Chapter: [ Contents | 1. Alphabet | 2. Sandhi | 3. Assimilation | 4. Strengthening | 5. Declension | 6. Feminine | 7. Adjectives | 8. Numerals | 9. Pronouns | 10.1 Verbs | 10.2 Verbs | 10.3 Verbs | 11. Indeclinables | 12. Compounds | 13. Derivation | 14. Syntax | 15. Prosody ]
A Practical Grammar of the Paali Language
Chapter 10 Part 1
VERBS
354. Conjugation, or the inflection of verbs, consists in making the verbal root undergo certain changes in form, by the addition to it of certain prefixes and terminations to show the difference of Voice (355), of Tense (358), of Mode (359), of Person (365), and of Number (364).
355. There are two voices:
(1) | The Active, called in Paali: parassapada (lit. a word for another) and |
(2) | The Reflective in Paali called attanopada (lit. a word for one's self). |
356. The Active Voice, or parassapada may be said to be used, when the fruit or consequence of the action; expressed by the verb passes on to another person or thing other than the subject or agent; the Reflective Voice or attanopada, is used when the fruit or the consequence expressed by the verb accrues to no one else but to the the agent. The Reflective voice merely implies that the agent has the ability to do that action or suffer that state which is denoted by the Root.
357. It must here be remarked that the Reflective Voice has lost very much of its importance, and that the distinction between Active and Reflective has been almost if not altogether effaced, and that the choice between the Active or Reflective is mostly determined now by metrical exigencies. It therefore follows the Reflective Voice or the "Middle Voice," as it is also called, is confined to poetry, and is but rarely found in prose.
358. There are six Tenses:
(1) | The Present; and its preterite*. ( HL: *A term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense.) |
(2) | The Imperfect; used originally to express a definite past. |
(3) | The Aorist, expressing time recently past. This is now the only true past tense in Paali, and is very extensively used. |
(4) | The Perfect, originally an indefinite past. This tense is of very rare occurrence. |
(5) | The Future, expressing future time in general and its preterite. |
(6) | The Conditional, expressing future time relatively to something that is past, and an action unable to be performed on account of some difficulty in the way of its execution. |
359. There are three Modes of the Present Tense:
(1) | The Indicative. (HL: simple declarative statements.) |
(2) | The Imperative. (HL: A mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior.) |
(3) | The Optative. (HL: A mood that expresses a wish or hope.) |
360. The Present, the Perfect and the Future Tenses, have each a Participle, called after them:
(1) | The Present Participle*. (HL: *A non-finite form of the verb used adjectivally to form compound tenses.) |
(2) | The Perfect Participle. |
(3) | The Future Participle. |
Remarks. The Perfect Participle, mostly formed from the root, is principally of past and passive meaning; sometimes also of Neuter meaning.
361. There is also a Participle of Necessity, also called Future Passive Participle and Potential Participle, which is but a Verbal Adjective.
362. According to the Base on which they are formed the Present and the Future Participles may be active or passive in sense.
363. There are two Verbal Nouns:
(1) | The Infinitive* | in the Accusative Case-form; sometimes (rarely), in the Dative Case-form; which has nothing to do with the Conjugation and the Tense Systems; and has the sense of a regular infinitive. (HL: *The uninflected form of the verb. ) |
(2) | A Gerund** | so-called, which is but the Case-form of a derivative noun having the force of an absolute participle. (HL: **A verbal noun - such as the '-ing' form of an English verb when used as a noun). |
364. There are two Numbers: the Singular and the Plural.
365. There are three Persons: the First, Second and Third Persons.
366. From what has been said above, it will be seen that the tenses group themselves into four well defined classes or systems.
(1) The Present System, composed of: | |
(a) The Present Indicative, and its preterite. | |
(b) The Imperfect. (HL: A tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going.) | |
(c) The Present Imperative. (HL: A mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior.) | |
(d) The Present Optative. (HL: A mood that expresses a wish or hope.) | |
(e) The Present Participle. | |
(2) The Aorist System, composed of: | |
(a) The Aorist Tense only. | |
(3) The Perfect System, comprising: | |
(a) The Perfect Tense. (HL: A tense of verbs used in describing action that has been completed.) | |
(b) The Perfect Participle. | |
(4) The Future System composed of: | |
(a) The Future Tense. | |
(b) The Conditional. | |
(c) The Future Participle. |
367. There is a division of the tenses, more fictitious than real, into "Special Tenses" and "General Tenses". From such a division, one would be inclined to think that the former are formed on a special base or modified form of the root, and the latter, therefore, from the root itself. But such in fact is not the case, for it will later on be, remarked that the special and the general tenses not seldom interchange their bases.
368. As, however the Present System is by far the most important, and as it is made the basis of the different Conjugations or Classifications of Verbs, we will in the next section explain the formation of the several stems or bases of the Present System (otherwise called "Special Tenses") of which there are ten, divided into Seven Conjugations. These bases are in consequence called "Special Bases".
369. The Conjugation of Verbs is furthermore divided into Primitive and Derivative* Conjugations.
(HL: *Passive, Causative, Denominative, Desiderative and, Intensive verbs. 478)
(A) PRIMITIVE VERBS
Formation of the special bases of the Present System
Conjugation
370. The verbs of the First Conjugation form the Present stem or base infour ways, as follows:
(1) The roots end in a Consonant, and, to form the base or stem, simply add a.
Examples 1st Conjugation.d1 | Bases | |
/bhar | to carry. | bhara. |
/jiiv | to live | jiiva |
/labh | to obtain | labha |
/mar | to die | mara. |
/pac | to cook | paca |
/rakkh | to keep, guard | rakkha |
/tar | to cross | tara. |
/vad | to tell, say | vada |
/yaac | to entreat, beg | yaaca |
(1)To this division belong those roots which, ending in a consonant preceded by i or u, sometimes do, and sometimes do not strengthen the vowel (i, u).
Examples 1st Conjugation.d1 | ||
1. Without Strengthening | ||
Roots | Bases | |
/likh | to write | likha |
/nud | to remove | nuda |
/phus | to touch | phusa |
/tud | to know, destroy | tuda |
2. With Strengthening 1st Conjugation.d1 | ||
Roots | Bases | |
gup | to keep, watch | gopa |
subh | to shine, be beautiful | sobha |
Examples 1st Conjugation.d2 | ||
Roots |
| Bases |
/bruu | to speak | bruu |
/khyaa | to tell(with prefix aa ) | khyaa |
/.thaa | to stand | thaa |
/vaa | to blow | vaa |
/yaa | to go | yaa |
Remarks. (a) To this class may be said to belong the roots ending in i, ii or u, u which, when a is added to them, do not take their semi-vowel substitute, but are merely gunated (109, 104-107).
Examples 1st Conjugation.d2 | ||
Roots | Bases | |
/huu | to be | ho |
/ji | to conquer | je(or java) (3rd Division) |
/ku | to sound | ko(or kava) (3rd Division) |
/nii | to lead | ne(or naya) (3rd Division) |
Remarks.
(b) To these transformed roots, which at first sight appear to be pure roots, the personal endings are added, as after the roots: yaa, vaa, .thaa, etc., (2nd Division).
(c) So that these roots assume two special bases: one in e or aya, and one in o or ava, according as the last vowel is i, ii or u, uu.
(3) The roots of this division end in i, ii or u, uu which, before the conjugational sign a, are respectively changed to ay and av (103-110).
Examples 1st Conjugation.d3 | ||
Roots |
| Bases |
/bhuu | to be | (/bhuu + a =) bhava |
/ji | to conquer | (/ji + a =) jaya |
/khi | to govern | (/khi + a =) khaya |
/ku | to make a sound | (/ku + a =) kava |
/nii | to lead, guide | (/nii + a =) naya |
(See above no. 2 Remarks (a, c).
(4) The verbs of the Fourth division of the First Conjugation form their special bases by reduplicating the root.
Examples 1st Conjugation.d4 | ||
Roots |
| Bases |
/daa | to give | dadaa |
/dhaa | to hold | dadhaa |
/ha | to forsake | jahaa |
/hu | to sacrifice | juho |
/.thaa | to stand | ti.t.thaa |
Remark. These retain the long aa before the personal endings of the present and of the Imperative.
372. The Rules of Reduplication are as follows:
(1) | Reduplication consists in the doubling of the first consonant in a root together with a vowel that follows it. If the root begins with a vowel, that vowel alone is reduplicated. | |
(2) | A gutteral is reduplicated by its corresponding palatal. | |
(3) | An unaspirate is always reduplicated by an unaspirate (See chart para 9) which means that an unaspirate is reduplicated by itself. | |
(4) | The initial h of a root, is reduplicated by j. | |
(5) | An aspirate is reduplicated by its unaspirate. | |
(6) | v is generally reduplicated by u. | |
(7) | A long vowel is shortened in the reduplicated syllable. That is: | |
(a) | a or aa takes a in reduplication, and sometimes: | |
(b) | i or ii takes i. | |
(c) | u or uu takes u but sometimes a. | |
(d) | i is occasionally changed to e. | |
(e) | u is changed to o, sometimes. | |
(f) | a of the root, following the first consonant, is sometimes lengthened to aa. |
Examples 1st Conjugation.d4 | |||
Simple Roots |
Rules of Reduplication | Reduplicated Bases | |
/ah | to say | (Rule 372, 1; 22) | aaha |
/bhuu | to be | (Rule 372, 5, 7-c) | babhuva |
/budh | to know | (Rule 372, 3, 7-e) | bubodha |
/chid | to cut | (Rule 372, 5, 7-d) | cicheda |
/daa | to give | (Rule 372, 3, 7-a) | dadaa |
/dhaa | to hold | (Rule 372, 5, 7-a) | dadhaa |
/gam | to go | (Rule 372, 2, 7-a) | jagama |
/har | to bear | (Rule 372, 4, 7-a, f) | jahaara |
/has | to laugh | (Rule 372, 4, 7-a, f) | jahaasa |
/kha"n | to dig | (Rule 372, 2, 7-a) | cakhana |
/kit | to cure | (Rule 372, 2, 7-b; 88) | cikiccha |
/pac | to cook | (Rule 372, 3, 7-a) | papaca |
/suc | to mourn | (Rule 372, 3, 7-e) | susoca |
/vad | to say | (Rule 372, 6, 7-f) | uvaada |
/vas | to live | (Rule 372, 6, 7-f) | uvaasa |
Remarks. The above rules of reduplication apply as well to the perfect tense; but as the perfect is very seldom used in Paali, the student ought not to assume existence of any form unless it be actually found in the course of his reading.
373. The Verbs of the Second Conjugation form their Special Bases by inserting niggahiita .m before the last consonant of the root, and then adding a, as in the 1st conjugation. Niggahita follows the usual rules of sandhi (39).
Examples | ||
Roots | 2nd Conjugation | Bases |
/bhuj | to eat | bhu~nja |
/chid | to cut | chinda |
/lip | to smear | limpa |
/muc | to free | mu~nca |
/pis | to grind | pimsa |
/rudh | to restrain | rundha |
374. The sign of the Third Conjugation is ya, which is added to the root; the rules for the Assimilation of ya (70 ff.), are regularly applied.
Examples | ||
Roots | 3rd Conjugation | Bases |
/budh | to know | /budh + ya (74, vi) = bujjha |
/dus | to vex | /dus + ya (76, i) = dussa |
/gaa | to sing | /gaa + ya = gaaya |
/jhaa | to think | /jhaa + ya = jhaaya |
/pas | to see | /pas + ya (76, i) = passa |
/yudh | to fight | /yudh + ya (74, vi) = yujjha |
ge = gaa | to sing. |
jhe = jhaa | to think, meditate |
ve = vaa | to weave |
375. The forms in aa (gaa, etc.) belong, as we have already seen, to the Third Conjugation, but those in e belong to the First Conjugation (3rd Division), and form their bases by the addition of a. Thus:
ge + a = | gaaya |
ve + a = | vaaya |
Remarks. Note well that final e + a = aaya with lengthening of the first a.
376. The Verbs of theFourth Conjugation form the present Stem or Base by the addition of .nu, or .na if the root end in a vowel; but u.nu, or u.naa, if the root end in a consonant.
Remarks.
(a) The u of .nu and u"nu may be strengthened to o.
(b) This u or o may, before a personal ending beginning with a vowel, be changed to va (27ii a, b).
Examples | ||
Roots 4th Conjugation | Bases | |
/aap(with prefix pa = paap) | to attain | paapu.naa or paapu.no |
/su | to hear | su.naa or su.no |
(c) The long aa of .naa, u.naa is retained before the personal endings of the Present and of the Imperative except the 3rd Person Plural. Occasionally, however, it is found shortened.
(d) In a few cases the .n is de-lingualized and changed to the dental nasal, viz., n, following in this the analogy of the Sanskrit.
377. Verbs of the Fifth Conjugation form their bases by adding naa to the root, which as a rule ends in a vowel.
Remarks.
(a) If the final vowel of the root is long (2), it is shortened before naa.
(b) Under the influence of a preceding Sanskrit r or .r, this naa is sometimes lingualised and becomes .naa.
Examples | ||
Roots | 5th Conjugation | Bases |
/as | to eat | asnaa |
/ci | to heap, collect | cinaa |
/dhuu | to shake | dhunaa |
/jaa | to know | jaanaa |
/ji | to conquer, win | jinaa |
/kii | to buy, barter | (Sansk*. krii) kii.naa ,or ki.naa |
/yu | to mix, associate | yunaa |
Remarks. The long aa of naa is retained in all the persons of the Present and Imperative, except in the 3rd Plural. The short form in na is also often found. (HL: * Sanskrit needs special font. This is only an approximate representation.)
378. The Verbs of the Sixth Conjugation form their Special Bases by adding u to the root; this u generally strengthens to o, which before an ending beginning with a vowel is changed to va (27).
Examples | ||
Roots | 6th Conjugation | Bases |
/kar | to do, make | karo |
/ku.n | to make a sound | ku.no |
/tan | to stretch, expand | tano |
/van | to beg, ask for | vano |
Remarks.
(a) The conjugation of /kar is highly irregular and formed on several bases and will be given in full later on.
(b) The roots belonging to this Conjugation are remarkably few.
379. The Verbs of the Seventh Conjugation form their Special bases by adding to the root aya, which by contraction may be replaced by e. The forms in e are more commonly met than those in aya. (Compare: 1st conjugation 3rd Division).
Remarks. The following should be carefully notHL:
(a) When the radical vowel is u, it is changed to o, provided it be not followed by a Conjunct Consonant.
(b) Radical a, if followed by a single consonant, is generally lengthened, in some cases, however, it remains short.
(c) It will be perceived from the above that the verbs of the Seventh Conjugation have two bases: one in e and one in aya (Compare: 1st Conjugation, 3rd division.)
Examples | ||
Roots | 7th Conjugation | Bases |
/bandh | to bind | bandhe or bandhaya |
/cha.d.d | to throw away | cha.d.de or cha.d.daya |
/cur | to steal | core or coraya |
/gup | to guard, shine | gope or gopaya |
/kath | to say | kathe or kathaya |
/pus | to nourish | pose or posaya |
/tiir | to finish, accomplish | tire or tiiraya |
380. A great many roots can form their bases according to two or three or even most Conjugations, in which case the meaning of each Special Base from the same root, differs, in
most instances, from the original meaning of the root itself. This will be better understood by several examples. The numbers after the bases refer to the conjugations.
Examples | |||
Roots | Conjugation Class | Bases | |
kus | kosa (1) | to call, cut | /kus + a = kosa |
kus | kussa (3) | to embrace | /kus + ya, kusya = kussa(76) |
lii | liinaa (5) | to approach | /lii + naa = liinaa |
lii | laya (1) | to liquefy | /lii + a = laya |
rii | rii.na (5) | to inform | /rii + .naa = rii.naa |
rii | re (1) | to expand | /rii + a = re |
subh | sumbha (2) | to strike | /subh + .m + a = sumbha |
subh | sobha (1) | to shine | /subh + a = sobha |
tan | tano (6) | to expand, stretch | /tan + u (=o) = tano |
tan | tana (1) | to aid, assist | /tan + a = tana |
tik | teka (1) | to go | /tik + a = teka |
tik | tiku.naa (4) | to oppress | /tik + u.naa = tiku.naa |
va.d.dh | va.d.dhe (7) | to pour from one vessel into another | /va.d.dh + e = va.d.dhe |
va.d.dh | va.d.dha (1) | to grow, increase | /va.d.dh + a = va.d.dha |
vid | vede, vedaya (7) | to feel, speak | /vid + e = vede or vedaya |
vid | vind (2) | to find, get, enjoy | /vid + .m + a = vinda |
vid | vijja (3) | to be, have | /vid + ya = vidya = vijja |
vid | vida (1) | to know | /vid + a = vida |
CONJUGATION OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM
First Conjugation
381. The bases of the verbs having been formed according to the rules given in the preceding paragraphs, there only remains to add to them the appropriate Personal Endings. We now give the Personal Endings for the tense of the Present-System, which is by far the most important, omitting the Present Participle, which will be treated in a special chapter.
Present Indicative | ||||
Pres. Active Voice. | Pres. Reflective Voice. | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | mi | ma | e | mhe |
2. | si | tha | se | vhe |
3. | ti | nti | te | nte, re |
lmperfect | ||||
1. | a, a.m | amhaa | i.m | mhase |
2. | o | ttha | se | vha.m |
3. | a | u | ttha | tthu.m |
Imperative | ||||
1. | mi | ma | e | aamase |
2. | hi | tha | ssu | vho |
3. | tu | ntu | ta.m | nta.m |
Optative | ||||
1. | eyyaami | eyyaama | eyya.m | eyyaamhe |
2. | eyyaasi | eyyaatha | etho | eyyavho |
3. | eyya | eyyu.m | etha | era.m |
Remarks.
(a) In the singular Optative Active Voice, e may be substituted for eyyaami, eyyaasi and eyya.
(b) The vowel of the base is dropped before a Personal Ending beginning with a vowel.
(c) Before mi and ma of the Present Indicative, the a of the base is lengthened.
(d) In the 2nd person singular Active of the Imperative, hi may be dropped and the base or stem alone used. Note that before hi the a of the base is lengthened.
382. As has been said above (370) the First conjugation has four divisions. The roots ending in a consonant and adding a to form the base, are extremely numerous.
383. The following is the paradigm of /pac, to cook.
Present Indicative | ||||
I cook, We cook, Thou cook, You cook, He cooks, They cook. | ||||
Pres. Active Voice. | Pres. Reflective Voice. | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | pacaami | pacaama | pace | pacaa |
2. | pacasi | pacatha | pacase | pacavhe |
3. | pacati | pacanti | pacate | pacante, pacare |
Imperfect | ||||
I cooked, etc. | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | apaca, apaca.m | apacamhaa | apaci.m | apacaamhase, apacamhase |
2. | apaco | apacattha | apacase | apacavha.m |
3. | apaca | apacu | apacattha | apacatthu.m |
Imperative | ||||
Let me cook, etc. | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | pacaami | pacaama | pace | pacaamase |
2. | pacaahi, paca | pacatha | pacassu | pacavho |
3. | pacatu | pacantu | pacata.m | pacanta.m |
Optative | ||||
I may, should, can, could cook. etc. | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | paceyyaami, pace | paceyyaama | paceyya.m | paceyyaamhe |
2. | paceyyaasi, pace | paceyyaatha | pacetho | paceyyavho |
3. | paceyya, pace | paceyyu.m | pacetha | pacera.m |
Remarks.
(a) The Augment a of the Imperfect may be omitted, so that we also have the forms: paca, paca.m, paco, etc.
(b) The final vowel of the 3rd person singular active may also be long: apacaa, apacuu.
384. The above Personal-Endings of the Special Tenses are affixed to the Special Base of the seven Conjugations, after the model of /pac.
385. Roots of the Ist Conjugation in i, ii and u, uu, require no explanations. The base being obtained, (371, 3) the above Endings are merely added to it.
Examples | ||||
/bhuu, to be, base bhava. | /nii, to lead, base naya. | |||
Present Active | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | bhavaami | bhavaama | nayaami | nayaama |
2. | bhavasi | bhavatha | nayasi | nayatha |
3. | bhavati | bhavanti | nayati | nayanti |
Present Reflective | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. bhave | bhavaamhe | naye | nayaamhe | |
2. bhavase | bhavavhe | nayase | nayavhe | |
3. bhavate | bhavante | nayate | nayante | |
Imperfect Active | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | abhava, abhava.m | abhavamhaa | anaya, anaya.m | anayamhaa |
2. | abhavo | abhavattha | anayo | anayattha |
3. | abhava | abhavu | anaya | anayu |
Imperfect Reflective | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | abhavi.m | abhavaamhase | anayi.m | anayaamhase |
2. | abhavase | abhavavha.m | anayase | anayavha.m |
3. | abhavattha | abhavatthu.m | anayattha | anayatthu.m |
Imperative Active | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | bhavaami | bhavaama | nayaami | nayaama |
2. | bhavaahi, bhava | bhavatha | nayaahi, naya | nayatha |
3. | bhavatu | bhavantu | nayatu | nayantu |
Imperative Reflective | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | bhave | bhavaamase | naye | nayaamase |
2. | bhavassu | bhavavho | nayassu | nayavho |
3. | bhavata.m | bhavanta.m | nayata.m | nayanta.m |
Optative Active | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | bhaveyyaami, bhave | bhaveyyaama | nayeyyaami, naye | nayeyyaama |
2. | bhaveyyaasi, bhave | bhaveyyaatha | nayeyyaasi, naye | nayeyyaatha |
3. | bhaveyya, bhave | bhaveyyu.m | nayeyya, naye | nayeyyu.m |
Optative Reflective | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | bhaveyya.m | bhaveyyaamhe | nayeyyam | nayeyyaamhe |
2. | bhavetho | bhaveyyavho | nayetho | nayeyyavho |
3. | bhavetha | bhavera.m | nayetha | nayera.m |
386. The roots of the first conjugation which take the Personal Endings directly (371, 2) are not numerous.
387. It must be here noted that in Paali, all the roots are not conjugated in the Active and the Reflective voice for all the tenses. Especially so is the case with the roots that take the personal endings directly.
Examples | ||||||
/yaa, to go. | /vaa, to blow. | /bhaa, to shine. | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | yaami | yaama | vaami | vaama | bhaami | bhaama |
2. | yaasi | yaatha | vaasi | vaatha | bhaasi | bhaatha |
3. | yaati | yanti | vaati | vanti | bhaati | bhanti |
Remarks. Before nti, 3rd. Plural, aa of the root is shortened.
388. In the Optative, a y is inserted before the Personal Endings:
yaayeyyaami, yaapeyya, vaayeyya, vaaye, etc.
389. Some roots of this class are gu.nated (110) generally in the Reflective and 3rd Plural Pres.
/bruu, to speak. | ||||
Active | Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | bruumi | bruuma | brave | bruumhe |
2. | bruusi | bruutha | bruuse | bruuvhe |
3. | bruuti | bravanti | brute | bravante |
Remarks. In the Plural 1st and 2nd Persons Reflective the u is sometimes found shortened.
390. Other roots of this conjugation are:
/han, to strike, kill, 3rd singular = hanti. but 3rd plural = hananti. In the Aorist we have: ahani, hani, etc.
/i to go, strengthened to e; the weak base ya is also used (cf. 1st Conjugation 3rd division, such roots as /nii, strong base ne and weak base naya. Similarly: /ji, strong base je and weak base jaya.). We therefore obtain:
1. | emi | ema |
2. | esi | etha |
3. | eti | enti and yanti. |
/.tha | to stand | .thaati, .thaasi, etc. |
/paa | to guard, protect | paati, paasi, etc. |
Remarks. (a) Roots of this class may like others belonging to different conjugations, be compounded with verbal prefixes.
Examples | |||
/han | + ni = nihan + ti = | nihanti | to strike down |
/i | + upa = upe (21) + ti = | upeti | to approach |
/khyaa | + aa= aakhyaa + ti = | aakhyaati | to tell |
/.thaa | + ni = ni.t.thaa + ti = | ni.t.thaati | to be finished |
(b) the aa of /.thaa is shortened to a when the root is reduplicated(1st Conjugation, 4th division).
(c) /.thaa, in composition with Verbal Prefixes, often assumes the Special base .thaha.
Examples | |||
/.thaa | + sa.m = | sa.n.thaati, sa.n.thahati, santi.t.thati(See Niggahita sandhi) | to stand |
/.thaa | + pati = | pati.t.thaati, pati.t.thahati | to stand fast, firmly |
/.thaa | + ud = | u.t.thaati, u.t.thahati | to stand up |
391. Similarly, /dhaa, which at first sight would appear to belong to the 1st Conjugation, 2nd Division, de-aspirates itself into daha, and migrates into the /pac class (370, 1). Moreover it is used only with Verbal Prefixes. This root also belongs to the reduplicating-class (372) and consequently has also the base dadhaa. A base dhe, of the same root, is extensively used.
Examples /dhaa - to carry, bear, hold | |||
/dhaa | + ni = | nidahati, or nidadhaati, or nidheti | to put down, hold aside, lay aside |
/dhaa | + abhi = | abhidahati, or abhidadhaati, or abhidheti | to declare, point out |
392. Some roots belonging to the Reduplicating Class (371, 4th Division), also take the Personal Endings directly in the Present Tense and the lmperative.*
*Throughout all this chapter many Paali grammars have been consulted, such as: Saddaniiti, Niruttidiipan ii, Galonpyan, Akhyaatapadamaa la, etc.
393. By false analogy, some roots in i, (371, 3rd division), seem to belong to the class of roots which take the endings directly; but in reality, these roots belong not to the 2nd division, but to the 3rd division, the endings being added, not after the root, but after the strengthened base (105), i or ii having first been changed to e under the influence of a (21, i). Those bases are conjugated exactly like /cur, base core, the paradigm of which is given below. The Reflective Voice of such roots is formed from the base in aya.
Examples | ||||
/nii, base; ne or naya. | ||||
Present | ||||
Active | Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | nemi | nema | naye | nayaamhe |
2. | nesi | netha | nayase | nayavhe |
3. | neti | nenti | nayate | nayante |
Imperative | ||||
Active | Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | nemi | nema | naye | nayaamase |
2. | nehi | netha | nayassu | nayavho |
3. | netu | nentu | nayata.m | nayanta.m |
Remark. The Optative may also be formed on the base in ne as:
Optative | ||||
Active | Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | neyyaami | neyyaama | neyya.m | neyyaamhe |
2. | neyyaasi | neyyaatha | netho | neyyavho |
3. | neyya | neyyu.m | nayetha | nayera.m |
394. Other roots are:
Roots | Bases | |
/.di | to set a net | .de (in o.d.deti) |
/ji | to conquer | je or jaya |
/sii | to lie down | se or saya |
Remark. The most important root of the Root-Class is /as, to be; which is rather defective; it will be given a special chapter (See Defective Verbs).
REDUPLICATING CLASS (1st Conjugation division 4)
395. The verbs of this class are characterised by taking a reduplicating syllable: the rules have been given above (372). The conjugation presents no difficulty, e.g. /daa, to give.
Present Active. | Imperfect Active. | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | dadaami | dadaama | adada | adadamha |
2. | dadaasi | dadaatha | adado | adadattha |
3. | dadaati | dadanti | adada | adadu |
Optative Active. | Imperative Active. | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | dadeyyaami | dadeyyaama | dadaami | dadaama |
2. | dadeyyaasi | dadeyyaatha | dadaahi, dadaa | dadaatha |
3. | dadeyya, dade | dadeyyu.m | dadaatu | dadantu |
396. Some tenses of this verb are formed directly from the base; they will be given in their proper place.
Remarks.
(a) Of /daa, we also find the bases dajj and de, formed by false analogy: dajjaami, dajjasi, dajjati, dajjaama, dajjatha, dajjanti, etc., demi, desi, deti; dema, detha, denti, etc.
(b) There is an anomalous form of the singular present very probably formed on the analogy of the plural: dammi, dasi, dati.
(c) The Reflective forms do not exist for most of the tenses, only a very few are met with: the first singular. and first plural: dade, dadaamase.
(d) In the root /.tha the final aa of the base is preserved long only in the first singular and plural present.
/.tha | ||
Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | ti.t.thaami | ti.t.thaama. |
2. | ti.t.thasi | ti.t.thatha, .thaatha |
3. | ti.t.thati | ti.t.thanti. |
It will be remarked that .thaatha, 2nd person plural, is formed directly from the root.
-- (HL: End of section for 1st Conjugation of The Present System) --
The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Conjugations
397. The conjugation of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Classes does not present any difficulty; the Personal endings are added as has already been shown for the First Conjugation.
/chid, base: chinda (373). to cut. | ||||
Present Active | Present Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | chindaami | chinde | chindaama | chindaamhe |
2. | chindasi | chindatha | chindase | chindavhe |
3. | chindati | chindanti | chindate | chindante |
399. The other Tenses are formed regularly, as:
chindeyyaami, chindeyyaasi, chindeyya, or chinde; chindeyyaama, chindaayyatha, chindeyyu.m.
And so on for the other Tenses.
Remark. The root /rudh, to obstruct, has five bases: rundhati, rundhiti; rundhiiti, rundheti and rundhoti.
Third Conjugation
400./div, base: dibba (77), to play. | ||||
Present Active | Present Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | dibbaami | dibbaama | dibbe | dibbaamhe |
2. | dibbasi | dibbatha | dibbase | dibbavhe |
3. | dibbati | dibbanti | dibbate | dibbante |
The other Tenses are formed regularly, as:
Imperfect: adibba, adibbo, adibba, adibbamhaa, adibbattha, adibbu.
Optative: dibbe, dibbeyya, dibbeyyaami, dibbeyyaasi, etc.
Fourth Conjugation
401.
/su, base: su.naa (376), or suno, to hear. | ||||
Present Active | ||||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | su.naami | su.naama | su.nomi | su.noma |
2. | su.naasi | su.naatha | su.nosi | su.notha |
3. | su.naati | su.nanti | su.noti | su.nonti, sunvanti |
Remarks.
(a) The other Tenses are formed on the base: su.naa final aa being dropped before initial i and e, as: su.neyyami, su.neyyaasi etc, su.nissaami, su.nissaama, su.nissasi, etc.
(b) /sak, to be able, belongs to this conjugation, but has developed several bases: sakku.naati with the k doubled; sakkoti, by assimilation (57) sak+no=sakno, sakko+ti=sakkoti. Similarly, there is a
form sakkaati obtained by the same process; sak+naa=sakna, sakkaa+ti=sakkaati: and still another form occurs, with short a: sakkati
(c) /aap, to attain, with prefix pa (pa+aap=paap), shows 3 forms: pappoti, paapu.naati, paapu.noti. /gah, to take, seize has for base: ga.nhaa with metathesis (111, p.35): ga.nhaami, ga.nhaasi, etc.
(d) We have already said that the .n is very often de-lingualised (376, d). That is to say, many of the roots belonging to the 4th Conjugation form their bases according to the 9th Conjugation of
Sansk. verbs, by adding naa to the root. For instance from /ci, to collect, to heap, we have: cinaati, to gather; ocinaati, ocinati, to pick up, to gather.
Remark that the base may be with short a as well as with long aa and that this is the case with many of the roots of this conjugation, cf. sa~ncinati, sa~ncinoti, sa~ncinaati, to accumulate.
(e) From /bhuu we have a verb abhisambhunati and abhisambhunoti, to obtain. The root of this verb is said by some grammarians to be Sansk.* /bh.rii, but this is most improbable. Some native grammarians
give a root sambhuu, found only in the Dhammapada, not perceiving it is merely a compound of prefix sam+/bhu.(HL: * Sanskrit needs special font. This is only an approximate
representation.)
Fifth Conjugation
402./dhuu to shake; base dhunaa, (377). | ||||
Present Active | Present Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | dhunaami | dhunaama | dhune | dhunaamhe |
2. | dhunaasi | dhunaatha | dhunase | dhunavhe |
3. | dhunaati | dhunanti | dhunate | dhunante, dhunare |
Remarks.
(a) Other Verbs belonging to this class are:
Roots | Base | |
/as | to eat | asnaa |
/j~naa, jaa, ~naa | to know | jaana |
/mun=/man | to tkink | munaa |
(b) The student will have remarked that the 4th and 5th Conjugations very often interchange their bases. This is owing to the false analogy of Sansk. roots.
Sixth Conjugation
403./kar, to make, to do, base karo (378) | ||
Present. | ||
Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | karomi | karoma |
2. | karosi | karotha |
3. | karoti | karonti |
Remarks.
(a) There are several bases of the root /kar as: karo, kara, kubb; the conjugation of this verb, as already said (378, a) will be given in full in the chapter on Defective Verbs.
/tan, to stretch, base: tano (strong); weak base=tanu. | ||||
Present Active | Present Reflective | |||
Sing. | Plur. | Sing. | Plur. | |
1. | tanomi | tanoma | tanve (27) | tanumhe |
2. | tanosi | tanotha | tanuse | tanuvhe. |
3. | tanoti | tanonti | tanute | tanvante(27) |
(b) The roots belonging to this Class are very few.
7th Conjugation
404. The roots of the 7th Conugation, as has been remarked above (379), have two bases: one in e and one in aya, which are conjugated exactly like the roots of the 1st Conjugation, 3rd Class, (See 393).
-- (HL: End of section on 7th Conjugation) --
Irregular Bases
Some roots form their Special bases according to none of the above given rules; and they are in consequence called Irregular. The principal are here given.
Roots |
| Special Bases |
/daa | to give | dajja. |
/.da.ms | to bite | .dasa. |
/dhaa | to hold | daha, dhe (391). |
/dhmaa | to blow | dhama |
/dis, das | to see | dakkha, daccha.* |
/gah | to take, seize | gheppa.* |
/gam | to go | gaccha. |
/gam | to go | ghamma, gaggha.* |
/guh | to hide | guuhe. |
/is | to wish | iccha. |
/jaa, jan | to be born | jaaya. |
/jir | to grow old, decay | jiya, jiyya. |
/mar | to die | miya, miyya, mara. |
/paa | to drink | piva. |
/sad | to sit | siida. |
/ttthaa | to stand | ti.t.thaa |
/vad | to speak, say | vajja, vajje, vada, vaade. |
/vyadh, (=vadh) | vadha. | |
/yam | to restrain | yaccha. |
*These forms are given by the Saddaniiti and the Akhyatapadamaalaa. They are regularly conjugated like gaccha: ghammaami, ghammasi ghammati;, etc,. ghagghami ghagghasi ghagghati; etc. ghammeyya, gagghe, gaggheyya, etc. The bases dakkha and daccha from /da, dis are formed on the false analogy of the future base, which we shall see when treating of the future. Most of the changes noticed above correspond to similar changes which occur in the 1st, 4th and 6th Conjugations of Sanskrit verbs.
(Original file downloaded from
www.tipitaka.net/pali/grammar/. Tabulation follows the pdf file located at www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/paligram.pdf .)