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Appendix:Coptic verbs

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Main category: Coptic verbs

Coptic verb conjugation differs between each dialect. This guide is tailored to the Bohairic dialect.

Infinitive forms

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Each verb in Bohairic has an infinitive marked with "̀ⲉ", "to". Every verb also has a negative infinitive "ⲉϣⲧⲉⲙ", "to not".

Imperative forms

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Pronouns

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Bohairic has 8 pronouns.

Ⲁⲛⲟⲕ(I), Ⲁⲛⲟⲛ(We)

Ⲛⲑⲟⲕ(You m.), Ⲛⲑⲟ(You f.), Ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ(You pl.)

Ⲛⲑⲟϥ(He), Ⲛⲑⲟⲥ(She), Ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ(They)

Pronouns can and usually are omitted when constructing sentences. For example, English "We read the books" could be "Ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲱϣ ̀ⲛⲛⲓϫⲱⲙ"; the phrase would more simply and commonly be written "Ⲧⲉⲛⲱϣ ̀ⲛⲓⲛⲓϫⲱⲙ".

Durative sentences

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Durative sentences are sentences that continue over a period of time have two parts: Present and future

Present:

Future:

Non-Durative sentences

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Non-durative sentences are sentences that have a specific ending.

Past:

Aorist:

Optative:

Jussive/Causative:

Subordinate Clause

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Real Conditional:

Conjunctive:

Limitative, Expectative:

Accusative & Dative Qualifier

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Transitive verbs must include an accusative ̀ⲛ-/̀ⲙ or dative ̀ⲉ- qualifier for affected nouns.

E.g. Ϯⲱϣ ̀ⲙⲡⲓⲱϣ I am reading the lesson. Ϯⲙⲟⲩϯ ̀ⲉϯϣⲁⲩ. I call the cat.

Forms of the verb

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There are four forms of a verb in Bohairic Coptic:

1. Absolute

Absolute is the default form of Bohairic verbs, it is used with prefixes:

ⲥϧⲁⲓ ̀ⲙⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ - write the book

2. Construct/Nominal

This is an unstressed form used when a noun object follows immediately with no prefix. The stress is moved from the verb to the noun. Only transitive verbs have a construct form.

ⲥϧⲁⲓ -> ⲥϧⲉ ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ - write the book

3. Pronominal

This is the form taken when a suffix is attached. Only transitive verbs have a pronominal form.

ⲥϧⲁⲓ -> ⲥϧⲉ -> ⲥϧⲏⲧϥ - write it

4. Qualitative/Stative

The qualitative expresses a state serving the function of a past participle.

ⲥϧⲁⲓ -> ⲥϧⲉ -> ⲥϧⲏⲧ -> ⲥϧⲏⲟⲩⲧ, ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ ⲉⲧⲥϧⲏⲟⲩⲧ - the written book

Suffix Verbs

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Some verbs only exist with a suffix attached:

Ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲁ ̀ⲙⲙⲁⲩ, Ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲁϥ ̀ⲙⲙⲁⲩ You(m.) have, He has

Ⲡⲉϫⲁ, Ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ You(m.) said, He said

Object pronouns

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Object pronouns are pronouns attached to the end of verbs. -ⲓ me -ⲕ you(m.) -ⲧⲉ you(f.) -ϥ he/it -ⲥ she/it -ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ you(pl.) -ⲧⲉⲛ we -ⲟⲩ them

Consonant Changes

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Bohairic has consonantal changes following these letters: ⲃ, ⲕ, ⲗ, ⲓ, ⲙ, ⲛ, ⲟⲩ, ⲣ

Ⲕ turns into Ⲭ e.g. Ⲕⲥⲁϫⲓ, Ⲭⲟⲩⲱⲙ You speak, You eat

Ⲡ turns into Ⲫ e.g. Ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ, Ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ The book, (The) God

Ⲧ,Ϯ turns into Ⲑ e.g. Ϯⲓϣⲉⲣⲓ, Ⲑⲙⲁⲩ The girl, The mother