An Introduction to Teutonic (Part 5): Verbs
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Introduction
This posts focuses on the verbal system of Teutonic - this is easily the most complex aspect of the language, due to the amount of forms and patterns each verb has. However, they can be simplified by dividing verbs into two categories: strong and weak verbs
Teutonic strong verbs change the vowel in the root word depending on the tense. We can see this in modern English sing-sang-sung, rather than the incorrect forms singed, have singed. Not every verb uses this specific model. Rather than grouping by vowel, it is more useful to classify verbs via number. Generally, each strong verb changes its internal vowel for the infinitive, past first-person singular, past third-person plural, and past participle. The chart below demonstrates the vowel alternations of each strong verb (note that the words following an asterisk are their Proto-Germanic predecessors):
Past participles are suffixed with the unstressed prefix ge- (/je/). This prefix is very common in German, such as schlafen "to sleep" -> geschlafen "slept."
Below is an example of the conjugation of the strong verb lesan "to read", with additional explanations of verbal aspects (shared by all verbs):
There are two tenses: past and present. The past tense covers every action that has happened before the current context. If you want to be more specific, you can use adverbs, dates, or other clarifying words.
ic las boc "I read a book"
gesteran ic las boc "yesterday I read a book"
By contrast, the present tense describes a verb's actions in current time. It does not distinguish between general present tense "I read a book" versus "I am reading a book" like in English, meaning the sentence ic les boc can mean either or. Past tense forms remain the same regardless of person.
vi las boc "we read a book"
ii las boc "y'all read a book"
hia las boc "they read a book"
Most verbs have what is called the subjunctive mood. Indicative verbs indicate the action taking place, while verbs in the subjunctive mood express a desired, ambiguous, or suggestive actions. It also varies depending on the tense.
thu lesist boc "you read a book" -> lesast thu boc? "would you read a book?"
Finally, there are the participles or "adjectival verbs," special forms of the verb that are used like adjectives. Unlike typical adjectives, they do not decline at all and are always attached to the noun they modify.
mann les "a man reads" -> lesand mann "a reading man"
The past participle is also used to form passive verbs (verbs that indicate the action is being done to the subject). Using the past participle gelesand, we can form the sentence sa boc vas gelesand "the book was read."
Most verbs in Teutonic are so-called "weak" verbs, meaning that they do not change their internal vowel and only rely on adding the -ad suffix to form the past tense.
This category originates from Proto-Germanic verbs whose present-tense forms are from historical past-tense variants. But in effect, this still means they are a form of strong verb. While they only comprise of eleven verbs (cunnan, dugan, durran, ganugan, magan, motan, munan, thurfan, skulan, unnan, vitan), these verbs are commonly used, including sculan "shall, will" which forms future tense verbs with the infinitive. The conjugation of which is below:
ic les boc "I read a book" -> ic scal lesan boc "I shall read a book"
Lastly, some verbs are entirely irregular and must be memorized individually. These verbs are: vesan, vilian, don, and gan. Because vesan "to be" is one of the most important verbs, the conjugation of which is below:
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