the verbal suffix ~е (ja) are added.
- кӏон: to go → дэкӏоен: to go upwards.
- гъэкӏон: to make someone go → дэгъэкӏоен: to make someone go upwards; to rise a value.
- чъэн: to run → дэчъэен: to run upwards.
- ӏэтын : to raise → дэӏэтэен: to raise.
- цӏэлъэн : to crawl → дэцӏэлъэен: to climb.
- пкӏэн: to jump → дэпкӏэен: to hop upwards.
- лъэшъун: to drag someone → дэлъэшъоен: to drag someone upwards.
- быбын : to fly → дэбэбыен: to fly upwards to; to take off; to whirl to.
- плъэн : to look → деплъыен : to look upwards.
- хьын : to carry → дехьыен : to carry upwards.
волюмэр дэгъэкӏуай волюмэ-р дэ-гъэ-кӏу-ай [vɑljəmar daʁakʷʼaːj] volume (abs.) raise "Raise the volume."
кӏалэр унашъхьэм дэкӏуае кӏалэ-р унашъхьэ-м дэ-кӏуа-е [t͡ʃʼaːɮar wənaːʂħam dakʷʼaːja] the boy (abs.) house roof (erg.) (s)he is going upwards "The boy is going up to the roof."
For a while (~гу)
The suffix ~гу (~ɡʷ) designates that the indicated action was performed for a period of time. It might be used to indicated that the action will be performed quickly. For example:
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ I am going → сэкӏого /sakʷʼaɡʷa/ I am going for now.
- сэкӏуагъ /sakʷʼaːʁ/ I was going → сыкӏуагъэгу /səkʷʼaːʁaɡʷ/ I went for a while.
- тэлажьэ /taɮaːʑa/ we are working → тэлажьэго /taɮaːʑaɡʷa/ we are working for now.
- машхэ /maːʃxa/ he is eating → машхэго /maːʃxaɡʷa/ he was eating for now.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъэгу | ~ʁaːʁaɡʷ | мэкӏогъагъэгу | makʷʼaʁaːʁaɡʷ | (s)he went for a while; (s)he went for now |
| Recent past | ~гъэгу | ~ʁaɡʷ | мэкӏуагъэгу | makʷʼaːʁaɡʷ | (s)he went for a while; (s)he went for now |
| Present | ~го | ~ɡʷa | макӏого | maːkʷʼaɡʷa | (s)he goes for a while; (s)he goes for now |
| Future | ~щтыгу | ~ɕtəɡʷ | мэкӏощтыгу | makʷʼaɕtəɡʷ | (s)he will go for a while; (s)he will go for now |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъэгу | ~ɕtəʁaɡʷ | мэкӏощтыгъэгу | makʷʼaɕtəʁaɡʷ | (s)he was going to go for a while; (s)he was going to go for now |
This also can be add to noun and adjective :
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy (kʷʼa) → кӏалэгу /t͡ʃʼaːɮaɡʷ/ - it is a boy for now
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэгу /maːfaɡʷ/ - it is day for now
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → фабэгу /faːbaɡʷ/ - it is hot for now
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахэгу /daːxaɡʷ/ - (s)he is pretty for now
- дэхагъ /daxaːʁ/ -(s)he was pretty → дэхагъэгу /daxaɡʷ/ - (s)he was pretty for a while
- дэхэщт /daːxaɕt/ -(s)he will be pretty → дэхэщтыгу /daxaɕtəɡʷ/ - (s)he will be pretty for a while
кӏалэр тучанэм мэкӏуагъэгу кӏалэ-р тучанэ-м мэкӏо-агъэгу [t͡ʃʼɮar təwt͡ʃaːnam makʷʼaːʁaɡʷ] the boy (abs.) the shop (erg.) he went for a while "the boy went to the shop for now"
Томыр еджэгуи, къэтдэджэгушъущтыгоп Том-ыр еджэ-гу-и, къэ-т-дэ-джэгу-шъу-щты-го-п [tomər jad͡ʒaɡʷəj qatdad͡ʒaɡʷəʃʷəɕtəɡʷap] Tom (abs.) because (s)he is studying for now (s)he can't play with us for now "Because Tom is studying for now, he can't play with us for now"
паркэм къэсыкӏохьыщтыгу паркэ-м къэ-сы-кӏохьы-щтыгу [paːrkar qasəkʷʼaħəɕtəɡʷ] in the park (erg.) I will go around for a while "I will go around for a while in the park."
джэгуалъэм сыриджэгурагъогу джэгуалъэ-м сы-риджэгу-рагъо-гу [d͡ʒaɡʷaːɬam sərəjd͡ʒaɡʷəraːʁʷaɡʷ] the toy (erg.) I want to play it for now "I wanna play the toy for now"
Optative mood (~гъэет)
The verbal suffix ~гъэет (~ʁajat) or ~гъагъэет (~ʁaːʁjat) or designates optative mood.
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷaːʁ/ - (s)he went → мэкӏуагъэет /makʷʼaːʁajat/ - I wish (s)he would have gone.
- мэчъэгъагъ /mat͡ʂaʁaːʁ/ (s)he was running → мэчъэгъагъет /mat͡ʂaʁaːʁajat/ I wish (s)he would have run,
- сыплъагъ /səpɬaːʁ/ I looked at → сыплъагъэет /səpɬaːʁajat/ I wish I would have looked.
- даха /daːxa/ pretty → дэхэгъагъэет /daxaʁaːʁajat/ I wish I would have pretty.
- сыкӏочӏэ /səkʷʼaːt͡ʂʼa/ I am strong → сыкӏочӏэгъагъэет /səkʷʼat͡ʂʼaʁaːʁajat/ I wish I had been strong.
ӏэгуаор футболы джэгумкӏэ къэсфэптыгъагъэет ӏэгуао-р футболы джэгу-мкӏэ къэ-с-фэ-п-ты-гъагъэ-ет [ʔaɡʷaːwar futboləmt͡ʃʼa d͡ʒaɡʷəmt͡ʃʼa qasfaptəʁaːʁajat] ball (abs.) soccer game (ins.) I wish you would have passed me it "I wish you would have passed me the ball in the soccer game."
сэ сынахь кӏочӏэгъагъэет ӏанэр къэсыштэшъунэу сэ сы-нахь кӏочӏэ-гъагъэ-ет ӏанэ-р къэ-сы-штэ-шъу-нэу [sa sənaːħ kʷʼat͡ʂʼaʁaːʁajat ʔaːnar qasəʃtaʃʷnaw] I (I) more I wish I had been strong table (abs.) for me to lift it "I wish I had been more stronger to lift the table."
нахь пасэу сыкъэкӏогъагъэет нахь пасэ-у сы-къэ-кӏо-гъагъэ-ет [naːħ paːsaw səqakʷʼaʁaːʁajat] more early I wish I had came "I wish I had came earlier."
Diminution of degree (~рашъу)
To indicate a diminution of degree ("kind of"), the suffix ~рашъу (~raːʃʷ) is added. It is mostly used on verbs and adjectives and are rarely used on noun.
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → мэкӏорашъу /makʷʼaraːʃʷ/ - (s)he kind of going
- мапкӏэ /maːpt͡ʃʼa/ - (s)he is jumping → мэпкӏэрашъу /mapt͡ʃʼaraːʃʷ/ -(s)he kind of jumping.
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → фэбэрашъу /fabaraːʃʷ/ - is it kind of hot.
- кӏуачӏэ /kʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - strong → кӏочӏэрашъу /kʷʼat͡ʃʼaraːʃʷ/ - (s)he is kind of strong
а лӏыжъыр делэрашъу а лӏыжъы-р делэ-рашъу [aː ɬʼəʐər dajɮaraːʃʷ] that old man (abs.) (s)he is kind of stupid "The old man is kind of stupid."
Surprise mood (~уи)
The suffix -уи (-wəːj) indicates a surprise mood.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кӏалэуи /t͡ʃʼaːɮawəj/ - is it really a boy?
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэуи /maːfawəːj/ - is it really a day?
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → фабэуи /faːbawəːj/ - is it really hot?
- кӏуачӏэ /kʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - strong → кӏуачӏэуи /kʷʼaːt͡ʃʼawəːj/ - is (s)he is really strong?
- мэкӏошъу /makʷʼaʃʷə/ - (s)he is capable of going → мэкӏошъууи /makʷʼaʃʷəwəːj/ - is (s)he really capable of going?
- усмэджагъ /wəsmad͡ʒaːʁ/ - you got sick → усмэджагъуи /wəsmad͡ʒaːʁwəj/ - you to become sick?
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъагъуи | ~ʁaːʁwəj | мэкӏогъагъуи | maːkʷʼaʁaːʁwəj | (s)he went!? (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъуи | ~ʁwəj | мэкӏуагъуи | maːkʷʼaːʁwəj | (s)he went!? |
| Present | ~уи | ~wəj | макӏоуи | maːkʷʼawəj | (s)he goes!? |
| Future | ~щтуи | ~ɕtwəj | мэкӏощтуи | makʷʼaɕtwəj | (s)he will go!? |
| Future of the past | ~щтыгъуи | ~ɕtəʁwəj | мэкӏощтыгъэуи | makʷʼaəɕtəʁawəj | (s)he was going to go!? |
мы унэр зишӏыгъэр шъузуи? [mə wənar zəjʃʼəʁar ʃʷəzwəj] this house (abs.) the one who made it is a woman? "The one who made this house is a woman (surprised)?"
кӏалэм еуагъэр сэруи? [t͡ʃʼaːɮam jawaːʁar sarwəj] the boy (erg.) the one (s)he hit me? "The one who hit the boy is me (surprised)?"
а кӏалэ кӏакор кӏуачӏэуи? [aː t͡ʃʼaːɮa t͡ʃʼaːkʷar kʷʼaːt͡ʂʼawəj] that boy the short one (abs.) is (s)he really strong? "That short boy is strong (surprised)?"
After the action connection (~эм)
To indicate an event that happened in the past after a certain verb was done, the suffix -эм (-am) is added.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ - I am going → сэкӏом /sakʷʼam/ - when I went.
- тэшхэ /taʃxa/ - we are eating → тэшхэм /taʃxam/ - when we ate.
- еплъых /japɬəx/ - they are looking at it → еплъыхэм /japɬəxam/ - when they looked at it.
- шъолажьэ /ʃʷaɮaːʑa/ - you (plural) are working → шъолажьэм /ʃʷaɮaːʑam/ - when you (plural) worked
сэкӏом сишы къэслъэгъогъ сэкӏо-м си-шы къэ-с-лъэгъу-эгъ [sakʷʼam səjʃə qasɬaʁʷaʁ] when i went my brother i saw "when I went I saw my brother."
пшъашъэр унэм ехьэм янэ ӏукӏагъ пшъашъэ-р унэ-м ехьэ-м янэ ӏукӏ-агъ [pʂaːʂar [wənam jaħam jaːna ʔʷət͡ʃʼaːʁa] the girl (abs.) the house (erg.) when (s)he entered it his/her mother (s)he met him/her "when the girl entered the house she met her mother."
лӏым едж къысеӏом седжагъ лӏы-м едж къы-с-еӏо-м с-еджэ-агъ [ɬʼəm jad͡ʒ qəsajʔʷam sajd͡ʒaːʁ] man (erg.) study! when (s)he told me I studied "when the man told me to study, I studied."
To indicate an event that is happening after a certain verb is done with no indication to the time it happened, the time prefix з~ and the suffix ~рэм (~ram) are added.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ - I am going → сызкӏорэм /səzkʷʼaram/ - whenever I go.
- тэшхэ /taʃxa/ - we are eating → тызшхэрэм /təzʃxam/ - whenever we eat.
- еплъых /japɬəx/ - they are looking at it → зеплъыхэрэм /zajpɬəxaram/ - whenever they look at it.
- шъолажьэ /ʃʷaɮaːʑa/ - you (plural) are working → шъузлажьэрэм /ʃʷəzɮaːʑaram/ - whenever you (plural) work
сэ сызышхэрэм сиӏэхэр сэтхьакӏыжьых сэ сы-зы-шхэ-рэм си-ӏэ-хэ-р сэ-тхьакӏы-жьы-х [sa səzəʃxaram səjʔaxar satħaːt͡ʃʼəʑəx] I whenever I eat my hands (abs.) I am washing them afterward "Whenever I eat, I wash my hands afterward."
унэм чэщым узкъихьэжьырэм пчъэр къегъэтэу шӏы унэ-м чэщы-м у-з-къ-и-хьэ-жьы-рэм пчъэ-р къ-егъэтэ-у шӏы [wənam t͡ʃaɕəm wəzqəjħaʑəram pt͡ʂar qajʁataw ʃʼə] house (erg.) at the night whenever you enter it door (abs.) be used to lock it "Whenever you enter the house at night, lock the door."
чылэм сыздэкӏырэм ахъщэ сэӏыгъэ чылэ-м сы-з-дэ-кӏы-рэм ахъщэ сэ-ӏыгъэ [t͡ʃəɮam səzdat͡ʃʼəram aːχɕa saʔəʁa] village (erg.) whenever I go out money I am holding it "Whenever I go out of the village, I hold money."
To indicate an event that happened right before a certain verb was going to be done, the suffix ~ным (~nəm) is added.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ - I am going → сыкӏоным /səkʷʼaram/ - the moment I was about to go.
- тэшхэ /taʃxa/ - we are eating → тышхэным /təʃxam/ - the moment we were about to eat.
- еплъых /japɬəx/ - they are looking at it → еплъыхэным /japɬəxaram/ - the moment they were about to look at.
- шъолажьэ /ʃʷaɮaːʑa/ - you (plural) are working → шъулажьэным /ʃʷəɮaːʑaram/ - the moment you (plural) were about to work.
сомпыютэрымкӏэ къесхэхь горэ къиухыным сомпыютэрыр къэсшӏокӏосагъ сомпыютэр-ымкӏэ къе-с-хэхь горэ къ-иухы-ным сомпыютэр-ыр къэ-с-шӏо-кӏос-агъ [kompəjutarəmt͡ʃʼa qajsxaħ ɡʷara qəjwxənəm kompəjutarər qasʃʷʼakʷʼasaːʁ] in the computer (ins.) something I download the moment it was going to finish computer (abs.) it turned off against my interest "The moment' something I download in the computer was about to finish, the computer turned off."
сызышхэным сиукъэкӏыжьэгъ сиӏэхэр сытхьакӏынэу сы-зы-шхэ-ным с-и-укъэкӏыжь-эгъ си-ӏэ-хэ-р сы-тхьакӏы-нэу [səzəʃxanəm səjwqat͡ʃʼəʑaʁ səjʔaxar sətħaːt͡ʃʼənaw] at the time I was about to eat I remembered my hands (abs.) I (to) wash them "When I was about to eat, I remembered to wash my hands. "
Recurrence (~расэ)
The verbal suffix ~рас (-raːs) designates recurrence, presence of a characteristic. It designates an action that someone often does. For example:
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ (s)he is going → мэкӏорас /makʷʼaraːs/ (s)he usually/often goes.
- еплъы /japɬə/ (s)he is looking at → еплъырас /japɬəraːs/ (s)he usually/often looks at
- ео /jawa/ (s)he is hitting it → еорас /jawaraːs/ (s)he usually/often hits it
сэ лимон сышхырасэрэп сэ лимон сы-шхы-расэ-рэп [sa limom səʃxəraːsarap] I a lemon I don't eat it often "I don't eat lemon often." "I don't usually eat lemon."
кӏалэр къэлэм плъыжьым ритхэрас кӏалэ-р къэлэм плъыжьы-м ри-тхэ-рас [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qalam pɬəʑəm rəjtxaraːs] the boy (abs.) red pebcil (erg.) he often writes with "The boy often writes with the red pencil."
To indicate the subject or the object that usually or often do a certain verb, the suffix ~расэ (-raːsa) is added to the noun that was created from a verb. for example:
- макӏорэ /maːkʷʼara/ the one that is going → мэкӏорасэрэ /maːkʷʼaraːsa/ the one that is usually/often goes.
- зыдакӏорэ /zədaːkʷʼara/ the place (s)he is going → зыдэкӏорасэрэ /zədakʷʼaraːsa/ the place (s)he usually/often goes.
- еплъырэ /japɬəra/ the one that is looking at → еплъырасэрэ /japɬəraːsa/ the one that usually/often looks at
- зеплъырэ /zajpɬəra/ the one (s)he is looking at → зеплъырасэрэ /zajpɬəraːsa/ the one (s)he usually/often looks at
- ылъэгъурэ /jəɬaʁʷəra/ the one (s)he is seeing → ылъэгъурасэрэ /jəɬaʁʷəraːsa/ the one (s)he usually/often sees.
- зилъэгъурэ /zəjɬaʁʷəra/ the one that sees it → зилъэгъурасэрэ /zəjɬaʁʷəraːsa/ the one that usually/often sees it.
непчыхьэ тызкӏорасэрэм тышъугъакӏу не-пчыхьэ ты-з-кӏо-расэ-рэ-м ты-шъу-гъа-кӏу [najpt͡ʃəħa təzkʷʼaraːsaram təʃʷʁaːkʷʼ] tonight the place we often go (erg.) let/allow us to go (said to plural) "Let us go to the place we usually goes to."
кӏалэм шоколадэхэр ышхырэсэгъагъэх бэрэ кӏалэ-м шоколад-эх-эр ы-шхы-рэс-гъагъэ-эх бэрэ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam ʃokolaːdaxar jəʃxərasaːʁaːʁax bara] the boy (erg.) chocolates (abs.) he used to eat them often a lot "The boy used to eat chocolates a lot"
сэ къэлэмэу сызритхэрасэр плъыжьы сэ къэлэм-эу сы-з-ри-тхэ-расэ-р плъыжьы [sa qalamaw səzrəjtxaraːsar pɬəʑə] I pencil (adv.) the thing I often writes with (abs.) red "The pencil I usually writes with is red."
About to (~пэт)
To indicate a verb that is about to happened, the verbal suffix -пэт (-pat) is added.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~пэтыгъагъ | ~patəʁaːʁ | макӏопэтыгъагъ | maːkʷʼapatəʁaːʁ | (s)he almost went (then) |
| Recent past | ~пэтыгъ | ~patəʁ | макӏопэтыгъ | maːkʷʼapatəʁ | (s)he almost went |
| Present | ~пэт | ~pat | макӏопэт | maːkʷʼapat | (s)he is about to go |
| Future | ~пэтыщт | ~patəɕt | мэкӏопэтыщт | makʷʼapatəɕt | (s)he will be about to go |
| Future of the past | ~пэтыщтэгъ | ~patəɕtaʁ | мэкӏопэтыщтэгъ | makʷʼapatəɕtaʁ | (s)he was about to go |
сыкъаубытыпэтэгъ кӏалэхэмэ сы-къа-убыты-пэтэгъ кӏалэхэмэ [səqaːwbətəpataʁ t͡ʃʼaːɮaxama] they almost caught me the boys (erg.) "The boys almost caught me."
псым уицуакъэкӏэ ухауцопэтэгъ псы-м уи-цуакъэ-кӏэ у-ха-уцо-пэтэгъ [psəm wəjt͡sʷaːqat͡ʃʼa wəxaːwt͡sʷapataʁ] water (erg.) using your shoes (ins.) you almost stepped into it "You almost stepped into the water with your shoes."
сэ себэджыпэтыгъэп сэ се-бэджы-пэтыгъ-эп [sa sajbad͡ʒəpatəʁap] I I didn't almost fell on the ground "I didn't almost fell on the ground."
Always (~зэпыт)
To indicate that the verb is always happen, the suffix -зэпыт (-zapət) is added.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Past | ~зэпытэгъ | ~zapətaʁ | мэкӏозэпытэгъ | makʷʼazapətaʁ | (s)he used to go always |
| Past 2 | ~зэпытыгъагъ | ~zapətəʁaːʁ | мэкӏопытыгъагъ | makʷʼazapətəʁaːʁ | (s)he used to go always |
| Present | ~зэпыт | ~zapət | мэкӏозэпыт | makʷʼazapət | (s)he always go |
| Future | ~зэпытыщт | ~zapətəɕt | мэкӏозэпытыщт | makʷʼazapətəɕt | (s)he will always be going to |
| Future of the past | ~зэпытыщтэгъ | ~zapətəɕtaʁ | мэкӏозэпытыщтэгъ | makʷʼazapətəɕtaʁ | (s)he was always going to |
тучаным тышъугъэкӏозэпытыщта? тучан-ым ты-шъу-гъэ-кӏо-зэпыт-ыщт-а? [tut͡ʃaːnəm təʃʷʁakʷʼazapətəɕtaː] shop (erg.) are you (pl.) gonna make us go always "Are you (plural) gonna make us go to the shop all the time?."
кӏалэм мые ышхызэпытэгъ кӏалэ-м мые ышхы-зэпыт-эгъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam məja jəʃxəzapətaʁ] boy (erg.) an apple (s)he used to eat it always "The boy used to eat apple all the time."
сэ сэчъэзэпыт щэджэгъожьым сэ сэ-чъэ-зэпыт щэджэгъожьы-м [sa sat͡ʂazapət ɕad͡ʒaʁʷaʑəm] I I am always running at the after noon (ins.) "I am always running after noon."
Just recently (~гъакӏ)
To indicate a verb that happened just recently, the suffix -гъакӏ (-ʁaːt͡ʃʼ) is added.
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - he went → мэкӏогъакӏ /makʷʼaːʁaːt͡ʃʼ/ - I just went recently.
- сышхагъ /səʃχaːʁ/ - I ate → сышхэгъакӏ /səʃxaʁaːt͡ʃʼ/ - I just ate recently.
| Tense | Suffix | To walk (мэкӏон) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning | |
| Far past | ~гъэкӏэгъагъ | ~ʁat͡ʃʼaʁaːʁ | мэкӏогъэкӏэгъагъ | maːkʷʼaʁat͡ʃʼaʁaːʁ | (s)he was recently going (then) |
| Recent past | ~гъэкӏагъ | ~ʁat͡ʃʼaːʁ | мэкӏогъэкӏагъ | maːkʷʼaʁat͡ʃʼaːʁ | (s)he was recently going |
| Present | ~гъакӏ | ~ʁaːt͡ʃʼ | макӏогъакӏ | maːkʷʼaʁaːt͡ʃʼ | (s)he just recently went |
| Future | ~гъэкӏэщт | ~ʁat͡ʃʼaɕt | мэкӏогъэкӏэщт | makʷʼaʁat͡ʃʼaɕt | (s)he will recently go |
| Future of the past | ~гъэкӏэщтэгъ | ~ʁat͡ʃʼaɕtaʁ | мэкӏогъэкӏэщтэгъ | makʷʼaʁat͡ʃʼaɕtaʁ | (s)he was going to recently go |
ушхэгъакӏ нэӏэ ушхэжьырагъуа? у-шхэ-гъакӏ нэӏэ у-шхэ-жьы-рагъу-а? [wəʃxaʁaːt͡ʃʼ naʔa wəʃxaʑəraːʁʷaː] you just ate recently only do you want to eat again "You just ate recently, you wanna eat again?"
класым иджы скъихьэгъакӏ класы-м иджы с-къи-хьэ-гъакӏ [klaːsəm jəd͡ʒə sqəjħaʁaːt͡ʃʼ] class (erg.) now I just came in "I just came into the class right now."
класым тыгъуасэ сихьэгъэкӏэгъагъ тестэр къызеублэм класы-м тыгъуасэ си-хьэ-гъэкӏэ-гъагъ тестэ-р къы-зе-ублэ-м [klaːsəm təʁʷaːsa səjħaʁat͡ʃʼaʁaːʁ] testar qəzajwbɮam class (erg.) yesterday I just entered recently (in the past) test (arg.) the time it started "Yesterday after recently entering the class the test began."
Should have (~пхъагъ)
To indicate a verb that the subject should have done in the past and haven't, the suffix -пхъагъ (-pχaːʁ) is added.
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - (s)he went → мэкӀопхъагъ /makʷʼapχaːʁ/ - (s)he should have gone so.
- сыкӏуагъ /səːkʷʼaːʁ/ - I went → сыкӏопхъагъ /səkʷʼapχaːʁ/ - I should have gone so.
- тышхагъ /təʃxaːʁ/ - we ate → тышхэпхъагъ /təʃxapχaːʁ/ - we should have eaten.
- уӏуагъ /wʔʷaːʁ/ - you said → уӏопхъагъ /wʔʷapχaːʁ/ - you should have said so.
- къэпхьэгъ /qapħaʁ/ - you brought → къэпхьыпхъагъ /qapħəpχaːʁ/ - you should have brought.
сиунэ укъакӏом сидиск къэпхьыпхъагъ си-унэ у-къа-кӏо-эм си-диск къэ-п-хьы-пхъагъ [siwna wqaːkʷʼam sidisk qaphəpχaːʁ] my house when you came my disk you should have brought it. "When you came to my house, you should have brought my disk with you"
къэпӏопхъагъ зэрэуимыӏэ гущыӏалъэ къэ-п-ӏо-пхъагъ зэрэ-уи-мы-ӏэ гущыӏалъэ [qapʔʷapχaːʁ zarawiməʔa ɡʷəɕəʔaːɬa] you should have said so that you don't have it a dictionary "You should have said that you don't have a dictionary."
Area (~хь)
The verbal suffix ~хь /~ħ/ designates action performed on an area or repetition of the action in a certain area :
The reflexive verbal prefix зе~ (zaj~) and the verbal suffix ~хь(~ħ) are used together to indicate action performed by someone around the area or location they are standing in. It also designates repetition of the action around someone. for example:
- чъэн /t͡ʂan/ - to run → зичъэхьын /zəjt͡ʂaħən/ - to run around; to run in circles; to run repetitively.
- кӏон /kʷʼan/ - to go → зикӏохьын /zəjkʷʼaħən/ - to walk around; to walk in circles; to walk repetitively.
- плъэн /pɬan/ - to look → зиплъэхьын /zəjpɬaħən/ - to look around; to observe around; to look repetitively.
- он /wan/ - to hit → зиохьын /zəjwaħən/ - to strike around oneself.
- шъутырэн /ʃʷətəran/ - to kick → зишъутырэхьын /zəjʃʷətəraħən/ - to kick around oneself.
- зиукӏэхьын /zəjwt͡ʃʼaħən/ - to extend and stretch arms.
кӏэлэцӏыкӏум зичъэхьыжьэу унэм ит кӏэлэцӏыкӏу-м зи-чъэ-хьы-жьэ-у унэ-м ит [t͡ʼaɮat͡sʼəkʷʼəm zəjt͡ʂaħəʑaw wənam jət] little boy (erg.) while running around house (erg.) (s)he is standing inside "The little boy is running around in the house." "Literary meaning : The little boy is in the house while running around.."
сэ чъыгым спысэу зэсэплъэхьы сэ чъыгы-м с-пы-сэ-у зэ-сэ-плъэ-хьы [sa t͡ʂəɣəm spəsaw zasapɬaħə] I tree (erg.) while sitting on a tree I am looking around "I am looking around while sitting on a tree."
гъогум кӏалэм зеплъэхьи тет гъогу-м кӏалэ-м зеплъэхьи тет [ʁʷaɡʷəm t͡ʃʼaːɮam zajpɬaħəj tajt] road (erg.) boy (erg.) (s)he is looking around (s)he stands "the boy is standing on the road looking around."
The verbal prefix къе~ (qaj~) and the verbal suffix ~хь(~ħ) are used together to indicate action performed on an area, for example:
- чъэн /t͡ʂan/ - to run → къэчъэхьын /qat͡ʂaħən/ - to run around it
- кӏон /kʷʼan/ - to go → къэкӏохьын /qakʷʼaħən/ - to go/walk around it
- плъэн /pɬan/ - to look → къэплъэхьын /qapɬaħən/ - to look around it; to scout
сэ чылэр къэскӏохьышт сэ чылэ-р къэ-с-кӏо-хьы-шт [sa t͡ʃəɮar qaskʷʼaħəɕt] I the village (abs.) I will walk around "I will walk around the village."
мэзым хахьи къэплъэхь мэзы-м ха-хь-и къэ-плъэ-хь [mazəm xaːħəj qaspɬaħ] forest (erg.) enter it and look around it "Enter the forest and scout around."
To indicate movement round an object, the prefix дэ~ (da~) and the suffix ~хь (~ħ) are added :
- ӏуашъхьэр къыдэкӏохьын: to walk/go around the hill.
- чъыгыр къыдэкӏохьын: to walk/go around the tree.
- унэр къыдэчъэхьын: to run around the house.
- ӏуашъхьэм къыдрикӏохьын: to walk/go around the hill.
- чъыгым къыдрикӏохьын: to walk/go around the tree.
ӏуашъхьэм учӏымыкӏыэу къыдэкӏохь ӏуашъхьэ-м у-чӏы-мы-кӏ-эу къы-дэ-кӏо-хь [ʔʷaːʂħam wət͡ʂʼəmət͡ʃʼaw qədakʷʼaħ] hill (erg.) while you are not going up it go around it "Instead of going up the hill, go around it."
The suffix ~хь (~ħə) can also be used together with the positional prefixes to indicate action performed on a definite area in a certain direction and position. for example:
- мэджыджэн /mad͡ʒəd͡ʒan/ to roll → теджыджэхьын /tajd͡ʒəd͡ʒaħən/ to roll on.
- теуцӏэлэн /tajwt͡sʼaɮan/ - to paint on → теуцӏэлэхьын /tajwt͡sʼaɮaħən/ - to scribble on.
- теӏэбэн /tajʔaban/ - to touch with fingers → теӏэбэхьын /tajʔabaħən/ - to touch something with fingers rapidly.
- мэстын - to burn → хэстыхьан - to burn in an area with some mass (like fire or lava).
- мэукӏын - to be killed → хэукӏэхьан to die in an area with some mass (like a liquid or gas); to die in a war.
унэ чӏэгъым чӏаукӏэхьагъ унэ чӏэгъы-м чӏ-а-укӏэ-хь-агъ [wəna t͡ʂʼaʁəm t͡ʂʼaːwt͡ʃʼaħaːʁ] under the house (erg.) they killed him under "they kill him under the house."
The verbal suffix ~хь(~ħ) can also be used to indicate action performed repetitively or action performed for a long extend or action performed nonstop (without interruption or break) or action performed entirely, for example:
- пыохьын : to entirely beat up someone; to beat someone nonstop
- теохьын : to entirely be hit by an explosion
- хэон: to hit someone hard → хэохьын: to hit someone hard repetitively
- тегущыӏэн: to speak about someone → тегущыӏэхьын: to discuss or talk about someone
- пыплъэн : to look on something → пыплъэхьын : to search on someone entirely
- теплъэн : to look on something → теплъэхьын : to search on something
- джыхэхъонэн - to curse someone directly → джыхэхъонэхьын - to curse someone nonstop
ахэр лӏым пыохьыгъэх ахэр лӏы-м пыохьы-гъэ-х [aːxar ɬʼəm pəwaħəʁax] they (abs.) man (erg.) they beat him up "they beat the man up"
къэрэгъулхэр уиджанэ пыплъэхьыщтых къэрэгъул-хэ-р уи-джанэ пыплъэхьы-щт-ых [qaraʁʷəɮxar wəjd͡ʒaːja pəpɬaħəɕtəx] the guards (abs.) your shirt they gonna search on it "the guards gonna search on your shirt"
Manner (~кӏэ)
To indicate the manner a verb is done, the verbal suffix ~кӏэ (t͡ʃʼa) is added. In the Shapsug dialect the suffix ~кӏьэ (~kʲʼa) is used instead.
- кӏо /kʷa/ - go → кӏуакӏэ /kʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - manner of going; how to walk.
- лажь /ɮaːʑ/ - work → лэжьакӏэ /ɮaʑaːt͡ʃʼa/ - manner of working; how to walk.
- пкӏэ /pt͡ʃʼa/ - jump → пкӏакӏэ /pt͡ʃʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - manner of jumping; how to jump.
- тхэ /txa/ - write → тхакӏэ /txaːt͡ʃʼa/ - manner of writing; how to write.
- дзы /d͡zə/ - throw → дзыкӏэ /d͡zət͡ʃʼa/ - manner of throwing; how to throw.
- зао /zaːwa/ - war; fight → зэуакӏэ /zawaːt͡ʃʼa/ - manner of fighting; how to fight.
кӏалэм тэрэзэу тхакӏэ къырагъэшӏагъ кӏалэ-м тэрэзэу тха-кӏэ къы-р-а-гъэ-шӏа-гъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam tarazaw txaːt͡ʃʼa qəraːʁaʃʼaːʁ] boy (erg.) correctly manner of writing they taught him "They taught the boy how to write correctly."
кӏалэм зэуакӏэ ешӏэ дэгъоу кӏалэ-м зэу-акӏэ ешӏэ дэгъу-эу [t͡ʃʼaːɮam zawaːt͡ʃʼa jaʃʼa daʁʷə] boy (erg.) manner of fighting (s)he knows good "The boy knows how to fight well."
мыжъо псынкӏэу дзыкӏэ озгъэлъэгъущт мащинэ псынкӏэу фы-кӏэ о-з-гъэ-лъэгъу-щт [məʒʷa psənt͡ʃʼaw fət͡ʃʼa wazʁaɬaʁʷəɕt] car quickly manner of throwing I will show you "I will show you how to throw a rock quickly."
It is also possible to indicate the manner in which someone does a verb. for example:
- кӏо /kʷa/ - go → икӏуакӏэ /jəkʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - his manner of walking.
- лажь /ɮaːʑ/ - work → илэжьакӏэ /jəɮaʑaːt͡ʃʼa/ - his manner of working.
- пкӏэ /pt͡ʃʼa/ - jump → ипкӏакӏэ /jəpt͡ʃʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - his manner of jumping.
- тхэ /txa/ - write → итхакӏэ /jətxaːt͡ʃʼa/ - his manner of writing
- дзы /d͡zə/ - throw → идзыкӏэ /jaːd͡zət͡ʃʼa/ - his manner of throwing.
о уиеджакӏэ дэгъоп о уи-еджа-кӏэ дэгъо-п [wa wəjjad͡ʒaːt͡ʃʼa daʁʷap] you your way of studying not good "Your way of studying is not good."
лӏыжъым икӏуакӏэ лъэщы лӏыжъы-м и-кӏу-акӏэ лъэщы [ɬʼəʐəm jəkʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa ɬaɕə] old man (erg.) his way of going lame "The way the old man goes is lame."
Difficult (~гъуай)
To indicate that a verb is Difficult to do, the suffix -гъуай (-ʁʷaːj) is added
- тхы /txə/ - write → тхыгъуай /txəʁʷaːj/ - difficult to spell; difficult to write
- сэтхы /satxə/ - I write → сытхыгъуай /sətxəʁʷaːj/ - it is difficult for me to write
- шӏэ /ʃʼa/ - do → шӏэгъуй /ʃʼaʁʷaːj/ - difficult to do
- шхы /ʃxə/ - eat → шхыгъуй /ʃxəʁʷaːj/ - difficult to eat
бзылъфыгъэхэр ащ есэгъуаех бзылъфыгъэ-хэ-р ащ е-сэ-гъуаех [bzəɬfəʁaxar aːɕ jasaʁʷaːjax] women (abs.) that it is difficult to get used to "It is difficult for women to used to that."
гъогу лъагъор хэлъэгъогъуаеу щытыгъ гъогу лъагъо-р хэ-лъэгъо-гъуаеу щыт-ыгъ [ʁʷaɡʷ ɬaːʁʷar xaɬaʁʷaʁʷaːjaw ɕətəʁ] road path (abs.) being difficult to see it was "The path was difficult to see."
Easy (~гъошӏу)
To indicate that a verb is easy to do, the suffix -гъошӏу (-ʁʷaʃʷʼ) is added
- тхы /txə/ - write → тхыгъошӏу /txəʁʷaʃʷʼ/ - easy to spell; easy to write
- сэтхы /satxə/ - I write → сытхыгъошӏу /sətxəʁʷaʃʷʼ/ - it is easy for me to write; I write easily
- шӏэ /ʃʼa/ - do → шӏэгъошӏу /ʃʼaʁʷaʃʷʼ/ - easy to do
- шхы /ʃxə/ - eat → шхыгъошӏу /ʃxəʁʷaʃʷʼ/ - easy to eat
джанэр дыгъош1у джанэ-р ды-гъош1у [d͡ʒaːnar dəʁʷaʃʷʼ] dress (abs.) easy to sewn "The dress is sewn easily."
гъогу лъагъор хэлъэгъогъуаеу щытыгъ гъогу лъагъо-р хэ-лъэгъо-гъуаеу щыт-ыгъ [ʁʷaɡʷ ɬaːʁʷar xaɬaʁʷaʁʷaːjaw ɕətəʁ] road path (abs.) being difficult to see it was "The path was difficult to see."
Warning mood (~къон)
To either warn or intimidate the listener(s) from doing a certain verb, the verbal suffix ~къон (~qʷan) is added to it.
- уеплъы /wajpɬə/ - you are looking at → уеплъыкъон /wajpɬəqʷan/ - don't you dare to look at.
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ - (s)he is going → мэкӏокъон /makʷʼaqʷan/ - don't (s)he dare to go
- шъошхы /ʃʷaʃxə/ - you (plural) are eating it → шъушхыкъон /ʃʷəʃxəqʷan/ - don't you (plural) dare to eat it
- мачъэх /maːt͡ʂax/ - they are running → мэчъэкъоных /mat͡ʂaqʷanəx/ - don't they dare to run.
Унашъхьэм укъепкӏэкъон Унашъхьэ-м у-къ-епкӏэ-къон [wənaːʂħam wəqajpt͡ʃʼaqʷan] root (erg.) don't dare to jump from "Don't dare to jump from the roof."
Кӏалэм епӏотэкъон пысӏохьхэрэр Кӏалэ-м е-п-ӏотэ-къон пы-с-ӏохь-хэ-рэ-р [t͡ʃʼaːɮam japʔʷataqʷan pəsʔʷaħxarar] boy (erg.) don't dare to tell him the things I am saying about him "Don't dare to tell the boy the things I am saying about him."
Кӏалэхэр Фылымым азакъоу ерэплъыкъоных Кӏалэ-хэ-р Фылым-ым а-закъо-у е-рэ-плъы-къон-ых [t͡ʃʼaːɮaxar [fələməm jaːzaːqʷaw jarapɬəqʷanəx] the boys (abs.) film (erg.) while they being alone don't they dare to look at "Don't the boys dare to look at the film."
Directed towards (~лӏ)
The verbal suffix ~лӏ (~lʼ) designates action directed towards, or applied to somebody or something. For example:
- ечъэлӏэн: to come running up to somebody or something.
- ехьэлӏэн: to take, carry or bring something/somebody to somebody else.
- екӏолӏэн: to approach something or somebody.
- ехъолӏэн: an event to come and happen to someone.
- еӏолӏэн: to say something about a statement.
кӏалэм дэгъухэ къехъолӏагъэх кӏалэ-м дэгъу-хэ къ-е-хъо-лӏ-агъ-эх [t͡ʃʼaːɮam daʁʷəxa qajχʷaɬʼaːʁax] the boy (erg.) good things they happened to him/her "Good things happened to the boy."
сыд унэм ишъо епӏуалӏэрэ? сыд унэ-м и-шъо е-п-ӏу-алӏэ-рэ? [səd wənam jəʃʷa japʔʷaːɬʼara] what house (erg.) its color the thing you say about it "What do you say about the house's color?"
кӏалэр гъогум екӏуалӏэ кӏалэ-р гъогу-м екӏу-алӏэ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam ʁʷaɡʷəm jakʷʼaːɬʼa] boy (abs.) road (erg.) (s)he is approaching it "The boy is approaching the road."
Slightly (~ӏо)
The verbal suffix ~ӏо designates slightness; for example:
- кӏотаӏо : move a little further.
- кӏотыӏуагъэ : He moved on.
- кӏотыгъаӏо : He went further.
- ӏэтыӏо : lift slightly higher.
Mistakenly (~хъу)
The verbal suffix ~хъу designates mistakenness; for example:
- ӏохъу : speak irrelevantly.
- ӏохъугъэ : He said irrelevantly.
Willingly (~п)
The verbal suffix ~п designates action done willingly; for example:
- сыкӏопэн : I will go willingly.
- сымыкӏопэн : I will not go willingly.
Preliminary condition (~хэ)
The verbal suffix ~хэ designates preliminary condition; for example :
- зытхьэкIыхэн: wash yourself first.
- зытхьэкIыхи шхэ: first wash yourself, and then eat.
Absolute (~х)
The verbal suffix ~хэ designates absolute; for example:
- сыкӏохэн : I will definitely go.
- сымыкӏохэн : I will definitely not go.
Pre (~пэу)
Together with the negative ~м~ infix, The verbal suffix ~п designates before; earlier in time. for example :
- макӏо: (s)he goes → мамыкӏуапэу: before (s)he goes
- нэсы: (s)he reaches → нэмысыпэу: before (s)he reaches
- машхэ: (s)he eats → мэмышхапэу: before (s)he start eating
- машхагъ: (s)he eats → мэмышхэгъапэу: before (s)he ends eating
Post (~уж)
The verbal suffix ~уж designates after; later in time. for example :
- макӏо: (s)he goes → мэкӏоужым : after (s)he went
- нэсы: (s)he reaches → нэмысыужым: after (s)he reaches
- машхэ: (s)he eats → мэшхыужым: after (s)he eats
References
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