Umbrean/Examples
Verb
VAT
Active - Example of active voice where the wolf is in ergative case and the speaker is in accusative case. Notice how the verbs VAT vowel is conjugated according to the object/Patient and not the subject.
"fššedyss tsümj ǧlovëssw"
/fʃ:edys: t͡sumj xlovɛsw:/
fššed-yss tsümj ǧlov-ëssw
wolf-erg.s.indf.liv 1s.acc bite-1.aff.ind.act.pst.prf
"A wolf bit me"
Anti-Passive - Anti-passive voice, notice how the VAT vowel conjugates into a negative sense and only goes with the subject but also that it can take on a general or undefined meaning.
"fššedy ǧlovets"
/fʃ:ed-y xlov-et͡s/
fššed-y ǧlov-ets
wolf-int.s.indf.liv bite-1.neg.ind.antip.prs.cont
"A wolf is not biting"
"wolves don't bite"
Passive - Passive voice, notice positive VAT and subject agreement
"tswë ǧlovukwš"
/t͡swɛ xlovʉkwʃ/
tswë ǧlov-ukwš
1s.int bite-1.aff.ind.pas.past/prs.term
"I stopped being bitten"
"I am stopping being bitten"
Mood
Indicative - Notice that there is no additional marking on the verb itself
"Tšees fššedylw vvidjooll"
/t͡ʃe:s fʃ:edylw v:ɨdjo:l:/
Tšees fššed-ylw vvidj-ooll
1s.erg wolf-acc.sg.def.liv see-ind.aff.ind.3.liv.prs.incep
"I will see the wolf now/soon"
Optative - Notice the frontal vowel, inter-L of the verb but also the vowel change on the last vowel
"Tšees fššedylw avvidjliill"
/t͡ʃe:s fʃ:edylw ɒv:ɨdjlɨ:l:/
Tšees fššed-ylw a>vvidj<l-iill
1s.erg wolf-acc.sg.def.liv <opt>see-opt.aff.ind.3.liv.prs.incep
"I want to see the wolf now/soon"
Subjunctive - Notice the frontal vowel, inter-L of the verb but also the vowel change on the last vowel
"Tšees fššedylw uuvvidjljaall"
/t͡ʃe:s fʃ:edylw ʉ:v:ɨdljɒ:l:/
Tšees fššed-ylw uu>vvidj<lj-aall
1s.erg wolf-acc.sg.def.liv <sjv>see-sjv.aff.ind.3.liv.prs.incep
"I probably will see the wolf soon"
Circumstantial Voice
Normal
"Tšees Žžötwolwmj kwëltjom ëŋŋy tsmaakë"
/t͡ʃe:s ʒ:ɵtwolwmj kwɛltjom ɛŋ:y t͡smɒ:kɛ/
Tšees Žžötw-olwmj kwëltj-om ëŋŋ-y tsmaak-ë
1s.erg meat-acc.sg.def.liv knife-acc.sg.indf.art with-sg.art.3 cut-ind.aff.1.prs.ctn
"I'm cutting the meat with a knife"
Circumstantial
"kwëltjii mljëŋŋ tsmaakiim"
/kwɛltjɨ: mljɛŋ: t͡smɒ:kɨ:m/
kwëltj-ii mlj-ëŋŋ tsmaak-iim
knife-int.sg.indf.art acc.crcv-with cut-ind.crcv.aff.3.prs.ctn
"With a knife, cutting is being done"
"Cutting is being done with a knife"