o yis     Verbs

O Yis verb phrases not only describe the state and/or action in a scene, they also provide information about the timing of the action, the action modality and aspect, and the perception of the speaker or writer concerning the veracity of the actions that they relate to the listener or reader.

While some of this workload is carried by quantifiers (which are for the most part similar to their nominal counterparts), postpositions and temporal noun phrases, the bulk of the work is performed by the verb itself and its accompanying auxillary verb - in most cases a verb has no meaning unless it is preceded by an auxillary.

O Yis grammarians refer to the verb as o get dzeg ydz - the bone of the action - as it is this word which describes the action itself, while the auxillary is known as o get xo xol - the breath of the action - as it explains how/when the action takes place, and the speaker's veracity about what occurred or is occurring.

Verb classes

All O Yis verbs have a class, which is shown through the verb's article; in many circumstances the article can be dropped from the verb phrase. Verb classes can be thought of as a form of aktionsart, though the class of some verbs is not semantically logical.

O Yis divides its verbs into nine classes:

• Stative verbs describe states that have no apparent outcome - koe, think; xjaot, watch; kmaet, discuss.
• Outcome verbs describe states that do have an apparent outcome - labu, come/go; xnauc, sleep; kukí, choke.
• Momentary verbs show momentary or instantaneous actions - tzý, stab; tvek, blink; varó, grab.
• Manual verbs involve the handling and transportation of objects - mjei, take; árob, put down; láŋ, drag.
• Motive verbs involve the movement of the body - két, run; rab, sail; cqal, dance.
• Spatial verbs describe states or actions that can be tied to a location - glas, live in; píto, rain; qurc, die.
• Undertaking verbs show accomplishments - xeact, teach; calop, build; kaŋke, hammer.
• Sensual verbs relate to the physical and spiritual senses - vollo, see; tzúfo, feel cold; njyrt, dream.
• Oral verbs involve the mouth and nose; also, modes of communication - lyle, sing; cnake, write; tzám, kiss.

Verbs do not conjugate for tense, aspect or mood - these parts of grammar are handled by other means; the only suffix a verb will take is used to indicate the voice of the verb's clause.

Verb articles

All verbs have 'articles' (auxillary words, not to be confused with auxillary verbs) which vary according to the verb's class. The article always goes before the verb; it can undertake several grammatical roles:

• it can add emphasis to the clause, particularly when used in imperative clauses
• it can act as a clause conjunction, for instance detailing the time of the action in relation to the preceding clause (relative tense), or marking the clause as a relative or dependent (subjunctive) clause
• it can indicate that the action described is perfect (but not perfective)

Unlike nouns, it is not mandatory for a verb to be accompanied by its article; articles are routinely dropped in many situations, though retaining the article is a mark of more formal registers of speech.

It is, however, mandatory for every verb to be accompanied by an auxillary verb, which is placed between the article and the verb. The only exceptions to this rule are:

• when the clause is imperative (for direct commands)
• for those verbs which are routinely used as responses to closed (yes/no) questions
• in dictionary listings (where the verb is always listed with its article)

Imperatives and orders

A verb used without its article or auxiliary is imperative; such clauses, by definition, take no subject - which is usually interpreted as 'you'. Where this is not the case the subject needs to be placed ahead of the verb phrase in its own clause:

• Xuceg xjaot
• uceg xjaot
• usəg xjæɔt
• watch him

• Auceg rucp rag igly
• uceg rucp rag igly
• usəg ɾusp ɾæg iglɐ
• bring it to me

• Mt'eb ru, labu iTjer y Dabber
• t'eb ru, labu itzjer y dzabber
• t'əb ɾu, læbu iʧjəɾ ɐ ʤæ?bəɾ
• that boy, go to the shop now

Including the article adds emphasis to the command:

• Xer uceg xjaot
• er uceg xjaot
• əɾ usəg xjæɔt
• watch him!

• Ae uceg rucp rag igly
• e uceg rucp rag igly
• ə usəg ɾusp ɾæg iglɐ
• bring it to me!

• Mt'eb ru, e labu iTjer y Dabber
• t'eb ru, e labu itzjer y dzabber
• t'əb ɾu, ə læbu iʧjəɾ ɐ ʤæ?bəɾ
• that boy, go to the shop now!

Response verbs

A few verbs are routinely used without articles and auxillaries. These verbs can be thought of as yes/no verbs, used to answer questions. When used without a subject, the subject is understood to be the self. The negative verbs are formed irregularly in this situation: