6.1 Inflection

Verb forms are subject to the addition of a small list of affixes which we call INFLECTIONAL AFFIXES. The inflectional affixes specify three tenses: PAST, FUTURE, and SUBJUNCTIVE; four cases or voices: ACTIVE, DIRECT PASSIVE, LOCAL PASSIVE, and INSTRUMENTAL PASSIVE; and two modes: POTENTIAL and NONPOTENTIAL. The nonpotential forms are further broken down into two aspects: PUNCTUAL and DURATIVE. The punctual-durative distinction exists in all voices but is observed only in the active voice. In the passive voices punctual forms are used for all meanings, except for literary or dialectal styles where the durative-nondurative distinction is maintained. The following chart shows these affixes. Their meanings are listed and exemplified in entries in the dictionary listed under mu-, mag-1, maka-1, -un1, ma-1, -an1, i-1. In the following chart commas indicate forms which are in free variation (nearly synonymous and mutually substitutable). A preceding hyphen indicates a suffix, following hyphen a prefix, and hyphen in the middle, a circumfix. Dialectal affixes are not listed. The asterisks mark forms which are not normally used in colloquial speech.

Future Past Subjunctive

Active

Punctual mu- mi-, ni-, ning-, ming- mu-

Durative mag-, maga- nag-, naga-, ga- mag-, maga-

Potential maka-, ka- naka-, ka- maka-, ka-

Direct Passive

Punctual -un gi- -a

Durative paga-un* gina-* paga-a*

Potential ma- na- ma-

Local Passive

Punctual -an gi-an -i

Durative paga-an* gina-an* paga-i*

Potential ma-an, ka-an na-an ma-i, ka-i

Instrumental Passive

Punctual i- gi- i-

Durative iga-* gina-* iga-*

Potential ma-, ika- na-, gika- ma-, ika-