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INITIA An
AMHARICA
Introduction to spoken Amharic
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE, C. F.
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MACMILLAN AND
[A/i Rights reserved.
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CO., Ltd.
AA {i^lx^
INITIA AMHARICA An
Introduction to spoken Amharic
BY C.
H.
ARMBRUSTER, Sudan
late of
H.M.
M.A.
Civil Service;
Administration, British Central Africa;
sometime Minor Scholar of King's College, Cambridge.
Part
I
GRAMMAR
Cambridge at
:
the University Press
1908
eMoi Ae HApA
nANTA TON AofON YTTOKeeTAI
yn' eKACTooN ako^
OTI
TA AGfOMeNA
rp^cpcx).
Herod,
ii.
123.
To a Frie?id
PREFACE. rriHE words and
phrases in this work have been taken down from the mouth of natives \ As
-L
many
as possible of the phrases are such as have
been said spontaneously,
The
of cross-examination.
members
are not the products
i.e.
Abyssinian,
like
other
of partially civilised peoples, or uneducated
individuals of
hi
races, does not always
speak naturally when (juestioned by a stranger. If he has had no education of any kind he experiences the same difficulty in answering en(iuiries concerning the language he unreflectingly uses as would, circumstances, an uncultured European.
in similar
Those, on the other hand,
who have any smattering
of learning tend to supply one with
may
which
or
may
'
fine
language
not be idiomatic, instead of the
ordinary conversational expressions current themselves.
'\ '
In any case
of course incompatible
it is
with the position of the white
among
man
that natives should
address him in the style in which they address one another.
what ^
I
I
have, therefore, paid
more attention
to
have heard natives say to each other than to
While the language of
all sorts
and conditions of men, from
wherever they come, has been noted,
it
is
hardly necessary to
say that care has been taken to avoid as informants individuals
speaking Tigrmna, Agadnfia, Gallinna, Arabic,
Amharic only as an acquired tongue. - cp. the so-called ^J^ Lgijt and
t^^**-*-
etc.,
and knowing
Preface.
viii
what they have said to me, and have not excluded words or modes of expression on account of their so-called vulgarity^
:
the object in view being to give
some description not so much of what, in the opinion of learned Europeans and natives, Abyssinians ought to say as of what in point of fact they do say. In dealing with a spoken language
have not
I
hesitated to use colloquial English.
Those who wish to pursue their acquaintance with Amharic beyond this Introduction I would refer to the writings of Guidi, my indebtedness to which I In his magdesire to acknowledge most gratefully. nificent Vocabolario a work indispensable to serious '
'
'
',
students of the language, there
is
a brief bibliography
of Amharic and kindred subjects.
In the few cases where
I
have differed from Guidi
regard to the meaning of words ^
in
has been
it
with diffidence, and only after repeated verification. Differences as regards form are of as I have
occurrence,
more frequent
concerned myself with the
spoken rather than the written word.
The publication of
this series has
been rendered
possible by the financial assistance of the Egyptian
Government, as advised by Lord Cromer, and by the liberal attitude of the Syndics of the Pitt Press.
Quot homines,
^
[).
201 >i'>^T'
vulgaire
'
:
'
:
yet
I
tot sententiae
lieard this useful
Dejjazmach Gassasa, a 2
I
man
In cases like ?iH,^
(Vocab.
p.
487)
find in use.
:
e.g.
Mondon-Vidailhet, Gram.
Cette facoii de parler passe aujourd'hui pour
may be
or
word employed repeatedly by
of great courtesy and refinement.
XH^ = there,
Guidi's
the original meaning
:
I
'quello L\'
give the one
Preface. I wish to express
my
cordial thanks, for valuable
information supplied and for assistance rendered in
many
ways, to Maj.-Gen. Sir F. Reginald Wingate,
K.C.B.
etc..
Sirdar and Governor-General, Lt.-Col. E.B.
W.
May, Capt. R. C. R. Owen, C.M.G., A. L. Butler, Esq. and J. Grieve, Esq., of the Sudan Government: to Lt.-Col. Lord Edward Cecil, D.S.O. and Capt. the Hon. C. James, of the Egyptian Government: to Capt. R. B. Black, Capt. C. Garvice, D.S.O. and El Mulazim Awwal Mustafa Effendi Izzeddin, of the Egyptian Army: to H. Farnall, Esq., C.B. etc., of the Caisse de la Dette, to F. B. Wynch, Esq., of the National Bank of Egypt, to W. B. Heard, Esq., late H.M. Vice-Consul at Addis Abeba, to Dr E. A.Wallis Budge, of the British Museum, and to Prof F. C. Burkitt, Dr M. R. James, George Wherry, Esq., M.A. etc., R. T. Wright, Esq., M.A., A. R. Waller, Esq., M.A. and J. Clay, Esq., M.A., of Cambridge: ?i'}*7^U A
S. R.
:
.-
Notices of errors and suggestions for improvements will
to
be thankfully received, and should be addressed
me c/o
The Sudan Agent,
War
Office,
Cairo.
C.
Khartoum, January, 1908.
AM. GR.
H.
ARMBRUSTER.
CONTENTS. PAGE
8
Preface
vii
List of Abbreviations
xvii
INTRODUCTION. la
Field of the Language
1
16
Dialects
1
2
Place in the Semitic Family
2
PHONOLOGY. 3
Phonetic Alphabet
4a
The Aniharic Characters
4b
Value of Characters
4
8 11
4c
Punctuation
5
Doubling of Consonants
6
Doubling of Final Consonants
7a
Crasis or Contraction of Adjacent Vowels
7b
Modification of Consonant by following
7c
Assimilation of Consonant by following Consonant
.
7d
Variations and Anomalies of Pronunciation
.
8
Accent
12
.... .
Vowel
.
.
.
12 13 19 21
23
24 35
ACCIDENCE. The Noun. 9a
The Substantive Gender
96
Number
51
9c
Case
52
9
51 51
9d The Ethiopic Accusative
52 6 2
xu
Contents. PAGE
10 11
The Adjective The Article
53 53
.
The Pronoun.
....
12
The Personal Pronoun
12a
Disjunctive Personal Pronouns
55
126
Personal Pronouns Conjunctive with Nouns
57
12c
Personal Pronouns Conjunctive with Verbs
60
13a
The Demonstrative Pronoun
67
13fe
hah The The The The The The
69
14 15 16
17
18 19
55
Relative Pronoun
70
Pronoun Indefinite Pronoun Reflexive Pronoun Distributive Pronoun Reciprocal Pronoun
72
Interrogative
77 83
.
.
84 85
The Numeral. 20a 206 20c
The Cardinal Numeral The Ordinal Numeral The Fraction
86
88 89
The Verb. Form
Verb (Root)
21
Primitive
22a
Derived Forms of Verb
226
Less
23a
Voice
95
236
Mood
95
24a
Tense
246
Composite Tenses
Common
of
89 91
.
Derived Forms of Verb
....
92
96 97
The Regular Triliteral Verb. Formation and Inflexion of Parts 25
Indicative,
26
Contingent
27
Jussive
Simple Perfect
.
97
98 98 100
::
Contents.
xui PAGE
S
28
Imperative
100
29
Gerund
101
30
Infinitive
101
31
Participle
102
32a, h
32c
Compound Tenses Compound Perfect and Imperfect KA lilla Alternative Form of Compound Perfect
^2d
Independent Use of
.
;
^A
....
Alia
.
.
102 104
104
Composite Tenses VH^:
336
The Past Imperfect The Pluperfect
33c*
Other Composite Tenses
106
Independent Use of
106
33a
33^
;
105 105
Vfl^i
34
Paradigm OF Regular Triliteral Verb, Type A
107
35
„
„
111
36
„
„
TypeB „ „ VbRB QUADRILITERAL .
114
Negative Conjugation
....
37a
Formation
376
Transference oi -9^ Omission of -9°
117
118
37/
Substitution of Conjunction -9^ for Negative -9" Optional Omission of -9^
38
Paradigm of Negative Verb
119
39
Negative of
40
Negative of Va^, hf^F'li9"
37c,
d
37e
^A
115
117
.
119
122
dlla, Vfl^C
123
.
Conjugation of Derived Forms of Verb. 41a,6,c
Paradigm of Passive or Reflexive Form of Verb
124
41c?, e
Paradigm of Causative Form of Verb
.
126
41/
Conjugation of other Derived Forms
.
127
42
Conjugation of Biliteral Verbs The Impersonal Verb
43a
.... .
127 133
xiv
Contents. PAGE
§
Common Anomalous 44a 446 44c
hA ^f
Biliterals
"...
:
ala
135
136
^H
138
45
Prefixing of Conjunctions to Contingent
46
The Adverb
.
.
139 140
The Preposition. 47a
Simple
141
A7h
Composite
143
The Conjunction. 48a
Prefixed
144
486
Suffixed
146
48c
Unattached
146
49
The Interjection
147
50
Formation of Nouns
147
SYNTAX. 51
Note
152
Number. 52a
Singular for Plural
152
526
Plural for Singular
153
53
Concord in Number
153
Gender. Gender 546 Determination of Gender 54c, d Diminutive Use of Feminine 54c Words of Variable Gender
54a
Concord
154
in
155 .
.
.
.156 157
Case.
55a 556
Position of Nominative
157
Introductory Nominative
157
56
The Accusative
158
66a
Indeterminate Accusative
158
XV
Contents.
PAGE
Determinate Accusative
o6ft
56c,
d
Determinate
56e
159
Adverbial or Specific Accusative
and
.
.
Indeterminate
.
.
Accusative to-
gether
oQf 56^,
160 162
Double Accusative h Other Uses of Accusative
162 162
The Adjective. b7a
Position of Adjective
163
b7b
163
o7g
Use of Substantive as Adjective Use of Adjective as Adverb
58
Degrees of Comparison
164
164
.
.
The Article. 59a, c
Use of the
596
Transference of the Article
59<^
Generic Use of Article
Article
165
.
166
.
166
.
The Pronoun. The Personal Pronoun Use of Disjunctive Personal Pronoun c Use of Personal Pronouns Conjunctive 61a, Verbs 61^, e Redundant Personal Pronoun 62a-d Use of the Relative Pronoun
60a GOb
167
167
.
with
ft,
167
....
.
62e
.
.
.
169 169 172
Case of the Relative
The Verb. The Indicative Forces of Tenses 64 Use of the Contingent 65a, b Use of the Gerund 65c, d Construction of the Gerund 66a Use of the Infinitive 63
:
.
.
172 174
174 175 175
666
Construction of the Infinitive
175
67a
Use of the
176
67b
Force of the Participle
Participle .
176
XVI
Contents.
67c
Construction of the Participle
177
Q7d
Rendering of the English Participle
177
68
Use of Causative Form
177
PAGE
in ^ft-
The Preposition. 69a
Construction of the Preposition
179
696
Position of the Preposition
179
70
The Preposition f-
71
The Prepositions A- and
.
179 fl-
181
.
The Conjunction Use of -9" and -V
72
182
Tele Sentence.
....
The Simple Sentence of Words in the Simple Sentence
183
74
Co-ordinated Principal Clauses
185
75
The Adversative Proposition
186
73a 736,
c,
d Order
183
Questions. 7Q,
77 The Direct Question
78.
79 The Indirect Question
80
Indirect Narration
81
The Conditional Sentence The Compound Sentence
189
82
83
Emphasis
193
186
187
.
188
.
193
84
Concrete for Abstract
194
85
Note
195
Appendix
:
Parts
....
Principal Parts
of
Verbs ^ occurring
in
I— III
Index
197
393 ^
In alphabetical order, as most convenient for beginners.
XVll
ABBREVIATIONS. abbr. abbreviated, abbreviation,
Eur. European. f.
feminine.
ace. accusative,
fin. final.
act. active.
Fr. French.
adj. adjective, (-val, -vally).
adv. adverb,
(-bial, -bially).
G. GojjAm. Gall. Gallmfia.
Am. Amharic.
gen. generally ).
an. animate.
Ger. German.
approx. approximate(ly).
Gr. Greek.
Ar. Arabic,
i.
art. article,
i.e.
aux. auxiliary,
imp. imperative.
card, cardinal,
impei*f. imperfect.
caus. causative,
impei*s. impersonal(ly).
comp. compound,
inan. inanimate.
intransitive.
that
is.
compos, composition,
ind. indicative.
conj. conjunction, (-tive).
indecl. indeclinable.
conjug. conjugation,
indef. indefinite.
conn, connected,
inf. infinitive.
constr. constructed, (-tion).
inter, interrogative.
cont. contingent (mood),
interj. interjection.
cp.
compare,
iron, ironical(ly).
dat. dative,
It.
dem. demonstrative,
juss. jussive.
dist. distributive.
lit.
end.
enclitic.
literal(ly).
m. masculine.
e.g. for instance,
emph. emphasis,
Italian.
(-atic).
mil. military.
neg. negative.
Eng. English,
nom. nominative.
esp. especial(ly).
num. numeral.
Eth. Ethiopic.
obj. object.
Abbreviations.
XVlll
ouom. OTiomatopoetic.
r.
ord. ordinal.
rad. radical.
p.
page, passive.
reflexive.
substantive.
s.
part, participle.
s.v.
under the word
pers. person (-al, -ally).
sg. singular.
pi. plural.
simp, simple.
plup. pluperfect.
subj. subject.
pol. polite,
the form for ad-
dressing superiors.
suflf.
suffix(ed).
Sdua (Shoa).
S.
pref. prefix(ed).
t.
pron. pronoun (-nominal).
T. Tigrmiia.
prop, properly.
V.
prov. proverb.
vet. veterinary.
see
(in
vocabu-
verb.
1st,
2nd, 3rd
:
the respective
persons.
laries).
V -
transitive.
vocab. vocabularies.
prp. preposition.
which
vo-
subst. substantive (-val, -vally).
poss. possessive.
q.v.
(in
cabularies).
perf. perfect.
root or stem. long.
^ very
short.
-^ sometimes long, sometimes short. '
stress accent
the
first
;
words marked with two accents usually have
when
final,
the second before another word
f not in general use. * theoretical form.
= amounts § refers
to, is
equal
to,
the same
to the paragraphs of the
as.
Grammar
(Part
I.).
(
§ 8).
:
:
XIX
USE OF BRACKETS AND HYPHENS. In English (a)
Inclusive
s. (-ty, adj.) = dirt, s. and Amharic uses the same word). He (it) is = he is also it is.
dirt,
;
(b)
dirty,
adj.
(for
which
:
Explanatory
Disposition
(character)
=
disposition
the
in
sense
of
character.
In Amharic |d(i)f=idif and
idf.
= tiqissa and tfqsa. [f ]1-i^[u]ci- = p^r uc^. also ^roc^, e^?"c^ and ^^C1*. sabilbbara (-vd-, -ar-) = sabdbbara also savdbbara, satiq(js)8H
:
biibbiira
and savAbbara,
In English the masculine specified,
and
'you'
and
is
(see § 7d).
intended unless the feminine
similar words are singular unless
is
marked
plural.
In the phrases the Eng. verbs in the 2nd pers. are pi.,
after the translation of a phrase
= the same
sg.
;
pol.,
phrase with the
subject in the pol. or pi.
Try
it
:
= try pi. = try
pol.
(pol.)
it.
(pi.) it.
Give him something to eat
:
pi.
= give
(pi.)
him
etc.
XX
ABBREVIATIONS OF WORKS REFERRED Grammatica
Afevork, Gram.
della lingua amarica,
TO. G. J.
di
Afevork, Roma, 1905.
A
Gust, Lug. Afr.
Sketch of the Modern Languages of Africa,
by R. N. Cust, London, 1883. Guidi, I.
Sulle coniugazioni
Coniug.
Guidi, in the Zeitschrift
fiir
Di
verbo amarico.
del
Assyriologie, viii.
Gram. Grammatica elementare della lingua amarina, 2nd edition, Roma, 1892.
Guidi,
Guidi, Redupl. di
I.
Sulla reduplicazione delle consonanti amariche,
Guidi,
Supplementi
the
in
Glottologico ItaUano, Guidi,
Vocab.
Roma,
Vocabolario
Periodic!
all'Archivio
1895.
Amarico-Italiano,
da
compilato
Roma, 1901. Isenberg, Gram. Grammar of the Amharic Language, by the
L
Guidi,
Rev. C.
W.
Isenberg, London, 1842.
Lepsius, St. Alph.
languages
and
Standard Alphabet for reducing unwritten foreign graphic systems to a uniform
orthography in European edition, London, 1863. Ludolf, Lex. ^Eth.
I.
letters,
by
C. R. Lepsius,
2nd
Ludolfi Lexicon ^Ethiopico-Latinum, editio
secunda, Francofurti ad
Mondon-Vidailhet, Gram.
Moenum,
1699.
Grammaire de
la
langue abyssine
(amharique), par C. Mondon-Vidailhet, Paris, 1898.
Munzinger, Vocab. Vocabulaire W. Munzinger, Leipsic, 1865. Praetorius,
Am.
Spr.
de
la
langue
tigre,
par
Die Amharische Sprache, von F. Prae-
torius, Halle, 1879.
Praetorius,
Gram.
^^tli.
Grammatica .Ethiopica,
scripsit
Dr
F.
Praetorius, Carlsruhe, 1886.
Worterbuch der Bedauye-Sprache, von Leo Reinisch, Vienna, 1895. VoUers and Burkitt, Gram. A Grammar of the Modem Egyptian Dialect of Arabic, by K. VoUere and F. C. Burkitt, Reinisch, Wort. Bed.
Cambridge, 1895.
XXI
xxii
XXlll
ADDENDA. Page
14
14
63
2
132
add
line
s<2^.
3rd
f.
AMHARIC GRAMMAR. INTRODUCTION. Field of the Language.
Amharic {Y\9^^C^ or h'^C^ amarfnna) is the Ianguage most widely spoken and written in Abyssinia
§
la
§
i&
indigenous not only in Amhdra, the district fi'om which the name is taken, at the present day^.
It is
but over the greater part of Central Abyssinia. The ascendency of the Shoan race, whose mother-tongue it is, has established it as the official language of the Ethiopian Empire. As a language of commerce it is heard beyond the limits of Abyssinia proper in the Italian colony of Eritrea, the French Somali Coast protectorate, and the eastern provinces of the Sudan. Dkdects.
Two
principal
dialects of
guished, that of Goj[jam (G.)
Amharic are distinand that of Shoa (S.).
them are, generally speaking, of a minor character, and barely warrant the use of the term 'dialect' in this connection. Forms marked G. are also in use in the country north and west of Gojjam and those marked S. also to the south and
The
differences between
east of Shoa.
For other Abyssinian languages see Afr. pp. 87—140. ^
AM. GR.
Cust, Lng.
1
Amharic Grammar.
2
[§
2
Place in the Semitic Family.
The Ethiopian branch
^ 2
of the Semitic family
is
divided into two groups, northern and southern.
The
represented by the ancient Ethiopic
(*7d1i
former
is
modern descendants Tigre or Khdsa (aj-oIoJI) and Tigrmiia (^*7C^) while Amharic is the chief modern representative of the latter. with
giiz)
its
;
A
considerable literature has been preserved in
Ethiopic, which
is
still
in use as the ecclesiastical
language of Abyssinia but of its sister language of the southern group, of which Amharic is a develop;
ment, we have no written record.
Thus Amharic stands
in
of a
the relationship
niece ^ to Ethiopic, which would appear, moreover, to
have exerted, either directly or indirectly, a marked influence on the younger language. But if Amharic has in great measure assimilated the vocabulary and appropriated the grammatical
forms of Ethiopic,
it
has done so with such independ-
ence^ as to indicate extensive imitation rather than primitive affinity^.
In
its
present state
not a daughter
it
is
lacking in some most
Am.
was schon Rodiger und Dillmann erkannt haben, dass die heutige amharische Sprache nicht die Tochter des ^thiopischen ist, sondern dass das Altamharische zum iEthiopischen nur in einem geschwisterlichen 1
:
Praetorius,
Verbal tniss stand.' 2
Guidi, Vocab. p.
^
Munzinger, Vocab.
ix.
p. iv.
Spr. p.
4,
*.
.
.
§
Introchhction.
2]
characteristic Semitic features,
3
and those which
it
one the impression of having been superimposed on an alien (possibly Hamitic) basis. displays
As
give
in Ethiopic, the strong
and weak Semitic
aspirates
are confused, though the Ethiopic characters cor-
responding with each are retained (;=d=n, rh = p = ri, "If = ^, but \} Av'\ are to-day all pronounced alike and interchanged in writing, or even omitted; similarly N and 0^ ^^^ the distinction, both in between h = :
'
writing
and
in speech, has
been
lost.
Many,
the consonantal modifications described in
§
too, of
7 are
not
found in Ethiopic and are foreign to the spirit of Semitic enunciation. Again, in regard to the construction of the sentence, while Semitic languages co-ordinate phrases, Amharic subordinates them and,
German, readily encloses a whole period between subject and verb. The exact place, then, of Amharic in a general classification of languages is open to discussion.
like Latin or
Meanwhile, for practical purposes such as the arrange-
ment of dictionaries and the exhibition of its accidence, it
is
treated as a Semitic language, a system from
which
I
have seen no reason to depart.
1—2
Amharic Grammar.
[§
3
PHONOLOGY. Phonetic Alphabet.
In order to designate the pronunciation of Amharic as far as possible without ambiguity I
The
following phonetic alphabet.
view
is
employ the
principle held in
that one letter should never represent
more
than one sound, and one sound should not be represented by more than one
consonants this
is
In regard to the
letter^.
a feasible system
;
but the fluctuat-
ing character of some of the short vowels precludes
a
strict
adherence to
it,
which would involve the use
of an impracticably large sent
variations
of no
number of
essential
letters to repre-
importance.
by means of examples taken
indications, then,
The fi-om
European languages of the value of the sounds which occur
are, especially in the case of the vowels, only
approximately exact.
With the exception of the represented
by
p,
q,
(frequently pronounced
t,
c,
s,
'explosive-' sounds
and the guttural x
k by Abyssinians themselves)
the pronunciation of Amharic presents
little difficulty
to an Englishman.
^
2
Lepsiu3, St. Alph. pp. 31, 32, 38. See end of this §.
;
Phonology.
§3]
Vowels.
All vowels are pronounced short unless
a
a in
It. fatto.
a
a in father,
a
e in bet, but
a
e in send,
a
a in formula, e in Fr.
I
more open, but more open, le.
e in herd (or er when r has
i
marked
^ - long or short, ^ = very short.
~ = long,
e
e in bet, but less open,
e
e in send, but less open,
i
i
in
It,
i
i
in
machine,
i
i
in quick,
no consonantal
value),
minuto.
but pronounced with the
lips
more
closed. i o
A
i o
lengthened. ~
ii
u
CO
a in was.
o
in Fr. absolument.
o in
It.
o in
It.
u u
It.
I
o
u u
i
I
but more open (not o aperto). padrone, but more open (not o aperto).
caro,
in full.
in
luna.
and cj represent the same vowel in Amharic (giiz § 4). The above examples show, approximately, the commonest pronunciations of this variable vowel ^. a a
When
a a
6)
are given as alternatives they represent
a gradation of sounds fi'om e in bet through approx. u in 'but', eu in Fr. neuf, e in Fr. le, o in Ger. Gutter '
to a in 'was'
(§
'
7d).
Guidi, Gram. § 4&, ' suono non ben determinato see Lepsius, St. Alph. p. 48, and cp. our varying pronunciations of e in 'offering', i in 'girl', u in occurrence.' ^
'
'
Amhui'ic Grammar.
6
[§
3
Diphthongs.
Diphthongs are merely their component vowels pronounced in rapid succession without any inter-
They are marked ^.
vening hiatus.
approximations are
The
following
fairly close:
in bite.
aio
i
aio
ai in Ger.
Waise.
au
au in Ger. Haus.
au o
o in no.
oy in boy. Consona7its.
X h
ch in Ger. noch.
h
in he.
an explosive guttural pronounced a little further back than k^ the centre of the tongue ;
is
raised towards the palate.
k
k
g n
g in go. ng in singing.
t
tt in hottest,
s
sibilant
in kin.
t,
but pronounced with an explosion.
similar to ts in pots, but
pronounced
with an explosion.
ch in church, but pronounced with an explosion.
ch in cheese. sh in she. j in Fr. je.
^
but not as far back as Syrian
j.
Phonology.
3]
7
jam, but the tongue comes nearer the teeth.
j
j in
y n
y in you. n in Spanish
t
dental
t,
as in Fr. tu.
d
dental
d,
as in Fr. de.
s
s in so.
z
z in prize.
1
1
r
r in red.
n
n
in no.
p p b
p
in pot.
p pronounced with an b in be.
f
bilabial
f,
(the teeth not touching the
V
bilabial
v,
b
f
labiodental, f in fan.
V
labio-dental, v in van.
w
in
w
let.
in went,
in
explosion.
Spanish arriba.
but the
lips are
more open
>',
are
'',
h, y, w,
pronounced very
:
u
slightly, ^
almost merged into the adjacent vowel final
lips).
in
Tt.
uomo.
I
^,
sefior.
tending to disappear,
as the consonantal forms of
y and i
(§ *ld),
w may be
and u
and ^ and •^
regarded
respectively; after
a vowel they often pass into those vowels and form diphthongs (cp. y in layer, w in lower): a + ya = dia, a + wa = Sua; similarly
become
yy,
ww
i
and u when doubled
(§
6)
(uw).
pronounced with emphasis, and appear to be separated from a following vowel by a q,
p,
t,
s,
c are
slight explosion of breath.
from
k, p,
t, s, c.
They are quite
distinct
o
Amharic Grammar
8
[§4a
The Amharic Characters.
Amharic employs the Ethiopic
§4f/
syllabary, with
additional signs representing sounds not occurring
The
in Eth.
characters are read from
to right.
left
There are seven forms of each character, each representing the consonant followed by (and including) a different vowel. These seven classes are known by their Eth. names (of which the Am. pronunciation is given).
representing the con-
giiz, original,
*7^'H
I.
sonant followed by
a
(a, a>)
II.
hd-fl
kdiv, second,
u
III.
•VAft
sdlis,' third,^
T
IV.
l^'Hb
rdvi, fourth,
a
o
^rt\ hdmis,
V. VI.
fif^h
sddis, sixth,
VII.
^-fld
savi,
There
^e
fifth,
\ °
vowel
^O
seventh,
also a series of characters representing
is
w and
the consonant followed by often pronounced o before
fffiz ooo
or no
kaiv o«
sdlis
a vowel
;
this
w
is
a.
hamis
rdvi
sadis
savi
V
ha
U-
hii
^ hi
'/
ha
It
h>e
U
hi,
h
If
A
la o
A-
lu
A.
li
A
la
A.
l^e
A
li,
1
A- V'o
rh
ha
rh-
hu
rh«
h1
'h
ha
rh.
h>e
rh
hi,
h
rh
!
'
o
9° mi, o'
m T
si,
s
I
ao i*»
(i
ma
ao*
o
mii '^ mil*^
ma
'^ m>e I
sa o
M*- sii
ra o
<•
sa
A-
"i
s> e
/**
ra
&
r>e
C
ri,
r
V C
sa
A.
s>e
A
si,
s
A
rf sa
"t s 1
I
o
I
rii
sii i
6
ri
A.
SI
r^ I
A
o
h^^o
ll^'O
m^^o s
5
r'^o s''
4«]
&¥
Phonology.
10
fffiz
~oo
Amhai'ic sdlis
•
*fe
qwa>
*h" qvv 1
'*i»
liwa,
hww 'K hw 1
T" gwe
ravi
Vi^
kwi
7*«
gw 1
Grammar
[§4a
.
§
Phonology.
46]
11
Value of Characters.
In the traditional vowels of
Ethiopic
pronunciation
the
the classes except gfiz and sddis are
all
considered long; but in spoken Amharic they are constantly shortened
all
The vowel of
much
(§
Id).
jyfiz differs Ooo
from that of
rdvio not so •
in quantity (rdyi often being short) as in quality,
in which
varies
it
(§
3)
But in as rdyi. The
in different words.
Mt
is of the same quality^ commonest values after the various consonants; but A lii, Iw, and ^ ca, cw also occur. For this and other variations in pronunciation see § Id. li
rh
*![
?t
above are
its
Some characters which represented different sounds now pronounced the same and are inter-
in Eth. are
changeable in writing:
= ^ = ha iA' = rt sa o li
'Ti
h^O
a
X=
sa ° *
0, is also
h and
written A^P, (§
2)
^= 9^9
and
etc.,
2:^=C^ or d^.
contain no consonant, but are vowels
and as such may be blended with an adjacent vowel (§
levy. ^
giiz in
these 5 letters as in the rest
is
theoretically
and is usually pronounced so unless the accent (§8) falls on it when it is often pronounced long. ha, ha occur as pronunciations of h "fi.
short,
'^
3
^A
(for ^-
+ hti
§
la) sometimes sounds
yiialla, i.e.
but no hiatus the crasis is not always complete occurs between a and a in any way comparable with ;
-t
§
46
:
Amharic Grammar.
12
[§ 4c, §
5
Pimctuation. ;
4c
!
marks the end of a word.
I
corresponds to a semicolon. full stop.
,,
,,
marks the end of a paragraph.
:|:
Doubling of Consonants. §
5 if
In English we pronounce doubled consonants as they were single, only one f being heard in offer, In Amharic doubled consonants are pro-
stiffer, etc.
nounced double: ff as -ff f- in 'off fur' (pronounced without any hiatus between the words) or ff in Italian goffo
;
tt
as
-t t-
in
hot tea
'
',
etc.
The Amharic characters represent not only
single
but also double consonants with a following vowel:
A = lao or Thus
11a. o
since
^ = t,
'
tt
nn or nnio
o'
"J
= n,
ni,
7i
= s,
si,
'
o'
'
•l*'>7i
tinnis, small,
or
ti,
o'
tti o
ss or ssi, o
might be transliterated in 64
different ways.
There are no means of indicating by Amharic is doubled or not, or whether the consonant of a character in column VI of the syllabary (sddis) is followed by a vowel or not and in both cases both alternatives are equally characters whether a consonant
:
common httoao
a-mma-ma, o o
hoD^^
f-ma-m, pain.
4*
AT
J'"
Qi-1-ti-m,
it
ached.
marrow.
tllC
ni-gf-ggi-r,
9"f^'C
ih-di-r,
pronunciation.
ground.
:
§
;
;
Phonology.
6]
Vl^^
ki-f-t,
open.
f^\ldJ\r
yi-k-fa-t, let
Ah
li-kk, o
13
him open.
measurement.
'hl^\\'\^'\ti'i i-nni-li-ki-lhi-cci-hwa-lla-n,
to
you
we send
(pi).
This defect of Amharic orthography has involved the designation by the same characters of words with different pronunciations hii
h^l(\9^
^aojf"^
and meanings
(a)
dla,
he
said,
(b)
alia,
he
is
(a)
algayam\
I will
(b)
algabbam'-,
he has not entered
(a)
vimatal,
he
will strike.
(b)
yimmattal,
he
will
present
not enter,
be struck.
A
knowledge of the accidence, especially that of the verb (§ 21, § 7c), enables one to tell to a certain extent when a consonant is single and when double, and of what significance the doubling may be but in a great many cases the exact form of a word cannot be gathered from its representation in Amharic characters, but must be learned by experience. ;
Doubling of Final Consonants.
The remarks
in
§
5 refer to the general question
as to whether any component consonant of an isolated word is single or double. But Avhen words are augmented by suffixes or combined with other words in ^
I
have not heard the pronunciation given by
Isenberg, Gram. I
p.
do not come. ^ For y and bb see
153, note:
§
7d.
h^aD^9° alemat'am,
—
;
:
:;
Amharlc Grammar.
14
[§
6
a sentence a further question arises \ that of the variation of a final consonant between being single
or double or either. Certain final letters are doubled before a vowel at the beginning of a suffix or of a following
before which there
word
no pause or break in the sense,
is
but otherwise remain single:
-A
-1,
see -h,
-T* -m, suff
h^^Al^ below
flJJZ,,
attached to indef pron.
verb (§37), also conj. 9^1/9^
hlUU
:
;
!
KAVflC
= and, o
§
(§
16)
and
even, also,
mmim
::
32a.
cp.
(§
to neg.
486)
kazzih alnabbar, o o
o
'
there wasn't anything here, 9"'}{^
hAiflC
:
mfnimm o o
::
alnabbar, there wasn't o o '
anything
-m
is
doubled before fl and f, when y becomes (§ Id) ajf} minimm- bih'^on, whatever may be
also occasionally
especially y^'if^
-
^
:
s
the case, on any account, 9"'i9"
fA «
:
mfnimm
yalla
hullumm
ydza,
(-mm^ al-), there
isn't
anything, 0'6r9°
-f
-c,
^H
:
in the pi.
(i)
<(.^r^^
::
aom'
:
ending
a faras'^oc
he seized everything
-""o
^
(§
10b)
mattu, (the) horses have
come, d,df*^
faras''6ccu, the horses,' ' o o
s
haomr faras^^occ brought some horses;
iL^f^^'
^
:
::
they
have
Guidi, Redupl., discusses the first but not the
second of these questions. -
amattu,
also -im.
;
§
:
: ; :
; ;
Phonology.
6] (ii)
::
:
the
Vn^^
alnabbariiccim, she was not,
::
Vfl^'f-
:
-c (§ 24)
nabbarac, she was,
::
Y\M^^9^ ?iCO,
-^
sufF.
f.
15
:
his.
:;
irsod nabbariicc ala,
he said
it
w as she -1 -n, the pers. sufF, ht^Ti
aldlunnim, they did not
::
::
iiai'i
sattan,
::
^Artm'J
iiav^
^A
:
hArtm*"^
:
VflC
A*^"*^
:
Y\ti
(iv)
O
•
he did not C7 "ive me,
O
•
'
-5:
-ni (§ 7h)
::
of the part.
::
in certain
Vb^^
:
Vb^^
:
{§
31,
lammdu nabbar, he was a lanimdini
'.'.
di>iiiiiau,
htC^
:
he refused to give §
36,
§
me 42)
allii,
there
is
beggar,
a beggar
last rad.
7
dgiii, find,
::
ti^'ia*^ h.*!"^
me
he gave me,
some parts of verbs with
hl'^
us
lammdniioc, beggars,
.
A*^'*/
in
me, to
ffive
lammau, a beggar,
:
t^a^'f^-'i'
(iii)
suft! (§ 12c)
hii K alsatjinn dla,
:
he refused to
dla,
alsatt'iiiiiim,
standing for A*^'^
us,
alsattanu
::
sattiin,
r.
t\fiifiiiy^9" a
(ii)
he gave
the pers.
(i)
tell us,
yilunnal, they will tell us,
S^fk'^fi\.
-fi,
12c) us, to us:
alun, they told us,
I',
Y\fit^'i9'*
-'•^
(§
pox;
::
find him,
dgiiiii dliiii,
he told
me
to find
words
kiiff*iii,
small-pox,
h^F'ti9°
::
kiiff'iiifi
aidallam,
it is
not small-
:
:
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
16
-T
[§
in certain words
-t
aoa\*?
t
matat, sometbinar to drink,
aoav'?
:
hti
drink
§
matatt
::
36,
allii
?,
is
there something to
?
standing for
(i)
-i,
-je,
6
§
-A.
-li
(§
1h) of the part.
31,
when nothing
or doubled
42), is single
(§
follows or before a consonant, doubled before a vowel: •I'je.
:
qSi or qayy
+J&
:
^fl>-
+^
red
(part, of
qai (qayy) nau,
::
it is
+A
qalla),
red,
qayyu (§11) the red one,
:
?»/Z,^A9"
*I»/S. :
(ii)
(§ 3),
::
qayy aidallam,
it is
not red
;
in parts of verbs with last rad. f is usually single
when nothing
follows or before a consonant,
doubled before a vowel: jili/J.
::
^*fe^
:
/J.'fef
^
yiqwwi, let
Vnc ::
>i'l'*fej&
:
::
him
yiqwwi nabbar, he was waiting,
yiqwwjrj iin, let K/V-^
wait,
::
him wait
for me,
me
not
(sayi
+ /i)
attiqww'yy dluii, they told
to wait.
The
inter, suff
-h -a and -at^ or
-o/Z.
when they
double certain consonants -wi) (wwi, -wdi O' O oo
*'
\
are attached to them
-A
-1,
of the aux.
/ifl^^A
j&n^A
::
::
yiyaqal,
yiyaqalla
jiflj^A^JR
-9"
-m
(as
-KA
::
-al (§
it is ?,
32)
enough,
^flj^Afflje, «
yiyaqallwi
?,
is it
yiyaqallwwi
enough ?
above)
hf^R'M)^"
::
hjf^F-fiVP^
aidallJihim, ::
you are not
(§
40),
aidallidiimmwi ?, are you not ?
?,
:
§
;;
:
Phonology.
6] -'•f
17
certain words
-c in
dinnic, potato,
J^^^
:
JE^"}^
::
dinnicca
The w of -wai oo ao^at^
t -n
::
potato
?,
?
doubled after a vowel
(-wa>i, -wi) is O
\
O'
mattawwf ?, has he come ?
::
words
in certain
consonant
is
single
when nothing or a doubled before a
follows, single or
vowel
man?, who?
'I'i
(§15),
man yauqal who knows ? man (nn) dliih who told you ?
*^'>
:
fah^fi\.
^Tr
:
htiV
::
::
?,
?,
mindin?, what?
y"'>j^-'>
J^^J^*} ^'
:
9^1^''} •^
:
iwi'n
::
15),
(§
matta?, what niindiu o o o •
•
htn*m
::
came?
amatta what did he miudinu ?, o o o •
•
'
bring ? -^ -n in S^Vi yihan (ace;
§
8;
§
13a)
single or
is
double in any position:
^Vi dyM hr*m :
:
yihan (nn) faras anta
K
(§ 7r^),
bring this horse, |MJ'>
:
h9"m
::
yihan (nn)
linta,
bring
this.
In analogy with the above variations the
11
of
becomes 1 when the -9^ is dropped, unless a vowel follows, and -^ -fin in parts of verbs with last rad. 7 is pronounced single Ai^A^AJ^ aidallam (da-
^*7
:
h^^-AJT"
^19^
:
^JR,^•A
::
::
y^F-^ YiTr^Vi :
§
7r/; §
dagg aidallam, and
daggimm .-
didal,
he
is
yaidiill indah'^on, if
biggaii for biggaiin 11*1^ AM. GB,
40)
i
if
he
is
not good
he
is
not
found. 2
:
:
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
18
The doubled
-A
final
[§
6
-11
*
-qq
-h
-kk
-T
-tt
-*?• -cc
of adv. and
with
h^
ala
more than one usually become
of
interj.
VflA)
(s.v.
syllable constr.
single before a
consonant 'flA^P'A'^
:
h^
'nA*P'A'^
:
ftAA
'flA^P'A'^
:
/I.A
biliclicc ala, it lightened,
:
biliclic vilal, it is lightening,
::
:
biliclic
h(D- a
nau, there
lil
is
going to be lightning. -qq, -kk are ft4*4»
:
sometimes retained before y
JiAA
::
siqiqq
yilal, it
J&AA K saksakk rattling sound
?fh?fVl
:
grates,
yilal,
makes a
it
slight
and sometimes before any consonant j^'flA4»A4»
:
hii
::
divliqliqq dla,
it
was in great
confusion, j?:'nA4'A4»
:
JiAA
;:
divliqliqq
(§
8)
yilal,
is
it
in
great confusion, j?:'flA4'A4*
:
rt,A
:
diyliqlfqqi
(§
7d)
sil,
when
it
is
in great confusion.
When final
such words are not constr. with hii their consonant may be single, and remain so before
a vowel: jt'flA4'A4» diyliqliq, in great confusion, j?:'nA4»A4»
:
h^F'^9^
::
in great confusion.
divliqliq aidalliim,
it
is
not
;
:
§
Phonology.
7a]
Monosyllabic adv. and
in
A
;
;
19
and those ending consonants other than the above usually keep a
doubled H(D*
consonant always doubled:
final At
:
A
zauw
::
(UA
r/fl>- 1
interj.
(§
zauwi
:
he entered unexpectedly,
3) dla,
he
if
vil,
(S "Jd)
un-
enters
expectedly; 'i&J^
:
hA
^&J^
:
f *TLA
g" (')fafF dla, he was very stout,
::
:
dfXh
:
g""^
ofaff yammfl sau, a very stout
man. Crasis or Contraction of Adjacent Voiveh.
When
§
the formation of words, grammatical in-
flexion, or the application of
other prefixes or sufiixes
involves the meeting of certain vowels, the following
contractions and modifications occur giiz
a(a) giiz
a(a) fffiz
a(a) rdvi
a
+ + + +
gfiz
a
(§
=
46)
rdyi,
=a
rayi
=
rdyi,
a
=
a
+ sddis = + i =
"rSz,
offiz
=
rdvi,
a
=
a
+ +
^A
e.g.
for ffl/wi'T*
e.g.
for e.s:.
yii-
e.or.
+ hii
exists,
dlla
bdmat, by the year,
fl-
ba- +*>/w>'> amat;
f CA« varsiT, of him, his, for f -
a(ji)
which
yalla,
yii-
fc<w»'')A,
+ ?»CA-
frsii
vimatal, he
is
f^tm^ yimata
ing, for
com-
+ -^i
-al(§32); rdvi
a
+ +
ravi
=
rdvi
a
=
a
e.a:.
^;^^fl^ g^etdccau, their master,
for
-accau
1^
(§
gJ'eta
+
-dl^iD-
126)
2—2
7a
:
:
; ;
.
Amharic Grammar.
20
= =
gTiz
i
+ +
sddis
+
sadis
i
-f
i
sddis
a
= =
So
rdyi,
sadis,
ftrh.j^
e.g.
for
i
o
+ y= + ya = i(i § 7r?) + ya
i
e.g.
ft- sio
= =
+ R -f
i
yi
^
when
I go,
-f ?irh.J?: '^ ihad o
'
syam), when he brings, for
7d)
(i §
shall I
?,
+^9"^anta;
sihad,
+ ^ao^ yamata
e.g. ft.«w»^
salis,
7d)
7a
fL^aom siyamata (siam-,
ft- si-
sadis
(§
bring?,for A-li-
a
^i sdlis +
sadis
[§
Mnta
fi9^m
e.g.
.
simata (sim), when
he comes, for
ft- si-
4- J&<w»«l
yiniata. o o
*>
may
f
+
salis 1
-f
arise
= a =
gjiz
from
salis
+ ^,
sadis
e.g.
(the con-
sonant)
•
-f ya
^A4'?"^A7I tilaqmyallas,
you (f are picking, for ^A^**^ tilaqmi htiti alias )
-I-
°° (§32a).
mav
f
hamis + yg
-h
arise
= =
gfiz
a
from hdmis
sadis -h^-, (the con-
sonant)
hamis + e
^
-1-
rdyi
=
sadis
a
=
(the con-
sonant) ^
This
is
phonology -
in
§
+ ya
;
-I-
-I-
e.g.
A^'J^^Aih laqimmyallau^
have picked, for A4**^ laqimm> e -H ^Ai> al(§ 7f?),
I
l^b
32«)
(§
^-, e.g. flC^'f fl>-
ya
bull, for
^
baryaccau, their
fl<J.
bar> e
+ a^fl>-
-dccau.
a point of orthography rather than of the common pronunciation is syam-
one of the resultants absorbing ^ e.g. /*J&^^Aih
If the consonant in sadis is o
7b
it
may become
aiccyallau'*
h e.%'
jucc' e
rdyi,
or ^l^^Al^ aiccallau^',
+ ^Al^
allau'^.
:
I
have seen, for
:
§
Phonology.
7&] ID
may *l
21
arise fi^om kdiv or sdvi: o* o •
kaiy
+
rdyi
=
sadis
u
+
a
=
(the con-
sonant)
+ gfiz = ^o + a =
sdyi
sonant)
+ 'P,
-f-
sddis
wa
+ 'P,
(the con-I-
wa (6a)
(=
e.g. rtrju^flH
rtT^Pif^flJ- §
46)
sattwdccau, they gave them, for rtm- sattii e.g.
+ -a ^flH -dccau
A4»^A(=
laqmoal,
A4»9"
he
has
for A4»T* laqm'' o
4&)
§
picked, -f-
-^»A. -al
(§32a).
Modification of Consonant by following Vowel.
When,
in
the
same circumstances,
the formation of parts of the verb t,
s are followed
by
are thus modified: A,
i,
(§
43),
§
especially in 1, s,
t,
n,
z,
d,
y or e in the same word, they
76
:
Amharic Grammar.
22
76
consonant was doubled (§5) the is doubled also:
If the original
resultant consonant
with the model
e.g.
M^ao laqqama, part. cp.
[§
ger. sg. 1st A^**^
pick,
A^*^
laqdmi,
saqqala, suspend, ger. sg. 1st
rt*f*A
part,
laqimmye,
rt^^ saqai {-dyy
Yltp naggasa, reign,
rt4»P»
saqiyye,
§ 6),
ger. sg. 1st ^*7K
nagiss^e,
part. ipTi ndgds,
hdA'
kaffata, open,
part.
E.g.
AA
bilitteral
A. also
"t
kaficc^e,
verbs (§42)
becomes
Tt
si,
tC ci, etc.
„
„
lasa, lick, part. A7i las
+^
h^^
h4-^ kafdc.
In the part, of '*L,
ger. sg. 1st
qatta, punish, part.
or Ait *I**J?'
idsi,
for *AA.
qac or
lasi,
+fla, qaci,
for *'^au qati.
Exception Y\*ia\
annata,
fashion,
Mat.
an(n)dti.
part.
":er.
M^p
annicc^'e,
but
Cp. also %aod. jammara, begin,
and
ao%aod^
(§
7a)
majammarya, ° •'»'"''''
°
OL^A
carrasa, end,
+^1'
qannata, girth up, ao^'i^
This
modification
twGB^^Ii macarrasa, final,
does
not
maqanndca, occur
girth.
invariably
;
§
:
:;
:
;
Phonology.
7c]
throughout the accidence does not cause
(§ 12ft),
(§45), are
it,
;
the pers.
e.g.
and
not susceptible of
23
pref. like
suff. -^e,
ft- s(i)-,
my
when
it.
Assimilation of Consonant by following Consonant.
The
assimilation of adjacent consonants
paratively infrequent;
the
is
com-
occur in the
following
verb:
A
1
^A-
in the neg. pref
by,
and
al- (§ 37, § 38), is
assimilated
in writing disappears before, the follow-
ing letters, which with the exception of y are
then doubled
(§
5)
in pronunciation, (a- often
being lengthened) r,
arrassam, he
h^fi9^
e.g.
did
not
for
forget,
*AiA^^J^ alrassam t,
in the pref
2nd
pi. e.g.
n, in
(^ 20,
h^CA
tfrsa o
tiSi
of the
sg.
3rd f 2nd m., ,
f,
and
27)
attfrsa,
do not
forget, for
*hA^C^
al-
'
the pref
e.g.
•>-
M- inn(i)-
of the
pi. 1st (§ 26, §
27):
hl^fiT* ann(i)rasani, we shall not forget, for
*h^l^^A9^ al(i)nn(i)rasam
y
(§ 76), (§
e.g.
in the pref J&- yi- of the sg. 3rd m., pi. 3rd
26,
§
27),
hf^Cfi9^
^Aj&-
alyi-
airasam,
*}\^f,^fi9° alyirasam.
becoming he
will
?ij&- ai-
not
forget,
for
§
7c
;
:
:
Amhanc Grammar.
24
^
[§ *Jd
of the reflexive or passive pref.
t,
§ 41rt) is
ta- (§ 22a,
i"-
assimilated by any following consonant,
which is doubled (§ 5)^ in pronunciation, appearing in writing e.g.
^A+*^A
yillaqqamal,
it
will
^ dis-
be picked, for
^)&^A'I»'^A yitlaqqamal, /i*fe
yiqqwwrratal,
it
will
be
for
cut,
*J&^*fe
Variations
§ *jd
and Anomalies of Pronunciation.
The pronunciation of Amharic varies not only in the mouth of individuals of different districts, but also, as in English -, in that of the same individual on different occasions, according as
carefully or carelessly, to
fast,
he speaks slowly or a superior or to a
companion.
A
any knowledge of reading, is inclined on occasion to pronounce words as they are written, there being many gradations of the extent to which this is done. native, too, that has
But if this assimilating consonant is itself followed by another consonant it is usually pronounced single |Z,7*l»m+'nA yinqataqqatal, he is trembling, from ^
't''i'i'a\^(i\
tanqataqqata
or either single or double
:
jtClHlflA yir(r)gayaggayal,
waving, from
it is
'f'Cl^ia targavaggava. -
Cp. our use of sha'n
w^ords
'
t
'
',
don't
' ',
won't
might well prove unintelligible at knowing shall not etc.
to a foreigner
'
',
',
etc.
first
;
such
hearing
:
:
;
;
;;
Phonology.
§ 7f?]
An
25
exhaustive treatment of the subject of varia-
would be beyond the scope of this work but the following instances will give some indication of its nature and the extent of its pretion in pronunciation ;
valence.
Vowels.
Those marked unless accented aot^
e.g.
J&U
!
i
-^ are
commonly pronounced
short
8)
(§
matta, he came, usually matta:
^aof^
i
'lOh
yihe yamattd nau, this
::
is
he who
came.
But they often remain short even when accented, unless the accent is received from an enclitic and a ;
generally remains short in au,
ai.
w (§ 8) for value after consonants and with no consonant preceding see § 4 often ii
gfiz, a,
it,
:
;
before
h,
1,
r, t, c, c, s, z, j,
are final or followed by
especially
n, i
or
single consonant followed
part,
part.
satta,
rtm^
sattaii
or
rt*^
sac or
siic (§ Ih),
rt4-
saft a, {a)
Ci^
{a) safi
followed by f AJ'"
and before any
i:
he gave,
rtm
(6) saffi, ii
i,
by
when they
sattiin,
he gave me, giver
he sewed,
or
{h) it
safi, tailor,
broad
u gen. forms au
y^lliim, there is none,
f Aa^J^ y^llaum, he has none
was broad
:
:
:
;
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
26 usually
w
after
(X)
(Dl^
wo>nd, male,
fli9"flC
wwmbar
*fcf
qwwyya, he waited.
kdiy,
it:
u
final
[§ *Jd
ar), chair,
(
generally weak, sometimes very
is
short -flCi.' bfrtii,
strong
and the u of -i> -hu verb when rt'^ih
and
it
sammahu, is
I
hu
l^
is
approaches u
is final
sammahu, sammahwii, sammahw.
heard, approaches
also written
The u of
below) in the
(or -Vh -ku, see
(the vowel u)
rt*^**/^
often displaced,
i.e.
precedes
instead of following h (i)
in the sg. 1st
ending
-l^
of the simp, perf
(§
25),
especially in verbs retaining the vowel of the last
rad.
(§
42a,
h,
§
32) or with last
rad.
a
guttural
laqqamuh
sammau^
laqqamhu
for
for
sammahu
sattaa^ for sattahu
A'l»J^l^, I rt'^l^, I
picked,
heard,
rtnii>, I arave,
allau^, allau^ for allahu ^lAl^, I
hh'^ltKih ilaqmallau'\
I
am
am
present,
picking,
hf^lih addaguh, I was brought up.
This ending
is
also written
-"^^
hwii,
which be-
comes -uh and by a similar displacement hwa becomes uha: ;
bauhdla for bahwdla AAA,
after.
A
:
§
7d]
:
Phonology/. in the pron. suff. (§12
(ii)
;
:
-a^l^
25)
(§
ft,
c)
27
and 2nd
-ac(c)yuh, for
pi.
-dc(c)ihu
ending (see
at
other than the aux. -hA
-al
below)
^%7^^l^ agardc(c)yuh, your
(pi.)
A+*^'f i> laqqamdc(c)yuh, you
But before a
suff.
country,
(pi.)
picked.
(§32, §12c) this displacement does not occur:
A4»'^^AA laqmac(c)yuhal
for laqmdc(c)ihwal,
you
have picked,
(pi.)
but A+'^^l^•'^ laqqam5,c(c)ihut \ you
sammahuh,
A*^i>0
iimih^ sattahut,
I
PAiM'" yallahum, I
I
(pi.)
picked
it,
heard you,
gave him,
am
not present,
f^lihd^' yaddaghubbat, in which
I
was brought
up.
A
similar displacement occurs in dur-^e for
lugdm
and
arw>e hC*S, beast,
for
cp.
hgwdm
ma" wq
A^/", bridle,
(m^'' wq) twat^ for maq'^o (m>'eq''o)
'^*, oribi,
wsao i'h-A, scorch, twkkosao for takk'' o '
dkkul for ofkkul ^YhA, half sdlis,
T
:
fLao"}
often
i,
especially
when not accented
when he comes or simata, sTmata o o o •
•
sometimes when accented Auf^ hid, go. occasionally -dc(c)iihut.
:
; :
:
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
28
For
before -^ -ya see
salis
§
la
it
:
[§ *ld
is
pronounced
+ ya
as sadis
a: occasionally a in the ending -^ -ya
rayi,
unaccented
8)
(§
aoi\^^ massarya or
but aofid^
:
Vi»-
the
hdmis, >e: o
-ryii,
a,
a in
lela,
duf!^
it is
a tool,
most noticeable when
is
accented, and in e in A»A
tool,
massaryd nau,
::
^
when
<2.
^e
is
r^e;
other
hada
(ha-, -da, less
commonly h^e) he
went. sadis. o
i o
often
u
after w,
and sometimes,
if
accented,
ii
iD-ftT wiist, interior, wiiy, beautiful,
flj-'fl
Ohd^
wiiyat (wu-),
beauty
u in
h^
kifu, kiifu or kiifu,
h'hl'
kift
(kiift),
grained
bad,
open,
hlfl
kikk
;
ao in Mtifi (i)nsasa, domestic animal,
TC
tarr
(tirr),
K^*? ara": o o~ it,
e,
!, '
January,
nonsense
in
^0
yfhe (yahe),
this.
!
(kiikk), coarse-
:
;
§
;
:
:
Phonology.
7d]
29
tends to disappear in rapid speech, even though accented by a slower speaker:
sddis,
i
^aofnohl
:
h^ ^^oh
comes yiimattaun
yiimattdun iqa f itau be-
::
:
qaftau,
undo the baggage that
has come ^VfP-
h^
:
:
becomes
yjlsaiu iqa
yiisauqa, the tea-
things.
Unaccented i is dropped when the word is easily pronounced without it, as often becomes the case when a suff is added V-flC nayir,
leopard,
or nayru, the
V-fK- nayiru,
n.
fl,<w>ftAa>-
Initial
o
o
'
(his)
leopard
seems,
'
bimas(!)lau, if
it
seems to him.
disappears after a preceding vowel
i
Tiflhn.U iskazzih, as far as this, o
'
'
<w»/n-
TifihM.U
:
mattu skazzih, they came as far
;:
as this.
ooo
In words beffinninff ~ O with in-, in-, im- the omitted, the n, n or forming a syllable by
m
:
ooo
hh fmbi
dla or n'lbio dla, o
but after a consonant the Ag*^
:
o
often
itself^
rikwan, indeed,
tx'iXK'i ?ilP'fl.
is
i
JiJ^fl.
:
ht\. a
li
i
f
O" o
i
o
is
mbio
he refused
heard: ala, o
the child refused.
on the other hand, vocalised in a word ending
without a vowel, sddis o slightly
consonants or in one doubled ^
as in
Bantu
;
(§
riitu (^v>), etc.
6)
is
often
in two consonant
:
;;
;
;
:
;:
Amharic Grammar.
30
when
[§
consonant, especially an enclitic
i,
119^"}^
Sim mint, eight,
ft?°7^
:
"flC
:
simminti
Ohff:
wudd, expensive,
:
hah flA
virr,
wtiddi nau,
::
zimm
it is
8)
expensive
and zfmmi
:
i is
often prefixed to initial
bill,
(§
eight dollars
'W9°
::
7d
followed by one beginning with a
is
it
:
r,
viil,
be
quiet.
and sometimes
to
••
which then lose a following
n(i),
iradda for
"h^fi
imp. C^
^f\
hC^
rida or
i
he helped, radda, * o
irda,
help
he touched, ih nakka, o imp.
Tih
^o:
sdvi, •
nika or
o'
Mh fnka (Aka), touch.
the
""
is
accented, and in a,
most noticeable when ^o
G
r""
is
o
a in ^/i/^Ai^ aidallam (-da-), he
is
not, no,
(§
40).
Consonants. (In discussing a letter under this heading gfiz
is
used as the simplest and original form without reference to U, rh,
its "If
:
inherent vowel.) final
h
after a vowel
is
weak, and after a
diphthong tends to disappear (see kaiy above) ayyiiu''
Initial
h
Kf l^, is
I saw.
often lost
agar hlC for hagar VIC, country
\
:
:
Phonology.
I7(f\
31
ilm ?iAlP fur hilm AA9", dream,
attama h
is
h-frao for
hattama
'\-tao,
he sealed.
displaced in
mahatam o o
mahtam o
for
bhdri for bahri
flrh<{,
*^'\i'9°, seal,'
character.
h after a consonant interchanges with in the
ending
-l^
-hu
laqqanikii A+i'^lfh for
and with in the
(§
25), also
laqqamhu
k,
written
-V^
A+9"!;-, I picked,
k, x,
ending -U
-h
(§
alx, alk, for alh hfiil),
25,
§
you
12
h, c)
said,
h'^onx, h^'onk, h^'onk, for h'^onh
Ifil),
you have
become, rasxjn, raskin, for rdshin ^'llVi,
your head (ace).
sometimes assimilated to or assimilates an adjacent guttural, which is then doubled (§ 6), g becoming kk: This -h or -k
is
iluwwqq for auwwqh
hoJ'^l),
you knew, you have
understood,
adarrakkau for adarraghau h^C.*lVah, you did fallakk for o o
ao
m
:
fallajj:h
o'^
you wanted.
*'
sounds n in
anta for dmta h9^^, bring.
^
:
above. see sddis o
A
:
s
sounds
mazf
for
z in
masf
aotiV, anvil.
it,
: :
:
Amharic Grammar.
32
+
q in
:
(cp.
S. is
pronounced
like
[§
hamza^
>
7d
in Arabic:
the Cairene pronunciation of J)
cara'a for caraqa 60,^^, moon, *fvJe for qfv- e 4*0., butter. fl
when doubled always bb beginning a sentence usually, and after m always, b otherwise b or y:
:
;
;
j&flAA yibbdlal, fl4»A"
:
VflC
it is
said,
baql" o nabbar,
::
it
was a mule,
occasionally, yaql^o nabbar, (d9°(\C
wwmbar,
chair,
or tavdla, tabdla o o o o
i'flA
•
^U
:
rt4»/t"
1(1 varies
yihe baql^'o
I
o
is
was
said,'
(ya-), this
mule.
between nb, mb, ny
h'idfi anbassa, fl
it
'
and anvassa, ambassa o o '
•
lion,
often f in
h-fl^ kaft or kayt, property,
I'dd gafs
^
(-ys, -bs),
:
sounds almost yy in G. ef'oc rt.-f^, women.
c occasionally
:
s^et^oyy for V
barley.
s-
above see sddis o
; '
n is often weak dropped in
final
after ^e,
^o,
u,
and
is
qwdgm^ e for qwdgm> en ^1*%!, part of September, dwo), duo), for
dwwn
hto'i, yes,
(f)nt^o "kl^ for (i)nt^^on Ki^'i, what's-his-name °
^
(§ 16).
VoUers and Burkitt, Gram.
§
2 B.
pension or catching of the breath la honte is a true hamza." *
'
1,
"a simple in Fr. the
sus-
h
in
:
:;
:
Phonology.
7d']
33
n before gutturals often (but not always) becomes n dfngat or dfngat ^11^, perhaps, cinq, difficult.
^l?'^^*
m
n before b may become n affects preceding
'f:
final
nai
for
nan
am
V^, I
^UA
(§
o
136),
h, x,
yahl, about, nearly,
^ihA akkala
;
1
h'Hi^, loyal.
k interchanges with
:
above.
fl
see gfiz above
sometimes becomes
11
dmdi for amdfi
h
a,
see
:
(q.v.),
G. has ha- for ka-
to
above
see
a cont. (§26) of
is
amount.
h-, in,
from,
hazzih
for kazzih hll.O, here,
hamdir
for
0000
kamdir \\Tf:C, on the ground. "^
X interchanges with h, k, see pronounced h in he shouted. O^'^ c''6ha, o
Ti
:
ID
:
for
w and u
a>- wi.
see
li
above
;
§ 3.
wii (see sddis above), ^u,
becomes u
after a,
and forms diphthongs with them, in becoming yu: it,
a, e,
fl^^
wi'ta o
Y\ai*"\
H
:
z is
i
and
.
iluta,
come
wiita,' •
out,
take out.
sometimes
s
before h
(x, k,
see
I/)
yash for yazh ^11 U, you took, yasx for yazx
^'H'fi,
= ^TU
yask for yazk ^'Mh, = ^TiU AM. GR.
3
:
:
:
;
Amharic Gh^ammar.
34
[§
sometimes assimilated to following yass for yazs ^'HTl, you (f ) took. Tf
%
see
:
interchange with
f
and
for y
:
i
see
z^^e
zi,
:
does not
7h)
(§
j.
^ 3.
yi following
Ji
from
z arising
;
s
7d
a,
a,
a becomes
co,
and forms
i
diphthongs with them:
him
yihun, let
j&ihT-
him not be
h^ihTf aihun, let initial J&- yi-
be,
may do
this with the final vowel of
the preceding word ^'^'i'
:
dahnaidaru
/i^4- s
many
In the mouth of
vowels tends to become
i,
!,
good-night
!
(poL).
individuals yy between
and
i
to
become
^
or dis-
appear altogether: ^ft;^^A:: yastdyyal, yastaial, he lets (something)
be seen,
0^
ha^^a,
h^A'h?"
haa ;:
(S.),
aialfim, a>alfim, adl-,
Similarly initial y \l4*9°
s
fA
twenty,
;:
becomes
kffumm
he
will
not pass.
^
yalla,
there
-mm^^all-,
isn't
any bad.
^ d :
before other consonants often becomes r
qarm^o
for
qadm^o
liharnafi for lihad
harku for liadku
*l*J^*r*,
formerly,
nan Arh.Jt V^ :
::
I
am
going,
rh.j^Vh I went,
wwssarku for wwssadku
(Drtj^Vh, I
removed,
h^^ClOh tidrigau becomes drgau, do
it.
:
:
:
:
;
;
Phonology.
§ 8]
%
initial j
:
jS'*?^
interchanges with z in
0o%aod^ majammarya sometimes when
from
with
continues
final
di,
:
d>e
be begun,
taza-),
{aolT- maza),
A^f (§
Ih)
liz,
beginning
for Aj^-
lij,
child,
does not interchange
z.
sometimes almost yy before
:
it
(Tf- za-), begin,
tajammara ('Mf-
arising
verb
derivatives
its
jammara
•f'^ao^
Ok
S.
this variation occurs in a
throughout
j
35
jfgra or 3^7^- zigra, guinea-fowl
when j^#n>
:
t
afwayy toal for afwdctoal hi^^'X^, he has whistled. X,
s is t
:
'm.
tafa,
out of G.
and
axtUf^ i^\^^i,
safa (G.
J\<<.
and
and OtU^ sahai
'learned'^), write, (G.
and
'learned'),
sun. <{.
:
f or V in
V'Pft
nafs or navs, soul.
Accent.
By
and by the accent of a word the principal stress that falls on it thus the accent of 'cab-proprietor' is on the 'a' or accent
is
meant
the syllable of which a '
'
stress
is
accent,
the vowel.
(The sentence accent, by which an emphatic word in a sentence receives more stress than other words, used elsewhere by those with some knowledge of Ethiopic in G. it is a genuine survival. ^
i.e.
;
:
:
:
Arnharic Grammar.
36
[§
and intonations indicating a question, menace,
Accent must (§
^d)
f^^^l
Quantity
a
are similar to those of English.)
etc.,
quantity
surprise,
8
::
be
carefully
disting^uished
from
:
yfcan, let
may
him put the saddle
on.
influence accent
flH-fl^ bazzabbiii, it
is
much
too
for me, also
bazzdbbifi. o o
For the influence of accent on quantity see § *Jd and enclitics below. The stress accent in Amharic is in general much Amharic speech, like less marked than in English. French, runs >vith an almost even distribution of This is one of the reasons stress on each syllable. why to the beginner, who finds it difficult to distinguish
separate words
the
much
phrase,
a
native
he actually does a matter of in many cases to detect where the principal
appears to speak
faster than
and why, even to a practised difficulty
a
in
accent of a particular word
ear, it is
lies^.
SecoiuJary Accent.
Before and after a doubled consonant
(§5,
§ 6),
or two consecutive consonants, though the principal
may
accent
lie
elsewhere, there
secondary accent, (as on the
which
is
i
is
often a
marked
in 'cab-proprietor'),
sometimes almost equal to the principal
accent ^
Guidi, Gram.
sempre
§
Qb,
'
in generale I'accento
stabile e chiaro.'
non e
:
Phonology.
§ 8]
^flA'fl^
he
abbalabbifi,
::
and purposes
intents
^AVlAVA:
lied to
me, sounds to
all
abbalabbifi,
he
yiUkillihal,
37
send to you,
will
yili-
kfUihal, o o
^^mAOA-fi^
«
timmallasallaccyuh,
you
(pi.)
will
return, timmallasallaccyuh, K^-n.-fcA
TA ^n^A mAP J&lf
::
::
yih'^onal,
::
::
dgiytoal,
he
yayaral, he
in,
agiytSl,
will be, yih^onal,
is
lighting, yayaral,
tallaia. -T 00' he prayed, '"O 00
tallaiji, •O
he has taken
»'
In some words, such as '^+<^JT it is
::
taqamat,
sit
down,
barely perceptible that the stress on the accented
syllable
is
greater than that on either of the others.
The adequate pronunciation of doubled consonants and unaccented vowels is necessary to ensure syllables not marked with the accent receiving their due share of it. Accentuation of the Verb.
The accent of the falls
70
gabba, he entered,
ti^fiD
laqqama\ he picked,
<7dVH^
manazzara\ he chano^ed, O
0000'
'
cannot endorse Afevork's statement, Gram. § 17, sulla media radicale, ^Id. degghefe,' sulla penultima ^
'
simplest form of the verb (§21) on the syllable preceding the doubled radical
I
'
^AlA ghesegghese,' though there is often a perceptible secondary accent on these syllables.
radicale,
:
Amharic Grammar.
38
[§
8
zagayya, he was late.
H7f
For the accentuation of the derived forms and the conjugations, see
21-45.
§§
The accent of the greater part of the conjugation of the verb is fixed, and as the verb usually comes at the end of the clause
73&) its accent
(§
likely
is less
than that of other words to be disturbed by that of an enclitic. Accentuation of Dij^hthougs.
An
accented diphthong usually has the accent on the first vowel, but it may fall on the second
A^
lai,
iioh
s
above,
'lah
sau nau,
::
it is
a
man
;
ifi(D*tl^ q^esaust, priests,
^flOhli^
;
h/^
q^esaust dlu, the priests said so.
::
Final
i
o
The accent hardly ever
^0
:
Ajf
:
yihe
lij
,
and
u.
rests
on
or yihe
final
i
or
u
this child
lij,
but
:
:
(also
^Titten ^Ti).
Variation of Accent. Enclitics.
An
enclitic is a
word which
is
so closely
connected both in sense and pronunciation with the preceding word as virtually to form part of it, throwing back, in
many
cases, its accent
the precedin<^ word, which its original
Many
may
upon
or
accent, to be accented
it, i.e.
may on
causing
not preserve
its last syllable.
monosyllabic words in Amharic are of this
nature.
;
§
;
;
;
;
Plwnology.
8]
;
39
_
E.g.
nau, he
iflj-
nat, she
(it) is, 'i"^
etc. (§ 13&)
is,
substantives like dollar,
"flC biiT,
+'>
qan, day,
Ajf
lij,
child,
house
ft.^ b^^et,
imperatives like
^
na,
come,
WC
zur,
go round,
flA bal (bal), say;
and the second part of composite prepositions ba...
fl... Aji
lai,
(§
476)
upon.
"lhd»y malafya, pleasant; *^A<(.^
:
ia>-
ao'^ macii
Vfl>-
:
nau maca o o
;:
^Tfi
tinnis, small,
'IhTfi
;
'i"'ll' ::
Id)
nau\
when
is it
(§
?,
tinnis nat, she
(it) is
<w»Aln'l*''f
malaktanna, messenger,
<w»Ah'^?
:
*i\}
::
malaktiinnd nah
h9°fi amsa,
fifty,
K9"A
amsd
-flC
:
?iVhA tikkul ?iVh
A +7 :
:
pleasant
?
small
?,
senger ?
:
it is
when ?
?,
o
malilfyd
::
yirr, fifty
(§ 7(?),
half,
iikkiil
qan,
^
dollars
noon
Cp. KpeiTTOV
eCTTLV.
are you a mes-
;
;
;:
:
;:
'
;
;
Amharic Grammar.
40
M't
[§
8
dnta, you,
M-lr Ajf
anta
;:
i
(§
Id)
li j
!,
you there
!
(calling a
boy) "h^ fqa, goods,
h^
:
n.'>
TJH'fl
:
iqd yyet, store
:
JiHU
•7Hfl>'
:
::
money and buy I^H-fl
;
j&HU
^i"
:
ganzav yfzah gfzau, take some
it,
ganzav yizah na, bring some
::
money
^VhA ^VbA :
:
flA
cikkul cikkul
;:
yal,
make
great
haste.
The accent from an i
or u (see above),
e.g.
enclitic
the article
the preceding syllable, or the
formed by the ao'i'lfi'
first
-(D*
-u
(§
11),
final
but on
vowel of a diphthong
article
mano^adu, the road,
dao'ilH'lfl;^fl^
does not rest on
A^ bamangadu
s
:
lai,
on the road
o^avatau, the table,
•fld^oh H*C :
::
tasfavatau zur, ^o
round the
table.
Certain suffixes bring the accent to the vowel
immediately preceding them e.g.
the emphatic J&U
suff!
-ah -u
yihe, this,
^OtD* yihau, this very one
hH,U
kazzih, here,
hlti>'
kazzfhu, just here
but 'tH.^oh tazzyau and tazzyau, just there.
:
:
;
:
:;
Phonology.
§ 8]
An
:
41
does not throw back its accent across a pause, or on to a word with which it is not immedienclitic
by the sense
ately connected
"h^
AH,U
h^
:
there f A.fl
:
f A.n
:
yJ et, store,
iqd
fl.^
:
:
^^ah9^
for these things
yaPevd nau, he
::
^T
lazzih fqa y>et yallaum,
::
no receptacle
is
'lOh
n.->
:
*iah
i
is
a
thief,
yaP eva damm^'o nau, he O
::
V
is
•
a
thief, too.
The sense,
position of the accent may determine the by showing what words are closely connected
f f«;l:
rt.^
:
which
Ajf
:
«
yiiyetwd-s^ et
?,
the child of
woman ?
yjiyetwa
of which daughter?
s^et-lij,
In some cases an enclitic
back
lij
may
or
may
not throw
accent, however closely connected with the
its
preceding worcU h/*'C 'flH'
:
"flC
:
ifl>-
9^1J^C
i
::
assir virr,
:
bizii o
Vfl>-
::
and
assir virr, ten dollars
nau, and bfzu nau, o o o '
it is
a lot
mindir nau?, and mfndir nau
?,
'
what
is it?
When falls
accented
initial
i
(m a preceding vowel
following n,
hf
'•!"
••
n,
m
disappears ;
if
(§
Id)
its
accent
no vowel precedes, a
takes the accent
M^ah K
ayyacc fndau, she just looked
Both accentuations are common and apparently they do not differ in meaning: all inquiries on the point meet with the reply l^/V- hlff: hah Ki^ViplC ^
:
hahii
.-
.-
-.
:
:
;
:
!
Amharic Grammar.
42 Y\^
:
Mf^Oh
"kl"^!
ayya ndau, he jus^ looked
::
h^aotny*
:
[§
;:
8
;
6kwan, almattam, no, he hasn't
come.
The
enclitic particle
Ki^.
oh, but..., indeed,
(i)nji,
retains its accent
antau
}\9^ii\ah «
h9^fi}(D'
The
:
(§
bring him,
7d),
"hlfK K antaunji
inter, suff.
-h and
oh,
!,
-flij& (§
but bring him
6)
do not throw back
their accent
?iA^A
K alqoal, it is finished,
hA^A «
alqoalla
?,
is it
finished
h^F't{9° K
aidallam, he
is
h^F'^H^j!, K
aldallammwf
,
?
not,
is
he not
?
Other suflSxed particles sometimes affect the accent of the word to which they are attached and sometimes do not e.g. -*^
-mm a,
as for,
^U
yihe, this,
^V1
yihamma, as for
d.^fi'
this
farasu, the horse,
d.dd'^ farasumma, as for the horse. Other variations of Accent.
Apart from the disturbance that may be caused by an enclitic, the accentuation of a word varies in
many is,
as
cases according to
it
its
position
:
according, that
stands (a) alone or before a pause, or
any other word with which
it
is
{b)
before
connected by the
;
§
Phonology.
8]
sense
43
and many words exhibit further variations of
;
accent in each of these positions^. called in this section
nected
'
final
',
The
position (a) is
and the position
(6)
'
con-
'.
Isolated words in the course of this work
Note.
marked with two accents usually take the first, sometimes^ the second, when final, the second when connected. But words with accented suffixes such as -h. -a, -wai (-wwi, -wf),
-IDJ&
accent as
well,
marked with
their
own
original
are pronounced with both accents.
Taking any letters 1,
according to their position: *74.
gifa:
fin.
gifa: lli' sfra,
work
conn, gifa or gifa
:
in rapid speech the
word
loses its
accent altogether: hi-
i
is
flH'fl*'^
too
K sfra (sira, sira) vazzabbin,
much
the work
for me.
Gram. § 15, 'Intorno all'accento I'Amarico non ne ha ancora, con regole e norme fisse, Afevork,
^
'...avviene che tante e tante parole ora in un modo, ora in un pronunziate sentano
stabilito le leggi.' si
altro...' -
the
Words of this type are to be heard accented on last when final in questions e.g., s.v. "'ii. :
:
'
:
:: ;
;
Amharic Grammar.
44
[§8
*1<{.^ srafara ~o o fin.
ofafara, also arafara
VmA
natala, open, also natala,
HmT
zatana, ninety, also zatana, ^ o«o O'O
'
ngida, stranger, also ngida,
'hl*^i\
basita, disease o o
fl7i;l-
'
'
orafara, also gafara conn, ~ ~o o O o '
VmA
^^*^
:
camma,
natala 0«0
:
slipper, also natala IT IT 0«0
'
•
'
camma, nai'i
*P'P
:
zatana m^dtii, ninety died, also
::
zatana m^dtu, o o '
h'ilH
matta, a strano^er has come,
oof*} K no^ida
s
also ngida matta, fl*fi;^
basita nakkau, the disease attacked o o
ihfl>«::
:
'
him, also basita nakkau. oraffara *ld.^ O o o fin.
ofaffara,
~O0
^Oqo
occasionally ffaflkra
callama, darkness,
fliLA*^
^im^ dammana, ^tip
:
cloud, occasionally
track
fillaga,
conn. ~ saflTara, also oaff*ara ~o o o O ffiLA*^
:
dammana,
:
callama nabbar,
iflC
it
was dark, also
callama nabbar, o o
'
^
:
'flH'
:
V(»-
cloudy, also »/
^tip
s
^ii9°
::
dammana bizu nau, dammana bfzu nau, o o o o ::
ffUaga yalliim, there
it is
very
'
is
no
track.
:;
§
: :
Phonology.
8]
45
ffafar *ldXi O o o
+ substantive)
(prp. fin.
ffafar, also O ffafar Oo o o o '
/
f 0*7
yayag, of a sheep,
:
but f Ai^
:
ViD-
:
f fl*?
or a sheep's conn, srafar
f n*7
yiildm
::
nau yayag
?,
is it
a cow's
?
:
^p
:
yayag
:
sfga,
mutton.
*7
gaffar
P»^
:
'lOh
a)9°(lC s yet
:
the chair
nau vvwmbar ?, where
is
?
fliA^ wwllad, interest,
^^j, jP-j
terms
hh
:
'lOh
HoiAj^
I
coarse
ndamin ? bauwllad ?, on what
at interest
?
:
::
All'fl
?
kiikkiO
::
nau o
Ifzziv O
O'
?,
is it
fine or
'
?
small-pox;
Yl«*P^ kiiff'in,
sraffar and gaff conn, o Cooar o o
id9°(\C
:
i'rtfl^
tasabbara, wwmbar 00 00 o
::
the chair
is
broken, floiA^ •^
:
-l-d?,^ »*
rowed at ATf'Tl
:
tavaddara, baucuUad 00' he boro o o o
::
•
interest,
^*''h
lizziv
:
d^5q>et,
fine
flour,
also
lizziy d''6q^et,
Vh*P^ is
:
f a>pfl^
:
Vfl>«
::
kuffiii
pitted with small-pox.
yawwggau nau, he
;
:::
^Id.G gafar^o
sometimes gafar^ o
gafar^^o,
conn, Oo ffafar"" o o "Jflrt"
fin.
8
:
sometimes gayal^o
:
Kf l^
:
[§
:
IflA" gayal^o, gecko,
*7
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
46
fin.
;
gaf(f ) ir
saw a gecko.
gaval'^o ay}^au^ I
::
:
gaf (f )ir, occasionally gaf(f )Tr *i" :
ID-?.U
na wwdih (occasionally
::
wwdili),
come
here, *feji
:
hltU
::
qwwi kazzih (occasionally
kazzih),
wait here;
conn, gaf (f )Tr fl)"^U
h?tl^
:
:
Y\^9°f^
wwdih attimta, don't come here,
::
^^"fe^ a kazzih attiqwwi, don't wait here.
:
m^C gaffar fin.
sometimes gaffar
gaflar,
:
aD^h9° malkam, excellent, o '
^
ff'^'fl siirray,
ao9^fi\^
sock,
sometimes surrdy,
mamtat, to come
2:aff*ar conn. Oo <w»Ah?" VflC :
::
malkdm nabbar, o o o
'
Tf'^'fl
:
hf^f^
ao9^(n^
.
::
hd,^piiih
to come. '^l^lr' o-afra
Oo
gafra f!^'*i'i
was excellent, '
surr^y anta, bring some socks, ::
mamtat o •
fin.
it
dahna, well
ifallisrallau'S I o o
o~
o
^
want
::
§
:
: : :
;
'
:
:
Phonology.
8]
conn, gafra, also gafra
^'VT
:
7fl K
^IfV
s
IDT
47
:
dahnd gabba, he arrived :
j&rt^A
::
dahna wwt
safely,
yisaral,
he cooks
well.
*pd.^ gafara fin.
sometimes gdfara
gafara,
malada, early, sometimes malada,
'^A'^
•J'h^ g'' otara, barn,
sometimes
conn, gafara, sometimes gafara ^tif\
i
dufi'
'^A'^
:
<w»flb
•)'^^
:
:
or'^dtara
:
mdlada hadu, they went
::
early,
malada mattu, they came
::
'^,'*^lA « g^'otara taqattala, *— • o
o
• •
o
o
early,
the barn was
burnt.
^^'hC fin.
gifir gifir Oo o
^lr% conn,
gffir, •Ih'}^
tfnin,
mosquito
also giffr :
f Al^
quitoes
?,
:
tiniii
::
also
y^llam
tinffi
?,
are there no mos-
yallam ?
*li.^\\ gafarak fin.
gafarak, occasionally gafarak
M^^ J^ayat, conn, gafarak Oo o o K+ri'V
uphill, occasionally
;
rt.rh..'?.
::
aqavat sihadu, when they go
*ld.dAl gaffarak
gaffarak rt'JrtA'Th
;
:
uphill.
fin.
aqayat
sansalat, o 00 chain.
;
;
: :
Aniharic Gramniar.
48
^M^t\rV
qwulqwiilat, downhill
conn, ffaffarak, also ffaffarak rt'JrtA^
m4-
:
^M^h^
8
[§
« sansalat taffa, fche o
rh.,^
:
:
o
o
•
o
hada, he
qwtilqwulat
::
chain was
lost,
went
downhill,
^M^tsrV
:
A.flJCj^
:
qwulqw^iilat siwoird,
when he
goes downhill. ^liC^Vl ffafarak ~o o fin.
ofafarak, sometimes orafarak or ffafarak usually ~oo ~oo »'~oo
;
or <7dAAA masalal, ladder, sometimes masalal o o o o masalal, o o
'
^d.^T* daratam, broad-chested, sometimes daratdm, ip,^^{P» wiisatam, false,
sometimes wtisatam or
wtisatdm,
•^000
flh^fc bakirai, for hire, also bakfrai
conn, ffafardk
ooo'
'
:
fl<w»rtAA
:
(D"\
bamasaldl wwtta, he mounted
ooo
::
. •
'
by a ladder, e^;^9" '^
d^Ch
:
:
daratdm o o
faras, o
o
a broad-chested
-^
horse,
a^'S^T* h^F'l{9° :
i:
wusatdm aidallam, he
is
not
false,
flh^^ hf^ :
::
baldrai allu, they are to be
had
for hire. *74-^Vl o-afarak ~o fin.
gafarak, sometimes gafarak
:
j^^^.jp dwaidtam, sickly, sometimes dwaiatdm
;
§
;
:
:
:
Phonology.
8]
conn, gafardk
49
:
J?^^;^JP*
:
h^Ffir*
dwaiatdm aidallam, he
::
not
is
sickly.
*7
fin.
h'?'}^ atint, bone,
queen
'>*7/*''b nigist,
gafirk and gaffrk conn, O C5 o O o O ^iT'J'V
'^rtfl^
:
:
tasabbara, 00 00
atint •o
::
the
bone
is
0000
broken, also atint tasabbara, 'O '
'}'?/*''>
:
^OAA'T-
nigist tibbalallac, she is called
::
a queen.
Words
-%^
in
-g>ef,
-W
-g''of:
'g'ef, '-g''of:
fin.
A^*^ d"6q>et, (ir"i
^^^;iA
I
bad''6q^et
?,
(IFa-t-
I
what
cil^'ot,
f-^
'T'f^flH T
rtmflJ-
:
::
the
-p^ when a
-gaf,
:
ih,'^
AhC AM. GR.
000'
i/
in the office
J.
::
?
tacfl^'ot
?,
?
•
•
cil"ot liadu, they
^
suflix is
?
d^oq^ ct sattau, he gave him some
oflice, also
-1^
flour
ofiice,
yet ndccau
::
?
d"oq- et sattau, o o
flour,' also
^•A—K*
with
?
also -g^ef, -g'^of
'-g^ef, 'g''of, /^*&'lh
?
bamfn yiddarragal
made
is it
'h^-A"'>
where are they conn,
::
government
'7-A"'1*
:
flour,
-g- ef,
have gone to
cil^ot hadu. o -"J*?
-g^of receive the accent
attached to them:
sakkar, drunkard, 4
;
:
Aniharic Grammar.
60
8
[§
drunkards, i\hG^ sakkdr^oc, o -^
the drunkards CihC^ sakkar^occu, o
ao&^
market, ground,
<w»<J»i2
mar^etu, the ground
and there
is
;
a perceptible secondary accent on the
penultimate in words like ao'Ufi- manofadu, the road, 4«V-rt*
fdnusu, the lantern,
rt.'t'fs
s^etitu (-itu), the
ihA*fe
tilliqu,
The
adj.
woman,
the large one.
ending -? -nna has the accent on the
syllable preceding it:
hlC^
and conn.
fin.
amariiiiia, ' o
Amharic, '
9^C\i^ mirk^oilna, prisoner;
but when
-at* is
P»^?(»-
added the accent
varies
:
conn, yetiiinau.
fin. yetififiau,
The general tendency in these the accent to come forward before a
variations suffix or
is
for
another
but in some cases nothing but an enclitic brings it forward
word
:
aoMi^ malakat,
malakat "^oc, o o o
aoiiXi-^'^'
tn»h\\^
:
buo^le,
'
V4«
jioMi-f'^'i
:
malakat o o o
::
Vf-
::
buo^les, O
'
naffa,' o
he sounded a bugle, o '
malakaf^occun naffu, they sounded o o o o *'
the bugles,
twl\h^
:
VflH
::
malakat nau,
it is
a bugle.
;
:
:
ACCIDENCE. The Noun. The Substantive.
§
9
§
9a
§
9b
Substantives are of two genders, masculine and feminine, have two numbers, singular and plural, in addition to the nominative
an accusative
and
case.
Gender.
There
is
no special form of the substantive
for
either gender.
Number.
The
pi.
is
before a vowel
formed by adding -"o^ -^oc (-^occ § 6) to the last consonant of the sg.
b>et, house,
n.-!-
Ijf* gxeta,
pi. n.'f^^- b^et^'oc.
master,
A*^^ lammdn
(§
8)
pi. l-f*^*
beggar,
g^ef'oc.
pi. A*^'*?-/-
lammann'''oc
(§ C).
In some cases (see vocab.) -f -ya disappears flC^ bdrya, slave,
and
i
is
pi. fl(?^'
sometimes retained
fid» sail, tailor,
:
pi. AC'lf*
saf^ oc
and (not Besides the
pi.
in
bdr^oc
-''o'T*
G.) fld,P'^ safi^Oc.
some
irregular plurals
(Ethiopic forms) occur fl4'A"
baqP'o, mule,
also
M*^^^
and
?ifl4*^A-f''f
abdqwilt
pi.
fl^A-^ baql^oc,
(ay-, -qwii-, -4»- -qi-),
abdqwilt'^oc (ay-, -qwii-,
-4'- -qi-).
4—2
:
:
Amharic Gramma7\
52
The
irregular pis.
in the vocab.
the regular
all
;
pi.
[§ 9c, § 9c?
more commonly
in use are given
nouns with irregular
pi.
also
have
in -^'o^.
Case.
9c
The
accusative
formed by adding
is
nominative (of which
final sadis receives
nom.
n.'^
b^et,
„
^;^
g^eta,
„ „
-1
ace. fl.^'}
-1 -n to the i)
b^etin. o
„
^;^'>
g>etan.
A*^^ lammafi,
„
^*n^l^
lammdiimn
n.-^^ b^et^oc,
„
n.-f^'}b^et^6ccin(§6).
comes
after the art. (§11)
but before other
and
(§
12&),
sufF.
the house,
n.iJ'}
b^etun,
rt.'fci^'}
s-
rt.'fc'J
b^et^en,
my
fl»;l:'>
b^etwan,
her house,
the woman,
etitun, ' o
'
'
b^etunim,
house,
our house.
dt^'^lr'i b^etdccinin, o o fl.i^'JJ^
pers. suff.
(§ 6).
and
his (the) house.
The Ethiopic Accusative.
Qd
some cases, in which the form but not necessarily the meaning is acc.^ the effect in Amharic is generally to give an objective sense to a following noun
The Ethiopic accusative
in -a
survives in
:
:
^
'Status
I 125,
constructus.'
'Quoad formam
num nomen
in eo
an genitivi an
Praetorius,
Gram.
^th.
status constructi nihil refert
positum nominativi sensum habeat
accusativi.'
:
:
Accidence.
§10, §11]
53
t'h^^ nigus, king, 'i'hw
i
hl^^
peror
nigdsa nagast, king of kings, em-
:
;
flA bal, master,
flAHi^ balav>et, master of the house.
But
in
tive sense
some phrases the form (§
67c)
'lie na<>ar, 'lid
iid
s
word,
nagara
:
sari,
The The
in -a has the objec-
(maker of words), slanderer.
Adjective.
adjective does not differ in accidence from
§
10
the substantive: sg.
nom. ^*7 dagg
good,
(dii-),
ace. f^ll daggin, pi.
nom.
^-J'T-
dagg" oc
(-cc
§ 6),
is
kd-), bad,
\\^}1'
kif^oc (-cc
*!(."'/-'>
§ 6),
kif^^dccin.
(Eth.) pis. see vocabulary; all adj.
with these form the regular
There
(Ivii-,
h^'J- kffun,
ace. ^^'-I'l dagg^^occin.
For irregular
h^- kffu
pi.
as well.
no special form of the
adj.
for either
gender.
The The
definite
article
Article, j 'the'
is
expressed by the §11
suffixes sg.
m. f
pi.
-u, -i'|2
m. & f
1 i.e.
written -Oh after a voweP, -itu (-itu),
written -^l^ after a vowel,
-u.
after
any
class of letter
but sddis
(§
4a),
Amharic Grammar.
54
has
S.
sg.
-*?
f.
-wa.
All the above form the ace. in (!••>
house,
b^'et,
[§11
fl>'fc
b^^etu,
-'>
-n.
the house, ace. (Ll^^
b^etun.
1^
l^tD' g^etau, the master, ace.
o^eta, master,
1^(D*1
woman,
s^et,
rt.^"
ace.
gJ^etaun.
A.'t'fs'}
s^etitu (-Itu), the
ih't'}?
woman,
s^etitun (-itun).
b^ef^oc, houses, n.-f'^ b^et'^occu, the houses,
tt.'f'l'
ace. fl.'f^T' b^et^Occun.
horse,
d^^tl faras,
article
or to the
may be
+yerb
rel.
When
it is
nant, the form (gfiz
§
4a
attached to a noun sub. or adj.
(§ 14).
attached to a verb ending in a conso-fl^ is
of connecting the pron.
The f ending -^'' out the connecting a, and in
-Oh
§
12c).
-c (-cc
-t
or -*
E.g. f T*^'
§
suff.
takes -Oh with-
6)
G. -v^ -itu (itu).
After a verb ending in -u the
-^
by the vowel a
used, connected
mode
cp. the
;
9a),
(§
the mare, ace. d*Ci\Ji faraswan. faraswa, o o o o
S. <J.^0,
The
mare
art.
takes the form
-tu.
:
yam^dta, who died,
^*Pi'ah
1
fioh
:
yam'^otdu
(§
8) sau,
the
man who
died.
P'^aiC^
:
^'^atCf^Oh
yammiwwrd, that s
H'^il
:
(rel.)
yiimmiwwrdau
that descends. ^qo^'^f
:
yam^dtac,
who
(f ) died.
descends, zfnay, the rain
:
§
12,
§
12a]
Accidence.
fTi-'^Oh'}
woman f f"?^/!*^
rt?*^
who were fi'l^t^r'P'i
those P
/n«i3
who
(ace.) :
yam'^otaccyim
rt.^:
:
55 (§
6)
s^et,
died, G. -^'t'J -ccitun
vatagaddalut sau^oc, the
:
the
(-it-).
men
killed,
hf
:
::
yiitagaddalutun ayya, he saw
who were killed, T^m- K yamattutu ndccau, they
:
are those
who came. There
is
no form
for the indef art. in
Amharic.
The Pronoun. The Personal Pronoun.
The personal pronouns
are of two kinds, disjunc-
§
12
emphasizing and distinguishing forms), which stand alone, and conjunctive, which cannot stand tive (the
alone, but are suffixes attached to nouns, verbs, etc.
Disjunctive Personal Pronouns.
The
disjunctive personal pronouns are hi, in?e (§ 8),
sg. 1st
2nd m.
hl'l'
2nd f
h"}^ anci-, you.
3rd m.
TiCCh frsii
3rd f
?iCO, frsod
ht^
^
or
2
hTrh anc,
^
or hib
or
anta (-ta)\ you.
(§ S)^, (§
he,
it.
8)^ she,
it.
ant, (see vocab.)
fssii,
„
?»0. fssod.
„
(see vocab.),
of inanimate objects. ^
I.
which
is
generally used
§12a
:
Amharic Grammar.
56
tx^ fund
pi. 1st
(§ 8),
"kM^
3rd
"hCfi^Oh irsac(c)au-, they.
2nd
is
you, which
"kCCl?* frsa'^o^ (§ 8),
with the verb in the
The
8)\ you.
(§
form of address
polite
sg.
fllant
pi.
3rd
;
pi.
constr.
is
hA^^.
form of reference
polite
12a
we.
2nd
The
is TxCfi^fD',
the Ras, the Rases), with verb in
(e.g.
[§
he, they
pi. 3rd.
form the ace. in -l -n (§ 9c), may take the article (§11), and simple and composite prepositions (§ 47) may be constr. with them All the above
e.g.
"hVi
ao^'^
i
::
in^en mattaii, he
::
yan^en anta
(it)
struck
me,
myself ^^'i
h9^tn
:
(some
of)
h9°'^
f iflj-'}
!
^I'i'
pC
i
mine
:
;:
(f
+X=f
:
1
7a).
§
tanta gar, with you
:
from
bring one of
yan^eun anta, bring mine.
ACA- W»- K larsu nau,
n? ;^^
Id),
(§
it's
for
(i*
+ K = ;^
§
7a).
him ( A + ?i = A
7a).
§
baiind tac, beneath us (as distinguished
:
others).
or MTr-i- illanta
(-ta),
Mt^'
(i)nnant
which
is
(--h -ta, -ta),
S.V. KV-. 2
or
M^ah
issdc(c)au,
generally used of
inanimate objects, or 3
MCd'
or XCAJP
fss'^6
;
(i)nnarsu (-na), ^VA* (i)nnassu (-na-),
:
[?iCA]
frs 6,
hfl?"
in S. also used as pol.
issa o,
htlP
-.
s.v.
[hA]
form of reference.
§
12^
Accidence.
M'i^'i Y\^d,^nT* :
::
5t
you
illaiitin alfalligim,
(pi.) I
don't want.
f V^'^^'l^
yiinnantaitu
«i"'lh ::
:
"
(pi).
"hCfi^Oi*!
i
^»f "V-
::
(§
8) nat,
she
is
yours
_ them
irsdccaun ayyitu^,
I
have
seen.
Personal Pronouns conjunctive
tvith
Nouns.
§
The personal pronouns conjunctive with nouns, other pronouns (§§ 16 19), and some adverbs, render-
—
ing the suffixes
possessive
or
the following
are
genitive,
:
sg. 1st
after a
->e,
2nd m.
-U -h^
2nd f
-*rt
2nd
voweP
-f»
-ye
(-ie, ^e)-^,
my. your.
your.
-s,
pol. -a?' -a''o*, after
a vowel
3rd m.
-u,
after a vowel -Oh
3rd f
-
-wa
-9* -""o,
your. his, its.
-u,
her,
(-5a),
-a^'J -ac(c)in,
pi. 1st
2nd and^pl. 3rd
our.
your.
-aT•^^ -dc(c)ihu (-dc(c)yuh
§
^'^'^
their (his, pol.)
-^6(6)3^,
Id),
J
These ^
i.e.
all
after
its.
form the
any
ace. in -7 -n.
class of letter
^
or -f
3
or
--fi
-X (-h), -h -k
*
or
-9*
-wo (-^o)
but sddis
-yii (-^ii).
;
(§ 7r/).
S. also sg.
3rd pol.
(§
4a).
125
)
:
Ainharic Grammar.
58
When
-0 or
-7i
are attached to sddis
unless they have a further
These (a) to
suflf.
[§12& (§
4a)
it
has
i,
suff.
are attached as follows
a consonant
:
fl»^ b^'et,
house.
my
fl.'t
house,
your (m.) your
(f
your
(pol.)
his
her
(its)
(its)
our n.;^'^i>
b''etac(c)ihu (-c(c)yuh),
your
^t;^^fl^
b^etac(c)au,
their
(pi.) (his, pol.)
Accidence.
§12&] ()S)
to -a
1^ g^eta,
:
59
master.
^;^p.
g^etai^e (-a^'e)^
my
1^{)
gJetah,
your (m.)
^;^7I
g^etas,
your
(f.)
^;^Jp
gyetd^\
your
(pol.)
^;^a^
g^etau,
his (its)
l;f-
gyetdua\
her
^^:f -J
gyetdc(c)in (a
^;^^l^ g^etac(c)ihu
+a=a
§
(-c(c)yuh),
fl^'A" bdql''o,
„
(its)
our
7a),
l;l-^fl)- g5etac(c)au,
(y) to ^'o:
master.
your
(pi.)
their
(his, pol.) „
„
mule.
n4»/t-P-
baql^Si>e (-1^6^)2,
my
n^'/t-U
bdql'^oh,
your (m.)
n4*/V"7i
baql'^^os,
your
(f.)
n^A-JP
baql^d^o
your
(pol.)
n4'A"flH
bdql^'oii,
his (its)
n4'A"'P
baql^^dua'^
her
n4*{y,'f^
baql5ac(c)in,
our
(-1^6)2,
mule.
„
(its)
„
n4'0u^'^ baql6dc(c)ihu (-c(c)yuh),
your
(pi.)
n4»0L^iii- baqloac(c)au,
their
(his, pol.) „
1
fin.
matta,
(§ 8),
but conn, g^eta^e
my master
has come.
:
^^f"
i
<w>«l «
„
g^eta^e
Similarly, conn, g^eta^o,
g^'etaua. 2
fin.
(§
8)
;
conn, baql^oye, baql^o, bdql^oua.
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
60
12c
[§
The genders and numbers given above
refer to the
possessor, not to the object qualified: 9°t\^\) mistih,
e.g.
flATl
»'
'
fl4*A"^ baql^^occ^^e,
With
wife,
vour husband.
balls, o
your
my
mules.
adv.
a^^'^l
bataccdc(c)in,
guished from
e.g.
beneath us
above
us).
Personal Pronouns conjunctive
12c
(as distin-
Verbs.
loith
The personal pronouns conjunctive with verbs \ rendering the dative and accusative, are the following
used as infixes
suffixes, also
connecting vowel
-^
sg. 1st
-fi
to me, me.
(-nil § 6),
-U -h^
to you, you.
2nd f
-7i -s,
to you, you.
i
2nd
-P
to you, you.
a and none
pol.
^
J
o„j 3ra
-^o^,
-^
-u, -t
I.
after
o, u,
2nd
^
none
„
i^^ne
\
'i\
a
to us, us. ,
-.^.^ .ac(c)au "
also with
IxW or
6)^
fl-,
q.v.
-P^'lh
-''ot;
A-,
*^ *^^^"^' ^^^^^ to him (him, pol.)
when joined -
OY-'^
S. also sg.
(ii)
none none
'
'
to a verb
(§
47a)
;
also
-X, -k, (§ 7^/).
3rd pol.
(a)
a
r
-ad(c)ihu ) you. vyv, / \ ^°^ ,, I to you, ^ '^ (-ac(c)yuh §7^),j
3rd pol.) 3rd j
with
§
-a*'l'i>
pi.
^
]
to her. her. (to)
-> -n (-nn
and a
]
„
,.
'i
pi. 1st
^
-x -^x it, it).
^a- -at, ^+ -aT
/»
i
to him, him, (to
-fl>-
„
&
(a)
2nd m.
o 3rd m.
sg.
a
^
or
->
-una.
:
§
Accidence.
12c]
These (§
61
,
suff.
are attached to
34) except the infin.
the
given in
suff.
The
|^
and
all
parts of the verb
part, which, as nouns, take
Vlh.
connecting- vowel joins
them
to a verb ending
in a consonant.
They are inserted between the verb and the aux. }\ii
(§
32) or another
suff.,
such as the neg.
(§37).
E.g.: (a) after
a consonant fj,li1C
je.'>9^'^
yingar
(iir), let
him
tell.
suff.
-9^
Amharic Grammar.
62 /iV*7Ci'f
A
}1nagrisal,
[§
he
tells
you
(f.)
(pol.)
ff.hmjPYx^
yinagra^aP,
„
„
you
J&V*7^'PA
jdnagraual,
„
,,
him.
JlV*7^;^A
yinagratal,
„
„
her.
^YllS^
yinagrannal,
„
„
us.
^**7^^AA
yinagi'dc(c)ihwal) "
"
(-c(c)yuhal)
J&i*7^^'PA
f
yinagrdc(c)aual,
„
12c
vou (dH ^^""^P'-^
them
„
(him,
pol.)
h^'i*lC9" ainagrim, he will (does) not
h^^*1^^9° ainagraiinim
(-ra-),
he will not
tell.
tell
me.
^j&i*7C01^ ainagr(i)him2,
„
„
you(m.)
hje,i*7C7!9" ainagrisim,
„
„
you(f.)
h^'ind9*9° alnagra^m^,
„
„
you
h^'i*l^(D'9° ainagraum,
„
„
him.
h^'i*1^^9° ainagratim,
„
„
her.
„
„
us.
h^'i1^'^V'9° ainagrdc(c)ihum,
„
„
you
h^'i*l^^ai*9° ainagrdc(c)aum,
„
„
them
h^'i'*ld'i9^
ainagrannim
(-ra-)^,
(pol.)
(pi.)
(him,
pol.)
1
or ^?';^A ra^otal, C?';^A
2
or fl9° -xim.
3
or *lC?*^r*
^
or -V9" -nnam.
:
:
[
C;^A]
[na^'9^] -gr^otim.
r^^otal.
:
§
Accidence.
12c] (13)
sg.
always
ending -"^ -c (-cc § the connecting vowel,
after the
3rd f
;
i (i
Am^U
6) if
of the simp. perf.
there
is
y)
rtm^
rtm^^
63
sattaccin,
sattac,
she gave. she gave me.
one,
is
:
Amharic Grammar,
64
Y\M1^9^
alnaofofaram,
[§12c
he did not
tell.
h^lh^^^ alnao^orarannim (-ra-),he did not tell me. Y\M'\dM9° alnaggarahim^
„
„
you
(m.)
h^h1^'^9° alnaggarasim,
„
„
you
(f.)
hAV7
„
„
you
(pol.)
Y\^'i1d.ah9^ alnao^garaum,
„
„
him.
hMl^^T*
„
„
her.
„
„
us.
hMll-'^0'9° alnaggardc(c)ihum,
,,
„
hMl^^a}*9° alnaggarac(c)aum,
„
„
alnaggaratim,
hMld'i9^ alnaggarannim
(-ra-)-^,
you
.
(pi.)
them
(him.
pol.) (8) after -u (kaiy)
naggaru, they told.
Vl4-
naoro^arun,
they told me.
naggaruh,
„
you
(m.)
naggarus,
you
(f.)
nagsraru'^o
you
(pol.)
naggarut,
him.
naggarwat,
her. us.
11^^'U-
naggarwac(c)yuh
you
Vl^^fl>-
naggarwdc(c)au,
them
1
or -fir* -xjm.
2
or
^
or -V9" -nnam. o
*
or
^
or VK-V naggarunna.
-/.fP-lhJ'"
-ra^otim. o o .
"iK'f^'lr
naggaru^ot.
(pi.)
(him, pol.)
:
Accidence.
12c]
(e)
65
after -t (sdlis) -n-VV*?^ bittinagri, if
you
(f.) tell.
-n^h^m^
bittinagTiii (in),
•fl'ThV*7<{fl»-
bittinagryu,
„
„
him.
'n'>V*7r:^^
bittinagryat,
„
„
her.
'd^'ildl
bittinagrin
(-in)i,
„
„
us.
-fl'>i*7C^^
„
„
them.
(0 after
if
you
(f ) tell
me.
:
Amharic Grammar.
G6 (t))
[§12c
after -^e (hamis)
rtT^-^Aii- saticcyallau^' or [
= rtT^ ^Al^ :
:
rtT^Aih saticcalIau^ I
§ 32rt],
have given.
AT^yAiH
saticc^ehallau^^ I have given to
you
(m.)
rt'P^^Ai>
saticc^esaliau^,
„
„
you
(f.)
AT^P^Al^
saticc^e^odllau^2^
„
„
you
(pol.)
rt'P^*PAl^
saticc^'ewallau'\
„
„
him.
„
„
her.
AT^^;^AiI' saticcyatallau^^,
rtT^^-f :5tAih saticcyac(c)yu-
^
you
(i*f^'^^''^t^(ii)n
saticcyac(c)aual-)
lau^^ {d) after
^*7(^?A 'incvfi^
them (him, pol.)
)
-^o (sdyi):
V^^A
:
[i*7C?>t
A :]
nagr^^onnal,
(pi.)
"
hdllSi^*(§7c/)J
nagrSal, he has told.
he has told me.
§
Accidence.
13«]
67
The Demonstrative Pronoun.
The demonstrative pronouns nom. m.
sg.
f ace.
m. f.
nom.
pi.
^U
yfhe
(yili,
near objects
are, for
yahe)^
§13a :
this, that,
J2.0^ yihic (cc) or je.^ yic (yicc)2, .fcU*}
yihiin (-nn
§
6)
or
^UV^ yihannan,
je.^'J yiccin,
?i^lLU (i)nnazzlh (-az-, -fh
;
§
or KiO
8)^
(ijunyih'ils), ace.
(i)nnazzihin
?iVll,U'>
(-az-,
-fh-),
hMl
(i)nn>ehin.
For distant or absent objects sg.
nom. m. f.
ace.
m. f.
pi.
nom.
^
ya, that, that other,
,?*-!•
jfi
yac
(-cc),
yan or ^V)
MlL^
(i)nnazzya
"MlU^Tr (i)nnazzyan (-az-
also written ^Ti
^
§ 7c?
-
G. "M^f' Ihicc
3
or hiitlV illazzih
*
^
or ?iA.O ilPeh,
§8)^ or Ki^
(-dz-;
(§ 8),
(i)nny§:n
;
yanniin,
^-T-7 yaccin.
(i)nnya ace.
:
;
§ 8),
or hi.^'i
(§ 8).
;
G.
M iWe.
(-ice), ^icc, ice.
(-^z-, -ih
?»5:U
or XAH.^ illazzya
;
§ 8).
(i)nnih (-fh
(-az-),
;
§ 8),
hi^V
fllih (-fh).
?iA.^ fUyS.
5—2
;
Amharic Grammar.
68
[§ ISot
After prefixes
becomes
-H,U
-zzih (zi-).
„
-»t^
-zzic (-cc).
y
,,
-H.^
-zzya^.
^^
„
It^^
-zzyac
J&U
^0^
(-cc).
[P]ai-^U?fl>- (ya)w&;dihfnndu (-dih-
the nearer
§ 8),
;
(of two), nearest (of several),
(ya)w6>dydiinau
[f ]aij?:^?fl>-
(-wda-
S.
§ 8),
;
the
further (of two), furthest (of several) in these forms -ah
All the above
inflected like the article (§11).
is
refer
animate
to
or inanimate
and may be used substantivally or
objects,
adjectiv-
ally.
fE.g.
may be prefixed to its noun. ^U j&flj^A « yfhe yiyaqal, this
^^
:
9"ti'P
:
T^
yacci
::
(§
enough.
is
:
7d) mistu nat, this
is
(that's) his wife.
JiU
:
^H'b ^"J
:
d,dll
yihe faras, this horse, that (near) horse.
:
ydzaf, that (distant) tree.
:
H*b
:
M''^d.may'
yan zaf
«
cut that other tree
down
were speaking about, hil)
oDrnGrh
:
f'^'i
:
:
attiqwiiratau, don't
we
(that tree
saw,
etc.).
T'Tfl^
::
nn>eh
matdf^^oc o •
yiimdn ndccau?, whose are these books?
Mnj)
:
je.nA^rt-
nazzya 1
(§
7a),
but '^^ tdya
in or
on that
:
(§
:
-t^nj
•.-.
these are 8)
there.
nnazzih
yiyaltiillu
more than those
or -Mi.^ tazzyS
(§ 8),
tan-
(others).
from, than,
:
Accidence,
§136] silazzfh
tliiUj)
:
f H,^
rt,^
:
iskazzya
?»fthH,^
:
JiO
AA
:
JiYf
i'H,^
:
because of this, therefore.
(§ 8),
yazzfcci
:
7d)
(§
(§ 8), ::
69
s^et,
of this woman.
as far as that,
up
to there.
yihe yissalal tazzya, this
is
better than that other.
f a)-?.U?(»(-est)
:
<^.^ft
:
yawwdihiiiiiau faras, the nearer
of those horses.
f iDj^'^^^'fs further
:
V'V
(-est)
:
yawcudyaiin(4itu nat, she is the
of those.
The demonstrative see
!
tive
particle
'V-
na-
look
(na-),
!,
(not found alone), takes the pers. suff. conjunc-
with
verbs
and expresses the present
(§ 126'),
tense of the verb 'to be
'
(§
V^
nJin (nai
2nd m.
VU
nah
2nd
f.
iTi
2nd
pol. ^fP
sg. 1st
§
40) I
7d),
am.
you
are.
nils,
you
are.
ntf^o,
you
are.
(niih),
3rd m.
"lOh
nau,
he
3rd f
V->
nat,
she
V}
nan,
we
pi. 1st
2nd
V^-i^ nac(c)ihu (nac(c)yuh),
3rd
^'foh nac(c)au,
(it) is. (it) is.
are.
you
they are, he
are. (pol.)
is.
8)
and
cause a preceding word to be accented on the
last
The monosyllables above are syllable.
enclitics
(§
§
isb
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
70 E.g.
lA V^ M'\r fi
*^'J
:
:
^'^'i'
VU
nan,
it is I.
anta
::^
yan^e nau,
>!»• M
:
l^h
i
in^ e
::
I
:
*i"V
[§14
man nah who
it's
mine.
ras diilind ndccau
::
are you ?
?,
?,
the Ras
is
well?
The Relative Pronoun.
14
The a verb
which is always prefixed to numbers, genders, cases and
relative pronoun, (§
34),
is,
for all
persons f- ya- pref. to simp. perf. oao tflo ^9^-
yamm-
imm-
i\9^-
^
yammiand o
"hf^-
•/
if
vovvel.
he
is
t,
yalla
there
(§
^
^«''§«2.
immibefore a cono o
take
he who
7a),
is
tt,
§
5)
"hT*- is
and the making
is,
f-,
;
neg.
present, that which
is,
f A.A yiiP^Ua, he ^/Z,>^A ydidiil is
who, which, what
present, there
is
39), hf!.?'^T (§ 40)
(§
^A
,
^
becomes
sonant (which,
hti alia (§32),
^
1
mm(i)- after a
eA9"
25),
prei. to
°
cont.(§26) fl^- is
(§
•
or
(§
who
la,
(that which)
-11 § 6),
is
absent,
he who (that which)
not.
The neg. pref ^A- al- (§ 37) comes between the rel. and the verb. The relative refers to animate and inanimate objects.
The antecedent, ^
if
expressed, usually follows the
also written '^VU
r.
mdimiih ?
:
§
Accidence.
14]
verb to which the relative
cedent
expressed the
is
no anteimplies one of any numattached.
is
rel.
Tl
If
ber, gender, case or person, according, if
nom., to that of the verb to whicli
The
take the -1 -n of the ace. E.g. ^aotn
fan")
rto^
:
^oDfRV
he who (that which) came.
yjimatta,
J
yiimatta
:
man who
a
came.
yamminnimata, we who are coming.
^9°TfaDfU
;
^*^aofi]
rtfl>-
:
8) sau,
(§
you who came.
yjimattrdi,
:
in the
it is
attached.
tantamount to a noun, may (§ 9c) and the article (§ 11)^
verb, being
rel. -h
it is
:
yjimmimata
7a
(§
;
§
8) sau,
man who
a
coming.
is
f iP*'"l'/w>m'
::
hCfb
:
:
Vfl)*
yammittmatu, you 'h'%00^
who
(pi.)
nau nnnimata, o o o
a irsil o
•
'
are coming.
he who
it is
coming.
is
h'i'V
:
ifl>-
"htT'l'iiD^
:
::
anta nau mmittmata
?,
is
it
you who are coming ?
^A
:
jifl.'^A
::
f *^A<<.A7a>-
:
ydllii yiyaqill, d.i^ti
::
what there
vammalfallijj:au
(S
is is
enough.
7a) faras, the
horse which I do not want.
^
Occasionally, especially in G.
-^o'lF' (§
9h) of the rel.
^tKF''''f'
who
:
T'HtD-
::
+ verb
those
s
^H'tD'
who are
hadu ndccau.
pi.
in
heard
yahad'' oc ndccau, they are those
went, = f rh.-?-
^'^^fh.F-i'
is
and Wallo, a
::
.-
'i'l-Oh
::
yahadu n^ccau.
yiimmihad'^ oc ndccau, they are going,
=
f^rh.-S-
:
Wii>-
«
yammi-
:
Amharic Grammar.
72 ^ao"\'i
A»f U
:
yamattan dyyah ?, have you seen who
:;
came?
(what) ^aoftxah
:
rtoH
^aoftXahl
yamattau sau, the
:
fioh
s
h^Uoh
:
have you seen the yti'i
t
::
P^wJAV^
who
yamattut
:
&^Ci^
i
:
T^flH
::
came. ?,
man who came ?
yjimattu, they
i
man who
yitmattaun sau ayyahau
tiav^ a ydllan sftan, give
^ao(n-
[§15
me what
there
is.
(those which) came.
the horses which
faras'^'oc,
came. f rfwi/iv-'t
who
(which) came.
f'T!.<w>m«'f3'3'
:
seen those ^Afl^'J
:
know he
h^l)
::
who
Mat'^9°
who
(a)
yammimatutun ayyah?, have you
(which) are coming «
?
yallabbatin alduuqim, I don't
(what)
is
in
it, (/8)
the place in which
(it) is.
^A^fl't't is
yiimattutu ndccau, they are those
in
:
rt.^
:
yallaccibbatitu s^et, the
woman who
it.
The Interrogative Pronoun. §
15
The
interrogative pronouns are,
referring to persons sg.
pi.
nom.
*^'>
ace.
'^^'i
nom.
'H'i
man
(-nn
§
6)
?,
who ?,
mdnnan?,
man
(-nn §6)?, or
KWJ
(i)nndman?^
(-nn§6;§8), ace.
'^V'J
mdnnan?, or
or hii^^'i illdmdn
?
M'^'i'i
(-nn
§
(i)nnamdnnan ?
6
;
§
8)
:
§
:
Accidence.
15]
7B
Referring to inanimate^ objects: sg.
nom. &
pi.
nom.
rT'T-
ace.
9"^^'J min'^dccin? o o
may
9"^
ace. 9"'i niin?, what?,
take the m.
conjunctive with nouns
art. (§11),
(-cc
§ 6),
and the
pers. suff.
126).
(§
sg.
nom. &
pi.
nom.
9^'i^C'l' mindir^^oc?^ (-cc
ace.
9^'i^'G'1''i
A
them with the pi.
take the m.
and
'^'>
of
pi.
mindir?^ what
ace. 9°'i^C
may
9^'i^C
mindir^'Occin? o o o
also
formed by repeating
-nna = and
man(nin)n§;man ?* (nn
^'i'7'^'i
ace.
'^IV'^V^ man(nin)namanniin?^
nom.
&
these forms
with a
pi.
sg.
I
rt
9^'i
i
IfiV a
::
§ 8),
who?,
-^
substantivally
may be
constr.
verb.
also to animals IT"}
;
mininndmin?, what?; O O O
ace. 9^'i'i9°'}
when used
or
§ 6),
art. (§11).
9^"} is
conj. -^
?,
nom.
pi. JT
^
mm^oc?
and occasionally to persons
mill sau o o
what
?,'
man ?
min h^' onh ?, what is the matter with o (lit. what have you become ?).
you ?
'
h^dnac ?, mindin o o what has become of (happened to) the mare ?
d,4:fL'f'
:
9"'i^''i '^
:
irV^-
::
farasitu o o o
2
or 9^'H^'i mjnf^n
3
or r'Jj^.-cr'T-mindirn^^oc?, ^"^^T-lf-mfndinn^oc?,
?
(-nn
§ 6).
(-cc§6). ^
The
-nin- is
dropped
in rapid speech.
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
74
[§15
Referring to animate and inanimate objects sg.
*^^^ah mannac(c)au?\ which?
m. nom.
or more), f.
nom.
(of
two
ace. -^ahTt -ccaun,
^n^-f^-i' mannac(c)'^oitu
ace.
?,
-*^
-tun,
nom.
pi.
mannac(c)au^oc
'^V^JP'T-
-cc'' o'^^oc
sg.
m. nom.
f-l^
;
-cc
(-^?*'^
?2
ace. -^'} -ccin.
§ 6),
yetu?l which? (of two or more), ace. -'Pt -tun,
f.
pi.
1
nom. nom.
f-;!:
ace. -rf} -twan, -'I^T'
-tun.
or '^'i^^ah mannilldccau?, f '^'JA^J&'t mannillacc'^oitu
^
yetwa?^
hJiii (i)nn^etu?^, ace.
or
^'i^^
?,
etc.
mannacc'^occu
'^'JA^¥
?,
mannillac-
c^'occu?, ace. -^'i -ccun,
or *^*r^^a>-
mann" occdccau ?, o '
^It^p^^Oh mannill^'occaccau?, O *^^^^ah' mannaccdccau ?, o <»7'>^^jfJflj,
mannillaccdccau?,
*^V^^^fl>« mannacc'' occaccau
?,
1'i'i¥^'f(D' mannillacc''occdccau?, all
with ace.
-^at'lr -ccaun. o
^
also written f 1^ etc., G.
^
or f -t;/: vetitwa
^
or
?
O'l:
(-tit-).
hatu ? o G.
U^i: hatitu
?,
U^
hatwa ? o ?»&•?•*'?•
(i)nn> et'V)c
?
(-cc;
--f ^•'> -t^^occin (--f ^'>
G.
O-f-'f
hdt^T)c?
(-cc),
?iV(;'|5 (i)nnahdtu? \Q' ft ft
ace.
-•f''^
-f'Occu),
-t^^occun) -f-'-l-'i
-t^^occin,
ace. -*'> -tun.
or
ace.
§
Accidence.
15]
yetffinau?!
f-'V^flJ-
of which
sint
how much
?,
and usually
is indecl.,
which?, what kind
(§ 8),
of?,
inflected like the art. (§11)^.
-at* is
hl^
75
sometimes with the
how many
?,
?,
constr. with a sg.
noun or
verb,
pi.
All the above are used substantivally or adjectivally,
except ri^'C,
^-if;"!-}
and ri^ri, which are
only used substantivally. E.g. *^'>
:
*^*i'Ti
A'^'J
man nau
::
Kf U
I
:
rtrnii
:
iiOh
:
lamdn
::
Va^
?iVT>
man :
:
I
V'-f U-
*^'J
:
hdr
'^'JV^'J
::
::
:
man .
.
.
is it
!
l'"^
I
?
::
man
sdu nau
that will do
it
?
mmya(who
is
?).
nnamdu O
ndccau?, O
who are they? ''
?,
mfinninnaman
::
Y\^\)
AA a min ^A « min
(S 8)
matta
?
(or
who have come? ::
mfinninnfimannan ayyiih
persons did you see l^**
whom did you see whom did you give
man naccyuh ?, who are you (pi.) ? mann <411u who are present ?
<w>m- mdttu),
"ll^^n'il
?
::
twi'n
:
sattiih?,
Hx'X^^S^lOh
that
'i'f•fl^
It
is it
?
dargau ?, what the
who
\
?
mtinnan ayyiih ?,
::
(them) to
it
*iah
dlla
dla?,
what
?
what
?,
?,
is
there ?
what did he say? *'
^
also written f '"b^a^
G. OY'^Oh h|tfnnau? 2
(-cc) ^
it ?,
may be dropped ace.
-^'If'T'
also written
(§ 8).
in the pi. f^'?^' yetiiifioc
-iiiiOccin.
'^^flJ-.
:
Amliaric Grammar.
76
Tl
•7H.
:
A9"«)a>-
:
time shall ftU *^
Ai T*% :
:
use 9^'h'i
:
::
gizJ e
lantau ?
(§
A9"«l
::
::
9°lf^C
:
hah
l^'Jj^^ *^
:
>nc
9^1i^l
i
Y\^\}
vihe lan^e min^e nau o O o o
mhum idnta?. mindir
mmdin o o
::
shall I bring?
nau ?, what
8)
(§
what
is it
:
'
ri^ri ^nn « -.
:
ligza
things shall I ^^ii
.
?,
I
am
<{.^ft
:
^flj,
gavaia ihaddllau^
going to market
..
yamanndccau
:
?
which horse?
?, ^
^'^^^'P n4»A- T^ mannacc^'Stu yaql"6 nat?, which (she-) mule is it? :
P»i3
f i^
^nc
:
rtfl^
:
f f ;!:
:
::
:
yetu nabbar
::
VrtC
:
rt.^
::
Ajf
:
?,
which was
it
:
:
ifl>-
::
yayetwd (§8)
:
which f^*ffl>-
:
is
his
d^dtl
:
(§
8)
?
yetu sau nabbar?, which man was it ? s^et
which woman's child is it? P»^^a^ i(D* « b^etu yetinnau
flfi^
what
47a) faras
(§
is it
mannillaccau faras o o o o
:
what ob-
?,
buy ?
nau ?, which man's horse
I'i^i^ah
?
nabbar?, what was it? o o
::
7n^ "kih^f^h-^ mininndmin
(§ 8)
what
?,
mindin ayyiih ?, what have you seen?
'.'.
:
.
what
me?
Tl^'CH'l h^D mindir^^ occin ayyah jects did you see?
f *^T^flH
Id),
«/
this to
is
mm
1^
bring it?
I
^flH
:
::
[§
(§
li j
nau ?,
8)
nau ?,
house? yetiiinau
(§
8) faras?,
which horse?,
what kind of horse ? ft'J'lh
:
hii
fllf^
i
hfir
ft'J'Th
:
T>H'fl
::
'.'.
how much is there ? sint flllu ?, how many are there ? Vnc sint ganzav nabbar ?, how much
alia sint o
:
money was
?,'
::
there
?
:
:
;
;
:
Accidence.
§16] ixl^
:
ft'J'li*
ao"\
:
sint faras o
::
o
<^
:
many
£w>/n«
:
o
77
matta o •
•
?,'
or
faras'^oc mattu?,
sint
::
horses have
!
how
come?
what kind of?, is generally used as an intensive adv., how! 9^1 may also be used in this way (§ 77 s.v. KhA)
9^1i^ miuinna?, prop,
;
e.g.
T'Vi
7"^
:
hah
he
foolish
9^1 ^A4» :
:
:
nau
m^'oiini
!,
how
is!
VoH
The
The
minififia
::
indefinite
::
min
nau
tillfq
Indefinite
pronouns
how
!,
big- it is
Pronoun.
are,
§
referring to animate objects sg.
nom.
mdnnim (-mm
«^'>jr*
§ 6),
some(-body), any
(-body), ace. pi.
*^'ili9^
mdnniinim (-mm),
nom. ?iV*^^9" (i)nnamdnnim (mm), ace.
'ix*i*^'il9^
(i)nnamdnmtnim (-mm). Vq' o o \
/
Referring to persons sg.
pi.
nom.
'hl'l'l (i)ntan
ace.
?i>f-'>7 (pntanin^,
nom.
h-JI-^r^'-
ace.
hl'l-'x'^'i (i)ntan^^6ccin
these forms
Ki^
may
(f)ntan^^oc
take the
or
2
or hl^-i (i)nt^^on.
^
or hV'H"'} (i)nnantan
(f)nt^^'o,
(-tii-;
(-tii-)
art. (§11).
(-an),
with
Vil'Vll (i)nnantanin, with this pi. is also
-cc §6)^,
M^l (f)nt^^'on.
1
ace.
(-an)\ what's-his-name,
art. ->- -nu,
art. -'hi
-nun
used of inanimate objects.
16
:
:
Amharic Grammm'.
78 sg.
pi.
[§
1^
nom. hid* igaPe^, so-and-so, ace.
"hlt^l igal^en,
nom.
?iVlA» (i)nnagal5^e^,
ace.
?iV7A»^ (i)nnao:aPen. ~ \
o
o
o
Referring to inanimate objects sg.
nom. &
ace. T*'^9^ uiivimi 9°'i9^'}
„
„
nom. &
pi.
nom.
KW'T^
ace.
?i'>'V'?*'f^
ace.
may
§ 6),
anything,
minimmin, anvthinar at
all.
M^l {i)i\im, what's-its-name,
sg.
these forms
(-mm
(i)ntin^^oc (-cc
§
6) 3,
(i)ntin^5ccin;
take the
art. (§11).
Referring to animate or inanimate objects sg.
nom.
*^'i'^ah9° (-body),
ace.
ace.
some
mannacc^' occim (mm),
*n'i¥^'}9° mannacc''6ccinim (-mm). o o \
The
§ 6)^,
1^^(D'19^ mannaccaunnim (-mm),
nom. '^T^'f 9"
pi.
mannac(c)aum (-mm any(-body), one of the,
pi.
of this form
is
/
constr. with a sg. or pi.
noun.
^
G. PhA. yiikaPe, ace.
t
-n;
P- (q.v.)
is
after a prp. 2
G. JiS'hA* (i)nnakal^e, ace. -1
^
or nom.
^
or '^l'\'\'ah9° m{lnnillac(c)aum (-mm),
&
ace.
Ml^'i
-n.
(i)nfntin. etc.
dropped
;
Accidence.
16] sg.
nom. &
hlfrl- anddc (-cc
ace.
(-body) sg.
nom.
sg.
;
one of
;
h'i^-l'Oh'}
nom, &
any (-body)
;
§
;
§
8)\
some
one of the.
some
andac(c)au^,
>i'J^'7-fl>-
(-body) ace.
79
(-body);
any
the,
anddc(c)aun.
andand
ace. hlfi'tfii'
some, a few,
(§ 8),
several, pi.
sg.
nom.
hlHlrF''^' andclnd^^oc (-cc
ace.
h'ifi'iP''''f'i
nom.
h^ii*
andand'' Occin. o
ayydPe\ several; much, a good deal, many what a lot how many
a great
pi.
;
!,
ace.
h^Ci*! ayydPen,
nom.
K^A"'T' ayydl''oc (-cc
ace.
h^ti^'-'t'lr
I
§ 6),
ayyal''6ccin.
h^l[» is constr. with
sg.
nom. &
pi.
nom.
A.A"^'* l^l^'oc (-cc §
ace.
A»A"^'''} lel^'occin
a
sg.
or
pi.
noun.
ace. A.A lela, other, another, different,
o
with the
§ 6),
(5),
'
art. (§ 11), A.Afl^ lelau,
^
or h'iH'^9° anddccim (-mm
2
or
h'i^'fi'l'Ot'
h'ifi'l''ah9^
the other.
§ 6).
andilldc(c)au, ace.
anddc(c)aum
--f^fl^'J
(mm),
-c(c)aun,
ace.
-^ahlf^
-c(c)aunnim (-mm), h'>j^-A^flM^ andilldc(c)aum (-mm), ace. -^ahl9^
-c(c)aunnim (-mm). 3
or
h^A
ay>^dl (§ 8).
;
Amharic Grammar.
80 ihA- hull-,
every,
all,
with the pers.
may
it
with -u
1
may be
addition to Avhich
2h), in §
6)
noun;
constr. with pi.
generally follows a
it
Of the
suff. (§
take -9" -m (-mm
it
[§16
noun
it
qualifies.
above,
hl-t-l, JilA,, 9"^9",
nri, M^l
are used sub-
stantivally,
used
Y\^ti» is
and the hlflrty
adjectivally,
rest are
MWtB*
used in either way.
and the forms
in -9" are generally
(Tli9°, *r'i9^'} always) followed (§ 37),
which drops
its
own
by a neg. verb
final -9", if
the pron.
give
to some-
has one. E.g. ti*n'i9°
s
ftT
::
lamannim
(§
8) sit,
it
body. <^'>9"
:
fA
mdnuimm
yalla (-mm^ alia
d,^l\
:
horse
is
i
h&tKH: •^
to go,
(lit.
mdnnim o
:'.
any horse
KAPU mdmianimm see anybody ?
'^V'J?"
:
9^'i9^
?iAf l^
i
§
7d), there
anybody.
isn't
^'i9°
::
::
::
mmimm
faras oo
aihid,
oo
no
let-it-not-go).
alayyiih?, didn't
you
alayyau^, I didn't see any-
thing. 9°'}9"'i
'.
hMdC
'.'.
minfmmin
wasn't anything at Ji'i^'i (e.g.
:
h9"^
::
alnabbiir,
it
(there)
all.
ntiu dnta, fetch a what's-its-name,
something for the name of which one does
not know the Amharic).
Accidence.
16]
A7A.
fIT
:
give
sit,
lagdl^c
::
give
Yvth'?
:
la)
G. AhA.
sit,
:
AT
«
lakaPe
(them) to so-and-so.
it
ii'*^^^ah9°
(§
81
::
lamanndccaumm o o
attist, • o
don't
(them) to anyone (of them).
it
mannillaccdunnimm alayy^^ didn't see anyone (of them).
*^'}A^iD-'}jP I
fiAf l^ K
:
'^iK^'^ir
<«.^A'^
:
[or ^^.h
:
KAf ih
:1
mannillac-
::
c^Occinim fdras^'occ (or faras) alayyau^,
I didn't
see any of the horses.
ti'^^^ah9^
I
h'ifi'^
^%'fihC
give
(§ 8) sit,
h'i?ih9°
s
htfi'^9°
/lAf l^
I
:
At
k
lamanndccaumm askar o o
it
(them) to one of the servants.
;:
anddcc alayyahum, or
::
anddccimm
alayyau^, I didn't see
any.
ht^^aht y^'ifi^ah'i
T<{«
:
anddccaun o
::
KdhC T^
s
:
::
fra, call
o
'
anddccaun
one of them.
flskar tfra, call
one of the servants. htfi'if!!:
J
AoH
hl^Trj^
s
h^ih
hl^l^'^ women.
anddnd
:
a
:
ayydPe
K^
?i^A.
I
rt?*^
:
'i^tD*
are a good
I
andfind^'oc
«
rt.'f'f
:
a few people.
andand dyyau^,
I
h^A.
sau,
fqa,
::
saw some. s^et^oc,
several
a good deal of baggage.
ayydPe sau'^Oc
many men, what
naccaii,
they
men
there
a lot of
are! A»A
:
T^
A.Aoi-'} AM. GR.
I
::
lela tfra, call another.
T^ a
lelaun
tfra, call
the other. 6
Amharic
82 A.A
:
s
M^^ «
Graiimniiar.
faras
lela
[§16
me
asayyan, show
another horse. i^\ai*l
i.Cl\
:
hJ^'H
:
::
lelaun faras anta
(§ 7f/),
bring
the other horse. U-A-
:
l^/V•f"
fU
s
of
hiillu, all
it.
hiillum, everything.
:
l^/V'
h(B*
:
vihe hullu nau, this
::
is all.
tahullumm aarar nau, O o o everywhere, (in every part of the country).
'\r\ht^^
:
?ilC
hah
:
::
it
is
'
l^A•^
hA<(.A*7jr»
:
;:
hullun alfalligim, I don't want
::
hullummm alfallisr, I don't want
it all.
l^/V-'>l^
hA
:
any of it. ihA"^
IxoiGh
;
i>A*^9°
hiiUun
::
ftmoJ-
:
::
sftau, arive
hiiUunim
him
all
sitau, give
of
it.
him
every-
thing. l^Hfl-
li-rt*
:
^TT^7
:
bring ihK^li rh."^
:
l^/V•
:
?i9°^
hullu, all the
money.
K satin^^Occin hiillu
anta
(§
Id),
the boxes.
all
hA*}
:
ganzavu
::
huUdccin o
;:
allan, '
we are
all here.
hfdu hulldccyuh, go away,
l^A't•l^ «
all
of
you. (D^ff^C
:
ihdr
s
rh.^
(D^^C
:
iht\r
:
rh.«^
tD^fjG^
:
l^A•
Oi^fjC^
i
ih^i'Vah
hadu,
all
:
wce>ttaddar hullu hadii, or
::
::
rh.-^ 3
wwttaddar ::
hiillu
hadu, or
w wttaddar'' 6c hullu hadu, or
ih,H'
::
wwttaddar''oc hullaccau
the soldiers have gone.
:
§
Accidence.
17]
83
The Reflexive Pronoun.
For the
pronoun the words
reflexive
li-li
ras,
V^ft
nafs
§
head,
lit.
(nJi-, -vs), lit.
flAO.^ balab^et
iiohh^ saunnat
soul,
(-av-), lit. (-at), lit.
householder,
person,
and the phrase fllH
JtS"
:
bagazzajj
•
has in
(§ 8), lit.
power
its
(s.v.
are used with the pers.
when
7H)
suff! (§
not expressed with
it is
with what the hand
126) to express 'self,
clearness or
s\ifficient
emphasis by the reflexive form of the verb
The above
refer only to pereons,
(§ 21).
and are used sub-
stantivally or adjectivally e.g.
ifib'i
:
l^A
oraddala, he killed himself rdsun O o o
::
'
f onft
:
hCflP
:
^rtP
:
J^.<<.A7-;^A
sd'^o rdsa'^^o yifdllii^utal,
::
but you
yihannaniss (pol.) will
ir-
want
this yourself
J&U
A^-'i^l
:
VflJ-
::
yflie larasaccfn (§ 8)
nau, this
for us ourselves.
is
V*Prt.^
:
self,
^A
;
"h^^iiih (or
::
ndvs^en ilaccallau'\ I shave my-
AiiHV'fr'}
:
M-
saunnat^en
ila-).
hM(\^9° » ras valavJ^etaccau o o there. himself wasn't the Ras nabbarum, o o ^A^,;^^fl^
:
:
•
al-
•
'
mn
:
?»E
:
"kaotniith
::
bagazzdjj^e imatdllau^, I will
come myself 6-2
17
:
;
AmJiaric Grammar.
84
[§18
K^^fD' hf!^Ch^ bagazzajjSccau adarragut, they did it themselves.
fllH
:
::
t
niH hS- is perhaps an emphatic personal rather than a true reflexive pronoun. ;
The Distributive Pronoun. §
18
The
distributive
pronouns are
hl^lr^ andand §
(§ 8),
indecl., each,
one by one,
(cp.
83a),
(written -ah after a vowel),
?if-...-u, iyya-^...-u
indecl, each -u is dropped after numerals, or may be replaced by pers. suff (§ 12b). ;
The above
animate or inanimate objects
refer to
they are used adjectivally ^ suff. of the 1st and 2nd pi.
they
;
may
take the pers.
126, -u disappearing), in
(§
which case M^'iS!: may be used substantivally. They do not always logically refer to the noun with which they are constructed.
Eg.
Al^/V•
:
h'ifiTrf^
:
-flC
:
iim^O)'
virr sitdccau, jrive
MH'i^ (§
:
al;^^C
.
7a) wwttaddar
fifty
them
h9°fl
amsa
:
::
lahiillu
andandi
(§
7d}
a dollar each.
all
T/2.^
:
Ah
::
landand
tiyyit akkifll, distribute
cartridges to each soldier.
M^Mft^ll
:
mf*fci
::
audanddccinin tayyiiqunna,
they questioned each of
M^lK^O*
I
rk.-?.
::
us.
andanddccyuli hfdu, go one at
a time. ^
also written
2
i.e.
in constr.
KS:
logically they
may be
substantival.
§
Accidence.
19]
iyyayy^tu, each house.
^^Pfl»1^
?if ^fr
n4»A"fl>-^
:
each
Xf rt.*
85
AS'PT'
JiP^TV-
h
:
'J*1*H
:
woman
each
f9"tn
iyyardsu yaql^' oun ydmta,
::
mule
to bring his
is
!
:
himself.
iyyas>etu
::
Hjwan
tdnsa, let
take up her child.
::
ivyasdtinu kaffata, he
opened each
box. flf fttfo-
:
f^ao^lx
bayyasimu
::
(§
la) yimallis, or
bayyasimdccau yimallisu, each answer to his name.
flf ft*^^fl>-
h/^C
I
:
f^aofiiCb a
flf ^ft^
'flC
!
:
let
assir yayyas^osti yirr, ten at
three dollars each.
Af fl>;^^l^ rh,-^ a iyytiv^ etdccyuh hMu, each of you go to his (own) house. :
The Reciprocal Pronoun.
The
reciprocal
pronoun
is
§
ncft- frsa^ bars-- (ya-, -ars-), with the pi. pers.
TiCrt
suff
126),
(§
each other.
This pron. refers to animate or inanimate objects,
and
is
used substantivally or
The
pi.
adjectivally.
of the disjunctive pers. pron.
(§
12a) or the
dem. pron. (§ 13rt) repeated, with fl- ba- pref to the second pron., is used in the same sense. E.ff. o
"hCA
h^
:
s
nc^-f ^ fl^
:
:
'h^A^
i'^HA'}
::
::
oo*oo*'
frsa varsdccin tatallan, or vaiiiid
Ififid
tatallan,
quarrelled with each other. ^
2
or
"hCti irs,'
or
flft-
o
hA
fssa, hil iss.
o
bass- (va-,
o'
-ass-).
o
we have
19
Amharic Grammar. KCft
:
nc^^ih
:
h'i'fl\l\c
k
irs
[§
20a
yarsdccyuh attatdlu,
don't quarrel with each other.
^TT^
:
hCrt
:
(iCfi^Oh
:
^p^/Sr '^"^
::
sdtin Occ .0
frsa
o
o
barsdccau yiggaccallu, the boxes knock against
each other.
Mnj)
s
nVitU
:
+;i'fli''PA
gaytaual, these
::
and those are connected with
each other by marriage.
20a
nnazzfh yannazzih ta-
20a]
:
Amharic Grammar.
88 objects the
or
sg.
from
pi.
2 to
[§
206
usually the sg.
9,
above 9: li-A^
e.o. ~
:
or l^A^
hiilatt faras,
:
o
o
'
^t^C^-f
.-
hiilatt
:
faras^oc, 2 horses.
ihA^
Ajf"
:
>tA^
:
hulatt
::
(§
8) lij allat,
she has two
children.
t\M
AflH
:
silsd
:
o
:
fl4'A*
KJP'AI-
:
:
ATT^
ammist h.9°ft
or ftAA
sau,
:
rtJ"^
:
sflsa
maf'o I
yaql^'o,
ammist
100 mules. or
sdtin,
?%iP'A^
:
AtT^
:
sdtin^oc, 5 boxes.
At*}
i
8)
men.
sau^'oc, 60
ao^
(§
I
dmsa
sdtin,
50 boxes.
The Ordinal Numeral.
The
206
dinals
ordinal numerals are formed from the car-
by the
i>A+? hulattanna
e.g.
AAi"? s^'ostanna
U^?
-anna (-anna)
suffix -a?^
(-la-,
-an-) 2, 2nd,
(-an-), 3rd,
hayaiina^ 20th, etc.
1st is dM-i"^ fitdnna
(fl-,
-an-),
ao%ao6^ majammarya h^l>-
s
Axltf^i
or (-ar-)
asrahandanna
;
but
(-an-), 11th.
In compound numbers only the ordinal form e.g.
i*»AA
:
last takes
the
:
hj'^Ai'? saldsa ammistanna, 35th.
^
or -?
2
or U-A^? hulattiiina
3
or
-nfia.
ue? ha^anna.
(-la-),
AA^?
s^ostfniia, etc.
:
§
20c,
All ordinals d>'\r^ e.g.
:
:
Accidence.
21]
§
:
commonly take the
and ao^aod^
f ^i'^OH
:
rta>-
89 art.
11),
and
first
man.
(§
also the pref. P- yak yafitaiiiiau (§ 8) sau,
the
^ao%aD^^ah Vnc yamajammaryau nabbar, he (it) was the first. ::
:
Another ordinal form U*A^^ hulattiyya
in -^ -(i)yyai
is
2nd, etc.
(-la-),
The Frdction. Fractions are expressed by the ordinals, usually
by the form in -f e.g.
l^A^ /^A^^2. :
is
1/2
V4 is
<-'fl
hiilatt s^'ostiyya, V^-
usually adj., or
(tik-),
ikkul-^eta
rub
20c
:
WihA ikkul
?^^f^A.;^
§
(ruy),
(tik-), s.
or h^-Th? aratti'nna.
Fractions are joined to whole numbers by +e.g.
h'Jjt
:
+VhA and
tdkkul,
11/2.
The Verb. Primitive
The
Form
primitive verb in
of Verb {Root). its
simplest form, which
is §
the third person singular of the past^, consists in three radicals or root-letters^
^
or
^
called simple perfect
^
using 'letter' in the
salis
-f-
^
(§
single or double
la), ihAi:^, etc.
(§ 5),
(§
or
-fcj?.
24),
Am.
with
"-
its
sense of a consonant, following vowel
(§
4a).
21
Amharic Grammar.
90
Mtn» la-qqa-ma\
AA7
o
to pick 2, gather.
to seek, want.
fd-lla-o^a, O o
[§21
'
o'
The consonant of the 2nd^ radical is doubled (§5). In some verbs (type A § 34) it remains single in certain parts of their conjugation
;
in others (type
B
§
35)
doubled throughout^.
it is
Some
verbs, e.g.
#w>rtA,
follow both types, but with
a different meaning in each case
;
others, e.g. 'h*l»m,
follow either type without change of meaning.
The
triliteral
is
the
commonest
there are also quadriliteral
root-form,
but
verbs ^:
0000'
hAhA
000
ka-la-kka-la, to hinder,
'
with 3rd rad. doubled ^
corresponding
and numerous
:
form
in
biliteral verbs,
but not in force with
^. A
perf corresponding with J:l does not occur in Amharic, unless in such biliterals as H^
Ar.
z^'ora (for ^XifBL zawara) to revolve, o ^ o o o '
zawwara (zauwara), to cause to revolve.
HflJ^i
Guidi, Coniug. pp. 246 -
the
our ^
which has caus.
lit. '
'
he picked
name
'
;
this root-form being, so to speak,
of the verb
'
infinitive,
which
rarely the 3rd
:
See
— 251.
is
is
conveniently represented by
the Eng.
'
name of a
Hlf zagayya, to be
'
verb.
late.
There is nothing, on the face of it, to show which type a verb follows in its conjugation type B- is ^
;
commonly
may be ^
transitive (Guidi, Coniug. p. 247); type
either transitive or intransitive.
A few
verbs have more than four radicals,
e.g.
^a^^A^.A audaladdala, to be
idle.
A
:
§
;
:
22a]
;
;
Accidence.
most of which are
91
triliteral roots
which have
lost
a
rad.: ta-fa,
"!
to write, (cp. Eth. ^di^),
aof^ ma-tta, to come, (cp. Eth. aoKh),
sa-mma,
rt*^
to hear, (cp. Eth. (i9^0).
Derived Forms of Verb.
From
the primitive form others are derived \ of § 22a
which the commonest are Passive
(a)
or Keflexive,
formed by prefixing
+- ta-^: o +A*l»<w>
talaqqama, to be picked,
Aimfl attaba (-va), to wash, ;^mfl tdttaba (-va;
to be washed,
wash
S
7a),
oneself,
'i'ao^nd tamanazzara, to
be chang^ed,
+^
tatafa, to
i'rt*^
tasamma, to be heard.
be written,
Causative formed by prefixing- h- a-, expressing causation or effectuation of the action or state of (y8)
the primitive verb
hh^ao alaqqama, from
+
qarraba
(-ya),
M^(\ aqarraba from AAAA
to take (animals) to pasture
(-ya),
lasallasa, to o
o
o
to be near,
to bring near
be
soft,
'
^lAAAA alasdllasa, to render soft o o o o hao"} amatta, to fetch, bring. ^
No
forms
;
single verb occurs in all the possible derived some verbs occur only in certain derived forms,
the primitive form not occurring. ^
Cp.
j!i5.
.
.
;
:
:;
;;
;
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
92
[§
Causative formed by prefixing
(y)
M-
22b
as-,
ex-
pressing causation, effectuation, or permission of the
employment of other
action or state, usually by the
persons
(§
68)
hilii^oD aslaqqama, to cause or allow to pick or
be picked, have
htliiMlii askalakkala, to O
gathered
(a thing)
O
cause or allow to hinder
or be hindered hfloD^ asmatta, to cause or allow to come, import.
The causative of verbs with
1st rad.
h
is
formed
hjhil-: hlid, allafa, to pass,
Miid,
asallafa, to
Common
Less (S)
22b
A form
cause or allow to pass.
Derived Forms of Verb.
with a preceding the doubled rad.^
fiaom dammata, to gin (cotton)
+A+A
qalaqqala,
and
^A'^A qalaqqala, to mix Acq. l^cca, to shave. (e)
Passive or reflexive of
relative or reciprocal force
(S)
:
this often
tadammata, orinned to be O o o •©' (D^^ wwddada, to like, o o '^>l<w>m
'h'P^-S-
tawaddadu^
++A+A ^
Cp.
jiii
but in Am.
a derived force 2
Cp. j3u5.
;
»
to like each other, agree-;
taqalaqqala, to be ;
has a
-
this
mixed
form has a primitive not
see Guidi, Coniug. p. 252. ^
pi. (§ 34),
as
commonly
used.
§
:
:
;
:
;
Accidence.
226] 'hAfift taldcca,
;
:
93
to be shaved, to shave oneself
or indicates a habit Vhrt
nakkasa, to bite, o o o
'
^''I'hrt
tanakkasa, to have or acquire the habit of
biting.
{Q
Causative
(y)
of
(S) in hti-
of which
s is assimi-
lated to the next consonant; often with relative or distributive force
h^^oD allaqqama\ pick with
others, help to pick;
h
'
hhd^ii akkaftala-,
to
divide among: others, dis-
tribute rtVfli'
sanabbata, to remain, o o o o
'
hii^di' assanabbata, to dismiss^. o o o (17)
Reiterative, (and thence Intensive or the re-
formed by interposing the single consonant of the doubled rad., with the vowel a, before that rad. verse),
A^'^oD laqaqqama, to pick a
little
here and there,
pick out, select
d,^M rtfl^
falallao^a, to
make a
000
slijirht
search for
sabbara, to break,
Ann^ sababbara
'
(-aya-), to
break to pieces, smash
;
Itidm galabbata, to turn over,
7Annm galababbata
(-ava-),
to turn right over,
turn over and over; 1
for hftA- asla-.
^
for
hdh-
aska-.
between the forces of the primitive and derived forms is not ^
here, as in other cases, the connection
clear.
:
:
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
94
dJ{% (6)
[§
22b
to destroy,
fajajja, to
destroy utterly.
Passive or reflexive of
(r^)
i'li^^oD talaqaqqama, be picked out here and there, selected, i'rtflfl^
tasababbara
(-ava-),
be broken to pieces.
smashed, i'7Aflflm taoralababbata (-ava-),
be turned over and
over, completely disarranged.
Causative of
(t)
in h-
(r))
:
hii^'^oD alaqaqqama, cause to pick a
little,
send
to pasture. (k)
Causative of
in hti- of which s
{-q)
to the next consonant
;
cp. {Q, to
assimilated
is
which
this
form
is
often equivalent
hti^^e/D allaqaqqama, pick with others, help to pick,
^ilAOnm aoo^alababbata to (X)
(ava-), to cause or allow
be completely disarranged,
(§
68).
Causative of passive or reflexive^, usually in
verbs with 1st rad.
'a'
or 'ha'
h(D^ auwcoqa, to know,
hil^m^ astauwwqa, (/a)
a
to inform.
form (usually quadriliteral) with pref
an- (active)
htaitimii antalattala, to suspend. ^
Cp. Jii£li but see Guidi, Coniug. pp. 259, 260.
M-
:
:
§23a, (v)
§23^
:
:
Accidence.
95
Reflexive or passive (usually of quadriliteral
root), in
•f''i-
tan-
+^niAniA
be suspended.
tantalattala, to o o o •© o
Jt^
•
•
Voice.
There are no special forms for the voices other § 23a than the derived forms given in § 22. If an English transitive verb is rendered by an Amharic verb in its primitive form, a passive is supplied by the derivative in i'- (§ 22a, a) if the Am. verb is in a causative form (§ 22a, fi), a passive may generally be supplied by its primitive form ;
to seek
:
to be sought
:
i'd.fil tafallaga
e.g. o
fallaga, o
o~ o
;
to bring: haof^] amatta, to be brought
matta.
aof*]
:
Mood.
The verb
in all its forms, primitive
and
derived,
has the following moods Indicative (stating) /iA4»'^A yilaqmal, he
is
picking.
Contingent^ (supposing): ^ii^9° yilaqm,
(if,
when,
etc.)
he picks, picked,
or will pick. ^
called the simple imperfect by Guidi because of
form but Isenberg's term contingent considering the use of this form, seems more appropriate. It does not distinguish any tense, but is used to express both perf and imperf its
'
;
',
§
23&
:
:
:
:
:
::
;;
Amharic Grammar.
96
[§
24a
Jussive (ordering)
^^^9^
yilqam, let
him
pick.
Imperative^ (ordering): fii^9° IJqam, pick.
It also
has the
Gerund
dependent clause
(a
A4**r*
in itself)
laqm^'o, he picking, he having picked.
Infinitive (the action)
ao^^9^ malqam,
to pick, picking.
Participle (the agent)
A;^*^ laqdrai, one that picks, picker. Tense.
Tenses are distinguished in the indicative only,
\24:a
which has the following: Perfect A+<w> laqqama, he picked or has
(a)
Simple^
(y8)
Compound- A4»^A
:
picked. :
laqmoal, he has picked.
Imperfect (a)
Simple-, only in the neg.^: hf,^^9^9° ailaq-
(/8)
mim, he is not picking. Compound'^: ^A4**^A yilaqmal^ he
is
pick-
ing; ^
The imperative and
same mood
jussive are the
have retained the time-honoured term imperative for the 2nd person of the jussive. I
2
referring to the form.
^
this is the cont. with neg. pref.
he does not pick, he also expresses he picks, he will
also expresses ^
:
:
and will
suff.
(§
not pick.
pick.
37)
:
:
24&,
Accidence.
25]
§
97
Composite Tenses.
By means
of auxiliaries the following tenses are formed from the contingent and gerimd:
§
245
Pluperfect
ti^T Vnc '.
Idqm^^o nabbar\ he had picked.
:
Past Imperfect ^A4»ir»
s
vnc yilaq(i)m nabbar-, he was picking. :
Similarly
A^T* jRlfTA
:
:
j!,^^r'
:
ld(im^^o yih^onal,
J&lf 'i'A
:
yilaq{i)m
he would pick I
may
he
yih^^dnal,
pick^
The Regular Triliteral Verb. Formation and Inflexion of Parts.
The number, person and gender are shown by adding the follo>\ing prefixes and suffixes to a stem, which
is
in the indicative simple perfect
in the contingent, jussive
the root,
and imperative a
modifi-
cation of the root.
^
also expresses
:
he would have picked.
also expresses: he used to pick, he would pick, he ought to have picked. ^ or he must have picked. ^
:
^
or
:
he probably
AM. GR.
will pick.
7
§
25
Amharic Grammar.
98
[§26
Indicative Simple Perfect.
Stem
:
Suffixes
sg.
la-qqa-ma
A*f»<w>
(§
or
34),
i^til fa-lla-ga (§ 35).
:
3rd m.
(stem),
three radicals giiz
all
3rdf.
fffiz Ooo
2nd m.
U -h2
2ndf.
7i-s
— —
1st pi.
3rd
2nd 1st
e
(§ -ta)
last radical
sddis® o ,6
IS' o
l^ -hu'^
s^dis^ o
u
kdiv -ac(c)ihu
d'-f ^^
rdvio •
-na^
V
sddis^.
Contingent.
26
Stem, type
A
(§
34)
type
B
(§
35) *<(.A*7
Prefixes
sg.
and
3rd m.
yi
i&
2nd m. 2nd f. 1st
K
3rd
J&
u
jv
2nd
^
u
ti
f.
ti ti i
also
'^
or -ac(c)yuh
^
except in verb with last
(§ "Id,
1
pronounced
or
-uh
u u
o
^
-hfi,
—
i
inni
-cc
2
-
o
^
(§ 6).
—
ti
i
M—
1st
fa-lli-g.
:
^ ^ ^
3rd
pi.
suffixes
*A4»r la-q-m^,
kdiy),
'>^ -liwii,
(§ 7<^/).
^
-Ti -x, -Vl -k, (§
-uh, -Vb -ku,
^d\
-ktt.
or -1
-n.
rad.
doubled, which
.
§
)
:
Accidence.
26]
99
For the modification of these prefixes by other pref. see
45.
§
The vowel to form ae.g.
i
of these pref. coalesces with
7a)
(§
Kmfl attaya (ba), to wash, stem
cont.
*h*?'(\ a-t-v,
cont. sg. 3rd m. ^T-fl yat(i)y,
The
sg. 1st is
written ^T-fl
[So in cans, conjug. alaq(i)m,
(if,
etc.) I
(if,
initial a-
:
The
etc.) I
(§
(if,
§;t(i)y,
etc.)
not
'
he washes.
AkT-n
(§ 4&).
41^, e) cont. sg. 1st hli^9°
take to pasture, KftA4»9" asUqqim,
cause to pick or be picked.]
sufF.
-i
(sdlis §
4a) of the sg. 2nd
certain preceding consonants
(§
f.
modifies
7b)
kaffata, to open,
e.g. Ud.'t
cont. stem. cont. sg.
^''h*Pl*
2nd
f.
kaft,' o
-'hh'b^ tikafc,
(if,
etc.)
you
(f
open. cases the form given for
pi. 3rd is also used form of the sg. 2nd and sg, 3rd (§ 12«). The above prefixes and suffixes and those of the ger. and inf. given below (§§ 29, 30) are applied to all verbs, primitive and derived alike.
In
all
for the polite
retains its vowel:
and see ^
42a,
§
The 2nd
H7fU zagayyah, you were
late:
44&.
sometimes has 1 in slow speech, can hardly be pronounced when the word ends with the two
rad.
cases which
laqim, in
without
b, §
e.g.
e.g.
it,
consonants. ^
or oinn
— 7—5
:
Amharic Grammar.
100
[§27,
§28
Jussive.
27
Stem, type type
The cont.
pref.
A (§ 34) B
and
(§
1-qa-m,
*
same
(same as
cont.).
as those of the
(§ 26).
the neg. imperative
pref A-
(§
i (§
only used in the formation of
is
(§ 37),
and the
sg. 1st
not without
48a).
The vowel
e.g.
:
^A+J^
sufE are the
The 2nd person
form
35)
:
i
of the pref coalesces with
initial
i
to
7a)
Kmfl, juss. stem "hm'fl juss. sg.
3rd m. ^m-fl
itay,
yitay, let
him wash.
Imperative.
28
The
Stem, type
A
type
B
sufF.
are the
There are no pref
:
:
A'I'J'" <(.
A*?
li-qa-m, fa-lli-g.
same as those of the
cont.
(§
26).
^
In the neg. (§38) the corresponding persons of the used for the imp.
juss. are
^
Verbs with
1st rad.
^ or
V
are sometimes pro-
nounced, especially in the imp., with an this is not confined to the imp.
See
§
Id,
initial ?i;
under
but
sadis.
:
§
29,
§
:
.
Accidence.
30]
101
Gerund.
A
Stem, type
34)
(§
B (§ 35)
type
s
29
§
30
*A4»9" laqm, sg. 1st laqimm,
:
*
:
fdllig, sg. 1st falligg.
Suffixes
Sg.
3rd m. 3rd
The
—
-
f.
a
2nd m.
aO -ah
2nd
iiTl
1.
1st pi. X
''o
(-ah)^
-as
^e
— 00
3rd
aa>- -au
2nd
a^l^ -ac(c)ihu (-accyuh)
1st
2l1
suff.
o
-an (-an). o
of the
->e
ceding consonants
(§
'
\
1st modifies certain pre-
sg.
76)
h<<.+
e.g.
00
ger. sg. 1st
stem
00'
kafitt,
^'h'P'T'
ger. sg. 1st h^'if kaficc>'e.
Infinitive.
Stem, type type Prefix
The -'>
:
<w»
A B
'•
:
'
:
A+9" Iqam, AA*7
fallag.
— ma— o
inf. is
of the ace.
a substantive, and as such (§ 9c),
the
art. (§11),
may
and the
take the
pers.
suff*.
(§126): e.g.
aod.tipH'ihl I
am
:
hf^Oh^T*
«
mafallagdccihun alauuqim,
not aware of your 1
(pi.)
or -afi -ax, -ax
(§
seeking. Id).
:
102
]
Amharic Grammar.
,
31
[§
31,
§
32a
Participle.
Suflfix
Stem, type
A
type
B
(sdlis
-i
:
ing consonants
(§
§
4a),
;
'^ii^ao laqam,
:
''d.^n fallag.
which modifies certain preced-
76)
e.g. XliA'
part, stem, ""h4'^ kafdt,
h4-^ kafac
part.
The
and as such may take the the art. (§11), and the pers. suff
part, is a noun,
-1 of the ace.
9c)
(§
and forms a
(§ 126),
one that opens.
(§ 8),
in -^'o^
pi.
Compouml
32a
Compound The
(§ 96).
Tenses.
and Imperfect;
Perfect
auxiliary verb hti
allii,
Yxti alia.
to be, is attached to the
form the compound perfect, and to the 26) to form the compound imperfect. though imperf (present) in sense, is in form
ger. (§29) to
cont.
(§
JtA,
a simp, perf
(§
25,
note 6
;
§
426),
and
is
conjugated
thus^: sg.
ht\.
alia,
3rd f
^ A^
allac ^, she
2nd m. htiV 2nd f hATi pi.
^
2
he
3rd m.
allah, alias,
(it) is.
you you
is.
are. are.
am.
1st
htiih
allau^'^ I
3rd
ht)r
allu,
2nd
hK^O*
alldccihu (-dccyuh
1st
hii'i
dllan,
hA
they are.
we
under kaiy
;
you
are.
are.
only occurs in this tense.
§ "id,
§ *id),
^
also written hA'T^.
-cc
(§ 6).
;
:
§
;
Accidence.
32&]
In
103
the persons of the comp. perf. except the
all
and sg. 1st, and also in the sg. 3rd m. of the comp. imperf the aux. is shortened to -aA -al. sg.
3rd
f.
Thus
A4»^A laqmoaP, he has picked, = ^^T
Idqm^^ o
+ -aA
-al (§ 76)
^li^9°^ii'(i tilaqmyallas,
= ^'^^'X
A single
you
(f ) are picking,
tilaqmi-f hATi alias
word
(§ 7b).
formed by verb and which, however, a pronominal pers. sufF. is
or with a preposition (§ 48ft)
may be
(§
(§ 12c), alone -9" or the conjunction 47«),
he has picked
aS^qof^^^ laqnV^ollatal
him
between
interposed:
A4"r*;'"A Idqm'' otal,
e.g.
aux.,
(§ 8),
it
he has picked
it
for
;
A4»*r*'^A laqm^'ommal,
and he has picked.
In the comp. imperf
§
pi.
3rd f^lK^*H\r yilaqmallu, they are picking,
pi.
2nd
''i'A4**^A'T'i>
tilaqmalldccyuh, you are picking,
the suif -u of the cont. (§26) disappears.
But when anything is interposed between verb and aux. -u reappears, and -aA- -allu is shortened to -aA e.g.
-al
/iA4*ai»-A?A yilaqmulliiiiial, they are picking for me;
^A4*tfI»•;^A?•l^ tilaqmutalldccyuh,
ing
you
(pi.)
it.
1
also written A^J'^'PA
(§ 46).
are pick-
326
:
;
;
;
Amharic Ch^ammar.
104
Compound Perfect
Alternative Form, of §
An
32c
alternative
[§ 32c, § 326?
form of the comp. perf common ,
in G., consists in the simp. perf.
(§
25) with the suff
-nnaP for all numbers and persons, the pers. suff. 12c), etc. being interposed between verb and aux.
-*7A (§
as in
32a
§
e.g.
A+^wjVA laqqamannal,
[
= A4»^A] he has picked
li^tro^^^ laqqamaccinnal
(§
6
;
§ 8), [
=
A4**^A'f laqmal-
she has picked
lac,]
A+iwJOH'i'A laqqaraaunnal,
[
=
he has picked
A4»*^';^A]
it;
A+^wiA^'i'A
picked
laqqamallatinnal, for
it
[
= A4*TA;^A] he has
him
A+<w»J^'?A laqqamamminnal,
[
=
A4**r*'^A]
and he has
picked.
Inde2)endent Use of hti dlld.
^A
§326?
when used independently,
alia
means
aux.,
which
i.e.
not as an
to exist, be present-, rather than to be,
rendered in this tense (present) by
is
ifl>-
nau
(§136):
Ohi
i
KA
Ohi
:
hah
K ^vtiha dlla !!
wuhd
(§
?,
is
there any water ?
8) nau?, is it
water?
wwttaddar alia, there (D^fiC hti there are some soldiers. ;
(D^fS^ ^
a
final
ceiving
i.
i
::
'lOh «
wcottaddar nau, he
(it) is
consonant to which -VA 2
=il y
a,
is
es gibt, hay,
is
a soldier, a soldier.
attached
c'e, vi c.
re-
:
§
33a,
:
;
Accidence.
33&]
§
:
105
Composite Tenses.
The Past Imperfect ;
The
aux. verb
Vfl^C
nabbara
Vfl^i
nabbara.
•
or VflC nabbarS33a
(-ar),
(-ar), to be \ following the cont. (§ 20) forms the past imperf both affirmative (§§ 34-36) and negative (§ 38). Either (a) both verb and aux. are conjugated or (^) Vfl
e.g. ?iA4»9"
or
?»A4*9" or, I
:
:
VflC>- ilaq(i)m
nabbarhwu
nabbar
VflC ilaq(i)m
(-ar-,
(-ar), I
-ruh
§
.
Id),
was picking,
used to pick.
The Pluperfect.
The pluperfect
formed the affirmative by the
(a) in Vfl
is
(varying as in A4»
:
'liXCi)
A4*<w>U
:
VflC
()S)
§
ger.
(§
(§
laqmah nabblirh, or
laqmah nabbar
in the neg.
(§
and
38),
25) followed by
AiAA*l"^?-«MP rac(c)yuh
(§
by
33a)
§
(-ar),
in
Vfl^C
Vfl^'T-U-
:
you had picked
the apodosis of a
conditional sentence introduced by peif.
29) followed
fl-,
(varying as in
by the simp, §
33a)
allaqqamac(c)ihum nabba-
Id),
hAA+'^^ih^" VflC allaqqamdc(c)ihum nabbar (-ar), you (pi.) had not picked. flA^ flA+i^-V^ VflC-V^ [VflC ::] bdlaii, balaqqamuh (§ Id) nabbaruh (nabbar), if he had told me I
or
:
:
::
:
should have picked.
conjugated like the simp, perf ^
A4*
§
34)
;
only occurs in
336
:
;
Amharic Grammar.
106
33c,
[§
§
33r?
Other Composite Tenses.
In the same way in similar tenses
33c
by JilfVA jugated or
may be impersonal and remain jilaqmu
:
j&lf^/V*
jiA4»tfi>-
:
^if'^A K yilaqmu
::
they probably
ti'^aooh
;
j&if ^A-
::
ti^aooh
s
/ilf^A
::
will
yih'' onallu, yih'' dnal,
laqmau
OhV
s
iflC
::
or
they
may pick,
jdh^^onallu, or
laqmau
they would
yih^' dnal,
when used independently
supplies a past both of e.g.
invariable
pick
Indejyendent Use of Vfl
con-
must have picked.
pick, or, they
§33fZ
may be
become, happen) the aux.
/iA4*tfi>-
or,
formed
yih^'dnal (comp. imperf. sg. 3rd m. of IfV
h^'^ona, to be,
e.g.
24&)
(§
(i.e.
wiiha nabbar, (a)
not as an aux.)
and of
I'Sb)
Vfl>- (§
Vfl
it
hii
was water,
(§
S2d)
:
{^) there
was some water. ^'?'}^
1am
:
I
:
(§39), yesterday
::
tindnt nabbar, zdr^e yal-
he was present, to-day he
absent (yesterday there was some, to-day
is
there
d.^
^ac H^ f A9"
:
is
f Cfr
:
none).
Vnc
:
^l^'>
:
fi
:
V(D-
dhun yan^e nau, formerly mine.
::
it
fit varsii o ^
was
his,
ndbbar, o
now
it is
§
34]
107
Accidence.
-
PARADIGM OF THE REGULAR TRILITERAL VERB. TYPE A. ti'^ao
§34
laqqama, to pick, gather. Indicative.
Simple Perfect 3rd m.
sg.
(§
25)
he
A4»<w» lacjcjama,
(it)
picked or has
picked.
3rd
2nd m. A+J^U 2nd
pi.
she picked,
M'od'^' laq(]amac\
f.
you
la(|(iamh-,
you
A+9"'fi laciqams,
f.
1st
ii't'9^0'
3rd^
A4*
2nd
A+-7^-ih Iaci(iamdc-
etc.
(m.) picked, etc. (f.)
picked, etc.
I picked, etc.
la(i(iamhu',
they (you, he,
pol.)
picked, etc. j
(c)ihu',
'
-cc
sometimes laqciamih laqqamk, (§ 7d under 0). (-hti)
A*l»5^Vh ^
all
etc.
(§ 6).
2
^
^^^^ ^.^^^^^^ ^^c.
we picked,
A*?"* laqqanma'\
1st
^^^
1
;
also A4»i^*fi laciqamx,
(i^9**\l
or Idqqamuh, also ^^9"'\^ laqqamhwii (-muh),
laqqamku,
also sg.
2nd
(-kii) (§ 7d,
pol.
and
sg.
3rd pol.
tenses.
^
or laqqamac(c)yuh
^
or A+y"*} laqqamn.
(§
under
7d).
kdiy, U). (§
12a) in this
and
108
Amharic Grammar.
[§
34
§
Accidence.
34] pi.
3rd
J&A4»*^A*
2nd
^A4»'^A^•l^ tilaqmallac(c)yuh\
1st
h'i^^'n^'i
jilaqmSllu,
inn{i)laqm§;ilan.
Past Imperfect sg.
109
3rd m. /&A*r
:
^^^r
33a)
he was
'idd yilaq(i)m nabbara-,1 ° "
or
(§
*
°
o
o
I
picliiiio'
Vnc yilaq(i)m nabbar^
used to pick. 3rd f. n-ti^r Vn^^ tilaq(i)m nabbarac^j or ^A4»?" vnc tilaq(i)m nabbar^ j :
J
:
:
etc.
Pluperfect (§336) sg.
3rd m. A4»*P
3rd
.-
ifl^ laqm'' o nabbara^,)
or A+l"
=
vnc 4,,n.»o ndbblr^
A*"V
!
'inc'i- lafinia
or A4**^
:
vnc lac^ma nabbar^
f.
o
*
,
,
,
•>«
^^"^ ?"=''«''•
J
nabbanic* o o
'
etc.
Contingent (§26) sg.
3rd m. f^^^9^
yila(i(i)m,
(if,
when,
etc.)
he picks,
picked, or will pick.
3rd
f.
2nd m.
pi.
'"hA+y" •1-A4»{^
tila(i(i)m, 1^ o o o
'
tila(|(i)ni, ' 1 o
o o
'
2ndf.
^^^'X
tilacimi,
1st
"hh^r*
ila(i(i)m, 1 o' ' o
3rd
^A4'tfi»-
yilacimu,
2nd
•T'A4*tfi>-
tilaqmii,
1st
^hl^^r
inn(i)laq(i)m.
^
O O
'
o
%ld.
2 ^
QY -ara.
-cc
(§ 6), -ar-.
^
or
-ar.
AmJiaric Gramnnar.
110
Jussive (§27) sg.
A+i^ yilqam,
3rd m.
j&
3rd
^A+{^ tdqam,
f.
let
him
pick.
[§
34
§
Accidence.
35]
TYPE
Ill
B.i
§35
to seek, want.
fallao^a,
Indicative.
Simple Perfect sg.
3rd m. d.hl 3rdf.
2nd
^A'7'ri
fallags,
iL^nU'
fallaghu*,
d^iiT-
falla^u,
f.
sought, has sought.
(it)
fallagac^,
fallagh^
pi. 3rd''
^
iLM"^
he
2ndm. ^A'7U
1st .
fallaga,
25)
(§
2nd
fallagac(c)ihu^
1st
<^A*7V
differing
fallaj'na''. ~ o
o
o
from type
A
in formation of
stems but
fallakk
under
not in inflexion. '
-CC
^
sometimes
(§ G).
-gih,
also
(§
7d,
U),
d.^n'^ fallagx^
or
-ghil,
^L^*l'h, (§ ^
and
fallaguh,
fallakku
7d under kSy,
also sg.
2nd
pol.
or fallagac(c)yuh
and
^
or
(§
also
written
U).
all tenses.
^
(-kii),
7d).
sg.
3rd
pol.
(§
12a) in this
Amharic Grammar.
112
Compound sg.
<{.A^A
falligSal,
3rd
f.
^A/iA'-f
falligSllac^,
f.
falliffahaP, ' o~ o o
A
falligasal,
1st
<{.A*7^Aih
falliggyallau h4
3rd
<«.ATPA
fallioaual, o~o o
2nd
falligdc(c)ihwal^
1st
<{.ATi"A
fallioanal. o~
o
o
Compound Imperfect sg.
32a)
he has sought.
in.
2nd
•»
{§
3rd
2ndm. i^^Ti^
pi.
Perfect^
[35
3rd m. ^<{.A^A
yifalligal,
(§ 32rt)
he
is
seeking, seeks,
will seek.
3rdf.
^
2nd m. -^iCA^iAU 2nd
pi.
f.
tifalligSllac^,
tifalligallah,
^<(.A*7^A7i tifalligy§;ilas,
1st
?»<(.A;iAii-
ifalligSllaii^',
3rd
J&<<.A;3A-
yifalligSllu,
2nd
^d.^p^'^O' tifalligallac(c)yuh^
1st
Md^^ptil
inn(i)falligallan.
form in G. conjugated like A+^wjVA (§ ^
alternative
2
-cc
^
§ *ld,
^
or -gac(c)yuhal
7
(§ 6).
§ 7f/,
^
also written
or
32c)
^AlVA
fdllagannal,
34).
-giih-,
TiA
-xal
(§
7d).
-A'V^.
(§ 7r/).
also written
{§
-A'>^.
^
-cc
^
§ 7c?.
(§ 6).
Past Imperfect sg.
113
AccuJence.
35]
3rd m.
JZ,<{.A*7
:
Vfl^ yifallig
or ^
yifallig
(§
33a)
nabbara\) he was seeking, nabbar^, j used to seek.
etc.
Pluperfect sff.
(§
336)
Vn<: fallig'^o nabbaraM "'1.1.'' > he had o iLn^/'ii^w ^^A nabbar-, or iCA") iflC fallm^'o f o o o o~
3rd m.
^(.A'*
:
,
,
,
sought, *
:
/
etc.
Contingent sg.
3rd m. /i
yifallig,
(§
(if,
26)
when,
etc.)
he seeks,
sought, or will seek.
114
Amharic Gi^ammar.
[§36
§
Accidence.
S7a]
115
composite tenses (§ 246). In this and the following paradigms the form of the tense given is the sg. 3rd m. unless otherwise stated. ao'itt^
manazzara^, to change. ~ o o o o Indicative.
tw^ii^ manazzara\ Simp, ir r perf o o o o
3rd f ao^nd'l' manazzariic^-^
Sg.
Comp. perf o 3rd f
Sff.
Sff.
like A+<w>
(§
/w>'>'M^-A*?'
o
32a, b)
(§
CoNT.
Imp.
Ger. Inf.
^aoiH^'^ yimanazziral,
(§ i%
28)
{§ (S \0 (S
27)
29)/
30)
etc.
yimanazzir.
20) ff.ao'i'WC
y.ao'UlC
vimanzir.
ao'iHC
manzir.
an'ilif^
manzir^' o. o o
aoao'iiiC
mamanzar^
Part. (§31) ao'^H^
The
34).
manziralliic-, ' etc. o
3rd f ^<w>Vll^A'l' timanazzirallfic-,
Juss.
(§
32a) 'H^A manzirdal,
"^
Comp. imperf
etc.,
manzdri.
some verbs of more than
principal parts of
four radicals will be found in the appendix.
Negative Conjugation. Foi^mation.
The negative verb is formed from the affirmative § 37a by the addition of the prefix hfii- al- and the suffix
1
^
or
-za- (§ 7^).
^
.55
(g
0000
q^
G. also ao'in^'t^ manazzarannal
(-ar-; ' ^
S "
32c). '
8—2
,
Amharic Grammar.
11(3
see
[§
37a
For the assimilation of A by a following consonant and for the doubling of m see § 6. § 7c ;
Both hA- and ind. simp,
perf
are added to the
-9^ (§
25) to
form the neg. ind. perf,
cont. (§26)
„
„
neg. ind. imperf
ger.
„
„
neg. ger. (not
(§
29)
much
used).
For §§
33a,
the formation of the neg. composite tenses see
h.
KA- [without -i'"] is pref to the juss. (§27) to form the neg. juss. and to the forms of the juss. 2nd (§§ 34, 35) to
form the neg. imperative.
KA-
or ^A- ydla-^ [without
dla-
-5^] is
pref to the
inf (§30) to form the neg. inf
The
part.
31) has
(§
no neg. form.
Nothing comes between ^A- and the verb. -9^ (§
comes
after
47a) which are
pronouns
suff.
(§
12c) or
prepositions
to the verb, but before other
suff.: e.g.
t\i\d,Maf-r*(D^,
want
::
alfallagaummwS?2 (§
8),
didn't he
it?
f -hiTofflH
:
hAlfVA->i^V
:
'Pi'
::
yatamdiiiiiUi alh do o i'
nalliitimminna m'' ota, his desire was not fulfilled o o o o
and he died, (lit. what he longed for not happen^ to him and ... for -V see § ^
G. gen. yii, S. gen. h^-.
2
or
^
If V li"6na, it
-lOh'Pj!,
::
-gaummwf ?, happened.
s.v. IDJ&.
(it)
486).
did
Accidence.
§376, §3 7c]
117
Transference of
may be
-9°
;
;;
;
-9^.
transferred from the verb to an ad-
§
376
jacent^ word, the negative sense then applying specially to that
word
e.ff. dndft'Tr
:
(cp.
:
§
62d)
^ A
:
farasun
-.:
the horse, (opposed to
iC^fr^r
hfiiiL^I
:
:
do want
I
:
inji,
don't want
it)
farasunimm o o o don't want the horse
a^/i^Oh-i
yaql^oun
alfallig,
alfalliffim, I
I
:
?t^%
::
but the mule. i-h^^m,^
:
h^F-ar* *^
takaratit aidalliim O O O O
::
•
not in the bag, (opposed to "^11^01.^9°
:
Kft^A '^
•
something
Omission of
such,
i.e.
the contingent in
KA- without
dependent
it is
takaratitimm o o o o
::
in the bag, (but in
When
:
(§§
(S /' it is \0 40),
in)
aidal,' it is o
not
else).
-9^.
236, 20, 37a) is
clauses, in the neg.
used as it
takes
-9°:
e.g. hf,A,fii*19° aifalligim,
flj&<(.A*7 baifallig (§
he does not want 48a), if
yamm^ifallig
f*^/a,<(.A*7
(§
(seek),
he does not want, 14),
he who does not
want ^j&
h^d,^n
'
(
h'i^lf'i
juss. :
§
38),
alfallig
he
is
not to seek,
fndah^^on^
if
he does
not seek. ^
gen. preceding, as the natural place of the verb in
the clause 2
S.V.
for
is last (§ 736).
^nf,iL^1 hlf^irt
KifJJ'l,
:
:
yammaifallig
fndah^^on
§
37c
;
Amharic Grammar.
118
when the simp.
Similarly,
perf. or ger. are
a dependent clause in the neg., e.g.
[§ 37r/, §
-9° is
37e
used in
dropped
h^^ti19^ alfallagam, he did not want,
HAiCA? balfallaga
(§
48a), if
^^d,til yalfallaga
(§
14),
hfiiiLM
h'i^V'i
:
he did not want,
he who did not want,
alfallagandah^^oni
s
(§ 8),
if
he
did not want.
he not wanting, not having
hfi\.d,^^9° alfallig^^om,
wanted, ^A<«.A-)
:
h'if^ir'i
alfallig^^dndah^^on
:
(§ 8),
if
he
had not wanted. ]S7d
-jP»
is
dropped
an indef pron. ending in
after
-9^
(§16): e.g.
^^9°
hfiioof)
:
9^Tr9^
^Art*^
:
mdnnimm almatta, nobody came. mfnimm alsamma, he heard O O O
'.'.
::
nothing.
of Conjunction
Siibstitutlon
i
37e
The
conj. -9" and, even, also,
e.g. flJi
want
don't give :
hoMSh
nA
:
::
it,
flA<w>^
not wanted
may
it
::
to,
fXaotn
::
^A^CAI
:
-9^.
take the (§
37c, d)
:
he doesn't
to him,
baifallidm sitau, even o o o^o o o give
it
if
'
he
to him.
he had he would not have come,
balfallaga balmatta, if
balfallagam bamatta, even
he had not wanted for
486)
•
doesn't want :
(§
t\^l\a\ah « baifallig, attfstau, if
:
it,
flj&
nA<2.A7
for Negative
which has been dropped
neg. -9"
place of the
1
-9°
to,
Mfjn
:
he would have come. yalfallagandah^^on
if
§37/ §38]
Accidence.
.
119
Ojytional omission of
may be dropped
-T*
fAJ^ e.g.
39)
(§
f A-f J^
and
^j&/^Ai^
without altering the sense in (§
40), especially in
yallaccim, or
::
-9^.
f A^
«
§
37/
questions:
yallac (§6), she is
not present.
^0
yfhe aidal?,
^A
:
yfhe aid^llam
\\f,?-M^ K
:
Y\^?^tpf,
(there)
::
or
JiU
isn't
he
?,
:
h/iA^A
a
isn't it this? yalltl^
didallwH^,
(it)
here
?
PARADIGM OF NEGATIVE VERB. Indicative
§
Perfect sg.
3rd m.
h^h^aoT
3rd
hAA+iwi'lf-J^ alla(iqamaccim,
f.
allaqqamam^, he did not pick, has not picked.
2nd m. ^AA+9"Uy" allaciciamhim ^ 2nd
pi.
f.
hAA+i^'fi?" alla(i(iamsim,
1st
^AA+i^iM'" alla(i(iamhum^
3rd
AiAA+«n>-{^ alla(i(iamum,
2nd
^AA+'^'f i>J^ allaqqamac(c)ihum,
1st
^AA+1^V9" allaqqamnam^.
1
=f-(§14) + ^A (§32c/,§7a).
2
§ 6, §
^
here and throughout the conjug.
^
or
^
or -VMP* -kum.
8
;
-*fil^
8.V. fl>^.
"Xi™'
-mm
"ki^^^
or
-'}9"
-nim.
(§ 6).
38
Amharic Grammar,
120
38
[§
Imjyerfect
3rd m. hS!,li^9°9^ ailaqinim, he
sg.
is
not picking, does not pick.
(will)
3rdf.
h^^^9^9"
att(i)laqmim,
2nd m. h^^^r*9° att(i)laqmim, 2nd f. h^^^'%9° att(i)laqmim,
pi.
1st
hAA*9"J^ allaqmim\
3rd
hj&A^'tfo-J^
2nd
h^ti^ao-y^ att(i)laqmum,
1st
h'iii^r9°
ailaqmum,
ann(i)laqmim.
Past Imperfect
h^^^9^9°
t
hfiiii^ao9°
:
Vn<:
ailaqmim nabbara -, he was not picking, used not to pick.
'idd
allaqqamam nabbara-, he had not
Pluperfect
picked.
Contingent 3rd m. h^ti^9° ailaq(i)m,
sg.
(if,
when, etc.) he does (did, will)
h^^^r
att(i)laq(|)m,
2nd m. h^^^9°
att(i)laq(i)m,
3rdf.
not pick.
2ndf. *i^A4"^ att(i)laqmi,
pi.
^
1st
KAA*r
allaq(i)mi,
3rd
hs^^ii^ao-
ailaqmu,
2nd
>i^A4»oi>- att(i)laqmu,
1st
h'}^^9°
the
writing -
or
?i- i-
ann(i)laq(i)m.
of the affirmative disappearing both in
and pronunciation.
-tir-
;
or
VflC,
as in affirmative conjug.
(§
33a,
b).
Accidence,
§38]
121
Jussive sg.
pi.
3rd m. ^/i A+J'" ailqam,
let
3rdf
M^^r*
attflqam,
1st
hAA+9"
alflqam,
3rd
hj^Mfii^ao'
ailqamu,
1st
MA+1^
annilqam.
him not
pick.
Imperative sg.
2nd m. h^fii^9^ attfkiam, do not 2nd
pi.
2nd
f.
K^A**^
pick.
attflqami,
K^A+tfo- attflqamu.
Gerund sg.
3rd m. hAA^^PJ^ allaqm^'om, he not picking, not having picked. 3rd f. h^^^19° allaqmam,
2nd m. >»AA^<w>U9" allaqniiihim^ 2nd
pi.
f.
^AA4*<7i»7i{'" allaqmiisim,
1st
h^ti^'%9^ allaqimm>em,
3rd
hAA4*i»-9" alla(|maum,
2nd
hAA4»«^^-iM^ alla(imdc(c)ihum,
1st
ytfiifi^ao'}9°
allaqmanim. o * o o Infinitive
hii0o^^9° alamalqam^, not to pick. Participle none^. 1
or -fl9^ xi^"
^
expressed by
^
rel. (§
one that does not pick.
^
^ArmA+jn* yalamalqam.
14): f"7j&A4»{'" yammailaq(i)m,
:
Amharic Grammar.
122
The
§39a sg.
neg. of hti alia
(§
32a, d) is
yallam, he
3rd m. f AJ^
pi.
§
39& in it
f A^5^
f.
not.
yallaccim,
2nd m. ?^V9°
yallahim,
2nd
f A7i9"
yallasim,
1st
fAi>J^
yallahum,
3rd
f A-JP*
yallum,
2nd
f A^iM^ yalldc(c)ihum,
1st
?^'}9^
When
^ti9° loses its -9^ in
§
f.
S7b, d,f,
not present, there
(it) is
is
3rd
[§39a, §39&
yallanim.
in which
i.e.
the cases mentioned
remains in the indicative,
it
becomes sg.
3rd m. f A 3rd
yalla,
PA^
f.
2nd m. f AU e.g.
^^^9^
:
y4llac\ yalliih, etc.,
fA
::
conjug. like hli
tflUqimm (§6)
yalla,
(§
82a)
there
is
not
a large one. :
f A-
yallu
But sg.
fA
9^'i9° ::
in
minimm
::
?,
yalla,
3rd m.
-A.A
3rd
-A.A^ -l4llaci,
2nd m. -A»AU with pref.
is
nothing.
aren't they here (there)
dependent clauses
f.
there
(§
37c)
it
?
becomes
-Italia,
-1^
allah, etc.,
(rel. P- (§
'
conjug. like
hti,
14) before htf^lTt)
-cc (§ 6).
always :
:
§
39c,
40a,
§
or ^i'J^A^A (i)ndalyalla,
flA»A bal>alla
e.g.
present, if there
f A.A
hl^in
:
sg.
if
neg. conjug. of
neg. conjug.
is
not
(§ 8), if
he were
there were not. 33)
Vfl^i (§
regular:
is
§
39c
(-ar-), etc. (§ 38).
supplied for
is
he
if
not.
alnabbaram
^AVn<:i'"
A
is
yiiPallandah^^on
:
not present,
The
123
xiccklence.
406]
§
*tah (§
aidall5im\ he
3rd m.
hSf^F-Ar*
3rd f
h^F^ii^r* aidallaccim\
by
136)
(it) is
§40a
not^
2nd m. h/Z.^AUJ^ aidallahim\ conjug. like f A9"
etc.,
hi
e.g.
fi
:
h^,F'fi9"
:
^ft
hf^F-iUhV**
^'^V
:
Ras
When
is
:
KjR.^-A-1^
ras
::
(§
37c)
(§
Zld)
drops r*
(§
376,
c,
not mine.
d,f),
aidal'^
3rd f
aidallac^ ^ o o
^.e,^.A'f•
it
becomes
'
aidalliih,
conjug. like
hd
(§
32a):
_
::
:
::
:
is
?i'>A
^
I.
^^^r* ^JK,^A tflliqimm aidal, it is not large. ^J&M^ih yaidalldccyuh, you (pi.) who are not. 9^ir ^JK,/^.A minimm JUdal, it is nothing.
hjf^F-fii
e.g.
not
dahna aidallum, the
e.g.
376)
it is
3rd m. h^.?-/\
etc.,
it is
well.
2nd m. hf^F^M)
(§
39a)
in^e aidallahum,
van^^ aidallam,
::
not
h!!,F'A9^
sg.
::
(§
not constr. with
(qv):
M^^F-fis.
or ad-, -da-
no, not.
but takes
hTr^lFTr,
(i)ndSdal, if he
:
(§
Id). 3
.11 (§ 6),
^
(it) is
not.
also used as neg. particle, 4
.5^
(§
g)
§
406
Amharic Grammar.
124
With gfiz
n-
(§
and
4a),
(§
47a, it
§
486«)
the -A of Kj&>^A becomes
has the meaning of a neg. of hii
(§32f?): e.g.
[§41a
^
flJ&/^A
:
<w»'}'ljt
:
rh.j^^
we went where there ao'il^
Before the
1
bal^iillabbat
no road, ( = flA»An^ mangad, etc.) is
(§11) the -A of
art.
mangad hadna,
baidalla
::
:
h^F'^ becomes
giiz:
f Crt-
e.g.
:
^f^f^tiOh
horse which
1
d^^ti
is
i
not
his.
COXJUGATIOX OF DERIVED FORMS OF 1
See
41a
36, initial
§
the
yarsii yaidallau faras,
\T]RB.
remarks.
Paradigm of Passive or Reflexive Form OF Verb.
Type A.
+A4ȣn> talaqqama, to
Ind. Simp,
perf
'f'ti^tm
be picked,
22a,
a).
talaqqama,
3rd f •t'ti^ao^ talaqqamac\
sg.
(§
etc., like
ti^ao
(§34).
Comp. perf sg.
(§
i-A^^A talaqmMP,
3rd f i"A4"^A^ talaqmSllac \
Comp. imperf sg.
32a)
3rd f
etc.
(§32a, 6) JiA+'^A jillaqqamaF,
^A+'^A^
tillaqqamallac^-^, etc.
1
-cc
^
G. also i'A'I'/wjVA talaciqamannal
^
(§ 7c)
(§ 6).
the 1st rad.
is
(§
32c).
doubled throughout the
tense.
A ccidence.
§41&, §41c]
CoNT.
26) J&A+J'" yillaqqam
(§
Juss. (§27)
Imp.
i.
yillaqami'2.
28) *i'^^9^ talaqam^.^.
(§
Ger.
^A+9"
125
(§
29)
Inf. (§30)
i-A^r* talaqm^^o. aDti^9^ mallaqam.
Part. (§31) i'^^"t talaqdmi.
Type
B. i'd,M tafallaga, to
from type
differs
A
be sought,
§
416
§
41c
only in the formation of the
stems of the Ger.
(§
Ind.
Comp. perf
29) l-^CA") tafallig^^o,
whence
(§
32a)
'f'<(.A^A tafallig6al,
and of the Part. (§31) i-^AX tafalldgi.
For principal parts of passive form of verbs with 1st rad.
other
K
tdttaba
e.g. /I'mfl
irre":iilar verbs, O '
o
e.«»-.
and of verbs with more
(-ya),
'hV<{.rt
to
be washed, and
to breathe, tanaffasa, o o
or less
o
o
than three
rad., see
appendix.
^
(§
7c)
the 1st rad.
is
doubled throughout the
^
2nd
^
given as a paradigm
rad. single
throughout the tense.
lar verb precludes its
imperative.
tense.
;
the meaning of this particu-
having a passive or reflexive
:
Amharic Grammar.
126
[§41c?,
§41e
Paradigm of Causative Form of Verb. UlfZ
Causative in h?»A4»<w>
Ind.
alaqqama, to take to pasture.
Simp. perf. (§25) h^^ao alaqqama.
Comp.
perf.
Comp. imperf. sg. 1st
CONT.
(§
32a, 6)
^A^'^A yalaqmaP,
^A4*'^Al^ alaqmallau^". yalaq(i)m2,
9^^r
Juss. (§27)
3rd
sg.
y^lqim
;^ A4»9" talqim
f.
Imp. (§28)
?»a4»9" Slqim.
Ger.
h^^T
Inf.
gilqimSaP.
3rdf. ;^A4»J'" talaq(i)in2.
sg.
(§
29)
2,
'^.
alqim^^o.
'^A+J^ mSlqam 2.
30)
(§
h^^'X
Part. (§31)
§
(§
^h^r
26)
^A^'^A
32a)
(§
41e Causative in ht\-
alqdmi.
:
hllfi^ao aslaqqama, to cause to pick or Ind.
Simp.
perf.
Comp. perf
(§
be picked.
25) hlxti^ao aslaqqama.
(32rt)
Comp. imperf
KftA4»^A aslaqqimoal"^.
(32a, b) ^riA4»'^A
yaslaqqimaP,
sg. 1st hilii^^iiih a.slaqqimallau*'^.
^
2 *
G. also KA+<w»TA alaqqamannal §
7a.
^
§
(§ 32c).
26.
G. also ?%ftA+<w>VA aslaqqamannal
(§ 32c).
:
§41/§42a] CoNT.
Juss.
3rd
Part.
Some in
taslaqqim^
^ftA4*9"
yaslaqqim \
^'flii^9°
taslaqqim ^
htlii^r* aslaqqim.
htlii^T aslaqqim^o.
'^AA+i^ maslaqqam^
30) (§
31) hilii^'^, aslaqqdmi.
causatives in h- are conjugated like a cans.
hd^d abaddara
hil-, e.g.
and other
this
;htiii^9"
29)
(§
(§
f.
28)
(§
Ger. Inf.
27)
(§
sg.
f.
127
yaslaqqim\
26) ^ftA4»9"
(§
3rd
sg.
Imp.
Accidence.
derived forms
causatives, (§
(ay-,
§
41/
For
adda-), to lend.
and the conjug. of other
22&) see appendix.
CONJUGATION OF BILITERAL VERBS. See
§
36, initial
Biliteral
which have
remarks.
verbs are in most cases lost a radical.
the 3rd, the 2nd and see
§
42&) rayi, -a
in the ger.
a
suff*. -i
(§ 4r/),
and inf
of the cont.,
§42a
juss.,
or -u
(§§
;
now
When
triliteral roots
the lost rad. was
final rad. is (usually,
and a compensatory
t
but
appears
-a is retained as part of the
stem
imp. and inf but disappears before
25-28,
§§
1
30, 31)
§7a.
Amharic Grammar.
128
samma. o
rt*^
[§42a
to hear, understand, (ep. Eth. ii9^0).
Indicative
Simp.
perf.
sg.
3rd m.
Comp.
rt*^
he heard, samma, o
rt*^^
sammac o
2nd m.
rt'^U
2ndf.
rt'^Yi
1st
rt'^(^
3rd
rtim-
sammah, o sammas, sammahu^, o sammu, o
2nd
rt*^^ih sammac(c)ihu^,
1st
i\*^*i
3rd
pi.
25)
(§
f.
sammana^.
perf. ('62a) rtJ^;tA sg.
3rd
Comp. imperf.
f.
(§
etc.
1
samtoaP, he has heard.
(\9°^t(^ samtallac\ etc.
32a, h) j&rt*^A jisamal, he is hearing, etc.
sg.
3rd
f.
^(\*^tiH' tisamallac^ etc.
Contingent sg.
pi.
(§
3rd m. ^rt*^
yisama,
3rd f
ihrt*^
tisama, o o
2nd m.
-^rt*^
tisama, o o
2ndf
^rt'TL
tisami, o
1st
?irt*^
isama, o o
3rd
Jirttfo*
}4samii,
2nd
^rttfi»-
tisamu, o o
1st
Mii*^ inn(i)sama.
(if,
26)
etc.)
he hears,
etc.
'
'
o
'
_
1
-cc
2
or -mahil, -man''
(§ 0).
^
or -ac(c)yuh
^
G. also rt'^VA
(§
(§
Id,
under kdiy)
Id).
sammannal
^
;
also written
or Ci*^! samman.
(§ 32c).
rt'^'V-
§
Jussive sg.
129
Accidence.
42a]
3rd m. 3rdf.
(§
J&ft*^
27)
yfsma, let
him
hear.
:
Amharic Grammar.
130 426
See
§
the lost 3rd rad. was m,
it
remains in the
but the 2nd and
now
in the inf
A compensatory +^1 qarra, to
Ind.
Simp, perf sg-
P,
in
some verbs no
ind. simp. perf. sg. o
suffl
-ii
of the
In the rest of the conjug. a t
3rd m.,
final rad. retains a in the rest
that tense except before the
and
426
42a, initial remarks.
When trace of
[§
appears in the
ger.
remain behind or
and
pi.
of
3rd
is lost.
inf
over, (J**^^^).
42&] Juss.
Accidence.
131
'
;
i Amharic Grammar.
132
See
42c
initial
§ 4:2a,
[§
^2c
remarks.
When
the lost rad. was the 2nd, the 1st rad. ''o, according as (§ 4a) rdyi -a, hdmis ^e, or sdyi [0, U, th, '^], P or ID respectively has disappeared
md,
o
•
h
^th^)
(cp. Eth.
to write,
tdfa,
is
to smoke, to be enraged, (J mPrt) J^ao q^^ oma, to stand, {J ^(Dtw) tJ^esa,
m.rt
Ind. Simp. perf. (§25) sg.
3rd m. ^d.
m^V
2nd m.
Comp.
perf.
T^A
tafa,
(§
tdf(i)h\
•
Comp. imperf.
(§
26)
Juss.
(§
27)
28)
(§
Ger.
(§
29)
sg. 1st
Inf.
(§
JRT¥
yitif.
30) aofi}^
^*fe9"
m,ft
matdf
^
or t>esx,
^
G. also ^^^.'TA tdfannal
^
S.
'
G. also
«
§ 8. §
7b.
t-^
•o
under
or tafx, tafk
(§
tiss^
".
e
7d,
''
esk.
*fe*r*
qiim^'o,
•fc*^
qiimm^e.
#w»«f 9"
mattes-.
yiqum.
qum.
*fcy"
maq^'oml
*t*^ qwdmi.
aufti tyas^^.
^
^^
yitis^.
<7Dm>f)
^<(.tafi.
omaL
^auti
nuCi tis^o'' "^
tiff>e.
\iq''
^*J^ yiq^om.
TC
tif^'o,
^•P'^A
ftm.ft vit^es.
m,ft tis^
m.(tA
®.
yit^esal.
m^ taf.
T
Part. (§31)
•fe^A qiimoaP.
^ra^A
J&^'h yftdf ^. Imp.
m.O.A tisoaP 32a, b)
(§
yitifal.
CONT.
oma, ^9°V q^5m(i)hl q''
32a)
tffdaP. o
^T'^A
fltflU tJes(i)h'.
^<w»
t>esa
rn.rt
V).
or (§
q""
omx,
q^' '
32c).
omk.
or
tf- (§ 76?).
t^esSal, G. also fli.rt*?A tesannal (§ 32c).
•P
/"or 12
q'^omannal °
-tis.
or tls
;
'"^
(§
S.
32c).
m.^
for *m.^A.
t-ves^^'o.
(§ 7ft).
)
:
§ 4i2d, §
Accidence.
43«]
133
For the principal parts of various anomalous and§42r7 derived forms
(§
22) of biliterals see appendix.
The Impersonal
Verb.
Impersonal verbs are only used in the sg. 3rd m., § 43a expressing number, person and gender by means of the pers. suff
12c)
rdbau
e.g. /S•fla^
to
(-ay-),
be or become hungry
was or
3rd m.
^fl(i>-
rabau\ he
(it)
3rd f
<5-fl1*
rabat, she
was or
2nd m. ^flU rabah^ you
2nd f
^fl'fi
you
rdbas,
(f
rdball^ I was or
3rd
iA'^Oh
2nd
^fl^U- rabac(c)yuh"', you
1st
/•fl'>
Comp. perf
Cflj^-A rlb^'otal'-
Comp. imperf CoNT.
^Cdoh
ribftatal \
(if,
„
„
„
„
„
^ he
(it) is
she
is
he is
„
„
„
hungry,
hungiy, will
or -ay-
^
or -ah.
^
or -ba-
;
-fin (§ 6).
^
or -ba-
;
-nn
'
or
'^
hungry.
(§
6)
or ^flf'-V raba^'ot. o §
7d.
or ^flV rabanna.
;
^
S 8.
^
or
etc.
be hungry.
him be hungry.
'
„
„
7d) throughout the tense.
^
-Iv-.
„
„
when) he
Juss. j^^(\ah- yirabau\ let
(§
„
they were or are
j&Cfl*PA yirbaual'^,
yirbau",
„
„
we
raban",
3rd f Cp,:i"A
„
am
^fl'"^
rab{ic(c)au,
hungry.
is
were or are
(m.)
1st
sg.
QZd).
is
2ndpol.^fl?' raba"o\ you (pol.)
pi.
(§
perf
Ind. Simp, sg.
(§
-rv-.
:
Amhcit'ic Gramma?'.
134
[§
43&
yirabih\ be hungry.
Imp.
J&^'fll)
Ger.
C(i^ rib^ot'^ he being hungry.
Inf.
ero^'il
marab^- ^ to be or
become hungry.
Part. none.
Aux. verbs Hke iflC (§33) do not take the suff. when used impersonally.
pers.
The contraction of adjacent vowels described
436 §
in
7a has been frequently exemplified in the preceding-
paragraphs.
The modification of consonants by a or e described in
§
following
i
(y)
76 occurs in the conjugation of
verbs whose final radical
is
one of the
letters there
specified e.g.
h
^d
(like
§
or pay, rtm
satta,
426), to give.
Ind. comp. perf
h'P^Al^ kafiyy§;ilau^', rt'P^Al^
sg. 1st.
saticc§;ilau^*.
Ind. comp. imperf.
2nd f ^h'h^ATi tikafySllas^
sg.
^fi'V'^lifi tisacyallas\
^A*^
Cont.
sg.
2nd f ^h¥j&
Imp.
sg.
2nd f
Neg. imp.
sg.
2nd f M\\d.f^ attfkfS, h^h*^
Ger.
sg. 1st
Part.
^
or
^
§ 8.
'^
-^yy
-ay-,
tikafi,
A*?* sic.
Yld.^ kffai,
(§ 0).
attfsc^
h'hP. kafiyye,
AT^
h4.JK,kaf£'^ ' o o
A'^ sacl o
§
7a. '
or sac,
saticcye.
•
throughout the tense. ^
tisac^
-
'
or
or
-iy-.
-s4-, -ci.
ilGBL saci (sa-
;
§ 76).
:
§
Accidence.
*4«]
Common Anomalous
hh
to say,
ala,
(s.v.
135
Biliterals.
J^ti, cp. Eth. -flUA)
Indicative
Simp. perf. (§25) sg.
3rd m. hli
dla,
3rd KA-
alu,
hti^ dlac\
2nd hA^ih aldc(c)ihu^
2nd m.
^AU
1st
2ndf.
h^fi aas\
1st
KAU-
3rd
f.
Comp.
perf.
alh^
(§
sg.
Comp.
32^0 -AO-A
Contingent 3rd m. J&A 3rd f.
(§
alna'^.
bfl6aF,
3rdf. -flAA^
imperf. sg.
hM
§;ihu*.
sg. 1st
sg.
pi.
(§ 32rt,
3rd 20)
yil,
'fl^Al^
f.
bilallac\
biyyallau^^ etc.
h) /Z.AA
yflal,
'VAA^- tilallac \ etc
44a
:
Amharic Grammar.
136
Gerund 3rd
sg.
1st
etc.
?»f ayya, to look, see, like
44&
30)
Participle
biyye\
-flf-
(§
'^A^ malatl o
'
bfla,
-flA
f.
Infinitive
(§29) o
[§44&
none
in use.
+^
42&)
(§
Indicative
h^
Simp. perf. sg.
3rd
ayya,
^»P^ ayyac^
f.
2nd m. Kf U ayyah,
Comp. sg.
perf.
3rd
f.
{§
hf^^trt aitallac\
Comp. imperf. 3rd
sg. 1st
sg.
§
f.
(§
32«, h)
h^tiih
(§
y§;i,
pi.
3rd
;^i& tSi,
2nd m.
;^Je.
2nd
;^P. tSi,
f.
ySiiaP,
^je.
^
76.
amllau''^ ^ etc.
Contingent ^/Z.
f.
^^A
j^^A-f taiallac^' ',
3rd m.
1st ^
32a) h/i:tA aitoaP,
hfs^tiih aiccallau^^ etc.
sg. 1st
sg.
etc.
^^
yaiu'',
2nd
^^
taiu^
1st
"Mf^ innai.
ai,
or
"^
-at.
G. also >%f 'TA Siyyannal
^
or -^^- -ccya-
®
or ya^al
'
or -a>a-
(§ 7r/,
3rd
tai,
*
(§ 7r/,
26)
(§
7a)
;
-cc (§ 6).
(§ 32c).
-A'V-.
under f under f
).
).
'
§
26.
^
or -a^u.
Ub] Jussive sg.
Srdm. 3rd
(§
27)
j&je.
yiy\
^JE.
tiy^
[?tj&
iy,]^
f.
1st pi.
137
Accidence.
Imperative sg.
yfyu^
3rd
Ji^
1st
h-}^ innfy^,
pi.
(§
28)
2nd m. ?%J& iy*^, 2nd f. ?t^ fyi^ h^ iyul 2nd
Negative Imperative (§38) sg.
2nd m.
h^JK. attfy^
2nd
K-Thf-.
f.
2nd
pi.
attfyi^^
h't-^ att(yu^\
Gerund
(§29)
3rd m. h^-f- aif'o,
sg.
3rd
h^;f* Sita,
f.
h^^
1st
aicc>e^^ etc.
Infinitive
(§
30)
o
Participle (§31) t^f-. ayyi.
^
or
'
only with A-
* ^
^"^
^^
^
yi, yl. (§
or
486) AJK.
or yiu, yiu.
^
or
or
^
or
or
li, li.
o
'
^^
-tii,' -tii. o
or ma>at
(§
7d,
ti, ti.
or
liy, li,
li.
-ni, -ni.
"
lu, lu. '
»
o
-tin, -tiu. o
under f ).
'
or
1,
1.
or
(§
8)
'-'
§ 76.
;
4
-ti
:
Amharic Grammar.
138
§
^H
44c
[§ ^^<^
ydza, to seize, take hold (of), like ^<{.
42c)
(§
Indicative
Simp.
perf.
y^za,
^H^
3rdf.
25)
(§
3rd m. ^H
sg.
3rd ^H-
pi.
2nd ^H^ih yazdc(c)ihu^
ydzac^
2nd m. ^TfU yazh^ ^TfTi
yazs^
1st
^'Hl^
yazhu^
sg.
perf.
yizalljic\
/^.^^Al^ yizallau^^
Comp. imp. sg.
yazna".
32a) JZ-llA yizdSP,
(§
3rd f JRHA^
sg. 1st
^IfV
1st
2ndf.
Comp.
yazu,
(§
32a, h) /S,JK,HA yi(y)fzal, or
3rd f ^/K.HA^
^HA
yizal,
ti(y)izallac \ or -fcHA-f tizallac\
etc.
Contingent (§26) sg.
3rd m.
i&j&'H
yi(y)fz,
or
j&Tf
yiz,
3rd f
^^-H
ti(y)fz,
„
-fH
tiz,
ti(y)fz,
„ -fc-M
tiz,
ii{y)iz\
„ -tTV
m\
2nd m. ^J&'H 2nd f ^^:yV pi.
^
cc
or
?»^'H
i(y)fz,
„
K-n
iz,
3rd
JB.J&H-
yi(y)fzu,
„
f^W
yizu,
2nd
^^H-
ti(y)fzu,
„ -tH-
tizu.
1st
Mf.'n
inni(y)fz^«,
(-sk), (§ Id,
-sh-,
zhw(u),
under
hu, ydzuh, ^TlVh yazku
(-sh-), (§ 7c?,
under
or -dc(c)yuh
^
G. also ^H'l'A ydzannal (za-;
«
(§
Id)
;
or -A-Vr
^
Id).
'
'
(-sk-, -kii),
^TfT^ ya-
kdiy, 0, H).
^
(§
„
ItxW inniz.
or ydzih, yash, ^Tifi yazx, yasx, ^ or ydzis, yass H). (§ "id).
'^
(§ 6).
^Tih yazk ^
1st
or
or ^'M'i yazn, yazin. §
32c).
-zi (§ 7ft).
''
or innyfz.
139
Accidence.
45]
Jussive
3rd
sg.
Imperative sg.
pi.
^yil
f.
{§
27)
(§
tf(y)§;z\ etc.
28)
Neg. Imp.
I
2nd m. ^H yaz, 2nd f. ^DT yaz^ 2nd ^H* ydzu.
h'V^H
3rd
f.
1st
38)
attyaz\,
K'Th^nr attyaz' ^ Ji^-^H- attydzu.
Gerund sg.
{§
(§29)
^H ^H
yfza,
J&lf
yizz>e*, etc.
yfz-o,
ao^ll
Infinitive (§30)
mayaz^l
Participle (§31) y^T yaz". Prefixlnfi A-,
modify sg.
etc. (§ 48a),
ft- -fl-,
its
of CoaJKnctions
prefixes thus
3rd m.
when
pref. to the cont.
(§§ 5, 6,
7a)
bilaq(l)m^
fl,A4»S'"
Con tin gent.
to
§45 (§
26)
:
if
he picks,
bitt(i)laq(i)m\ if she picks, etc.
bitt(i)laq(l)m^ bitt(i)laqmi^,
bilaq(i)m,
bilaqmu^ bitt(i)laqmu**,
^^n(i)laq(i)m. § 8.
'"
or
-zi (§ 7&).
ma>az or maiaz, oo o '
or ^TC ydzi or
bitl-
7f/,' (^ \«>
^
under f
G.).
^ §
76.
). ^
'
(§ 76).
(seldom in
or attyazi.
or
bil- (§ 7d).
:
:
;
Amharic Grammar.
140 sg.
pi.
when he
3rd m.
rt.^T'fl syat(i)Y,
3rd
ft;^T'n sittSt(i)y,
f.
2nd m.
ft;^T'n sittat(i)y,
2nd
ft;^Tfl
sittg;tvi, ' . .
1st
^T-n
sat(i)Y,
3rd
rt.^Tfl-
syatyu,
2nd
ft;^Tf^ sittatvu,
1st
ft'^T'fl
f.
[§
46
washes.
o
sinnat(i)y.
The Adverb. §
Adverbs have no special form
46
79
gana, yet.
hihl ahun
(-wn),
h(Dl aww(n)
now.
(au-), yes.
Substantives, alone or with a preposition, adjec-
pronouns with a preposition, and the gerund 29) are used as adverbs
tives, (§
e.g.
iiHftT wiist,
or
d,^,
it\
s.
interior,
nfl>-ftT b|uiist (§ 8), s.
adv. inside.
face,
d,^ or n
ao^h9° malkdm-, hH,U kazzih-
^
(§
-,
adv. in front, formerly.
adj. beautiful, adv. well.
47a,
§
13a), at or
from this (one)
adv. here, hence. "klfy^li (i)ndamin?*
'
or
'
or -da-
'5
-it.
;
§ 8.
8.
2,
like
=^
or
what?; adv. how? ha-, -dz-, -fh, S Id.
:
§
Accidence.
4r7a]
f^lT dagm^o (da),
ger.
141
he
repeating
(it)
;
adv.
again.
Some
adverbial particles are suffixes,
The
s.v.
-1, -h,
Preposition.
Prepositions are of two kinds, simple and com-§47c» posite.
The simple e.g.
prepositions are prefixes
A-
la-, for, to,
fl-
ba-,
by means
't'-
ta-,
or h- ka-,
fft
with, at, in,
of,
at, in,
from,
yJi-, of,
because
A- sila-\ o o
^A-
yala--,
Mf^-
without
(i)nda-^ like,
hll-V- ista-, o
When
of,'
'
o
or hfth-
iska-, as far as, o
o
up *-
to.
these are attached to a pers. pron. they take
the disjunctive form E.g. AiC^ft <^
:
*iah
A^ VoH :
::
::
(§
12«).
lafaras o
o
*
o
lan^e nau, o o
nau, o
for me.
it is
'
flh^-
4»"-<^mfl»«
:
:
for the horse.
it is
bakarra qwiiratau, cut
it
with a
knife. '^fl.'^
hfl.->
:
:
VflH
::
iD«]
::
tav^et nau,
he
(it) is
kav^et AVwtta, he
in the house.
came out of the
house. ^I't'
:
Vfli-
::
yauta^'
^
or
^
or (i)nda-.
sila-.
nau,
*
'^
*
it is
yours.
G. ^A- dla- (cp. § 8.
'
§
§
7a.
37a).
:
Amharic Grammar
142 i\ti'l\9^'i\
nau, silazfmbi o o o o o
[§47a because of the
:
*iah «
:
rh.^
::
yalaganzav hada, he went without
^Oh
::
ndafaras^ nau,
it is
oof]
::
matta, istav^et OO* O
he
it is
flies.
^Al^H'fl
money. Mf^d.^ti Jift'Ml.^
i
:
'
'
like a horse.
(it) ^
came
as far
'
as the house. A-, fl-
are also attached with the pers.
to a verb, or interposed
aux.
hA
doubled -^,
-U
(§
and they become -A-
%
[-fi],
m. -A^- -Hat-
between the verb and the
In these positions their consonants are
32).
(§5),
-i
[-'>];
(-at-),
f.
-Hat-,
e.g.
Idkallin-, o
o
Ah
idka,
-bbi- before
3rd they
make
m. -Q^- -bbat-
(-at-),
with the
-A^-
-Hi-, -
sg.
f -n^- -bbat-
AhA^
suif. (§ 12c)
he sent:
;
Accidence.
47&]
^Ah A
A?A
JE-Ah
:
:
he
yillkal,
143
sending, will send
is
he will send to or for me.
yilfkillinnaP,
/K.A»1A'/A vilfkillihaP, • o o o o
you.
"
•'
J&A*lA?f A yilfkillisal,
J&AhAP^A yilikilla^oaP, ^AhA;^A yilikillatal,
„
you
(f.).
you
(pol.).
him.
/Z.AyiA;^A yilikillatal,
her.
JiAhAVA
us.
yilikillinnal,
^AhA^AA
yilikilla
]
you
"
d(d)ihwaP,J^
J& AhA'T
(pi.).
them
(him,
pol.).
AV\A
Ifkoal,
A)iA^A
he has
sent,
lik"()llinnaP,
'
o
o
he has sent to or for me.
Com])osite prepositions consist in a prefix and a
word following the recipient of the of prp.
often a resolution into
is
prefix.
its
This type
component parts
of an adv. composed of a prp. and a substantive e.g.
h-
[i*-] ...
:
pC
ka- (ta)
...
gar, with
(§
46)
(accompany-
ing), . . .
:
id-AT ba-
fl- ...
;
<{.'Th
fl- ...
:
Aj& ba-
fl-
^
on ^
ba-
...
.
. .
. . .
wust, inside,
fit", in lai,
front
on, upon,
of,
before,
above
This and the next six forms often have the accent -kf- (§ 8).
or -A?';l-A
2
.
-llaS)tcal, o
^
tal. '
or
^
or
0^0/'
lik'^'6- (8
fit.
Q^.
.Tj^
_^^^i
-AJ^hA
-lli^oal, o
or -ac(c)yuhal
8); G. also
'
(§
AhA^VA
-A?';^A •
-lli^^o-
Id).
000
idkallinfiinnal.
o
s
475
:
;
:
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
144
or consists in a simp. prp. e.g.
h- [+-]
'\r%
t
pC
flfl.'h
:
fln.ih
:
hn.^
:
...
:
aott\
:
m-ftT
^^
i
::
adv. of that type
(ta-)
bauiist\ inside.
...
tan^e^ ffar matta, he
bav>et^
:
and an
ka-
fliD-ftT
[§48a
wiist,
came with me.
inside the house.
bav^et^ fit^ in front of the house.
flOHftT
Vfl»-
:
kavct vaudsti^ nau, he
::
(it)
is
inside the house.
The §48«
Conjunction.
Conjunctions are of three kinds, prefixes,
suffixes,
and unattached. Prefixed conjunctions, which ^ introduce dependent clauses, inchide several particles also sitions e.g.
(§
47rt)
pref to simp, perf
fl-
+-
when,
ba-, o
'
'
(§
25)
if,'
or h- ka-, since,
ta-,
ftA- sila-
(-lii-),
as,
seeing that,
because,
^l^^- (i)nda- (-da-), as, in the
same way
until hhi'- istaor hMi- oiska-, o o o
pref to cont. A-
used as prepo-
l(i)-, to,
ft- s(i)-,
(§§ 26,
that; also pref to juss. sg. 1st ;
with neg. cont.
(§
b(i)-,
if,
h-
k(i)-,
than that,
'
or
''
fit.
except A- with juss.
S
(§ 27).
(§ 27),
38) before,
when,
•fl-
*
'
45)
when, while
Ms.
that,
Id.
§
48a]
Accidence.
AA?"- silamm-
X'Jj^-, (i)nd(i)-, in
htl^E.of. flrt*^
ist(i)-,
fl,rt"?
hA*^
+rel.
§
because,
14),
order that,
hlitl- isk(i)-, until.
he had heard, when he heard,
if
bisaraa\ if he hears. o
:
'
kasamma, as
:
luA*^
or
basamma,
;
ftA-
(i.e.
145
(or, since)
he heard,
kisama\ than that he should hear. o
:
AAA'^l^
silasammau^\ because I heard, o o o
!
'
'
AAi^A*^
:
silammisama, because I shall hear. o o o o
K^^VflC
:
ndiinabbiir, as
hlr^lf"}
htHii
:
nddlla'*,
present :
"hMith.^: ^aott\
:
(it)
was,
ndih^'dn^ in order that he
:
htli'th,^
he
as he
(it) is, if
may
(it)
(whether) he
be,
(it) is
(§ 32(1).
istahada, until
he went,
istihad", until
he goes.
:
lt\d,^ptiih
limata
::
I
ifalliffallau'',
want to
come,
A9"^
Ifmta, let
::
me come
;
or,
am
Ifmta ?,
I to
come?
when you come
l{^'ao^^
:
sittimata*,
fi^aof^x
.
sattimata^ before you
^
or
*
or sitm-
AM.GR.
^
-is-.
(§ 45).
or
come
-ih-. ^
(or,
or satm-
came),
(or,
^
%
came).
la.
(§ 45).
10
;
Amharic Grammar.
146
§
[§
48&,
§
48c
Suffixed Conjunctions.
486
-m (-mm
-9^ -j^
.
.
.
.
both
-J^,
and, even, also, too,
§ 6),
....
and,
-V -nna, and, but.
-ft -ss,
These come after other sufF., and -9" and interposed between the verb and the aux. hd {§ E.g. ^C^A.'t'H'"
^H*
:
-ft
are
32).
farasitunimm ydzu, they caught
::
the mare too. d.dX^l^
n*A"i»-'}
:
h9^m
:
farasuuiuna vaql^'oun o o o o •
::
•
anta\ bring the horse and the mule. flA-f *^A aot^t{
mattass, but he has come.
:;
f^aoft\t\^
f^Vilh
balt^^ommal, and he has eaten.
:
::
h'iiD^ih9°
s
know
I didn't
§
yimatassal, but he will come.
48c
i:
yihannaniss alauwwqhum, but
this.
Unattached Conjunctions.
11 ^n (q.v.) but i
;
gen.
comes second
"hliK (i)nji (q.v.), indeed,
E.g. A.A
:
*7^
:
hah^li-^
::
lela^
but
;
ends
in its clause
its clause.
gin auqc411au^, but I
know
another. fcUV^ •^
:
h^iL^*Q9^
gim, lelaun
:
inji,
A.AOJ-'}
:
MTi
want
I don't
other.
'
§ 7rf.
V.
^
§ 8.
vihannan o •'
this one,
alfallio
o
but the
!
§49«
— §50]
:
Accidence.
The
147
Interjection.
Interjections need no remark:
Kit fssi!\ good!, Tfl^
Txd
all
§49«
right!
zimm!, hush! arao^!^ nonsense!
+ft qass!, softly!, gently!
For the use of hii^
hh
and
§
496
a given root, existing or theoretical, various
§
50
with
interj.
assaiiila, s.v. VflA,
dla
(§
44a),
VrtT
Formation of Nouns.
From
nouns both substantive and adjective are formed by means of prefixes, suffixes, and modification of vowels. In dictionaries words are grouped under such roots. Taking the roots ti^tn* (type A § 34),
hfl^ kabbada, to be heavy,
kabbid", adj. heavy.
hfl,Jt
h^ii addasa, to renew, o o K-S.A dddis, adj. new.
*A.*J^ laqqdm*, adj.
mflfl tabbaba*', to mfl-fl
^
or
*
%ld. V
be narrow,
tabbdb^'\ adj. narrow.
-si (S Id). ^
2
or -bid. O
8 7f/
or araao^
;
^
or
-va. • O
^
^
8 8.
or
-dv. •
10—2
Amharic Gravfimar.
148
[§
*A*9" Hqum, used as
adj. (passive), also
to hfl^ kabbara% o o o '
Vlfl-C
kibur^
4»'?'ft
qMdus\
*A*J^
lfq(i)m,
^'PA*?
ffllig,
and
s.
adj.
be
s.
rich,
honoured, exalted.
adj.
holy
s.
;
saint.
adj.
fj^^ darraqa, to be dry, J?:C4» dirq,
s.
dryness
adj. dry.
;
Aflrt
labbasa, to wear, o o o'
A'flft
libs^
++A
qaqqala, to boil,
^
dress
s.
;
libbis, adj.
worn.
^'^'A q|qqil, boiled.
*^A^9" tflqdm^ s.
abstract.
JiHH azzaza, to o o
command,
^XHTf [^Htf]
tizaz\
:
*trD^^9° malqam, s.
order.
(inf. § 30),
of place or instrument.
Vl^ naggada, to ao'ilj^
#w»ft4»A
8.
traffic,
mangad, road.
rt4»A sa(iqala, to
M
s.
suspend,
mdsqal, cross. ^ o o ^
or
-ar-.
^
or
-Iv-.
*
or
-vs.
50
:
§
50]
Accidence.
'
149
^ao^^'t^ malqamya, ^oD^ii'l.y mafallagya, adj. relative to or instrumental in effecting the
action or state
h^V kaddana, ' o o o'
commonly used
;
as
s.
to cover, '
<w»h£? makdana\
lid.
'hmd qwcJttara^ to count,
ew^m^^ maqwiitaiya-, }?#n>
jammara',
v.t.
s.
instrument for counting.
to begin,
ao'^oD^^ maiammarya-, adj.
initial
;
s.
beginning.
qwojffara-, to dig,
*fe<{.
ao'^d^6^ ma(pvaJffarya^ spade, hoe.
*^^'ni lfq(i)man\ s.
abstract.
(Vfl^lli)
fl^ baiTa, to shine,
-nCV} bfrhan^
Clao
raofiifama,
o~~ o
o
s.
light
adj. light.
;
to curse,
C*7*T> riprfmdn\
s.
curse.
Analogous formations are derived from roots of or more than three letters and from derived verbal forms (§ 22)
less
e.g.
Ifl
gabba, to enter,
#n>*7(U^
magbya^
s.
^
for *ao\i^XS
*
or 'hd'^l irgfmdn
§
entrance.
75.
'
(§
Id,
or
''
-ar-. '"
§ 8).
or
§ 8.
-gy-.
!
Amharic Grammar.
150
Klfl agabba, to
caus.
in.
rndgbyaS instrument for putting
*^*7fl,^
7Anm
put
[§
in.
sralabbata, to invert,
*7A'fl'P grtbit^ adj.
inverted.
a\aoa\ao tamattama, to wind, twine,
aoa\9^a\'%^ matamtamya, "t^aoav taQammata,to O A© O •© ao'^ao'^
turban.
s.
sit,
maqqamaca^
seat.
KflAA abassala^ to cook, o o o '
*^'flrt^
mabsaya^ oven.
Suffixes: -a?" -am, adj. full of. <7oAV)
malk, form, colour, o
oo^hT* malkam^ beautiful, excellent. o -*^
-mm a,
connected^ by
-i-,
adj. resembling.
haoff:
amad,
ash,'
hao^^ amadfmma^, -;^ -ta, s.
connected^ by
ash-coloured, grey.
-i-,
abstract.
11*7
zigg
!,
interj.
slowly
!,
gently
'H*7;^ ziggfta^ patience, inexcitability.
^
or
^
for *ap^'l*0o(n,^
2
-gy-. (§
-ly-
;
also gilfbbit. *
7b, c).
'
or
'
with a final consonant.
-ys-,
or
-dia; for *'^'nrtA>»
or
ay-.
^
§ 8.
(§ 76). ^
or
-ad-.
50
;
Accidence.
50]
-a^
151
-at (-at),
s.
abstract.
tf»-4»
muq,
adj. hot,
ao-^^ miiqat,
s.
heat.
-V^ -nnat (-nnat), conDected^ by
-i-,
abstract.
s.
flJJ^AC w&>ttaddar^ soldier, o
tD^f^Ci^ wojttaddarfnnat^ '^ being a
soldier, mili-
tary service.
-^
-nfia,
connected^ by
-i-
or
-a- (-a-),
adj. relating to s.
agent.
h*^/.'
amara\ Amhara,
li'^C*? amarffina\ adj. d.dtl faras, o
o
d.dA''j
s.
and
s.
Amharic.
horse,
farasa^lna^ adj. relating to horses;
s.
horse-
man. ^
with a final consonant.
*
or
-9^'^-
-mhd-.
^
or
-da-.
^
or
-sa-.
^
or
-at.
:
Amharic Grammar.
152
[§51,
§
52a
SYNTAX. §
51
Various points of syntax have been treated in the Accidence, especially in that of the pronoun, verb and preposition, the accidence and syntax of Note.
which are often
intimately connected
so
in
this
and synthetic language that they cannot
inflectional
be separated with either convenience or propriety. Peculiarities of syntax which are not of wide apphcation have usually been relegated to the vocabularies, where they are discussed under the particular words which exhibit or involve them. Number. Singular for Plural.
§52a
The
singular
fi'equently
is
used with a plural
force,
especially (a)
after
(y8)
after
many? e.g.
(§
-aw
:
:
'flH'
bizu,
(§
20a).
much, many; hl^
sint?,
how
15): CiOh
many 'fltt'
numerals
rtflH
:
d.%
bfzu sau
::
he
fajja,
(it)
destroyed
people. :
aott\
..
\)iz\x
sau matta,
many people
came. (y)
of parts of the body of which there are two
or more e.g. ^JiT- ain, etc.,
"h'^Dl
J
= eye or
eyes, etc.
"haxdoh a fjjihin ftayau,
wash your hands.
:
§
52b,
TCA.'J
153
Syntax.
5Sa]
§
:
:
:
Ji'bJ^Aih
tfrs^^en ifiqallau^
::
I
my
brush
teeth.
of objects not usually occurring or used singly
(S) e.g.
9"AT ^flA
destroy
Avill
^*^ rtm^
::
:
mist yiyalaual, the white ants
::
it.
camma
he gave
sattiifi,
me
a pair of
shoes. T-j^'fl
giidba
(-dy-),
s.,
a ditch, channel formed by
broken ground, e.g. that along a river bank cut up by numerous channels
water: then, in
sense,
pi.
draining into the river (w>^)-
Plural for Smgtdar. In the 'polite' form, or referring to superiors pers. pron.
(§
12«,
(§
:
(pol.)
mode
of addressing
12a), the plural verb
§
r>
26
and
are used with a singular force:
b, c)
(the adj. remains in the sg. e.g. ^flJ-j^A*
the
i.e.
yauilcplllu,
§
536)
you
(sg.
pol.)
know,
or,
he
knows.
Concord in Number.
The concord in number between substantive, tive,
pronoun and verb
is
adjec-
generally maintained except
in the following cases
A adj. e.g.
substantive in the
and occasionally fl);^^C^^
:
^'^*?
:
may be
pi.
(§§ 15,
^n^tD'
constr. with
an
16) with a pron. in the sg.:
wwttaddar^' oc
::
dahna
ndccau\ the troops are in good health.
commonly
^'IT^ 'i'^fl*- « ww- dahn'^Oc ndccau; ^'V'i" (q.v., prob. for n^'W) is one of certain adj. which generally remain in the sg. ^
less
at-
.•
.-
e
-3^
:
:
Amhai^ic Grammar.
154
h^ A^^
hC^ A^^ :
rt^i''?^
kif^oc Hi^^oc, O'' O
:
'
ih/V*
:
535,
§
54a
kffu Hj'^oc, or
:
:
[§
bad
children.
sarratafifioc hiillu,' or o
:
rt^'^^^ ihA^flH :
sarrataftftoc hulldccau, all the
:
labourers.
i
535
The uses mentioned
in
52
§
may
involve breaches
of concord e.g. 'AH'
:
rtfl>-
:
<w>m«
::
many people
bfzu sau mattu,
came. 'h'iiA%'?^'i
JiAH.U'J
:
:
illazzihin quncdcin,
*7«%*2?'7 « innifajajjauallan
we
thoroughly destroy
will
these ants. hi.
:
l-hr
(D^l^r
:
:
WiD-
ndccau, the Chief Justice Ir'h
i
hfiiaom-9^
::
dfa
::
is
nigUS Wajfrdm
stout.
ras almattum, the
Ras
lias
not
come.
Gender.
Concord in Gender. i54a
The concord pron.
and verb
gender between substantive, art. generally maintained, but see § 54
in
is
Substantives denoting male objects are m., female objects f
Other substantives are usually m. but may
be made f
(§
e.g.
tDlf^a^ ilr^r
X
^l*S'l^
:
9a)
Va^
V^ K :
wcundfmmu nau,
::
s^'et
Vfl^'f
;:
nat,
it is
it is
his brother.
a woman.
nndtu nabbariic,
it
was his mother.
;
§
:
:
Syntax.
54&]
:
155
Determination of Gender.
The gender of words used
both sexes may be § 54&
for
fixed (a)
when the
e.g.
object
rt.^ s^et,
h(D*i'
aura
e.g.
farasitu, the o
:
o
o
','
^
aK"
atl^ rt.^
:
s^ etlij
•
<{.^ft
wwndi'^
!
^iUti
i
indeterminate, by
is
male, Kitl^ ofnist o
:
:
'
flJ'Jj?:
wwnd,
female, of persons and^ animals,
(Dl^ aK" A'T"
mare
'
when the object
male,
art. (§ 11)
farasu, the horse,
:
^
(/8)
determinate, by the
is
lij,
a
',
',
and
female, of animals
a boy, son,
girl,
daughter.
wojnd(i)^ %^^^> ^ stallion,
:
or s^et faras, o o
:
'
X^ft'lh 01 "Jj^
e.gr.
o
:
F^C^
F-C
:
infst faras,' o
o
o
wwndi
:
o
a mare. or
d'^or^'o,
'
aurd d" ()r''o, a cock,
:
s>et d^^or'^0, or
hlrtl^
:
/^C?
hoh'^
:
Hlf '>
MilH'
I
HJfJ
a hen.
infsti' d^^dr^o,' o
:
o
o
:
:
aurd
z(')h''on,
infsti
'
a bull elephant,
z(')h"on,
a cow elephant.
The gender of a word of indeterminate gender
(y)
may
:
d^M
F'C
:
hoh^' rt.'>
:
'•
also
h^ •
:
be shown by the verb or rtflH
its
equivalent
nabbarac, she was a kffu sau o o o o
:
Vfl^C-f
::
:
'i'^
sau^ uat, she kifu o o
'
lot.
h^ ^
:
rtflJ-
::
not gen. out of
'
S.
'
§ 8-
is
a bad '
§
lot.
7d.
bad
:
:
Amhciric Grammar.
156
I
:
:
[§ 54c, § 54<7
Diminutive Use of Feminine.
54c
The feminine e.s:.
o
^y^
:
^77i
is
used to denote smallness
'i'^
:
::
tfnnis tinnis^ nat, o o o o
is
it
'
very '
small.
M^^9°
attittayyim,
::
it
(is
so small that
it)
is
not seen.
Thus the f. art. (§11) or a f. dem. pron. (§ 13a) is added to a word to form a diminutive, the art. in this case often losing e.g.
determinative force
its
^fi^ qaddda, a hole,
^^H^'P qadadaitu^ the
(or, a) little hole.
t^!^ nfdad\ fever, attack of fever. a slight "
'ifi^'P nidaditu'',' O O
^f ao^^ :
:
yac matdf \ that
little
book.
Similarly nouns expressing small objects, especially
small animals and insects, are e.g.
"hl^l^d^ ^HAA^ :
::
commonly feminine
nqwurdrit
tizallallac,
the toad
hops. ?f^<5^
:
^C^ii^
::
sararit
tir''
otallac,
the spider
runs. 54:d
A
diminutive formed by the f
1
always have e.g.
Tr^^'P
:
its
does not
verb in the feminine
hDrfoh
t^^'P hiioh :
art. (§ 54c)
::
-.:
niddditu
and
niddditu allau, he has a
'
8. '
<411accyu,
S.
S.
little fever.
+^^'P qadadaua.
'iH^ nidadwa.
:
§
Syntax.
55a, §556]
157
Words of Variable Gender. Several substantives, such as H^b zaf, tree,
+'J qan, day, •7H. gfz>e,
time,
though usually m. are occasionally der having a diminutive forced
f.
without the gen-
Case.
Position of Nominative.
The usual
position of the nom., which
indicate the subject,
is
used to § o^a
at the beginning of a clause,
is
the ace, indicating the object, coming between
it
and
the verb e.g. O rtob
:
hl^fi
:
I^A •*
has killed a
sau ambassa^' gaddala, a O o o o o'
::
'
man
lion.
gaddala, sau* Y\l^fii{\ah:lfA'^ ambassa a lion o o o o *^
has killed a
'-'
man.
Introductory Nominative.
A
accompanied by a dem. § 55& pron. (§ 13a), may also stand in the nom. in an introductory manner at the head of a clause of which it is not the subject, and in which it may be referred to by substantive, usually
Cp. the large number of diminutive forms in spoken Latin, esp. of the 'Animula vagula blandula' period, which have lost all diminutive force in the Romance ^
languages. •"
ace.
(§
56a).
^
lid.
*
§ 8.
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
158
[§
a pron. amounting to a possessive (genitive dative e.g.
56a
§
126) or
12c) case:
(§
J&U
§
56,
(loh
:
M"^
i
T*'h
t
man's father
::
yihe^ sau abbdtu m^ota, this
dead,
is
(lit.
this
man
his father
is
dead).
J&^
:
rt.^
Ajf f A^?" K yfcci s^et has no child, (lit. this :
:
woman
li
yalldtim, this
j
woman
there
is
not a child to her).
A clause may e.g. je-U
hie
:
contain more than one such nom. h^-il
:
:
oolfh
:
h4^
::
yfhe
dgar
irdy
mah'' onu kaffa, this country has suffered from famine,
of
this
(lit.
has been harmful).
it
The §
56
country famine the happening
Accusative.
The accusative is the case of the For its position in the clause see § 55a.
direct object.
Indeterminate Accusative.
l^Qa
When
the ace.
termination e.g. fl.^
Aif
:
^a4»
:
-T- (§ ::
fl.^
is
indeterminate or indefinite the
9c) is usually
dropped
b^et ayya, he saw a house. :
h^
tillfq^ y^et^ ^yyii,
::
he saw a large
house. f ?f 5^" (§
:
fl.^
:
h^
::
yiisum^
b^'et ayya,
he saw a chiefs
47a) house.
f a)^*!*
:
fl.ih
:
Y\^ a
fallen house,
yawwddaqa^
(lit.
which
y^'et-
fell, § 14).
ayya,
he saw a
:
:
Syntax.
56b]
§
159
Amharic often uses the indeterminate form where English uses the determinate, §
the
i.e.
article
(op.
o9a)
e.g.
He
the skin with water
filled
aqumadaun
aofiOh K Oh'/
:
last
h^'^ftOhl
:
wtiha mallau, or
-.
ah'/
M^IH
.-
:
aqumada wiiha (-madauha) malla, which also = he filled a skin with water. aof[
Determinate Accusative.
The nite.
ace. takes
When
epithet or
-'>
when
determinate or
rendered so by the
it is
equivalent,
its
it is
art.,
a pron., an
these that take
it is
defi-
-*>
and
not the ace. which they determine e.g.
fl.'l*'>
:
h^
::
b^etin ayyii, he saw the house.
n>l27
:
h^
::
b>etun
^if
::
b>et>'en ^yya,
fl.'1*
:
ilyya,
he saw the^ house,
or, his
house. (t'fj JRU"}
:
!
^A*'y
h^
n.-!-
:
yihan b^et
::
^f
:
«
my
he saw ayyii,
house.
he saw
this house.
tnUqiin^ b^et ^yya, he saw the
large house. ^Thao-'i
:
rt»'l*
:
hf
::
yjisumun^ b>et
flyya,
he saw the
chief's house.
f a)^+fl>-^
:
fl.'1*
:
Kf
::
yawwddaqaun^ b>et
saw the house which
^
fell
down.
before-mentioned,
2^0
this.
ayya,
he
§
566
Amharic Grammar.
160
[§
o6c
Adverbial or Speeijw Accusative. 56c
An
an action or transitive in which are not state is found with verbs the usual sense of the term, i.e. which do not admit ace. specifying or particularizing
The action or state may be cognate or germane to the sense of the
a direct object. as
regard to time,
particularized in
KA4* allaqa, to f U^
*7H.
:
i
::
yan
::
to an end,
yihan wa>r ydlqal,
it Avill
come
month.
this
Vnc
:
come
^A:^A
an end
to ^'J
(dC
:
verb, or
direction,
degree, or in regard to an object^:
manner or e.g.
place,
specified
giz^e nabbar,
it
was at that
time.
H^
z''6ra,
ItC^ahlr
:
to
\id a
zuryaun z^ora, he went right round
walked round as regards
(lit.
it,
go round, revolve, its
circum-
ference).
in gabba, to go iU'P'y
:
1(\
::
in,
he went into his house, b^etun CD ffabba, o
went home.
When
^
the action
may be
particularized in regard
to a variety of objects one begins to feel that the
verb
may
with some propriety be called transitive,
There are grammarians who will distinguish between the accusatives in ({Cib^l Aflrt k and ([C^^l rt^4» « on the ground that AHA is not a (s.v.
AOrt).
•.
:
while admitting that the ace. of the direct object ultimately, an adv. ace. The inexpert compiler of
v.t., is,
a grammar may quote a remark the truth of which he has probably illustrated himself: el fx-q larpol r^a-av, ovhku av
T^u Toiv ypa/x/xartKcSi' [xcoporepov.
:
Syntax.
56d]
161
rh.^ hada, to go,
^l^C
duf^
:
V.
g^^ondar^ hada, he went to Gondar.
hhli akkala (qv.), to increase,
ft ^UA s
9"^
to,
ifi yan yahl^ sdu^ min what has become of all those men?,
flOh
J
h^^ona?, o
:
::
..
amount
the men'^ that
(lit.
amount
to that
number
what have they become?). labbasa, to dress oneself, o o
Aflrt
o
flCi;'''> (§
:
Aflrt
barnetau labbasa, he put on the
::
o9a) hat.
j^'mO tdttava, to wash oneself, o o • •
h^l
•
?i;l-mnA'V^
:
::
my hands. haoaooh' ammamau
iii>en'''' ittattavallaiii\
I will
wash
^ftt haoaoch in his head^
::
:
This adv. ace.
43«,
§
63r/),
to
be
ill,
in pain,
ammamau, he has a pain
rdsun
may occur
with an adj. or adv.
§56f?
rdqut, naked,
^'fe-'h
^fr'>
(§
:
^*'lh
:
rdsun rdqut, with his head bare.
•fl^ bfcca, alone,' o
'fl^^P»'J
biccd^ en,
by myself.
^
Here there may be an
2
For e'TL^UA,
'
§
ellipse of flo^- (qv.).
s V. h\\^.
52«.
*
Cp. XovofxaL Tas ^etpas.
^
Cp. dXyel
AM. GR.
Tr]v K€(f>a\yjv.
11
:
:
:
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
162
[§
56^
Determmate and Indeterminate Accusative
A
§56e
§
56g
together.
take a determinate ace. and an
may
verb
—
in-
determinate ace. at the same time^ e.g. I^Hfl.'}
l^A•
:
rt^4»
:
has stolen
ganzav^en
::
my
all
hiillu sarraqa-,
he
money.
Doid)le Accusative. \
Two
56/
may
inco-ordinate accusatives
occur when a
verb admits of two inco-ordinate objects e.g. KfiXl^'i
hl^Ohl
:
I
htl^Cl
«
(§
68)
askarun siraun asdar-
he made his servant do the work.
rasra,
Or one
the direct object and the
may be
ace.
other a specific ace. e.sr.
o
(dW^ ^flrtfl>wiped the sweat
One
:
-.
of these ace.
he wwzun abbasau, o o
foitun
•.:
off his face.
may remain when
the verb
is
placed in the passive or reflexive e.g. ;^flrt
::
fliH^'J
:
tabbasa, he wiped himself ;^flrt
wcuzun tabbasa, he wiped the sweat
::
oft' himself
Other Accusatives. §
The
56^ its
ace.
may be used
use being expressed by the speaker
e.g.
^dtl
'.
'^Tr
f •1h?fl>-'>
^
without the word involving
Cp.
§
::
::
faras
(§
8)
yetiiinaun
2
83&.
f'JHn.T
can, saddle a horse.
which one
?,
I
U-A-'J
:
rt^+
?
::
distinguished from the above in Eng.
the meaning
'
all
the (that)
money
I
;
can hardly be it
approaches
had'; see
§
16.
i
i
:
§
:
5G?t—^ 57b]
Syntax.
163
With the impersonal use of ^a^ with the
rel. (§
in the ace. e.g.
which
;
(q.v.), it is,
§567i
is sometimes placed should be in the nom.
14) the antecedent
when
f '"h^OJ-^
naii
logically
'lOh
^aoftXah
i
is it
it
yetififmun^
::
nau yamattau?,
he has brought?
haon\ here has three objects
The
:
^^^Ohl,
f-'^
and
-fD:
Adjective.
Position of Adjective.
An
when used
the substantive
qualifies:
O
e.ff.
'"h
when used
adjective or its equivalent
epithet precedes,
a4*
0.12
n.'!'
:
^*a4*
:
it
VflJ-
:
:
tilliqA ^ v> et
::
O
O
Vfl>-
•
b^etu
::
as an
§
57a
§
576
as a predicate follows
nau, O
it is
a
laro^e ^
house.
nau, the house
tillfq^
is
large.
f T'CR.'lh
:
fliJ^flC
Vfl>-
:
::
vancaf^
wwmbar^ nau,
it is
a wooden chair. oii'^flC (§
:
f 'JffiL'l*
59«) chair
Va>-
:
::
wwmbar
yiincat^ nau,
the
(made) of wood.
is
Use of Substantive as Adjective.
Some
substantives denoting abstract qualities are
used as adjectives e.g. 'ficy'}
birhan\
:
'dCn A
:
s.
f AJ'"
light, ::
birhdn' sifra yallam, there
is
not a light place.
For the use of adj. '
*
§ 8.
There
^
is
m9-
{§
as substantives see
la).
''
§
10a,
§
la
;
§
50,
s.v.
§
59c.
KiGO,^.
probably an ellipse of f - in this usage. 11-2
: :
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
164
:
[§
57c
—
§
58c
Use of Adjective as Adverb. i
An
57c
may be used
adjective
an adverb
as
(§
46) with-
out any modification of form e.of.
o
*7J^
:
rtflH
19^
i
h^dl
a bad man,
orim sau, ~o o
::
::
gim adarraga, he behaved
badly.
Degrees of Comjjarison.
58a
There are no forms of the adjective for comparative or superlative, which are expressed by the positive constr. with h- ka- or
'^- ta- (q.v.),
rendering the Eng. conjunction e.g.
J&U
:
is
*
the
Am.
than'
preposition
^
hOjt : iflH yihe tazzih kabbad nau, this heavier than that. i'lUO
\nhi\r
:
::
:
hne•^
:
Vfl^
heaviest of
::
nau, kabbad kahullu o o o
it
quality
may
quality
by being
e.g. *l*mV
,&U
:
:
the
all.
Similarly verbs expressing the possession
58&
is
of a
have the idea of degree imparted to the constr. with h- ka- or
qattana, to
irn^V
:
i'- ta-
be thin
/i*l*TTA « yihe tazzih yiqatnal, this is
thinner than that.
i^
natta, to
hVH^U
!
^V
:
these this 58c is
be white f^h^n^ is
::
kaunJizzih yihe yinatal, of
the whitest.
Another way of indicating degrees of comparison by such words as (§ Ma) :
^
Cp. use of ablative in Latin and of genitive in
Greek.
:
Syntax.
§59a] jZ-flAT yibalt
A
/iVf
(-iv-, -al-),
/Z-flAT
:
AT
TIAA
:
::
The
flAm),
tatinant yiyalt innihid,
than we did yesterday.
ftirther
yiyalt zilal,
::
(s.v.
V^A),
?i^rh.j?:
:
we must march J&n
more,
yissdl, better, (s.v.
e.g. +'l*'r^'V
165
jump
higher.
Article.
Use of the Article.
The (§ 506).
function of the article (§11) is to determine § o9a It is generally only applied to objects that
have been mentioned before, or are in the presence of the speaker, and even so especially in the
pi.,
Am. where Eng.
in
a house,
e.g. fl.^ b^et,
frequently omitted,
is
b^etu, the house in question.
He
entered the house: :
Ifl
::
titifi^'d
(§
•l'9"j^C
:
^ft
:
VflH
:
::
kav>et erabba. " o o •
mean he :
'
::
bataliai^ nau, it is in the sun. o o
•
o
o
tamdir, on the jn'ound.
ht)r'^
A^^A^*
Ifl
126) house. •
:
:
silazfndv\ because of the rain. o o
i
nmrh& *^
hrt.'l*
kav^etu gabba would usually
entered his
it
the house.
or,
IL'|3
hflii^
requires
::
ras dlufi, the
rtmi>'ll'
::
Ras told me.
o:ave lafaras^'oc sattahut, I C7 O
O
O
O
•
•
O
it
to
the horses. fl^'A"^
:
^TT^'J
:
'nit
::
baqr^oc
satin'''6ccin talu,
the mules have thrown (threw) the boxes
off!
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
166
[§596
—§596/
Transference of the Article.
When
J596
an
a substantive with the equivalent the
adj. or its
equivalent, but
its
still
passes to the adj. or
art.
refers
by
qualified
art. is
to the
original sub-
stantive: e.g'.
fl>i=
b^etu, the house.
:
^A*fc
Oj-V
:
f If-tfo-
fl.^
:
f fli^*|»a>-
:
tilliqu y> et,
:
:
yasiimu
ft.^
:
^9^'\-tiDm^'P
The
the chiefs house.
yawojddaqau^
rt,^
:
woman who 59c
y^ et,
y- et,
the house that
down.
fell
i
the large house.
is
may be
art.
yammittmatStu^' coming.
:
'
the
s^ et,
attached to an epithet without
its
substantive being expressed e.g. '^A'fc
:
Va>-
P(D^*f»fl>-
:
:
tilliqu^ nau, it is
VflC
one that ?9^^aDfn^'P
::
fell I
the large one.
yawwddaqau nabbar,
it
'
w^as
the
down.
f^'t-
V.
yammittmatditu^'^ nat,
the (female) one that
is
it
is
i.e.
to
coming.
Generic Use of the Article.
odd
The
article is occasionally
used generically,
designate a class of object e.g.
A'flM (
'
=
:
^flA?f
A
::
Ifysuu yabbalassal,
it
spoils the
one's) clothes.
§ 8.
2
§§ 14, 45.
3
§
62a.
:
:
§
:
60a— § 61a]
167
Sijtitax.
The Pronoun. The Personal Pronoun.
The personal pronouns are inherent in the various § 60a persons of a verb, and need not be expressed except to avoid ambiguity e.g. ^iflJ-^Ach
hCrt?*
^<»-.*/V-
:
hCfi'^at' or,
auuqc411au^ I know.
::
:
he
The 3rd
irsa''
::
^Oh^tk-
(pol.)
::
(pol.)
know.
irsdccau yauuqdllu, they know,
knows.
and 3rd sg.
pi.
o yaufiqalhi, you
pol.
cannot be distinguished
by pronouns. Use of the Disjunctive Personal Pronoun.
The
disjunctive pers.
pron.
(§
12a)
is
generally
§
6 0&
used to express emphasis or to distinguish between persons e.g.
h(n(D*
::
tiinoh
:
sftau, give it to
ACfr
f i^*'^
:
sftau larsu, give
::
somebody
'1l•;l-'t•l^
(f. ,
it
to
him
(not to
else). :
f V'Ji-^'lJ^
:
M^rri/>
::
yannantaitun antwat\
titdccyuh'-
mine
him,
e.g.
cow) and
yan>eitun leave
(pi.)
bring yours.
Use of Personal Pronouns Conjimctive with Verbs.
The
pers. suif. conj. with verbs
(§
12c)
render both
the dative and the accusative e.g. rtmflJ-
::
(^)
sattau, (a)
he gave to him,
he gave him (it)— i.e. to somebody 1
^
Id.
2
S
Q^a.
else.
§61a
:
Amharic Grammar,
168
To avoid ambiguity
A-
47a)
{§
§
61c
may be used
to
[§
616,
express the dative: e.g.
rtmA^
sattallat,
-.
he gave
it
to him.
A verb a time ace: e.ar.
;
He I
cannot take more than one of these sufF. at of two cases, one being ace, Am. omits the
o^ave
me
to
it
rtm^
:
gave them to him
Thus
iiOKD*
:
h sattan.
rtmii--^
::
sattahut.
above ordinarily means: he gave
it
(them) to him. Kill
him
Kill
him with
:
*7^Afl>it
:
::
gidalau.
*7^An^
gidalibbiit.
::
Cp. rtmA'V above.
The
§61&
suflf.
representing
omitted, especially in the
the
ace.
neg.
conjug.,
is
commonly when the
omission does not injure the sense, which remains clear from
what has been said
before, the attendant
circumstances, etc.: e.g.
^^
h9^^
i
go and fetch him
(her,
it,
alayyahum, I haven't seen him
(her,
it,
::
hid
<4nta,
them).
^Af 0«J^
::
them). §
As
61c
datives, these suff. are attached to intransitive
verbs e.ff.
o
massala, to seem, o o o
<w>rtA
/i<w>AA^A
:
yimaslaiiiial, it
seems to me,
I think.
oof] matta, to come,
d^f^ barrada, to be cold, (of the temperature), 14-11
:
hal,
fUtromV
:
^flC^/ZA
::
nifds simatah, yiyardii-
when the wind strikes you, you will
feel cold.
;
:
§61(7— § 62a]
Syntax.
169
Redundant Personal Pronomi.
When
the direct object
is
in the determinate ace.
§
Old
has another pron.
(§ 55b), the verb, unless it already
suff often takes a redundant pron. suff referring to ,
the object ^'iWh'i
e.g.
:
^hA*
:
^h/V-^
dunkwdnun
::
tfkalu,
or Jt'>^>-'>
::
dunkwanun
tfkalut, pitch (pi.)
the tent;
but J^'JV^^
^'hA* K diinkwdn tikalu, pitch
:
j^«Tc»,>-'}
'VhA-A**^
:
::
dunkwdnun
(pi.)
tikalullifi,
a tent please^
pitch the tent.
A
redundant
simp. perf. e.ff.
-"'V
(§126') is
sometimes added in the§61e
sg. 1st:
oDfilO'^
:;
mattahui),
=
aof^ih «
mattau^'-,
I
have
come. '^
::
tarattahuii, o o
lost (the
=
i•^^;^«-
::
game,
my
tarattau''-,' I o
'
o
have
case, etc.).
Use of the Relative Pronoun.
See
§
14, initial
remarks.
If an antecedent to the
+ verb, as
an adjectival
adj.
e.g.
:
f fl)^4* fell
lit.
and
expressed, the
amounts
rel.
to an adj.
follows the analogy of
57a) as regards position:
(§
(D^^
^
rel. is
clause,
qualifying that antecedent,
an
§
wwddaqa, he :
(it) fell,
yawwddaqa, he who (that or one which)
or has fallen,
for
me
(§
47a).
^
§
Id,
under
kdiy.
62a
:
Amharic Grammar.
170 Pfli^*l»
n.^
:
hOh
:
yawwddaqa^
V.
house which has n.i2
626
^(Df!^^
!
is
hah'
s
fallen,
b^^etu
::
one which has
[§62&, §62c y^et nau,
i'rt'fl^A
:
a fallen one.
down
The
62c
the
rel.
+
verb
fell
broken.
is
+ verb
takes or drops the
of the ace.
-'>
rel.
yawcJddaqa tasayroal, what
•.:
a
yawwddaqa nau, the house
fallen,
no antecedent is expressed, the amounts to a substantive:
^m^^
is
a fallen house.
If
e.g.
it
56«, h) in the
(§
art. (§ 59rt)
same way
and
as a sub-
stantive or an adjective.
The
and
rel. f-
and
f-
of f r- and
Tx-
itxT"- (§
14) are
omitted (not transferred) in the same circumstances as the prp. fe.g.
f 'h7^/V-
:
706)
(§
't^oh
yatagaddalu ndccau,
K
some who have been f i'7^A-'f2
those ^AT-
;
T^fl>-
ftm^ :
yatagaddalutu ndccau, they are
::
who were
f ?"^A^'> will
:
^lrt^Al^
do what you
e+fljA^n^'} '
:
•.:
1
don't
is.
ooo
yataualladabbatln' akiutio o o o o •/
know where he was
::
born,
(lit.
that
it).
yatagaddalutun aldutiqim,
know who were § 8.
there
me.
tell
^Aa>-4»9"
'
me what
yammittilaiinin isarallau^ I oo o
which he was born in :
give
%l
Moi-^r «
qim, I don't
P'M^A"f2'>
the killed.
killed,
yalliin sitafi,
::
they are
killed.
killed.
'
§
47a.
:
Syntax.
§62^] ^-n^n.riH'}
taun p.^
:
^trofnaht
:
hh
d^dfh'i
:
t^ k
f ff fliA^
:
:
rp.^
:
f oirt'S.^^
dutin satin the
:
flOh-
is
?,
^T'J
:
brous^ht the letter.
yet alia farasun o o
::
«/
where the horse to be found ? sau
vasatallifi^
clayd{ibb>eun yamat-
man who
the
tfra, call
-.
l7l
the
man
?i5'"T+'PA
dntitaiial-,
::
me
Avho sold
twat jawcussa-
they have brouo^ht back
box which they took away early
this
morning. n.<<.^^
hat^ti'h
:
h*^©^,^
:
'
::
bifaranii iwwddallau'' o o o
o
me
kammiwcuddiiii, I prefer his fearing
to his
liking me. ^ft;l-aiftM-
fl'ft^
:
:
i'fh.f^
:
(D^^
a
astduwwskut
remembered it after the post was gone, [(P)rh.^ = adj. qualifying *7H. yiista tahadii wwdj'^a, I
not expressed].
giz^e, time, flfli"
^*+iw»T
:
stay where 'hai^+fl>-
:
it
tU'lh
bauwrradau yiqqamat, came down. ::
tauwddaqau^ y>et
at^n «
:
let
it
wcJtta, it
came out of the fallen house. f £n>^fl'V
:
+'>
:
Vnc
::
vJlmattabbat^ qan nabbar,
it
was the day on which he came. "htlhiw^il^
s
^1
:
*feP
::
iskamattabbat qan qwwyyu,
they waited until the day on which he came.
The (§
rel.
+ verb may
receive
the transferred
-9^
376) of the neg.
e.g.
^'%^ah^9^ f A yammyduuqimm anybody that knows. :
•.:
M
8.
M
7cl
yalla,
there
isn't
§ ()2cl
::
:
;
Amharic Grammar.
172
:
[§62e
:
—§636
Case of the Relative. Q2e
Though the case of the rel. + verb can be determined (§ 62c), that of the rel. in itself, which is indecl. (§14), is ambiguous when it is prefixed to a transitive verb of which
it
may be
e.g. Vdnlil yiifallaga, (a) (ft)
either the subject or object
he who sought,
whom
(or,
what) he sought.
The presence of an antecedent may determine the case of the relative e.g. I'ina-'i
^d.Moh'
:
sau, the
..
rtfl>-
man who
:
o^anzavun yafallao^u
(S
8)
looked for the money.
But when no antecedent is expressed the case of the rel. must be decided by the general sense; usually, however, e.g.
fd.i\lah
1
hiy
that of the
it is :•.
rel.
yiifallagau aganna,
+ verb he who sought,
found. ?d,tila}''}
:
hl'^iD'
viifallaoaun
::
aofannau,
whom
(what) he sought he found.
The Verb. The Indicative: Forces of 63a
Tenses.
The simple perfect expresses both our past indefinite and our present perfect the compound per:
fect the latter only e.g. aDtt\ niatta,
he came,
ao*v^^ mattoal, G. 636
For variations
or,
he has come
ao(t\fl^ mattanal,
he has come.
in force of other tenses see
§
24.
The circumstances in which the tense is used make its force clear, as they do the meaning
generally
of a verb
:
:
:
§63c— §63e] e.g. Ji;^rtC
Syntax. hiiC
:
bound JK.U
:
Itx^
ilOh
'.
that
The
:
he
yittdssar nabbiir,
::
(s.v.
:
173
was being
(it)
hdd.).
J^,;^rtC
^flC
:
::
yihe fqa yittassiir nabbar,
baggage ought to have been tied up.
this
9
;
:
^^i\C
va sau vittassar nabbar, ought to have been sent to prison.
man
iflC
i
::
may have
imperf.
a potential force in some
§
63c
verbs
^T'f'A
e.g.
also,
::
he can
hf!,(\^T*
he
yititill,
is
write,
writing, writes, or,
knows how
aissammam, he
::
to write. is
(it)
w ill w rite
not, or,
cannot
be heard. In verbs expressing a state, process or a mental action the perf.
§63^^?
often used where Eng. uses the
is
present hf^d.
e.g.
::
addafa, or ^j^'*f^A « adfdal, he
h(D^lh^
rt'^U *feP
::
SI
:
::
::
know (understand)
auiiqq^'ewallau'\ I
(it).
sammah
?,
do you hear ?
qwwj'yu, they are late. (iOh
tdgiir
:
;^^C
:
^a)^l^'1|•
;
h^
:
h^\^'l
auwttahut kifu silah^'ona,
man from Similarly, in
I
::
yan Sau
expelled that
the country because he
is
wicked.
such verbs, a plup. represents our
imperf, and an imperf our future e.g.
dirty.
auwwqhut, or
K
Y\(D'^*?tv*t^
him
(it) is
liK'C
:
^J?:4-A
iflC ::
::
adf " o nabbar, he
yadfal,
he
(it) will
(it)
was
get dirty.
dirty,
§
63e
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
174
64a
[§
—
656
§
Use of the Contingent, \
The contingent does not stand alone (except
64a
few stereotyped forms which have lost the (§
and which are
14)
flAm, AihA, cp.
§
58c)
composite tenses is
1
but
s.v.
either used
is
(§
(§
48a) or the
verb expressing a
A*,
sf^ih,
to
form
rel. (§ 14).
by another
cont. is occasionally introduced
The
pref
rel.
246) or the neg. imperf (§37) or
introduced by a conj.
646
(§
practically adverbs,
in a
state, instead of Vfl^
(§
33a) or
Xfi
33c)
^H*b^ %aod.
e.g.
:
::
yizafin
jammara, he began to
sing.
Use of the Gerund,
The gerund denotes the attendant circumstances:
\^Qa
e.g.
If^T
:
^f^
zafn^'o hada,
::
sang as he Jirth^Acilau,
Thus
Y\fsA\>^^
:
s
^AiD-
The
656
ger. is
::
n-T-h-A
:
singing,
yisakrallu,
aihadum
(§
we use
co-
74a),
qwcutriihaun^?, have
you counted
wastan^ we were telling a U-V}
;:
baciikkola' hiinan-,
it?
lie.
we were
in a
hurry.
an interrogative particle (adv.). probably an ellipse of VflC (§ 33a).
^
-1 (q.v.) is here
^
There
^
S
7d,
is
he
sometimes used as a past indicative
e.g. *feT^(ifl>-^« 'Pti'i^'i
::
constantly used where
ordinated principal clauses j
oflf
they get drunk and then can't walk. is
it
he went
Avent.
under
kdiy.
: :
§
:
:
65c— §666]
Syntax.
175
Construction of the Gerrmd.
The construction of the of the indicative,
an object e.g.
e.g.
same
as that
§
65c
§
65f?
§
66a
§
66&
the ger. of a transitive verb takes
in the ace.
J&UVJ : (Dh% i ^aohtl shall I
The
ger. is the
yihannan wwsijj> e limmalas?, come back when I have taken this away? ::
subject of the ger. and that of the
are usually the same logically e.g. +^3?
-t-^rGEff
.
:
-b-ii^-i
micc>e gumfdn ydzan, the verandah,
if
(lit.
:
I
main verb
not grammatically
^H^
tadjijjdf
::
taqa-
caught cold sitting on
a cold seized me).
Use of the Infinitive.
The
infinitive is
many
renders
a verbal substantive
(§
30).
of our abstract nouns, of which the
and passive senses may be distinguished Amharic active
e.g. dA"*!
It
in
fattana\ he tempted,
ao^A^l mafattan\ to tempt, tempting, temptation; 't'd^'t'i
tafattana\ he was tempted, I o o o o
'
aoiA'l maffatan^ to be tempted, being tempted, temptation. Construction of the Infinitive.
The ind., e.g.
constr. of the inf is the
same
as that of the
the inf of a transitive verb takes an obj. in
the ace. e.g. aDli1.^(D''i
:
hd.'i' «
miizgydun kaffata, he opened
the door, ^
or
-atta-.
^
or
-^ta-.
:
AmJiaric Gramma9\
176
aoflX^ahl odYiA.^ ^^fl^4»?" s
:
ayauiiqim, he
doesn't
::
67a,
[§
§
67&
mazgydun makfat
know how
to
open the
door. \l&-^l
^HAm
i
kiraiun o o
::
he raised the
avallata, •
o
o
*
o
rent,
h^^'}
'^-n
.
AT h^^hahT" *^ :
kirSiun mavlat o o o
::
•
aiccd,-
•
o
he cannot raise the rent. laum, o Use of the Participle.
The
:67« adj.
e.g.
participle
a verbal noun
is
(§
31),
prop, an
but commonly used as a substantive: 4'+m taqammata, to ride, rfn^tHft^ ,|<4>0^£|b
.
f^gy.
tgg^
,
^^
..
..
YiQ ig
tao ammdc sau nau, or
a rider, a good horseman.
to sow,
rt4- saffa, o
.
•'
rt
a
tailor.
d.^ farra, to fear,
^d
fari,
a coward.
Force of the 67b
The
an agent (§ 67a), but has a sense of obligation or incumbency
part, usually expresses
sometimes e.g. i'flJ'^E'
it
:
Vfl>«
moved, /iU
Fartici][)le.
:
*l»^
!
it is
>fl>«
behind ?
tauwssdj nau,
::
;:
it
ought to be
re-
to be taken away.
yfhe
qjlri^
nau?,
is
this
to stay
:
§
67c— §
of the Participle.
Coiistructloii
The e.g.
177
JSyntax.
68]
constr. of the part, is that of a substantive
f A-flft
:
fl^M
f ft*^*}
:
IDf
The
yalfys safi, a
:
:
:
:
sewer of clothes,
§
:
67c
tailor,
yasimJ^en gai, ruler of Simyen.
I
part, is also, in certain phrases, constr. with
the Eth. ace. in -a
(§
9d)
a sewer of clothes,
ii^
:
liysa safi,
A^p "H^
:
siga^ sac, a seller of meat, butcher.
e.g. A-flrt
:
I
tailor,
Remleviiig of the English Participle.
The Eng. ing to
e.g. I left
may be rendered variously, accord- §67
part,
force
its
:
him, thinking he was dead
'^a^^^•^h «
You
:
:
aoiltt^^
:
yam^^dta tauhut. masl^'on o o o
^H"lh
will
f *r*i"
«/
They caught him going rt.7fl
:
::
spoil
-n^f^Cia-l'
:
into the house
:
'ML^
tay> ct sigaya ydzut. it
using
;^nAff'PAU «
like
it
ndfh
that
:
M^V
:
yittadargibbat
tabbalassaualljih. o o
Use of Causative
When in hh1
-
§
Form
the primitive verb
in htl-
(§
is transitive,
22a).
§
the causative
has two meanings^
7a,
§ 8.
arising
apparently thus:
the
causative merely
he caused an object, -ah him, is naturally (a) the object of -7^A, he caused (others) killing him: but is also
expresses causation of the action
:
htil^ii,
killing;
AM. GR.
12
68
:
:
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
178 (a)^
[§
68
to cause or allow the object to suffer the
action of the primitive verb: {^) to
cause or allow the object to perform that
action e.g.
l^A gaddala,
to
kill,
hhl^ti asgaddala,
to cause or allow to
(a)
put to death,
killed,
(y8)
be
to cause or allow to
kill.
^H
y^za, to catch,
htl^H asydza,
(a) to
cause or allow to be caught,
to cause or allow to catch.
(/8)
When
one object, action of the primitive verb there
htnf!^iHD'
e.g.
:
it is
the object of the
caused him to be
asgaddalau, he
put him to death.
killed,
fii^t
::
is
hti^n
lijun
V.
asydza,
he had the child
caught.
When
there are two objects the latter
is
the object
dimmatun
asyaza, he
of the action of the primitive verb e.g.
^"^t ^{Wpl hll^H i
:
made
'.'.
the child catch the cat.
In either case the verb (§
Iijun
may
take a redundant -Oh
(Md) without altering the sense
e.g.
A^*}
:
hli^iiiD'
::
Ifjun asy^zau,
he had the child
caught.
taken as {^) the object of ^ift^^A as a whole, he caused him killing (others). ^ the usual meaning. Cp. faire tuer, far uccidere, toten lassen.
:
;
§
69a—§
;
::
Syntax,
70a]
179
A^'J ft:ao'\?l Yxh^WiD* h'jun dimmatun asydzau, he made the child catch the cat. '
::
:
:
He made htl^tltD'
the child catch ball ju
::
'
would be
flA^
:
:
K^
•.
asydzau.
ijj
The
it
Preposition.
Construction of the Preposition.
Prepositions e.g. flJ^fl.^
ih.f!^
:
47) are constr. with the
(§
nominative §G9a :
wwday>et hada, he went towards
::
the house.
They may be f iD^'V
Vi»-
:
constr. with
an adverb
yawwd>et nau?, where
::
is
he
(it)
from ? Position
When
of
the Preposition.
a substantive with which a prp.
is
con-
structed has an epithet, the prp., or that part of
which
is
a prefix,
e.g. ?ifthn.^ Jifth'l*
is
A*
fl.'>
:
69&
§
70a
it
pref. to the epithet
iskay>et
:
§
(§ 8),
as far as the house
iskatilliqu y^et, as far as the large
I
house nit'V
:
fl'VA*
Aft :
:
bavet
n.^
:
Aji
lai, :
above the house,
batjlHqu y^et
lai,
above the
large house.
The Preposition
The preposition
f - ya-,
of,
expresses our possessive
case, or with the substantive to
may amount
to
an
f-.
which
it is
attached
adj.
12—2
Amharic Grammar.
180
sum, a
Tf-?"
[§
706
chief,
f Tf'J'" yasiim^ of a chief, a chief's.
WiQoAr
wood,
neat,
f "JfiCi.^ yancat^ of wood, wooden. •fl^^ bfrat, iron,
f -fl^i^ 706
^T*}
:
yavfrat satin, an iron box.
:
same position as epithet or predicate as an adj. (§ o7a), and receives -'i (§ 5Qa, h) and the art. (§ 59a) in the same way as an f-
with
its
substantive occupies the
adj.
If another prp. is
is
prefixed, f- disappears^; or if f-
prefixed to a word ah'eady bearing f -, one f - dis-
appears
:
f ff'J'"
e.g.
I
n.^
:
hoh
K
:
VflH
::
yasiim b^et nau,
it is
a chiefs
house. fli't
:
f ??•?"
b^etu yasiim nau, the house
is
a
chief's.
f TS^tfo-'J
n.^
:
knows the 't'Xhtnt'
ft.^
s
:
^fl^j^A K yasumiin b^^et yautiqal, he
:
chief's house. 01")
came
tasiimu v^et wcJtta, he
::
out of the chief's house. i"fl^^
fi'?'i
:
fDfj[h9^
:
tavi'rat sdtin,' in • O O
s
fl>^
:
rh.^
O
::
"O
wwdasum
an iron box. b^et hada, he went
towards the chiefs house.
^
of
In most composite prps.
f-
:
nn.-"b
:
(D-ftT
:
(§
476) there
standing for *nf fl,-!-
is :
this ellipse
Ohti"?
-.,
etc.
:
§
70c,
Syntax.
§71]
181
If the substantive to which f-
by an
adj. or its equivalent as
an
is pref. is
qualified
the qualifying word
70c
§
71
epithet, P- is trans-
ferred from the qualified to the qualifying word.
a word with
is itself
§
f-
If
pref, the
second f - disappears e.g.
f ^a4» is
:
n.'lh
:
'lOh
::
yiitiUiq
sum
b> et nau, it
the house of an old chief
-1hA4' is
Tf'5'"
;
f ?S^J^
:
n.-V
:
:
Va>-
::
nauS
b^et
tilliq yiisiim
it
a large chiefs house.
f AJ^
Il.'lh
:
:
*iah
yiiH ju y>et
::
nau,
is
it
his son's
house.
f 'rf-tfo*
aK"
:
fl.'l*
;
'lOh
:
yjisumu Hj y^ct nau,
::
it is
the chief's son's house. f ^A* nau,
:
rJ-i^
it is
:
Ajf
:
!!.'>
:
VoJ-
::
yiitiUiqu
:
i
y^et
i
lij y>
et hada,
WwdatillfqU SUm AJ^ fl»^ rh.^ y^et hadii, he went to the old chiefs son's
ID^,^A*fc lij
lij
the old chief's son's house.
aK" (\»^ rh.^ K wwdasiimu he went to the chief's son's house.
afffjhao^
sum
:
Tf'i'"
:
:
::
:
house. ffl^ff-ow-
:
AJS"
^'A'fc
:
tilliqu y>'et
:
H.^
:
rh.^
::
Wwdasumu
lij
hada, he went to the chiefs son's
large house.
The Prepositions Asuff*.
^
and
(q.v.),
fl-
to a verb
or ^'&9^
(§ 83c).
:
(§
esp.
I
and
fl-.
when attached with the
47a), often
^A^*
A-
ft.^
:,
pers.
mean which emphasizes
flf-l^
:
:
:
AmJiaric Grammar.
182
A- to the
advantage
72a,
[§
of,
*Cfl^ rtrtiA^ vambassa q^orvat he gave him (them) a lion-skin for me.
P'>flfl
•7^"
:
:
::
:
-flC
rtfli'fl^ K
:
726
to the disadvantage of ^:
fl-
e.g.
§
o'iui
<J0
him (them) a bad But they are
he g^ave ~
birr sattabbin, O o O 'O •
dollar for me.
commonly used merely
also
satallin,
to denote
direction or position e.g. 9°"^
i
hiid^
min
::
allabbat
The 72a
-jP*
and -V
(§
what
is
there in
it ?
Conjunction.
Use of §
?,
-9^
and
-V.
486) join substantives,
-'i'
being attached
to the former of two, -J^ to both
OhVr'
e.g.
or OhV^
Har
:
I
i^fl
:
:
hti
hlK
::
wiiham ddbb^omm
wtihanna dabb^o
::
(§
alia,
6) alia,
there
is
water and bread. §
They may join
726
logical
is
a
change of subject, though asyndeton (§ 74:c) is Otherwise the gerund (§ 74a, 6) and relative
commoner (§
sentences, especially if there
;
62) constructions are
much commoner:
faras gazza, farasum m'^dta, he bought a horse and the horse died.
e.g. d.d.ti
^
:
in ^d(^9° :
s
*^*'^ «
A good illustration is given in Guidi,
Grammatica
§52: aofthdii^ masakkarallat, he O O O O O
gave evidence " him, was a witness for him, (*) j^). •
'
for
aoMidd^ masakkarabbat, he gave evidence against him, {AfU
j^y:.).
:
§
72c— §
:
183
Syntax.
73ft]
iC^A
;
: :
TM'f'
:
*r*i"
he bought a horse and died; horse and
it
would mean he bought a
ffazf^o m^dta, faras ~o o o o
::
died
f 7H
:
:
—
i.d,h
:
T't' k yilgazza
faras m^(')ta. o
-'•'
o
o
occasionally joins verbs without there being a
§
72c
change of subject: ahii^oh^ '
'\rinititi
:
tamalas, take wtisadauuna o o o o o
::
it
away and come back more idiomatically (otifM •f'aotiti wwsdah tamalas. o o o ;
:
::
The
Sentence.
The Simple
Sentence.
consists in a verb, which in- §73a
The simple sentence
eludes a pronominal subject,
predicate
(i.e.
flA:l:A « balt(^al,
/iV^lA
::
flA-f ;'"A
becomes white.
balf'otal,
::
::
it
he has eaten, he has had a meal.
yinatal, it
'hiiaiiti'y-
in itself express a
an adjectival predicate), or may have
a pron. object attached to e.g.
may
he has eaten
isatahallau^'
(§
it.
61a), I will give it (them)
to you.
Order of Words in the Simple Sentence.
When the subject, predicate, or object are expressed § 736 separately, the usual order (1)
is
Subject, (2) predicate
{'lOh (§ 13ft),
(§
73«) or object, (3) verb
though not etymologically a verb,
is
used as one) e.g.
^^tl
s
fl»-jt
dear.
:
^to* K
f^^fs wiiddi nau, the horse is
:
Amharic Ch^ammar.
184 <<.^ft
Ohi
:
f^^^p^
:
[§ 73c, §
73
faras wttha yifalligal, the
::
horse wants water. A^'TL
:
A
J
'^TiA
yist\ let
silla (§8)
Iwggwdmi
mathe groom give the horse some je-ftT
:
::
lafaras
millet.
§
Epithets
73c
(§
o7«), adverbs, adverbial expressions
and
other determinatives are placed before the verb, which
comes e.g.
last
^U
:
<<.<:A
:
-Mt^
:
n-flH*
:
j&Vf
A^
yayizu yissdlal, this horse
is
::
yihe faras tazzyd
much
better than
that one.
Adverbs, however, and adverbial expressions and
§73<7
even an object
may be
thrown in more or
placed after the verb, being
amplify
less as after-thoughts, to
or explain e.g.
hl^
:
hH,0
h9°^a}'
:
horse timoh-
::
allu kazzih, there are some, here.
d^dfh'i (I
(§
7d) farasun, bring
it,
the
mean).
AcD;^^C
:
antau
::
sftau lawwttaddar,
::
give
it
to
the soldier, J&U
:
Ji^AA
:
i'M,^
::
yihc yissdlal tazzya, this
is
better than that. ^
or the direct object
A^*^ (§
:
'^TiA
8) yist, let
:
A
:
J&ftT
may precede ::
the indirect:
Iwggwdmi masflla
the groom give some millet to the horse.
The word immediately preceding the verb more prominent position. -Oh = to him (§ 61«). '^
lafaras
is
in the
:
§
74a
—
:
185
Syntax.
74c]
§
:
Co-ordinated Principal Clauses.
When subject
are
all
two or more verbs of which the § 74a
in English
is the same are co-ordinated, in Amharic they placed in the gerund except the last in other ;
words, where Eng. co-ordinates, e.g.
du^
in*"l
:
subordinates
matta, he went
hfd^' o
::
Am.
and has come
back.
tUX mjR* ^Cft •
:
:
::
hijj c
tayyiqcpc dari-
went and asked and I have got I going, asking, amving, have
ss^e mattau'', I
back here,
aotn-Y-
(lit.
come).
The gerund assumes the imperative or jussive force § 74^ of a final verb in those moods e.g.
J&UV>
:
and
J&HU
Auft: «
:
yihanniin yizah^ hid, take this
go.
hfD^^C
rtT^OH
i
giving
When
there
it...
am
lauwttaddar sdticcJ'eu
I to
it
to the soldier?,
come?).
a change of subject Eng.
is
ordinated clauses
::
go and give
limta?. shall I (lit.
AJ'"^
:
may be
co-
co-ordinated in Am., but
are usually without connectives e.g.
J&U
:
aof^
i
f
:
^h.^
::
yihe matta ya hada, this one
has come and that other has gone away.
commonly joined by -9^ and or rendered by the ger. constr. (§ 65c).
Such clauses are -^
(§
72b,
c),
less
§
74c
:
:
Amharic Grammar.
186
75
[§
—
§
76&
Clauses are also co-ordinated in this way without there being a change of subject: K'JA.^A'J
e.g.
will
M^fiyt
:
go and see
naiallan, is
innhadallan,
a
(but iK^'i
;
more
innaiallan.
M^lilr
:
•.:
hfdan
we in-
idiomatic).
The Adversative Proposition. §
75
An
adversative proposition
is
indicated by JiiK or
•7'J(q.v.): e.g.
h^^^mtD*
he J&U
:
is
ff^ahfif^Oh
:
not to bring
^r^A
T
^U
:
s
WVK. it,
*?'>
he
«
a>antau\ ydsadau
is
to take
h^TCr
:
yihe^ gin a^dmrim, this
is
::
it
nji,
away.
yihe
pleasant, that
ydmral, isn't.
Questions.
The Direct §76«
Direct questions are introduced by a determinative interrogative e.g. P»1*
:
^^Oh
9^1
:
J&<<.A;i
A9"'> §
766
Question.
:
::
ao"\
Or they
yet ndccau
?,
where are they ?
A min yifalligal ::
?,
what does he want?
lamfn matta?, why has he come?
::
are expressed by an indeterminative inter,
particle (adv.) e.g. aDfi](D^
adverb or pronoun
::
^aoilfirj^
s.v. -oijs, (§ 6),
-h
(§ 6),
-1
mattawwf ?, has he come ? ::
>
yimatallwf ?,
§
7d.
is
he coming ? '
§ 8.
I
:
:
§
:
!
76c— §786]
Syntax.
187
no interrogative word is used a question is indicated by the tone of the voice, which is modulated If
§
76c
as in English e.g\
ao^
matta ?, has he come ?
::
^0Dft\^
yimatal?,
::
A question
is
he coming?
may be asked
not to
to express emphasis or surprise e.g:.
'il'tfoh
Maofna^-f^
s
-.
(s.v.
a reply but
elicit
hhfi)
77
:
binmiiau,
fcrfJ k
§
annama-
we see him (it) shall we not catch and bring him (it)?, i.e. we certainly
taumm
yfzan
if
?,
will, etc.
^U
:
rtfli-
:
mn^
mindfr^ nau i.e.
i
what
?,
how odd
if it is
:
'lOh
this
is
::
yihe' sau" nigiggiru
man's pronunciation ?,
it is
The
An
y>JtC
liulireet Question.
indirect question
may be
left in its direct
introduced by a determinative
form §78a
inter, adv.
or
pron. e.g. a\f!,'Pah
.-
f--^-
V-f^co-
:
where they ai^^Of'
:
9"'i
:
tayyiqau yet ndccau, ask him
are.
t
/&<{.A;iA
::
tayyujau min
yifalligal,
ask him what he wants. hf[ah^9^ don't
Or, esp.
s
ti9^'}
t
aot^
::
alduttqim lamin matta, I
know why he has come.
when the
may be rendered by a introduced by the rel 1
§ 8.
principal verb
is
in the neg.,
it §
substantival or adjectival clause (§
02) •'
§
556.
786
188
::
:
:
Annliaric
e.g. I
don't
Grammar.
know where they
are
:
[§
^A-fl^'}
:
—§80
78c
\\\ah^^
w
yallubbatin alauuqim.
They
^/\/V-^jr*
I don't
^Tr
78c
§
:
Or by
..
yammifalliffutin aldlunnim.
know what day
h'iah^9"
the
they want: f'^^A'h^'J
::
I shall
^^Au^^^lx
go;
yammihadibbatfn alauuqim. qan Aq o *'
'^o
66)
inf. (§
remains to be seen whether he
e.g. It
h^^^9°
will
go
:
T?
gana mahadu altdyyam, (lit. going has not yet been seen, is not yet
aoih,H-
his
s
apparent;
§79a
me what
didn't tell
When no
s.v.
K
^f).
determinative interrogative adverb or
pronoun introduces the direct question (§ 766, c) its indirect form is introduced by ht^lfi (i)ndah^on (-da§ 8) q.v., constructed with the gerund or con;
tingent e.g.
:
m^^Oh
:
<w»T'f
:
?i7^l/"> a
ask him whether he
ta}7iqau matt"^ dndah'^on,
(it)
has come.
Ki^lfi tayyiqau yimatandah'^on, ask him whether he (it) is coming.
ai^'^ah'
§
796
:
j&rw»«l
For types of
::
..
indirect
question,
when, where, whether, who, why
;
s.v.
Mf!^-,
how, what,
?i'>J^-,
WifJJ'l.
Indirect Narration. §
80
Indirect narration retains the
narration e.g. rh.-^
:
(s.v.
direct
VflA)
J&AA
gone.
same form as
::
hadu
yflal,
he says that they have
:
:
Syntax.
81«]
189
tag^'dndar tanastau
miitamma gabbii yammil wwr^e matta, news has come that they have arrived at Gallabat from Gondar. h^mft\^.M^i^•^'.h^'^
simata asayyahallaui^ dla,
he said that when he came he would show me. h,?ah^9^
^JPAA
:
::
a^fluqim yimflal, he swears he
(another) doesn't know.
The ComHtlonal Sentence.
The
following are the principal types ^
I.
e
Possibility
Protasis
+ cont.
-fl-
(§
45),
or ger.
Apodosis comp. imperf., juss. or imp. (a)
n.flij^-
:
f^aotnUs.
biwcJdd, yimatal, if he wishes,
::
he comes. {^)
(dF-
:
^di,fifii
wwdd^^o yihadfU,
::
if
he wishes,
he goes. (y)
n.aij^
:
(Df^
:
j&rh,j^-
him
^
«
biwo^dd, yfmta, if he wishes,
him come.
let (S)
S!,rm
wwdd^^o yihid,
if
he wishes,
let
go.
(e)
-n^at^'
(0
'"^l'
••
::
:
^
'h.j^
::
::
bittwwdd, na,
wwddah
if
hid, if
you
you
wish, come.
wish, go.
taking Farrar's classification of conditional sen-
tences.
gj^
Amharic Grammar.
190 81&
8l6
[§
Probability:
II.
as in (a)
I.
-fl^/wi/ib
;^^A'f l^
:
you come, you hH.^
(/8)
:
bittmatu. taialldccyuh,
::
i'+l^mU JK-nc^VA :
yiyardahal,
you
if
if
will see.
kazzyd taqamtah
«
there you will catch
sit
cold.
•a^tD'^
(y)
11^
:
know, (\^ah^
(e)
tell
TUP*
:
:
::
bittauuq,
may
protasis
{t})
jS-flA
::
also
may be used (9)
baiduuq,
zimm
him be
quiet.
let
cont.
yiyal, if
(i)ndalla,
which
personally or impersonally \
followed by Mff^V"} (i)ndah^^on-'
•'
or
may be used
(i)ndah'^6na^ which
?i'}^lfV
you
be expressed by
+cont. followed by MHli
ii-
if
me.
he doesn't know,
The
nigaraii,
pers. or impers.^ (t)
(k)
Thus
+ cont. rel. + cont. rel.
'fl^-£w»m*
followed by
htff^ir'}
followed by fllf}
in
(a)
may be
[if >
etc.].
bih^^ on'
\
replaced, without
changing the sense, by (t)) \
' /
'd^iwm-
s
>l'ifi^
:
bittmatu o o
ndallii,
•
or 'd^t/D/n'
:
h'ifi^'^ih
bittmatu ndallaccyuh. o o
s
*'
•
(6)
^oDm-zMf^in:
timatiindah^^on,
^<w>m-
timatu ndah''6na, o o o o
or ^aom*
^
cp. 'idd
(§
:
s
?i'>^lf •^ i
;
•
?i'}^l/' 'i'"'f*i>
33a).
''
§ 8.
:
timatu ndah^'ondccyuh.
'
or
-da-.
*
or
bj.
;
§81c]
Syntax.
.
f^^<w»rti-
(t)
h'i^W'i
:
as in
etc.,
(k)
f J^-><w»/ii-
III.
Uncertainty:
(X)
;
Protasis,
yammittmatiindah^'on,
i
{6).
(Lirt
:
191
:
yammittmatu yih^on. §81c
-fl-
+ cont.
Apodosis, past imperf. n,<w»«l
(X) \/
if
The
hhV^^D' Vnc :
:
he were to come,
may
protasis
ger. followed
(u)
rel.
(^)
rel.^ 4-
Thus
'
+ cont.
fl.rTD'H
should pay him.
I
be expressed by
also
ifx)
OO'OOOO
bimata, ikaflau nabbar,
«
by dlTt or
?»'>^U"> [-IfV, etc.].
followed by 0.0"} or
X^^lTT
simp, perf followed by djr'} or Mf^^lfi.
in (X)
may be
replaced, without altering
the sense, by (fi)
or
<w>T-f
:
<w>T'f
:
oD'V-f'
J
fl,lf
7
I
mdtt'^0 yih^^on,
ht^m ^•J^if ^
matt^^ (mdah^^on,
I
matt'^ d ndah^' (Sna o
:
o
•
(v)
^'%aom
:
rilf •>
yammimata
:
V^taoft]
,
h'if^^in
or ^'Xaom
J
h^^lfi
(I)
f#w.n]
rUif-j
.
^aun\-
:
.
:
:
^
^
.
'
vih^'on,
yjimmimatandah^on,
yjimmimata ndah^' ona
yiimatta vih^^on,
h'J^U"}
:
vJimattandah^^on, o o •
or ^aotn ^
o
"ixl^irh
:
•
'
yamatta ndah'^ ona.
sometimes dropped before hlfiV"}. sometimes ^w*"!. the
rel. is
;
Amharic Grammar,
192 (o)
Protasis,
(o)
fl,a>j^
+ cont. + simp.
-fl-
Apodosis,
fl-
perf.
biwwdd, bahada,
flrh.^ K
:
[§81^
if
he wished,
he would go.
Sid
IV.
Impossibility: as in III
(^), (o),
(fji),
which also mean:
he had come, I should be paying him', 'should have paid him
'if
or,
'
'
(tt)
if
he had wished, he would have gone.'
Protasis, ger. followed
Apodosis, (n)
fi9^^
:
fl-
by
fUl/"}.
+ simp, perf
dlf} daomih :
niattau^, if I
::
samicc^c vih^'on, ba-
had heard,
I
should have
come.
The apodosis of (n) may be expressed by (p)
the plup.
(a)
n-
Thus
+ plup.
floD^ih in
335, a).
{§
{§33&, ^). (it)
may be
replaced, without chang-
ing the sense, by (p) \/ /
tw*r^
(o-)
doDfnih
:
VflC :
::
VflC
maticc^e nabbar. o o -o ::
bamattau'' nabbar.
Finally (r)
both protasis and apodosis by fl- + simp. perf
(t) \/
flrt'^U-
:
fl/w)^u«
had heard,
I
::
may be
expressed
'oo»«'
bamattau'', basammau'^ oo
should have come.
if I
:
:
Syntax.
§82, §83(«]
193
The Compound Sentence.
and adverbial clauses
Substantival, adjectival
compound
in the
and adverbs,
sentence
73)
e.g.
^^1^ (D^^l^C •
1'fl'f'
rtC^
:
I
Arh.Jt
:
rh.^
:
i^
:
-fl/V"
:
who
saying
vabbdt^e in
my
f -hV"/
i
fllTj^*^
:
tinant wwdaff^^ondar lihad
::
my
started
sdtin
" to Gondar
is
my
gayt^o sarq^'o h^da.
to
go
in
evilly
thinkiug
"anzav
tav^et
money
into the house
it
brother who started
went
stealing
yesterday
brother
yallabbiitin which there
box
father's
entering
:
yatanassa wcundimm^e kifu assiv'^o
vfl^^o
am"
82
respectively, in the simple
yesterday
nan
§
sentence, the places of substantives,
adjectives (§
take,
Gondar,
for
by
led
evil
thoughts,
my
entered the house, stole the money from father's box,
and went
off.
Emphasis.
A
word may be emphasized by being repeated
e.g. <(.A2
I
:
<(.A1
hTi-^
:
::
falligg>e falligg>e agaiifiSuh,
searched and searched
it,
"h^l
them, s
§
h^l
till
I
found him
(her,
0X6).
:
?i<-4*
a very long way
But words,
:
:
Vfl>-
f jjig f jjig
::
iruq nau,
it is
off.
especially numerals,
may be
repeated
not for emphasis but in a distributive sense e.g.
il^'i^ iiri^ VTC jrOAAbaqP^oc slmmint sfmmint natir yivalallu, the mules eat •0«'0»0 O O O O
n4'A"'^
:
:
:
:
::
8 lbs. each.
AM
GK.
13
§
83«
:
:
;
:
Amharic Grammar.
194
doD^
:
(lao^
^th,^^
s
§84
[§83&
bdmat vdmat
;:
—
;
yihadal, he
goes every year.
When
SSh
the repeated word has the article or the
of the ace. is
55a),
(§
may drop them
it
the
time
first
-*>
it
said
e.g. ^'I'i"
:
^'*i^(0*'i
aoCGGe
:
:
Vfl^
:
^oofiHh^
dahnd
«
yamattahut, I selected nau dahndun maricc^e ^ o o o the very best and brought it (them, § 52a). .
;
•
•
•
A word or expression may be emphasized by being
83c
placed at the beginning of the sentence Ji^ : 9°'}'^
e.g.
H;^^ d,^
i
:
nat, this spring is d,S^
:
V^
^V
s
fln;Ti^
:
Ji^ :
:
119°
that noise 'H9"
:
1^'>*P' t
•.
^^ k
yicci
mine yatdc
fai
boiling down below :
cmphasizes boiling
fl;*'^ K
^flA
::
'
zimm
yihe ciihat
'.
yiyal,
must stop
J&OA /iU :
!
^EfeTi^ «
emphasizes
'
stop
'.
Concrete for Abstract. §
Though Amharic
84 (§§
50, 66a) yet it
not lacking in abstract terms
is
frequently uses the concrete where
English uses the abstract e.g.
A
trade route
:
PV^^
.-
aollff:
.-
yanaggad^e mdn-
gad.
He
suppressed brigandage
bad^e aq''6ma,
(lit.
:
flJ^fl^
••
«
wwm-
(§
52a, 8)
h^ao
he caused brigands
to stop).
He
employed military force against him:
(pol.)
(D^'^C
:
dubbat.
rt^-S.n^'
::
wcottaddilr
(§
52a, S)
sadda-
:
§
;
Syntax.
85]
195
Similarly an English abstract
noun
often best
is
rendered by a verb in Amharic e.g.
During
my
absence
:
?ii
:
fl
ATC
:
in^e yaln^'dr.
Note.
Certain words commonly omitted be rendered in Amharic, such as
must
in English
that, because, e.g.
I'm glad they're coming dass
vi'l^ofiiial •O
:
fS\
:
'flA"?A
.•
l\t\*%aDa^
::
silammimatu OO OO"'
or the relative, e.g.
Where VoH
::
is
the
man
they sent ? f AVv
yjilaku sau yet
:
rtflJ-
:
nau ?
13—2
f-^
.-
§
85
APPENDIX. PRINCIPAL PARTS OF VERBS OCCURRING IN PARTS I— III.
Amharic Grammar.
198 Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive •(§27)
199
Amharic Grammar.
200 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix.
201
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
A*
yji^q
(§
Ifq^^o
8)
yilqam
y|iqaq
%am o
l|qaq
laqm"o
malaq
8)
(§
malqam
laqdmi
A*
<w»A*l*4'
A^«fe
laqcf o
malqaq
laqdqi
laqa-
malaq a-
A^^'TL laqaqdmi
q(i)m^^o
qam
A-flr^
An-fi
(^^^^ yilaqdqmi
la(j[dqim
j&Aflft
yilbas O o
Ifbas o o
labs'^o
malbas o o
labds
(-ly-)
i-W-)
(-ys-)
(-ly-)
(-ay-;§8)
A'fl-n
A-flO
yilabbib o o o
labbib o o
labbib'^o o o
malabbab o o o
labbabi
(-iy)
(-iy)
(-iy-)
(-av)
'(-yi)
j&Ah
Ah
Ah-f-
yilakka
lakka o
lakkit'^'o o
malakkat o o
lakki
(la-)
(§8)
('la-)
•z
•/
yfl^k
(§
8)
yilauwiit
yjiayy(§8)
o
Ah
A*i
lak
h'k^^o o
AflJ-T
Afl>-rn
laiiwut
lauwiit^'o
AJ&
Aj&-f
layyi
layyit^o
o
•
o
tAnn
tAtU
Ah.
mdlak (§
8)
idki
A'P'^
malauwat lauwdc (§ 8) o o o •
AP.
malayyat
layyi
202 Simp. perf.
Amharic Grammar,
Appendix. Jussive
203
Amharic Graimnar.
204 Simp. (§
perf.
25)
Appendix. Jussive
205
Amharic Grammar.
206 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
207
AmJiatic Grammar.
208 Simp. perf. (§25)
ODtd
Comp.
perf.
Contingent
(§32)
feed,
(§
Comp. imperf.
26)
(§32)
t.
mag^boal yimag^b \imao^mbal
mao^saba oOO o o (-va)
(-iy-)
(-iy)
(-iy-)
come,
matta
mattoal
mattana o o o
t.
mattinoal O 'O
• •
•
scratch,
t.
moaccara
moacciroal o •
•
OD^
G.
come,
1.
massa o •
mastoal o
•
•
fororet,
t.
(i)rassa
(i)rastoal
be wet,
i.
(i)rdsa
be distant, i.
(S)r^qa
be (i)rabba
useful, i.
[?i]co,A
yimatal o
^ o
•
^ao^l
measure out,
yimata o o
•/
\
•
^«dTTA
Appendix. Jussive
209
210 Simp, perf, (§25)
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix. J ussive
(§27)
211
Amharic Grammar.
212
Conip. perf.
Simp. perf. (§
(§32)
25)
cough,
Contingent (§26)
i.
srtoal o
sdla o
Comp. imperf. (§32)
I2.AA
^AAA
yisfl *'
yisilal
o o
•/
o o
be parasallala o
o
o
lysed,
salloal
i.
o
(sa-)
(sa-)
^aaa
^aaaa
sallala
salliloal
yisallil
yisallilal
(sa-)
(sa-)
(-sa-)
AAA o
o
spy on,
t.
o
o
o
•/
^A*^A
samma o
sarra o
kiss,
^A'^A yisfm ^ o o
sfmoal o work,
yisamal
t.
,
I
build,]
decree,
bore through,
yisimal Woo
AC:tA
^A^
^A^A
sartoal
jdsara ^ o o
yisaral
(sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
ACA^A
^A^AC
^A^A^A
yisarassir o o
yisarassiral o o
(-isa-)
(-isii-)
t.
(sa-)
sarassara o o o o
yisama
samtoal o
sdmao
A^
o
(-sa-)
hear.
flao
o o
t.
(sa-, -ara)
sarsiroal (sa-)
»'
o
o
''
o
o
AC^A
^AC*
^AC.*A
sarraqa
sarqoal
yjsarq
yisarqal
(sa-)
(sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
•^/^.-ftA
^•^•^
sds(i)t6al
yisassa
steal,
be sassa
thin,
t.
i.
yisassal
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
213
Aniharic Grammar.
214 Simp. perf.
(§25)
laugh,
sdqa
saqqala
sdba (-ya)
sabbara o o o (-ba.)
mm sabassaba o o o o (-vassav-)
iimc sababbara o o o (-yd-, -ar-)
4+ sdta o
sandbbata o o o o (-ba-)
rtVfli+
sandttaqa o •'o o o • •
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
215
Amharlc Grammar.
216 Simp.
perf.
(§:25)
I
Appendix. Jussive
(^27)
217
Amharic Grammar.
218 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix* Jussive
(§27)
219
Amharic Grammar,
220 Simp.
Comp.
perf.
perf.
Contingent
Comp. imperf.
(§26)
(§32)
(§32)
(§25)
escort,
^?f?A
t.
sanfiji (sa-)
sannitoal o o
yisann
yisafinal
(sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
2nd -70 -ilfiah, etc.
lii-f
be mouldy,
saarorata
i.
sell,
^l^f*7;^A
sdgtoal
t.
yisao^ffit
ilOJ-A yisat
sftoal
sdta o -o
fL- sa-
(sa-)
wrap,
t.
yisaggital
S.
(-sa-)
?f¥XA
(-si)
^If^'^A
safFana o o o
saffinoal o^
visafFin " o
yisafFinal
(sa-)
(sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
*A;tA
je.+A
J&+AA
qaltoal
}1qala
yiqalal
^^A^r^A
qalmoal
/e.+Ar viqalm yiqallim o o ^l-o
yiqallim al
^A^'Oi^
t/Z.*A4»A
tjZ.+A^'AA
qalqiloal
yiqalaqqil yiqalaqqilal
o
be
red,
i.
qalla stain,
t.
qallama
qallimoal
mix,
t.
qalaqqala
4»A+A
mix,
qallata
+A4'^A
o
viqalmal
•/
J&'I'A^'A
JE.«I'A4»AA
qalaq(i)15al yiqalaqqil yiqal§;qqilal
qalaqqala
+Am
t.
o
melt,
4»A/Ti,A
^+AT
^4»A^A
qaltoal
yiq^H
vi(idltal
Appendix. Jussive
221
Amharic Grammar,
222 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive (§ 27)
223
Amharic Grammar.
224 Sirup, perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
225
Amharic Grammar.
226 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
227
228 Simp. i>erf. (§25)
Amharic Grammar,
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
229
Amhan'c Grammar.
230 Simp. perf.
(§25)
;;
231
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
yibrar
bfrar o o
barr'^o o
mabrar o o
bardri
(-yr-, -jir)
(-ar)
(-yr-, -Jir)
(ba-)
yibarta
bdrta
bartit^o o o
(-iy-, -ar-)
(ba-)
(ba-)
bare (-ay-,-^r-;§8)(ba-, -^
mabartdt
-ci)
yibrad o o
bard^o
mabrad o o
(-yr-)
(hi-)
(-yr-)
basl^o o
mabsal o o
basSi (-ayv
(-ys-, -al)
§6; §8)
«/
-nAA yfbsal o o
bisal o o
(-ys-, -ill)
(-al)
•/
nn-nn yibdsbis
basbis o o
basbis^^o o o
mabasbas o o o
bdsbds
(-vasv-)
(-sy-)
(-sy-)
(-vasv-)
(-sf; §H)
tn* yfbqa
baqf'o
(-yq-)
(bi)
inabqdt (-yq-
;
!^
^)
y|bqal
baql^'o
mabqal
(-yq-)
(hi-)
(-yq-)
yibattin o o o
battin o ,o
battin^'o o o
(-iy-, -at-)
(ba-)
(ba-)
»'
baqi (bl)
Off. bdqdi (ba-ayy §6;§8)
mabattan battdn
(ba-
(-av-, -atta-)
-dnn §6; §8)
mabzdt
Ibai
mi-f y|bza (-yz-)
bfza
bazt"'o (ba-)
(V-
;
§
8)
(ba-, -TC -zi)
Amharic Grammar.
232 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
!
233
;
Amharic (jh'ammar.
234 Simp,
Com p.
perf.
(§25)
(§
+A^A
be given ^P'
talaqqacia
talaqaqqa-
talaqdq-
i
^A^+'^A
yillaqaq-
yillaq§;qqa-
qam
mal
moal
-hAnn
^An-fl have a ^A-ndA halter pat talabbibSal yillabbab on,
(-ya)
^A+*A
^A.*4»9"
mao talabbaba o o o o
iraperf.
(§32)
yillaqqaq yillaqqaqal
i'^^^''i^
p.
Comp.
^A^^*
talaqqoal
P-
be picked out,
Contingent (§26)
perf.
32)
p.
^AHHA yillabbabal o o o
•/
(-ay)
(-jr-)
(-ya-)
;^An^"•
be milked,
;^AflAf
^;^A'n
^;f-AnA^-
tallabac o
P-
talballiic
tittallab o
tittallabalo
(-ay)
lac (-ya-;
(-Iva-;
(-avix-
-acc
§
o
-acc
o
'§6)
6)
be
-acc
measured, talakkitoal yillakka o o o ,•'00
talakka o o
villakkal
i
P-
be
6)
^AhA
^Ah
i'A»l;l:A
§
(-la-)
'hAViA
sent, p.
taldka o o
talikoal
\k-)
I
^Ah
je,A»iA
yillS-k
yilldkal
^iAoiT
^AflJ^lA
i
I
'ttiann
be
'f'Aa>-rp,A
talauwata o o o o
changed,
talauwii-
P-
toal
villauwat
•
yillauwatal o o
•/
o
•
1
I
+Af
-hA^rlrA be distinguished, taldyyitM
talayyii
2nd i-MO talayyah, etc.
P" I
I
J&A^Z.
^A^A
yillayy
yillayyal
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
235
Amharic Gramnmr
236 Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive
237
Amharic Grammar.
238 Simp. perf. (§
25)
1
Apijendix.
23i>
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
attimmarar tamaiT^o aimmarar o o o o o o
mammarar o o o
(-drar)
(-arar)
(-arar)
Participle
31)
(§
tamardri o o (-ma-) |
^'^^^}
i'*^^^l
t'^cin
aD*^^yi
-h'^^h.
yimmdrak
tamarak
tamdrk^'o
mammdrak
tamardki
f!,0D^T
i'aD^T
'I'twdn
yimmarat
tamdrat
tamart^o
mammarat
tamar(r)dc
(-ma-)
(-ma-)
(-md-)
(§ 8)
-taoh'l'i
't'aotll'^
aooDtl'l'i
i'aotlp^
mammas-
tamasffdii
(-ma-)
f^aoill-i
tamaso'an yimmasQfan tamdsofin''o * o o *^ o o o >^ o o o ~o
o-an
^rflchh -MT^nchh yimbdrkak tambdrkak (-bd-;§7c)
(-bd-)
i-mclnYi tambarkik-o
6
[(-nn §
8)
§
;
tambarkdki mambaro o o o (-bil-) kak (-bd-; °§7c)
yimmata
tamata
tamatt"o I
mammatdt o o (§H)
tamac (-ac
§
;
«s
;
j
-tC -ci)
yimmdta
tamdta
tamdtt^o
manmidtat I
yimmdc
tamac(c)it"o
(-md-; §8)
(-md-)
°m mammacat "'
'\
(-ma-)
tamdc (§8;-^-ci)
tamac o o (md- § 8 ;
-V. -ci)
;.
Amharic Grammar
240
Comp.
Simp. perf.
(§25)
Contingent
perf.
(§32)
be
^ao^i
tammana °
(§
^9^X^
1
26)
|^.;^<wl'}
believed, p. (p ) tamnoal believe, t. (t.) tgimmi-
(§
32)
/^,;^<^»9A
yittamman
yitt§;inma-
"
°
Comp. imperf.
:
°
nal
i
"
^^
noal
be
'^r/D'}^f^A
changed, tamanazo o o zara o o
p.
(-za-)/
zar
roal
^
long
for,
ff^'in^fii
zaral
(-za-)
(-za-)
t.
tamafina o o
tamannio o o
(-ma-)
2nd
^rwiVHC
yimmanaz- yimmanaz-
tamanzio o o
yimmanii yimmaiinal (-md-)
(-ma-)
toal
-Yli
(-ma-)
-nnah, etc.
deliberate,
tamakkara o o o
tamdkroal yimmakkari yimmakkao
i.
"
(-ka-)
**
ral (-ka-)°
(-ka-) I
be
tried, p.
tam^dkkio o ^^
tam'^dko
kara
rftal
(-ka-)
weigh,
tamazzio o o
fed.
+r/«*7aA
p.
tamaogi-
tamaffffaba (-ya)
tar ram a
yimm^(')k-
yimm'^dk-
kar
karal
(-ka-)
\
hm
(-iy-)
be weeded,
;>C^A
P-
tarrimoal
(-ka-)
nal
noal
P-
be
j?.'r»h/-«A
f^^nt IS^H'i'A yimmazzan yimmazza-
i.
be weighed, tamazzana o o o o
J&T'hC
I
^*w>7'n
^^70 A
yimmaggab yimmagga(-ay)
fb:^4!:9"
bal
(-ay-)
f.'}^Cn^
yittanam yittarramal
Appendix. Jussive
241
Amharic Grammar.
242 Simp. {%
perf.
25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
243
Amharic Grammar.
244 Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive
245
246 Simp. perf. (§25)
Amharic Grammar
Appendix. Imperative (§28)
Jussive (§
27)
247
Gerund
Infinitive
(§29)
(§30)
(§
massamatasamart^o o o o o o o
yissamar
(-asama-)
(-ar)
rat (-ara-)
massamdtasamdrf'o o o
yissamara
(-asa-)
rat
8)
(§
Participle
massardt
31)
tasamari o o (-asa-)
tasamdri o o (-asil-)
yissdra
tasarf'o o o
(-sa-)
(-asa-)
(-sir§
8)
(-jisa-)
tdsr'^'o
mattdsar o o
tasari
,
tasari o
o
;^rtC
yittdsar
tdsar o
(-sa-)
(-sii-)
(-sii-)
t+rtCA<5 yissarsar
tasdrsir^'o o
massdrsar o o o
tasarsdri o o
(-asa-)
(-arsa-)
(-asa-)
o
(-arsa-)
o
yissaraq o o o
tasarcf'o i O O
massaraq
tasardqi
(-sa-)
(-iisa-)
(-sa-)
(-asa-)
•/
1^
-f-rtft-f-
yissasat
tasasdt o o
tasas(i)t'''o
'(-sas-; § 8)
(-asa-; § 8)
(-asa-)
yissdsdt
tasdsdt
tasds(i)t^'o
(§8)
(tL;§8)
'
(ta-)
massasat o o (-sas-
;
§
8)
massdsdt °(§8)
tasasac (-asa-
§ 8)
;
tasdsac (tL
;
§
8)
Amharic Grammar.
248 Simp.
perf.
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
249
Amharic Grammar.
250 Simp.
Comp.
perf.
(§25)
Contingent
perf.
(§32)
be
(§
Comp. imperf. (§32)
26)
^AVrtiJ^A
split, p.
tasanattaqa
tasantiqoal yissandttaq yissanatta-
(-asa-)
qal
(ta-)
be hidden, tasaiiwara ;aiiwa o o o o
tasauwiiroal yissduwaral yissauwar o o o o o
P-
•/
(ta-)
(ta-)
be abused, isaddal tasaddaba o o o o
lz,rt^nA
tasad(i)boal
P-
yissaddab yissaddabal o o o «'
(ta-, -ya)
(ta-, -yo-)
migrate,
(-av)
^^JE^^A
i.
tasaddada o o o
(-yal)
tasaddoal
yissaddad o o
yissadda-
•/
'
dal
(ta-)
(ta-)
quarrel,
i.
tasadado o
tasadad(i)-
yissadad-
yissadad-
dabu o
baual
dabu
daballu
(-asa-, -yu)
(-asa-, -vau-)
(-yn)
(Val-)
'^"''*^tA
^rt^A
tasatta o o o
tasat(i)toal
yissattal
(-as a-)
(-iisa-)
be given,
p.|
• •
2nd -mU -ttah • •
o
(-ah), etc.
be sewn,
p.
tasaffa o o
tasaftoal o o
(ta-)
(ta-)
yissaffa
yissdffal
o
;
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
(§27)
(§28)
yissantaq
Gerund (§
29)
tasantiq^'o
251 Infinitive
Participle
(§30)
(§31)
massantaq
tasantaqi (ta-)
(ta-)
aodfoC yissduar
tasauar asaus O o o O o
tasauwiir^' o
o
(ta-)
massauar o o o
(ta-)
(ta-)
yissadab •/Q O O
tasad(i)b^^'o
massddab o o o
(-ay)
(ta-, -y"'o)
(-ay)
tasadd^'o
massddad
yissddad
tasddad o o (ta-)
yissadao o
•/
dabu (-yu)
-yu)
(-jisa-,
-yau)
-yi)
tasdddj (til;
(ta-)
bau
tasadddbi o o (tit-,
"
tasadad(i)tasadddabu o o o (-asii-,
tasauwdri o o
massaddo o
tasadiidao
o
dab
b'^'oc
(-ay)
-dy-
yissat
tasdt(i)t^^o
massdtat o o o
(§8)
(-jisa-)
(-at)
•
§8)
;
(-iisii-,
-cc
§
tdsac o o •
(-asa-;
§
8
-iEL -ci)
vissafa " o o
tasaff'o o o (ta-)
massafdt o o (§8)
tasafi (tii-,
-sa-)
6)
Amhanc Grammar.
262 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive (§ 27)
253
Amharic Grammar.
254 Simp.
Comp.
pevf.
be
Contingent (§26)
Comp.
impei-f.
(§32)
^?f^A
sold, p.
tasata o o o
)5erf.
(§32)
(§25)
tdsitoal(ta-)
yissat
yissatal
-li- -sa- S.
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
ifFino tasafFinoal O o o o
yissafFan
yissafFanal
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
^+A9"
^'frA'^A
•
/
(-asa-)
'\r^^h I
tasaffana O O O O
be wrapped, -,
^ff^^-VA 3
^
(-asa-)
-asa-)
be stained, taqallama o o o io
taqalmoal
P-
}iqqallam yiqqallamal
(-allim-)
be mixed, +1'4»A*(i,A taqalaq-
t)Z.+A+A
taqalqiloal
P-
qala
+^+A4»AA yjqqaiaq-
qai
qalal
'^+A4'0.A
jZ.+A'I'A
^'I'A+AA
taqalaq-
taqal^q(i)-
yiqqal§;q-
yiqqalSq-
qala
loal
be mixed,
taqwwllafa
qalal
be locked, '^'feA^A ^'feA'^A P taqwwllifoal yiqqwwllaf yiqqwwllafal O O T-
be robbed,
'h*j^,'J:A
P-
taqammiO O Ao
taqamma
IZ.+'^A
yiqqamma yiqqammal
toal
be
taqdmmasa o O o o
tasted,
^*l*<w>^A
taqamsoal viqqdmmas yiq(iamma-
P-
1
^•+9"0.A
sal sit,
taqdmmata o o o o i
•
ride,
^4'<w»'»]A
i.
taqam(mi)- yiqcjammat jiqqammatoal
tal
Appendix. Jussive (§ 27)
255
Amharic Grarmrmr.
256 Simp.
pert.
(§25)
A^ipendix. Jussive
(§27)
257
Amharic Gram/mar.
258 Simp, (§
perf,
25)
Appendix. Jussive (§ 27)
259
Amharic Grammar.
260
Com p.
Simp. perf.
(§25)
(§
perf.
32)
Contingent
Comp. imperf.
(§26)
(§32)
•f+m^iL
be cheated,
i'+T^A
jK.+m'P
J&*l»m4-A
taqattafa
P
taqdtfoal
yiqqattaf
yiqqattafal
be dug,
\
J&'fe^C^A
p.
taqwwffara
taqwwflfi-
(-fa-)
roal
yiqqwojifar yiqqwo^ffa(-fa-)
be eaten, taballa o
yibballa
yibballal
+'na,A
JiOA
JS.nAA
tab(i)l6al
yibbal
yibbalal
i-nATirtA
j&flATi
j&nATfA
tabaldstoal
yibbaldss
yibbaldssal
(-ay-, -al-)
(-av-)
be tabdla o o
said, P-
(-ay-)
(ta-/-y(i)-)
be tabaldssa o o
spoiled, P-
o
(-ay-)
2nd
/K,nAA tabaltoal
P-
o
ral (-fa-)
©
(-ay-)
-JiX)
-ssah, etc.
be
lit,
p.
+nc:f:A
tabarra o o
tabartoal
(-av-)
(-av-, -ar-)
tabdrraka o o o
be blessed,
+OCV^A
i.
tabdrkoal
yibbarra Jo o
yibbarral Jo o
j&n^:hA
yibbdrrak yibbdrrakal Jo o
'(-ay-)
(-av-)
tabbasa o e
jz,n^A
be wiped,
;^'n(lLA
P
tabbis5al
JB.;^n^A
yittabbas
yittabbasal Jo e
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
261
262 Simp. perf.
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
263
Amharic Grammar.
264 Simp.
perf.
Appendix. Jussive
265
266 Simp. perf.
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix. Jussive
267
Amharic Grammar
268
Comp.
Simp, perf.
Comp. imperf.
Contingent (§26)
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
(§32)
^Toi^A
be tanauwata o o •©
disturbed,
yinnauwat tanduutdal yinnauwa^ o o o o o •
•
P-
*'
(-W&)-)
(-W&)-)
tal (-WO)-)
^V^A
be driven, tanadda o o
tanaditoal o o o
P-
yinnadda o o
•/
yinndddal o o •/
(-nart-,
-nart-
§
Id)
be
tanaddada o o o
annoyed,
yinnaddayinnaddad tandddoal o o o o o •^
•'
i.
dal
^V^4'A
be stung, tandddafa O O
tanadf6al o o
P-
yinndddayinnaddaf ^ o o o o o o
«'
fal sting,
|&T^4«A
i.
tanaddafa o o o
tanddfoal
yinndddayinnaddaf o o o o *'
*'
fal
speak,
'f'?*7^A
i.
tandoToal
tanafcarara
yinnaggayinnaggar ' °
(-ar-)
ral
(-ar)
^V/i-l^A
converse, tanaoaargra-
ra
i.
tanagdoO o
(-ar-)
groal
be hung, i-'JmATOLA tantalattala o
•
o
o
• •
o
o
P-
(-iir-)
tantaltil5al -o O
'O
(-ta-)
yinnaga-
ggar
(-ar)
yinnagSggaral (-ar-)
^7mAmA ^'>mAmAA vintalattal yintaldtta•© ^ o
" o
•
o
o
•
(§7c;-al)
'o
o
• •
liil
(§7c)
o
Appendix. Jussive 27)
(§
269
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
mannauat tanduuf^o o o o
yinnauat
•
•
(-4)
(§8)
tanadit'^o o o o
mannaddt o o
tanai
(-nart-,
(§8)
i-cot)
yinnada
tandda
-nart-
yinnddad o o
«/
tanddad o o
tanaudc o
tanddd^'o o
-X
mannddad
-ji)
tandddj '
\l
yinnadaf o o o •/
tanadaf o o o
yinnadaf
y|nndjj;ar (-ar)'
tandorar ~o o
§8;
(-na-;
§ 7(1)
8)
tanadr^^o
mannadaf o o o
tanaddfi o o
tanddr^o
mannddaf
tanaddfi o
tand
manndarar
tanagdri
(-ar)
(-ar)
i-'ipnc
yinnaffd"'ar tanasrdffar mannaardtanaoraffdri ©o o~ ~ o tana^d^r^'o o o~ ~ O o (-ar)
(-ar)
yintaltal
tantaltal
gar
(-ar)
mA«lp •'
(§
o
7c
•
;
o
•
o
-alta-)
tantaltil^'o O
(-alta-)
•
O
'O
(-ta-)
mantaltal '0*0 O
tantdltdi o o •
(§
7c ;
-alta-)
(-ta§
6
o
;
;
•
-dyy §
8>
Amharic Grammar.
270 Simp.
)>erf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
271
.
Amharic Grammar.
272
Comp.
Simp. perf.
perf.
Contingent
Comp. imperf
(§26)
(§32)
f^h^hC
^h^h^A
(§32)
(§25)
dispute,
i.
takarakkao o o
takarao o
yikkara-
yikkara
ra o
kroal
kkar
kkaral
(-arakka-)
(-ard-)
(-arakka-)
takarayi-
jikkarayy
(-arSkka-)
i
take
takarayya '
on
hire,
yikkarao o
*'
"
t.
(-ka-)
toal
2nd -^fU
(-ka-, -St-)
yyai
(-ka-)
(-ka-)
-rayyah, etc.
scorch,
^i-W-OA
t.
yitakkwiisal takkwusoal yitakkwus o o o o
takkwwsa o o
takassasa o o o o
*'
•^
(t&jkkosa)
i-U-)
be
i-YifL^
accused,
takass6al
l-toi-)
^hA^A yikkassas yikkassasal o o o o o o ./
»'
P-
^hn^A
be takabbara o o o o (-bii-)
honoured, takabroal o o P-
yikkabbayikkabbar ^ o o o o o o
»/
ral
(-ba-)
(-ay-)
(-ba-)
follow,
^hi-AA
t.
takattiloal o o
takattala O O
o
yikkattal o o o *'
yikkattalal o o o
•'
(-al)
takkaka
be
J^V^A
scratched,
tSkkoal
P-
1
l^,;^h^lA
yittakkak yittakkakal o o •'
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
273
Amharic Grammar.
274 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
275
Amharic Grammar.
276 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
277
Amharic Gram/mar.
2t8
Comp.
Simp. perf.
Contingent (§26)
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
Comp, imperf. (§32)
agree,
yiwwaddatawaddaual yiwwaddao o o o
tawaddadu o ^ o
•^
(taua-)
(taud-)
«/
du
dallu
(yuwa-)
(yuwa-)
yiwwojgga
yiwwojggal
(yuww-)
(yuww-)
be pricked,
tawwgga
tawwgtoal
(tauw-)
(taucu-)
fight
tawagga
;
butt,
tawdgtoal
i.
(taua-)
(taud-)
be sown,
yiwwagga yiwwaggal (yuwa-)
(yuwa-)
^H^
p.
tazdrra o o
tazartoal o
yizzarra
yizzdrral Jo o^
(-aza-)
(-aza-)
(-za-)
(-za-)
tazarfoal o
yizzarraf
yizzarrafel
(-aza-)
(-za-)
(-za-)
tazaqziqoal
yizzaqaz-
yizzaqazza-
zaq
qal
o
,
be tazdrrafa o o ^o o
,
looted, P-
o
(-aza-)
beinclined,
tazaqdzza-
P-
qa be turned, tazauwara o o o o
;^HH tazzaza o o
tazauiiroal o o
P-
obey,
yizzduwar yizzduwaral
|^.;^HHA
t.
tazz5al
yittazzaz
yittazzazal o *'
o
;
279
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
Imperative (§28)
yiwwddadu tawddadu o o ^o o ^
•'
(yuwd-)
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
tawaddj^'oc mawwddad tawaddau o o o o ^ ^ ^
(taud-)
(taud-)
^
(mauwd-)
(taua-
^occ
yiwwcJga
tawwoft^^o ^J^
o
(yuwoj-)
(tauoj-)
mawwojgdt (mauww-;
§
6)
tawdgi (taiia-, -oJg-)
§8)
yiwwdga (yuwa-)
tawdga
tawdgf'o
mawwdgdt
tawdgi
(taud-)
(mauwd-;
(taud-)
(tana-)
§8)
yizzara
tazdrt'^o
mazzdrat
(-za-)
(-aza-)
(-zi;l8)
tazarf^o o o
mazzaraf o o o
yizzaraf Jo o o
tazd(izaq Q O A O i
o
o
(-aza-)
(-za-)
(-ilza-)
tazacizicp^o A i
mazzaqzaq
tazaqzdqi
tazautir^^o
mazzduar o o o
tazauwdri o o
tazz^o
mattdzaz
tdzdz (§8)
(-za-)
yizzaqzaq
tazardfi
o
o
o
t'l'H'P^^
yizzauar o o o
o
•'
yittdzaz
tdzaz
o
,
Amharic Ch'ammar.
280
Comp.
Simp. perf. (§
be shut,
(§32)
5S.H;iA
p.
tazaorsra
be seen,
Comp, imperf.
Contingent (§26)
perf.
(§32)
25)
tazdgtoal
yizzdgga
yizzdggal
taitftal
yittayy
yittayyal
yiyyaz
yiyyazal
p.
tayya
2nd ;^f I) tayyah, etc.
be taydza
seized,
tdyizoal o*' o
P-
(t#-)
(t||z-)
be ginned,
tadammata o 'o e
yiddammatadamtoal yiddammat O O
P-
•
•'
tal
be done, tadarrao^a o o
o
o*^
tadargoal
P-
'
yiddarrag'
gal
(-di)
^^nA^A
be mixed, tadab^llaqa o o o o -i-o
(-ya-)
tadabliqoal yiddabalo o o
P-
interfere,
*'
i.
-all-)
P-
interfere, i.
lean,
tadajy^afa
(-da-,
-ayf
-all-)
/K-^OA^A
be mixed, (-yd-)
yiddabdlla-
qal
{-da-, -yl-) (-da-, -avd-,
tadaballaqa
yidddrra-
tadabdlo o
qoal
(-y^-)
yiddabalo o »'
laq
(-ya-)
yiddabdlla-
qal
(-yd-)
i.
taddgrffifx^al
(-da.)
yidddo^oraf
yidddggafal
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
281
Amharic Grammar.
282 Simp. perf. (§
25)
283
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
tajammil'^0 maiiamal
yiiiamal
(-al)
(-al)
^%*^& taj „ .ammari
yiiidmar
taiamo«' o
maijamar
(-ma-)
mir'^o o
(-ar)
tdgt^^o
mdtgdt
taori
(°§«)
(ta-)
y^tga
yittdgal
%a
tagal
tdgl^'o
mattaaal
tdgdi
(-dyy§6;§8)
iiAn-nrn
<w>iAanT
'iiAnn*!?'
tao:ala-
maggala-
tagalabaoC o o
babf o
bdbat
bdc
(-ga-, -ydy-)
(-ydy-)
(-ydy-)
yisrgalbat
taffalbit^'o oO o•
ma<>i>albat
(-ly-, -at)
(-ly-)
(-ly-, -at)
yiggara
tao^arf'o
maororarat
taprari
(-ga-)
(-ga-)
(-ga-;§8)
(-ga-)
yiofoaram
taofdrm^o
mao:ffaram
taorarrdmi
(-ga-)
(-ga-)
i-iAnnT yi<>:ffalaba-
bat o •
taoralababat qOo o o •
(-y^y-)
oO o
o
(-ga-)
(-ydy-;'
§8)
tagalbdc ("ly-
;
§
8)
284 Simp. perf. (§25)
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
285
A
.
Amharic Grammar.
286
Comp.
Simp. perf.
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
set out,
Contingent (§26)
tdofwuzoal
be injured,
(§32)
J&5^HA
i.
tasrwdza
Comp. imperf
yiggwaz
yiggwdzal
i''?«»j^:i:
tagwwd(i)- yiggwoj'dda yiggwwddal
tas^wwdda
toal (-curt- §
fight,
i.
Id)
i';j^aA tagddloal
ta^addala
yiffffaddal
J&J5^AA yiggaddalal
lean,
J&1^4.A ^addifi taaraddifoal yio^oraddaf
tagaddafa
fel
(-ga-)
be tagdcca
knocked,
yiffsradda-
J&p«^A p.
taffdctoal
yiggacc
yiggdccal
i'7
/z.'i4.
^•14-A
tao^aftoal
yigg^ffa
yiggaffal
2nd -tau -ccah, etc.
be pushed, taorafFa
o~ o
o~ o
be tatta
tatala
lacking, i.
;^T;tA tattoal
be thrown,
i"Pa.A
P-
tatiloal (ta-)
J&;^'^A yittatta
yittattal
J&'HAA yittal
Apperulix. Jussive (§
27)
287
)
;
Amharic Grammar.
288
Comp.
Simp. perf.
quarrel,
Comp. imperf, (§32)
)&^AA
i.
tat all a
tataltoal
•
o
Contingent (§26)
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
be wrung be tatdmmaqa
yittalla
yittallal
j&m<w»^A tatamqoal yittammaq
yittdmma-
baptized,
qal
P-
^m<wiHHA
be twisted, tatamdzza0*0 o o
p.
yittamdzzatatamzizoal yittamazzaz ©• o o o o o o •
*'
•
za o
zal
^m<w»^A
be yoked,
tatammada 0*0 00
P-
yittammad tatamdoal o •©
yittdmma©• •© © •'
dal
be wound, tatamatta-
P-
jK,m<wim*^A tatamti-
mao
moal be
tatarra o •o
called,
i'mC;tA
P-
tatartoal 0.0
yittamato o
yittamdtta-
tam o
mal
*'
• •
o
•
•
/J-fll^A
yittarra
yittdrral
yittarra
yittarral
(-ta-)
summon, t.
tatarra o
J&^^A tatdrtoal o •
•
jim
be cleaned, tatarrasra
P-
tatdrgoal
yittdrraff
yittdrragal ©o o* © •/
•
(-Sr-)
;atardttar£ o
•
o
o
•
•©
(-ardtta-)
be
i-mCTiA
doubted,
tatdrtiroal •© o •
c
P-
o
yittardttar yittardttaral (-ardtta-)
(
-ardtta-
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
289
Amharic Grammar.
290
Comp.
Simp. perf.
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
tataqallala ^o e o o
•
p.
Comp. imperf. ( §32)
/ifli+AA
be rolled up,
Contingent (§26)
yittaqallal
yittaqalla-
(-al)
lal
tataqdq(i)
yittaqdq-
yittaqaqqa-
maual o
qamu
mdllu
tdt(i)boal
yittdttab
yittdttabal o o
(-ay)
(-ay-)
^mflA
je,mn^A
yittdbbas
yittabbasal
tataqlilSal
o
tataqilloal '*(-tl)
agree tataqdq-
together,
qamu
i.
;^mn
be washed,
tattaba o o
P-
• •
(-yo-)
(-ya)
tmnrt
be toasted,
tatabbasa o o o o
P-
tatabsoal o o
./
•
•
•
•
(-ys-)
+fllfl+
be
tatdbbaqa
guarded,
tatabbaqa
squeezed,
tatabbiqoal
yittabbaq yittabbaq al
tatabqoal
yittabbaq yittabbaqal
be P-
"(-yq-)
be wise; be in diffitatabbaba 0*0 00 culty,
je,mnnA tatabboal o o
yittdbbab yittdbbabal
•
i.
(-ay)
(-va)
be pertattana •o o .
fumed,
p.
(-aval)
Je,;^^lVA tat(i)ii5al
yittdttau
yittdttanal
Appendix. Jussive
291
Amharic Grannmar.
292 Simp. (§
perf.
25)
Appendix* Jussive
293
Amharic Grammar.
294
Comp.
Simp. perf. (§25)
Contingent (§26)
Corap. iniperf.
(§32)
tacinoal
yiccdn
yiccdnal
perf.
(§32)
be saddled tacdna o o
P-
•
(ta-)
play,
tacauwata e o o
tacauutoal
(-a>t-)
(-aut-)
•
}dccauwatal viccauwat O
f o
•
•
"'(-cot-)
(-cot)
\
be sought, tafallaofa o o o~o
P-
tafalliffoal o o oO
yiffallaer ~ •'0
yiffallao'al
tafardoal o o
yiifarrad o
yiffarradal
yiff^q
yiffdqal
tafat(i)t6al
yiffatta
yiffattal
tafattinoal o
yiffdttan
yiffattanal
(-fa-)
(-atta-)
(-4tta-)
tafauwu-
yiffauwas
yiflfduwasal
f,d.ld,1
f,d,ld.p^
O
o
be decided, tafarrada o o o o
P-
•'
o
o
(-fa-)
be scraped, tafaqa
P-
taf(i)q6al '
(ta-)
be untied, tafatta o o
P-
be tafattana o o o o
tested, P-
(-atta-)
o
o
be cured, tafauwasa o o o o
P-
s5al
be rubbed, tafan^afFaj2:a o
o~ o
o~ o
tafd":f
i<»
oal yiffaerdfFao: yifFaofdfFaofal
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
yfccdn
tacduat o o
(-t)
(-<0t)
•
30)
(§
(ta-)
(§8)
tacauut^o
maccduat o o
tacaudc
(--t)
(§8)
tafalldei O o
•
•
V^t-)
•
maffalao: o o^ o
yifFdrad o o o
tafard^o o o
maffarad o o o
o
o
o
•'
(-fa-)
o
(-fa-)
(§8)
tacdn •dnn
§
(ta-;
6
;
§
8)
•
tafalliff'^'o oO
o
(§31)
m^ccdn o
yiffdlaor ~ •'
Participle
Infinitive
tacin^o o-o
(§8)
yiccduat
295
(-fa-)
tdf(i)q-o
mdfFdq
(ta-)
(§8)
o
tafdrdj o o *>
(-fa-;
§8)
tafdqi
+<«.?-
vifFdta o
•'
tafat(i)t'^o
o
maff'dtat o
o
(§8)
tdfdc 8
§
;
(-fa-;
-^
-ci)
'^\^.;^^
vifFatan o ^o o
tafdtan o o o
tafdttin^o o o o
maff'dtan o o o
tafattaii
(-ata-)
(-ata-)
(-fa-)
(-atii-)
(-f^-;
•/
o
o
^
dfin §6;§ 8)
yifFauas •'0 o o
maffauas tafauwus^o o o o e o
tafduwds o o (§8)
yifFdfffaff v o
O^ O^
tafdgfig^o maffdgfag
Amharic Grammar.
296 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
297
Amharic Grammar,
298 Simp. perf.
(§25)
I
299
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
Imperative (§
28)
Gerund (§29)
Participle
Infinitive (§
(§31)
30)
7^ yinqa
niqa
naqt^o
7+A niqal
manqdt (§ 8)
naqi
iwi74»A
naql'^o
manqal
naqdi
ayy§6r§8)
{-'
yjnqas
nfqas
ndqs'^o
(-nq-)
mannas
naqds
(-nq-)
(§8)
manacinaq
naqndqi
ndki (na-)
V4»74»
yin^qniq
na(ini(i^^o
(-na-)
(na-)
(na-)
yinka
nika
ndkt^o
mdnkdt o
[^-Jhipnka]
(ni-)
(§8)
f!/iXiC
•>hc
yinkar
nikar o o
ndkr^o
mdnkar o o
nakari
(-ka-)
(-ka-)
(4k-)
(-ka-)
(-ak-)
aothtl
7hft
yfnkas
nikas o o
ndks^^'o o
mdhkas o o
ndkas (§8)
ve yfnda
nfda
nddit^o o o ,
mdnddt o
(ndrt-,nart-
(§8)
J7rf)
naj (na-,
-%
-ji)
Amharic Granvmar,
300 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
301
Amharic Grammar.
302 Simp. perf.
(§25)
303
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative (§
28)
nic
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
nact^o
mdncat
nac {-asL -ci)
(inc)
'Id,
yfnfa
nifa
naft^^o
manfat o
nafi
(nd-)
(§8)
(na-)
o
tV4«7i
nafs^'o
yinfas
o
mdnfas
i
ndfds
(^
8)
'dtp
yibal
bal
mdlat
(-fy-, -ill)
(bill)
(-at)
yallal(i)k
yallal(i)k
«^AAlfl
^lAAtU allaldki
alldl(i)k
alIal(i)k-o
malldldk
(-lal-)
(-ill-)
(§8)
allal(i)k
allal(i)k^o
<^AA»1
KAAh.
malldldk
allaldki
(§8)
«^AAAA yaldslis
aldslis o
o
aldslis'^o o
o
maldslas o o
KA*
?iA* ilaq
o o T-
Slq^o
mdlaq
aldqi
Amharic Grammar
304
Comp.
Simp. perf.
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
take to
aldqqama pasture,
t.
alqimoal
Contingent (§26)
Comp. imperf.
^A4»r
^A^'^A
yaldq(i)m yalaq(i)mal (-la-)
(-14-)
yallaqqim
yall^qqi-
^A^'^A
help to
allaqqama
reap,
t.
allaq{|)-
mal
moal ^A4»rt
weep. alqisoal
aldqqasa
cause to pick a little, alaqaq(i)alaqaqqat.
mao
help to allaqaqqa-
pick,
t.
mao
^A*A
^A4»AA
yalaqs
yalaqsal
^A^^^'^A yalaqaq-
yalaq§:qqi-
moal
qim
mal
^A^*^A
^A^4»9"
^A^4"^A
allaqaq(l)-
moal milk,
(§32)
t.
yallaqaq- yallaqSqqi-
qim
mal
^A-fl
^AflA yalbal
all aba
alboal
yalb
(-ya)
(-ly-)
(-ly)
(-ly-)
^A-fltlLA
^A-nft
^A-n^A
albisoal
yalabs
yalabsal
(-1^-, -ys)
(-la-, -ys-)
o
o
dress,
t.
alabbasa o o o
(-iV)
pass,
alfoal
dllafa e
^A4'A
t.
y§:if
yalfal
ydma
ydmal
o
slander,
dmma
t.
^l^;fcA
amt5al
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
305
Amharic Grammar.
306 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Ajypendix. Jussive (§
27)
307
Amharic Grammar,
308 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
309
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
yam^'on
am^ofi
am^^oilfii-
(-nn
§
G)
o
(-nil § 6)
mam^^dfi-
dm^on
iiat
(§8;-im§6) (am^6fiiii)
yammit
dmmit
yamta
h9°m amta
amtif'o
(-nt-)
(-nt-)
her*
her
(-nt-)
yarriin
ammit'^o O"
h'n^ mammat ammdc (§8) o •
hT^
drrim o
mamtdt
dmc
(§8)
(-ecu -ci)
arrim^o o
marram o
arrdmi
hi."%
htl^^ yarr|r(i)q
arrar(i)q
arrar(i)q'^o
marraraq
arrardqi
{-rar-)
(-rar-)
(-rar-)
(-rdr-;l8)
(-rar-)
yarrar(i)q
arrdr(i)q
arrar(i)q'' o
marrdrdq
arrardqi
hd.n yfras
yarriq
yfrad o o
|
iras
drs'^o
hc^
he*
o
o
hi^fi
hCC^
mdras o
ards
(§
8)
hln^
marraq
arrdqi
ard'^o
mdrad o
ardj (§8)
arjif^o
mdrjat
arj
i'lrriq
arri(|'''o
h^:!!:
hCF^
Irad
«/
(-^
-ji)
Amharic Grammar
310
Com p.
Simp. perf. (§25)
(§
loosen,
perf.
32)
Contingent (§26)
Corap. imperf. (§
32)
t.
arrao^o^aba
drgiboal
(-ya)
(iV)
yarrag(i)b yarrag(i)bal (-(l)y)
(-(i)y-)
wave,
arraggaba
arragiboal
(-ya)
(if)
(-iy)
(-iy-)"
argabagga-
arg|bgi-
yargabag-
yargabag-
bao
boal
gib
oibal
(-yaggay-)
(-ygjy-)
(-yaggiy)
(-yaggiy-)
flutter,
yarraggib yarraggibal
t.
^^'74-A
unsaddle,
arraggafa
t.
rest,
arrdg(i)f6al
i.
arrafa o o
drfoal
aslaqqama o ^ ^o o
yarraggif yarraggifal
cause to gather, t.
aslaqqi-
yarf
ydrfal
^ftA*r
^ftA4"^A
yaslaqqim
yaslaqqi-
mal
m6al parade,
t.
assallafa o o o
assallifoal o
yassallif
yassallifal
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
o
let pass,
asallafa o
^^A4-A
t.
asallif6al
o
o
yasdllif
yasallifal
cause to
assamma
hear,
t.
assammit5al
yassamma yassammal
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
311
Amharic Grammar.
312 Simp. perf. (§
Conip. perf.
(§32)
25)
hurt,
2nd
Comp. imperf. (§32)
t.
asammama o o
assamarra o o o
Contingent (§26)
take to pasture, t.
-^^}
asammimoal
yasammim yasammi-
assamar-
yassamarr yassamar-
mal
ral
toal
-rrah
(-ma-)
o
(-ah), etc.
hCi^^. G.
take to pasture, t. assamarra o
assamdr-
yassamarr a yassamar-
toal
pretend,
t.
asmassiloal yasmassil yasmassilal
asmassala o o o
asmanazo o zara o o
ral
cause to change, t.
(-ar-)/ \
asmanzio o
yasma-
yasmanaz-
poal
nazzir o o
ziral o
cause to
asdmmata
hhaom asmatta
rebel,
cause to come, t.
bind,
assara o o (-sii-)
asammitoal yasammit yasammital
t.
asmattitoal
yasmatta
yasmattal
,eftc
t.
dsr5al
yds(i)r
yds(i)ral
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
313
Amharic Grammar.
314 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
315
Amharic Grammar
31G Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
Sir
Amharic Grammar.
318 Simp. (§
Comp.
perf.
25)
Contingent
Comp. imperf.
(§26)
(§32)
astakdk(i)-
yastakako
yastakak-
loal
kil
kilal
(§
hMmxh
equalize,
t.
astakakka° °la o notice,
t.
astawala
perf.
32)
^iftl'hVl^,^ •^
o
I
hh'fah^^ astdu(ii)loal
yastau(u)l yastau(u)lal
asta.u(ii)soal
yastdu(ii)s
(-taud-)
remind,
astauwasa o o
(of),
t.
yastau(u)sal
(-Wa>-)
inform,
t.
asMuwaqa
hh^Oh^^ astau(ii)qoal yastau(u)q yastau(u)-
qal
(-WW-)
cause to be teeen,
asta}^a
x.
Kft;^J&;t .
-c.
A
-^^-t
astaitoai
2nd ^ft;^f U
yastai
yastaial
(-kj §6)
(-§;yya-)
yascaggir
vascaggi-
astayyah, etc.
trouble,
t.
ascao^ofara ~~ o
ascaggiroal
o
(-ga-)
ral
rouse,
t.
asnassa
yasnassa
yasnassal
assanabtoal yassanab-
yassanab-
asnassitoal o o (-na-)
dismiss,
assanabbaO o ta (-ba-)
t.
(-yt-)
bit
I
bital
;
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
Imperative (§
28)
Gerund (§
29)
319 Infinitive
Participle
(§30)
(§31)
yastakak(i)l astakdk(i)l astakak(i)- mastakdkal o o
astakakdi (-dyy§6;§8)
yastau(ii)l
astau(u)l
astdu(u)l"'o
mastawdl (-taud-
;
§
8)
astawdi (-taudi;
-dyy§6r§8) yastaii(ii)s
astau(u)s
astau(u)s''o mastaiias o
{-(OS)
yastau(u)q
yastai
astau(u)q astau(u)q''o mastauaq
astaif'o
astaio
astauds (§8)
astaudc^i
mastaiat
,
(-ayy
§
0)
(-ayy
§
(-ta>'at)
0)
hn'f*ic:
yasc^gir
ascaggir
ascaggir" o mascdftffar
asciiggdri
(-ar)
hMti yasnassa
asnassa
asnassit^'o inassit o o
masnassdt
(-na-)
(§8)
asnass (-na-
;
§
8
-It -ssi)
yassandbt
assandbt
(-yt)
(-yt)
assandbt'^o massandbat assandbdc o o °(-yt-)
(-ay-, -iit)
(-^f; §8)
Amharic Grammar.
320 Simp. perf.
Comp.
25)
(§
(§
prepare,
t.
assanadda
cause to be, assafina
2nd
t.
firt7U
assannah, etc.
cause to asakkala o o
askalako o
increase,
t.
cause to hinder, t.
kala o o
hum
neigh,
i.
askdkka
let pass,
t.
askada (-ka-, -da)
cause to askaffala 00
divide,
hhfif. G.
let pass,
o
asx^'eda (-sh-s -ad-) *
not
-b-
t.
t.
perf.
32)
Appendix. Jussive
321
Amharic Grammar.
322
Comp.
Simp. perf.
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
Contingent (§26)
Comp. imperf, (§32)
cause to remove, t. aswassidoal yaswdssid yaswdssidal aswdssada J o o o o o o O (-W
show,
(-Wcy-)
(-w&>-)
asayyitoal
yasayy
yas§:yyal
t.
asayya
2nd
(-Woi-)
M^a
asayyah,
I
etc.
cause to asyaza
catch,
t.
asyizoal
yasyfzal
(§8)
cause to
asdarra^a o o~o
do,
yasdarrig yasddrrigalj asddrriaroal oO o
t.
rear,
(-dd-)
(-dl)
(-da-)
asaddigoal
yasaddig
yasaddigal
t.
asaddaora
cause to asardddala Oo o o
kill,
t.
asardddiloal vasofdddil yasoraddilal
(-ga-)
(-ga-)
adorn,
t.
asg^eta
asatva o
hhaip
(-ga-)
yasgJ'et
yasgJ^etal
KftT.rp,A
asoitoal
spread
KflT;f:A
out,
astitoal •o
yasdta
yasdtal
astdggit5al
yastdgga
yastdggal
t.
• •
astdgga
(-ga-).
^ftm;iA
cause to lean,
t.
323
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
yhatti^
hh/Dilf!:
aswdssid
aswdssid'^o o o
maswassad o o
(-WW-)
(-Woj-)
(-WW-)
(-W
yasai
asai
asayjif^o
masayyat
asayyi
asyiz "^o
masydz
asydz
(§8)
(§8;-'M:-zi)
masddrrao-
asdarrdj^i
masflddas:
asadddgi
yaswdssid
!
aswdssaj (-WW-;
§
8)
(-ayy§6;§8)(-ayy§6;§8)
ySsyiz
asyiz
Silken yasdarrig
asddrrio:
asddrrii>'' o o~ o
(-dl)°
(-di-)
(-d4-)
yasdddig
asdddig
asflddig^'o
yasgaddil "
asffdddil
ass:dddil''o Oo o
(-ga-)
(-ga-)
(-ga-)
o
o~
masffddda
asjjrddddi
(-addji-)
(-ga-; -ayy
§6; §8) yasgit
as^t
asofit'^o
yasta
asta
astit^'o
masg^ et
(§
8)
mastat
asc
(§8)
(-£tU -ci)
hftml.
yastdgga
astdsfga
astdo^arit'^o
mastaggdt
astdgg^i
(fs)
21—2
Amhaiic Grammar.
324 Simp. (§
Com p.
perf.
25)
KA4<
Contingent (§26)
Comp. imperf.
asiftoal
yasdfa
yasafal
asfallio^oal
yasfdllig
yasfalligal
asfdrritoal o
yasfarra
yasfarral
(-fa-)
(-fl)
(§
extend,
perf.
32)
^rt4«A
t.
asaffa o
o
cause to asfallaora
seek,
t.
frighten,
^ft4«.A*7
^ft
t.
asfarra
o
asfararra
asfarartoal yasfararra yasfararral
(-fa-)
(-fa-)
(-fa-)
cause to asfatta
Ml
untie,
t.
(-fa-)
^ft
yasfatta
yasfdttal
yas
ySsal
(yas)
(yas-)
asaqqiboal
yasaqqib
yasaqqibal
(-iy-)
(-iy)
(-iy-)
asfat(i)t6al
uses parts
seek.
of[h]ri
assa
2nd
(-fa-)
^ft
threaten, t.
(§32)
MV
a)sa
assah, etc.
hti
rub,
assa
astoal
2nd hTiV dssah, etc.
M^a asaqqaba°
turn upwards, i.
(-ya)
smell,
asdttata o o o (-sa-)
t.
M4'aA
^?f;^A
^7i:tA afiitt5al o
yasdtt
yasAttal
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
325
Appendix. Imperative (§28)
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
yasfa
asfa
asift^'o
mas^t(§8)
asfi
yasfdllig
asfdllig
asfallior^^'o
masfdllasr o o~
asfallagi
yasfarra
asfdrra
asfdrrit^o o
masfdrrdt
asfi^rri
(-fa-)
(-fa-)
(-fa-f§8)
(-ii)
yasfarara
asfardra
asfardrt^'o
masfardrat
(-fk-)
(-fa-)
(-fa-)
(-fa-; § 8)
yasfdtta
asfatta
asfdt(i)t^^o
masfdttat o
Jussive
yis
IS
(y|s)
(Is)
yasaqqib
asaqqib
(-iy)
yasitt
(-iv)"
asitt
o
o
oO
o
m
asfdcc (-fa-;'
-^
§8;
-cci)
asf'o
mdsat
asaqqib^'o
masaqqab °
asaqqdbi
(-iy-)
(-ay)
(-yi)
mastat
astdc
(-atf
(§8)
Amharic Grammar.
326
Comp.
Simp. perf.
(§25)
KShao assdkkama O O O
load,
t.
^
(-sa-)
talk scan-
ass^okdso
dal,
i.
s^'oka
cluck,
i.
askakka
take assaggara °
across,
t.
caress,
t.
melt,
t.
station,
t.
chant,
i.
(-ga-)°
aqqwwlammata
[m-
G]
(anqwo)-)
aqdllata
Yx^ao
aq'^oma
aqrarra
perf.
'
Appendix.
327
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
(
yassakkim
assdkkim assdkkim^o massdkkam assakkami o o ,
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
yass'^'oka- ass'^okasiik ass'''okdsusilk
[-Bh]
[-•filfl]
[-8k]
k"o
(-sa-)
(-sa-)
mass'^'okdo
ass^okswd-
s^'ok
ki
[-7i»i]
(-sk^o)
(-sk)
askdkf'o
maskdkdt (§8)
khic yassigir
assdffir
assdgr'^o
massdgar
assagdri
(-ar)
yaqqwoj-
Idmt
(§
8)
aqqwcu-
Idmt
(§
8)
[^^*-]
aqqwwidrnt^'o
maqqwojidmat
[^i-ji-]
['^'}4-]
(yanqwoj-)
(anqww-)
(anqww-)
(manqww-)
ydqilt
dqilt
dqilt'^o
maqlat
(yaqlit)
(^qiit)
(^qiit-)
ydqum
dqum
dqum^^o
maq'^om (§ 8)
aqqwwla-
mdc
(§
8)
(anqwa>-)
aqlac
(§
aqwdmi
'^^^^^ yaqrdra
aqrdra
aqrdrt^o
maqrdrdt (§8)
8)
aqrari
Amharic Grammar.
328 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
329
Amharic Grammar.
330 Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive
331
Amharic Grammar,
332 Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
333
334 Simp. perf.
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
335
Amharic Grrammar.
336
Comp.
Simp, perf.
(§25)
MX^/Ld,
(§
perf.
32)
Contingent
Comp. imperf.
(§26)
(§32)
snore,
ankwarrafal V^^^>
ankwar(i)-
^^
:
yahkwarrif yankwarii-
foal
fal
be lame,
andkkasa o o o
ankisoal
|
yanakkis
yanakkisal
cause to ankwojsak-
rustle,
t.
kwwsao roll,
ankwwsd- yankwcusdk yankwwsdkkwusoal
kwus
kwiisal
Mhn(UA
>»'>hflAA
^T^hOAAA
ankaballoal yankaballiliyankaballi-
ankabdllala o o o
(-ya-)
(-ya-)
clatter,
lal (-ya-)
(-yi-)
i.
aAkwakkwa
ankwdkwii- yankwdk\
toal (-dkt-)
Mann
disturb,
t.
kwa
I
yankwakkwal
Mah(t^^ annduutoal yannauwut yannauwu-
annauwata o 'o
tal
(-WW-)
kindle,
t.
andddada o o o
andidoal
yanaddid jyandddidal
yanadd
'
yandddal
hum. angwwrdg-
yangwcurag-lyangwcordggwiir gwtiral
gwwra
i
Tim-
sling over
A'}*7;tA
andgo'ata
the
ano^itdal
shoulder,
t.
y^n^
i
^V*7;^A
yandggit 'yandggjtal
Appendix. Jussive
337
o
Amharic Grammar.
338 Simp. {%
Comp.
perf.
25)
Mm
fashion,
t.
antalattala •© o •o o
(§
iraperf.
32)
yannit
yannital
hnoi^'V^^
^7mATA
JPTfliATAA
antdltiloal
yantalattil
vantalatti-
annitoal
•
hang,
Comp.
t,
annata o o
MmAmA
Contingent (§26)
perf.
(§32)
j
•
MmA
sneeze,
i.
anattasa o •© o
(-ta-)
lal
MtO,a
^VT^A
antisoal
•
spread,
antifoal •o
• •
amount to, i.
yanattisal o *o ./
•
^VT4-A
t.
anattafa o o o
akkala
yandttis
yanattif o 'O tJ
yandttiial
*
WflO,A
^yiA
JPVlAA
akkiloal
yakkil
yakkilal
^*fiA[^UA] ^TiA A [^U-] y&(i)l
ygli(i)lal
(yax-,yah-) (yax-. yah-) let
akkarayya
^h^^A
on hire, akkarayiO
t.
yakkarayy yakkaray-
''
(ia-)
2nd
toal
-i-V»
(-ka-)
yal (-ka-)
(-ka-, -ait-)
-rayyah,etc.
honour,
t.
akabbara o o o
dkbiroal o
(-ba-)
(-kv-,-kibr-,
fXi-ttC
^h-fl^A
yakib(i)r
yakdb(i)ral
(V)
-yr-)
hXiXi
scratch,
akk5al
yakk
yakkal
distribute,
Aih
^h
^h
t.
akkdfl5al
yakkaffil
yakkafFihil
dkkaka o o akkaffala
^hA
t.
I
Appendix. Jussive
339
Amharic Grammar.
340 Simp.
perf.
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
341
Amharic Grammar.
342 Simp. perf. (§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
343
"
Amharic Graimnar.
344 Simp.
Comp.
perf.
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
renew,
Contingent (§
26)
Comp. imperf. (§32)
t.
addasa o o
addisoal o
yaddis
yaddisal
ambush,
adabba
t.
ddibtoal o
yadaba
yaddbal
(-yt-, -dbit-,
(-da-, -ya)
(-da-, -yal)
'
hunt,
-dy-) JPjei-'i'A
t.
addana o O
addinoal o
yaddin
yaddinal
ddinoal o
yddin
yddinal
save,
adanao
tire,
t.
adakkama o o
adkimoal grow,
yadak(i)m yadak(i)mal
1.
adgoal
addao^a
be
dirty,
yad(i)gal
i.
addafa o o
ad(i)foal
yad(i)f
yg;d(i)fal
MAH-nouA
^lAn-fiT
^lAn-n^A
aggalabab- disarrange, ao^ffalabdb-
yaggala-
yaggala-
tsSi
babbit
babbital
(-ydy-)
(-ya-)'
(-ya-)
A»7A*70.A
^7A*7A
^7A*7AA
agdlgil5al
yagalfegil
yagaUggj-
MAOnm bata O o
completely t.
•
(-ya-)
serve, aoraUsrffala
t.
lal
"
Appendix.
345
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
yaddis
addis o
addis'^o
maddas o
yad(i)ba
ad(i)ba
adibt^^o
mdd(i)bat
dd(pbi
(-ya)
(yt-, -dbit-,
(-ydtr§8)
(-yi)
maddan
ddddfi
<^^A
(-ya)
dddas
(§ 8)
*
-dy-)
yaddjii
addin
addin^o o
(-nn§6;§8) <^^7 yddin
yadkjm
ddin
o
addii
(§8)
(-iin§6;§8)
adkim'^'o o
madkam o
adkdmi
fdaor 0~
adg''o
mddaof
addgi
ad(i)f-o
mddaf o
addfi
^7An'flT
MAn-flrn
'^7Ann'p
afforalabd-
aj^oralabdb-
mafferala-
afforalabd-
bdbat o
bdc
(-ydy-)
(-ydy-)
yfdaf
bab(i)t
b(|)t
(-ydy-)
(-yay-)
(-ydy-)
Ai7A*7A
^1^*7 A-
ao^aljnl
aofdlo^il^'o
yagalgil
mddgji
adkim o
o
yaggala-
adin'^'o
•
maffalsral
agdlffdi
(-%§6;§8)
Amharic Grammar.
346
(§
25)
Comp. imperf.
agwurboal
yagwwrb
yagwwrbal
(-ry-)
(-ry)
(-ry-)
(§
h>dS{
perf.
32)
(§32)
be
blistered,!. aorwcJrraba O o
Contingent (§26)
Comp.
Simp. perf.
o
(-ra)
.
i
shy, yao:ard2:Q:ir yao^araofoi-
aoraraorsrara
agaroiroal
(-aragga-)
(aga-)
(-ara-)
ral (-ara-)
a^stoal
yagasa
yagasal
asibtoal
fin yagaba
yagabal
(-yt-)
(-/a)
(-yal)
aggdbtoal
yaggabba
yagg^bbal
roar,
agassa
cause to
agabba
enter,
marry,
aggabba
t.
give in marriage, t.
(-yt-)
be bent,
i.
aofwconabO
agwojmbi-
basa o o
soal
o
agganaiiiia
cause to meet, t.
2nd -YU
vaofwwndb- yagwwnabbis
bisal
fl^^
^T??A
agganaii-
yagganan
yagganafl-
toal
(-nn*'§6)
nal
ao^iiitoal
yagdii
yagaiinal
-niiab, etc.
hr^
find,
agdniia
©o
lst^•7'^^A(^ (ga-
(-ga-)
2nd -TU
agin(ic)cal-
-nnah, etc.
lau^ o
cause a
agdddada
lack
of,
;
(-ga-)
iiii
6)
^7^A
nf^ t.
agiddoal
yagadd
i
yagdddal
Appendix. Jussive
347
348
Appendix. Jussive
349
Amharic Grammar.
350 Simp. perf. (§
25)
Appendix. Jussive
351
352 Simp. perf. (§25)
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
ass
Amharic Grammar.
354
Comp.
Comp. imperf.
(§32)
Contingent (§26)
kwwrdko
kwwrkwii-
yikwwrdk-
yikwojrdk-
kwcora
roal
kwiir
kwiiral
Simp. perf.
(§25)
spur,
perf.
(§32)
^h-<:w-^A
t.
i-Vco-)
M kdssa
become thin,
accuse,
kastoal o
i.
jS.h^A
yikdsa
yikasal
J2,h^A
t.
kassoal o
kassasa o o O
kdbbara o o o
fMfi
yikass
yikassal
yikab(i)ral
be
h-fl^A
honoured,
kabroal
yikab(i)r
(V)
(-ay-)
i.
(-ba-)
"
be heavy,
kdbbada o o o
i.
pack,
t.
kdttata o o o
('-av-)
j&h-n^A
kabdoal
yikabd o o
yikabdal
(-yd-)
(-yd)
(-yd-)
kattoal
yikatt
yikattal
kdd(i)t5al
yikada
yikddal
•'
h:tA
run away,
kddda
i.
(-drt-, -art-
»1A
renounce,
kdda
t.
h^V kdddana
cover,
i&h^A yikidal
kfdoal o
t.
hJtXA kadn5al
Jlk4d(I)n
yikdd(I)iial
Appendix. Jussive
355
Amharic Grammar.
356 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive (§
27)
357
U
358
Aniharic Gi^amrnar.
Simp. perf. (§25)
(D^O)^
Comp.
throw,
t.
wtossana o o
t.
wassada o o o
yiwwrd
yiwwrdal
(yuo;-)
(yuw-)
aiftXA
/Z.fljft'^A
yiwcossin
yiwcJssinal
(yucy-)
(yuoj-)
aiftJ?^A
wds(i)d6al
(Woj-)
2nd
ral (yua-)
^mC^A
wwssinoal o
remove,
wassa
yiwarauwu-
wtir (yua-) i.
wwrdoal
define,
J&Oifl^A
yiwds(i)d (yud-,
tell
a
lie,
i.
(§32)
yiwarauo o o •^
WGjrrada o o
Comp. imperf.
^(D^OH^A warwtiroal
descend,
-pff
Contingent (§26)
t.
warauwara o o o o
cdAV
perf.
(§32)
-6JS-)
(yud-,
-65s-)
^
wastoal
}dwas(i)dal
yiwdss
yiwdssal (yua-)
'PIT
wdssah, etc.
commit wassama o o o
adultery,
j&oiTi'^A i.
(wo;-)
(WC(J-)
crush,
waJqqata
'PY waiina
2nd 'PTU wanniih, etc.
wdssimoal O Q
t.
(yud-,
-ois-)
yiwdssimal (yufu-, -tJs-)
flj4*^A wojqtoal
swim,
yiwdssim
yiwcJqt
yiwojqtal
(yua;-)
(yuco-)
J&
*P^:I:A
want6al
yiwdfin
yiwafiiial
(yua-)
(yua-)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
369
Amharic Gi^ammar.
360 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
Imperative
(§27)
(§28)
Gerund (§
29)
361 Infinitive
Participle
(§30)
(§31)
iD3r
yfwuza
wiiza
(yuz-)
wdzf^'o o (ww-)
yiwdzwiiz
wdzwuz o
(yud-, -ojzw-)
(ww-)
mawtizat o (mduz-
§
;
waz
8) (wft)-,
-TC
-zi)
fDiiahn
000010)11
flj'H'P^r
wdzwuz'^^o o
mawdzwaz o o o
wdzwdz o
(maud-,
(ww-
§
;
8)
-
aooh^^ yfwiidaq
wtidaq
wwd(i)q^^o
mdwiidaq
wwddqi
(maud-)
yfwudad
wddad
wwdd"'o
(ydd-)
mdwudad o ^^ o
wwddj
(mdud-)
(§8)
i/oOhJJ^
yiwiiga
wiiga
(yug-)
("Ug")
Wwgt^O
mdwuarat o o
wdgi
(m|ug-;§8)
ODOh^'t yfwiita
wfta
(yuta)
(wtita)
mdwiitdt o •
wat
ao'P'?
wdt^o
(yiiat;§8) /S-fliTC
(DTC wwttir
(yuw-)
mawdt o •
(mduat
yiwwttir
•
(m|iit-;§8) (ww-,-CCU-ci)
'PT yjwdt
wac o
;
§ 8)
wac (-iSU -ci)
aoounC wcj'ttir^o
mawojttar (mauw-,
-ar)
wwttari
Amharic Grammar.
362 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
363
U
Amharic Grammar.
364 Simp. perf. (§25)
Comp.
perf.
(§32)
Contingent (§26)
warp,
Comp. imperf. (§32)
js,HnA
zdbba
zdbt5al
yizdba
yizdbal
(-yt-)
(4y-)
(-^y-)
ram,
j&H'jnA
zdnnaba o^ o o
zdn(|)b6al
yi4^n(i)b
yizdn(i)bal
(za-, -ya)
(za-, -yo-)
(-za-, -y)
(-za-, -yal)
turn round,
zduwara o o o
t.
S!>nahC
zduwuroal o
shut.
yizduwur •'0 o
H*7:i:A
zagga
yizagal
zdo'toal oo
be
late,
yizauwural
/8-H7^A
i.
zagy|t6al
2nd H7f
yizagayy
yizagdyyal
(za-)
zag^yyah, etc.
dance, zdfTana o o o
(za-)
M
)iH
zdf(i)n5al
yizdf(i)nal
(za-)
hold.
ydza
i.
(-za-)
^^HA
J&JtA yfz5al
(-za-)
ys(y)iz
yi(y)izai [|!^HA]
(y|z)
(yizal)
Appendix. Jussive
365
Amharic Gh^ammar.
366
Comp.
Simp. perf. (§25)
(§
Contingent
Comp. imperf.
(§26)
(§32)
^^A^A
J&^AjtAA
vidaldddil dalddd o o o o
yidaldddio o o o
perf.
32)
level,
daladdala aladda' o o o o
daldiloal o
(-aladda-)
(da-)
(-ala-)
lal (-ala-)
ddmma
ddmtoal
yiddma
J&^'^A yiddmal
(da-)
\di-)
(-da-)
(-da-)
o
bleed,
i.
gm,
dammata
ddmtoal arrive,
darraqa
ddrsoal
yidars
yidarsal
(di)
(-d4-)
(-da-)
^^C^A
darqoal
yid^rq
yiddrqal
(dd-)
(-di)
(-da-)
J&^AA
^^AAA
yiddssis Jo o
yiddssisal
je,ftnA4»
|S,^nA;^A
t.
d^soal
ddssasa o o
^nA+
^^CAA
AC*tA
dry,
^
J&^9"^A yidammit yidammital
i.
ddrrasa o o o
handle,
•^
•'
mix,
dabdllaqa
ddbliqoal o o
yidaballiqal yidabdlliq Jo o
(-avd-)
(dd-, -yl-)
(-da-, -ayd-, (-da-, -aya-,
-L
o
o
«-
-all-)
-all-)
recover,
9^9:'i
i.
ddnao
dln5al o
wonder,
yidfn Jo o
yidfnal Jo o /Z,^'>+'PA
i. [
dannaciau (§
43a)
ddnq'^otal °(d4-)
yiddnqau yiddnqaual o o ^o *'
(-da.)
(-di)
Appendix^ Jussive
(§27)
367
Amharic Grammar.
368 Simp.
perf.
Appendix. Jussive
369
Amharic Grrammar,
370
Comp.
Contingent (§26)
Comp. imperf.
idmmiloal o "O
yjj^mmil
yijdmmilal
iammiroal o o
yiidmmir yijdmmiral
Simp, perf.
pei-f.
(§32)
(§25)
add,
(§32)
^Kj^aa
t.
jdmmala begin,
IS-KJ^^A
t.
idmmara o o o '
•'
(-ar-)
jJAilA
gallop,
s^laba o o o
i.
&t.
jS,;iAnA yigallib
gal(i)b5al
yig^llibal
I
(-y^o-)
(-ya)
7Annm ffalababOo o bata
invert
com
pletely,
t.
(-iy-)
jB-iAn-nT
lAfl'nai.A
^lAn-fl'HA
yio^alabab- yigalababffalabdbtoal o© o •
bit
bital
(-ga-, -ya-)
(-ga-, -ya-)
lA-flrp-A
^lA-flT
^lA-fl^lA
galbitoal
yioralabbit
yio^aldbbio~ o
(-vi-)
(-ga-)
tal (-ga-)
yigdms
yigamsal
g^rtSal
yigfra
yigdral
(ga-)
(-ga-)
(^-gi)
gdrmoal
yigdrm
yig^rmal
tea-)
(-g*^-)
Vga-)
(-y^y-) j
(-ya-)
lAflm
invert,
t.
oraldbbata Oo o •© O
plough,
O
o
t.
^dmmasa Oo o o
gdmsoal tame,
*'
i
t.
gdrra
ICao
astonish,
g^drrama o o o o
t.
P-IC^A
nCao
be tame,
7C^A
ffdrrama o© o o
i.
o:drrim5al
yier^rrim
yiofdrrimal
(ga-)
(-ga-)
(-ga-)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
371
372 Simp. perf.
Amharic Qrammar,
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
373
Amharic Grammar.
374 Simp.
Comp.
perf.
1-^
injure,
t.
gwwdda
kill.
Q:dddala (ga-)
be lacking, ffwwddala
i.
dam,
t.
srdddaba ~o o o (-ya)
be wanting, sfaddada Oo o o
i.
break (a gdddafa
fast),
t.
support,
t.
gnaw,
t.
meet,
i.
gaddafa
g^ta
&:dttama Oo 'o o •
perf.
(§32)
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
375
376 Simp. perf.
Amharic Grammar
Appendix.
377
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
gdct^o
mdgcat
gac (gac)
]
Participle
(gaci, ga-) •71?*
yfeac
(§
8)
yfea«
gac
gic^o
gac
gac(i)t-o
aop*V mdgdc (§
8)
gdci
majirdcat
(§8)
<wi*74.^
7<{p
gdft^o
mdgfat(§8)
gafi (ga-)
TA
mA-f"
m)TA^
tila
tdlt^o o
mdtldt e
•74.
yfgfa;
yitla
•o
•
•
(§8)
TA-
iWJfllA
mdtal o
tal
yital
(t^yy^i 6)
•
tai
(§8)
(§8)
(t^yi)
yjtiaq
tflaq ^ o •
o
fllA*
/wiTA4»
mA«fe
tdlq^o
mdtlaq
taldqi
*(ta-)
yitdllyi (-li)
mA|&
mAP"
0DmA^
mAP.
tdllyi
tdllyi^o
matdllai oo o •o
talldi
(-li)
(-yo)
(-lfti;-layy
§6; §8)
378 Simp. perf. (§25)
Amharic Chrammar.
Appendix. Jussive
379
Amharic Grammar.
380 Simp.
perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
381
Amharic Grammar.
382
Contingent (§26)
Comp. imperf.
(§32)
tdbsoal
yitdbs o«o
yitdbsal
"(-ys-)
(-ys)
(-ys-)
yit^bq
yitdbqal
(-yq)
T-yq-)
yitdbbiq
yitdbbiqal
Comp.
Simp. perf.
(§25)
mnA
perf.
(§32)
grill,
tdbbasa o o •o
''
be tied tdbbaqa
tight,
i.
tdbqoal *(-yq-)
mn4* tdbbaqa
guard,
t.
tdbbiqoal
mon
be narrow,
tabbaba o o o
i.
•
j&mnA tdbbbal •o
yitdbb
yitdbbal
tdnqwuloal
yitandq-
yitandq-
qwtil
qwiilal
(-ya)
prick,
t.
tandqqwo)-
'la o ask,
J&fllJ&^A
t^yyaqa
tayyiqsal
yit^yyiq
yitdyjiqal
tfdoal
yitid
yitfdal
(-ya-)
bake,
tdda
have tdg^sraba
je,m*7nA
enough
tdg(i)b6al
yit|g(i)b
yitfg{|)bal
(ta-, -y6-)
(-ta-, -y)
(-ta-, -ya-)
tdttit5al • •©
yitdtta
yitdttal
(food, etc.), i. (-ya)
drink, tdtta
t •o
Appendix, Jussive
(§27)
383
Amharic Grammar,
384
Comp.
Simp. perf.
(§25)
perf.
(§32)
Contingent (§26)
be extintdffa o
guished,
p.
yitafa
tdftoal •o
tffgal •o
o
yjtff
i.
tdftoal
•
yitaffit
£a>A^A
/&6ftA9"
^fiCI.A'^A
yicallim
yicallimal
^i».9"^A
increase,
cammara o o o
cammiroal o O
•
yitafFital
callimoal
i.
callama o
t.
yittfal
J&^¥^A
be sweet,
be dark,
yitdfal •'O'O
/&T4-A
t.
tafa •
taffata o •©
(§32)
/&ni4-A
•
write,
Comp. imperf.
•
yicdmmir yicdmmiral o o o •'O'O o *'
•
(-ar-)
finish,
J&IX).C^A
fXI.CO.A
t.
cdrrasa
cdrrisSal o
yicarris •'O'O o
yicarrisal
(-arra-)
(ca-)
(-ca-)
(-ca-)
•o
ca«l>^XA
press,
JS-flit^VA
cdqqwiinoal yicdqqwun yicdqqwii-
cdqqwwna
''
(ccJqqona)
saddle,
t.
cdna
shout,
c^6ha (§
7/)
nal
(9--)
i.
(-CW-)
"P-XA
/K-^P-VA
cfn6al
yicfnal •'O'O
^Cb'^A
cuhSal
yic^^dh
yic^^'dhal
;
Appendix.
385
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
tdft^o •o
yitfa
mdtfat
(§ 8)
m
md.
eromV y|taf(§8)
yftdft
(§
8)
taf
tff^o
taft
tdft^o
yicdmmir
mataf (§
callim^o
cdmmir o o •
tdfdc
•
8)
(§
macallam o •
cdmmir^o macammar o o o o o •
tdfi
8)
matdfat O O •
jicallim
(td-)
•
cammdri o •
(-ar)
yicdrris
cdnis
cAnis^o o o
macdrras o o o
(ca-)
(-arra-)
•
(ca-)
(-ca-)
yicdqqwim
cdrrds
•
(ca-
;
§
8)
cdqqwtin cdqqwtin^o macdqqwwn cdqqwdn
"
(-?--)
(fcJ-)
(-oiqqo-)
(co>-;-nn§6;
§8)
y|cSii
(§
yfcuh
8)
can
cuh
cfn^o
cuh^o
mdcdn o •
can (-nn
(§8)
-t -nni)
mdc^(5h
coahi
(§*8)
AM. GR.
§
25
6
Amharic Grammar,
386 Simp. perf.
(§25)
Appendix. Jussive
(§27)
387
388 Simp. perf.
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix.
389
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
ffta
fdt(i)t^o
mdftdt o
fac o
(§8)
-^
(fa-,
-ci)
<^.;^^
y^dttin
fdttin
(-fa-)
(fa-)
o
o
fittin^o Lttin^ o o
mafdttan o^ o o
fattaii
(fa-)
(-atta-)
(la-; -fin
I
o
§6; §8) fdnqil
fdnqil^o
niafdnqal
fdnqdi
(-^yy§6;§8) aDd/}^Hr
fdndit^o o o
yifiAnda
yifdkkir
fdkkir o o
fdkkir^o o o
mafdnddt o o
fdnj
(§8)
(fa-/-%-ji)
aodJnC
dJid
mafdkkar o o o
fakkdri o
(-ar)
yifduwiis w O O
fiiuwus o
fduwtis'^o o
mafduwas o o o
fauwfis o
(§8)
Jo
«J(|)t"o
fij O"'
(§8)
(-fa-;
§8)
mafjat
(fa-)
(fa-;
§8)
faj (fa-,
fajaj(!)t''o
mafajajat
(fa-)
°(-fa-)
\
-ji)
m^i (fa-;
-^
§8; -ji)
390 Simp. perf. (§25)
Amharic Grammar.
Appendix.
391
Jussive
Imperative
Gerund
Infinitive
Participle
(§27)
(§28)
(§29)
(§30)
(§31)
mafd^fas'
fagfagi
<2.*7
fitaa o«o
fdt(i)n^o
maftan
'(fa-)
fdtdn
-nn
(la-;
§6; §8)
fdct^o (fa-)
mdfcat
fac o •
(fa-, -£EK -ci)
INDEX. {The numbers refer abstract rendered by concrete,
paragraphs.)
adverbial clause, position
of, 82.
adverbial expression, position
84.
accent,
to the
of,
73c, d.
8.
adversative proposition, 75.
accusative, adverbial, 56c, d.
alphabet, phonetic,
accusative, determinate, 566.
and
accusative, determinate
in-
determinate together, 56e, 836.
Amharic
Amharic, dialects
accusative, double, 56^^
Amharic,
accusative, Ethiopic, Qd.
Amharic,
accusative for nominative, 56^.
3.
characters, 4a. of, 16.
field of, la.
place of in Semitic
Family,
2.
accusative, indeterminate, 56a.
Amharic
accusative of noun, formation
anomalies of pronunciation, 7d.
of,
syllabary, 4a.
anomalous
9c, 10.
accusative, omission of personal
pronoun representing, 616.
article, 11. article,
generic use
accusative, specific, 56c, d.
article,
transference
accusative, use
article,
use
accusative, position
of,
55a.
of, 56.
adjacent vowels, contraction
common,
biliterals,
44.
of,
of,
596.
of, 59.
by
fol-
verbs, conjugation
of,
assimilation of consonant
lowing consonant,
7a.
b^d.
of,
7g, d.
adjectival clause, 62a. adjectival clause, position
of, 82.
adjective, 10.
42.
adjective, position
adjective used
biliteral
as
of,
57a.
adverb, 46,
biliterals,
common anomalous,
44.
breaches of concord, 536,
57c.
adverb, 46. adverb, position
of, 73c, d.
adverbial accusative, 56c, d.
cardinal numerals, 20a. case, 9c, 55, 56.
54c?.
Amharic Grammar.
394
case of relative^pronoun, 62e.
causative form in
use
Y\li-,
I
of,
causative form of verb, conjuga-
6, c.
conjunctions, prefixing of to contingent, 45.
of, 22.
characters, Amharic, 4a.
conjunctions, use
characters, interchangeable, 46.
consonant,
characters, value
comparison, degrees
of, 48, 72.
58.
of,
composite tenses, 246.
consonants, doubling
compound compound
imperfect, 24a.
contingent, 236.
imperfect, formation
contingent, fomiation flexion
compound imperfect with potential force, 63c.
compound
by
3.
of, 5, 6.
and
in-
of, 26.
contingent, prefixing of conjunctions to, 45.
compound perfect, 24a. compound perfect, force of, 63a. compound perfect, formation and inflexion
of
following vowel, 76, 436.
consonants,
of, 32.
1c, d.
consonant, modification
composite prepositions, 476.
inflexion
of by
assimilation
following consonant,
of, 46.
clauses, order of, in sentence, 82.
and
triliteral
verb, 34, 35.
conjunction, 48.
\\d,e,f.
of,
causative form of verb, formation
verb, 41a,
conjugation of regular
68.
tion
conjugation of reflexive form of
contingent, use
of, 64.
contraction ofadj acent vowels, 7ci'
co-ordinated principal clauses,74. crasis, 7cl
of, 32.
sentence, 82.
concord in gender, 54a,
concord in number,
d.
53.
dative, personal
pronoun repre-
senting, 12c, 61a,
c.
concrete for abstract, 84.
degrees of comparison, 58.
conditional sentence, 81.
demonstrative pronoun, 13a.
conjugation of biliteral verbs, 42.
derived forms of verb, 22.
conjugation of causative form of
derived forms of verb, conjuga-
verb, 41c?, e^f.
tion
of, 41.
conjugation of negative verb, 38.
determinate accusative, 566.
conjugation of passive form of
determinate and indeterminate
verb, 41a,
6, c.
conjugation of quadriliteralverb, 36.
accusative together, 66e, 836.
determination of gender, 546. determinative, position
of, 73c, d.
395
Index. dialects of Amharic, \b.
gerund, construction
diminutive use of feminine, 54c.
gerund, force
diphthongs,
gerund, formation and inflexion
3.
of,
of, 29.
direct question, 76, 11.
personal
pronoun,
gerund, use
personal
pronoun,
imperative, 236.
disjunctive
of, 65c, d.
236, 746.
of,
65a,
6,
74a.
12«.
disjunctive
use
of,
flexion
u, Id.
peated
in,
words
sense,
re-
imperfect, compound, formation
and inflexion
83a.
of, 32.
imperfect, compound, with po-
double accusative, 56^! doubling of consonants,
in-
of, 28.
imperfect, compound, 24a.
distributive pronoun, 18. distributive
and
imperative, formation
606.
displacement of
tential force, 63c.
5, 6.
imperfect, past, 246, 33a.
emphasis, 83.
imperfect, simple, (= contingent),
enclitics, 8.
236, 24a.
English participle, rendering
of,
^1d.
indefinite pronoun, 16.
epithet, position
57a, 73c.
of,
Ethiopic accusative, 9J. Ethiopic,
haric
Am-
to, 2.
indirect narration, 80.
indirect object, 736. of, 54c.
doubling
of, 6.
infinitive,
construction
formation
infinitive,
forces of tenses, 24, 63.
formation of nouns,
indirect question, 78, 79. infinitive, 236.
of Amharic, la.
final consonants,
indeterminate accusative, 56a. indicative, 236.
of
relationship
feminine, diminutive use field
impersonal verb, 43a.
flexion
50.
infinitive,
fractions, 20c.
of,
30.
use
of,
of,
666.
and
66a, 78c.
interchangeable characters, gender, concord
in,
54a,
gender, determination
gender of noun, 9a,
d.
of,
546.
generic use of the article,
gerund, 23&.
59d
46.
interjection, 49.
interrogative pronoun, 15. intonation,
10.
gender, words of variable, 54c.
in-
8.
intransitive verb, personal suffixes attached to, 61c.
introductory nominative, 556.
Amharic Grmnmar
396 jussive, 236.
participle, rendering of English,
jussive, formation
and inflexion
Q7d. participle, use of, 67a.
of, 27.
passive form of verb, conjuga-
verb with,
last radical doubled,
tion
of,
41a,
6, c.
passive form of verb, formation
25, 42a, h.
of, 22.
mental action, verbs expressing,
past imperfect, 246, 33a.
md, e.
perfect,
compound, 24a.
mood, 236.
perfect,
compound, force
perfect,
and
narration, indirect, 80.
compound,
inflexion
of,
63a.
formation 32.
of,
negative conjugation, 37, 38.
perfect, simple, 21, 24a.
nominative, introductory, 556.
perfect, simple, force of, 63a.
nominative, position
noun,
of,
55a.
perfect, simple, inflexion of, 25.
personal pronoun,
9, 10.
nouns, formation
of, 50.
number, concord
in, 53.
personal Q\d,
numerals, cardinal, 20a.
12, 60, 61,
pronoun,
redundant,
e.
personal pronoun representing
numerals, ordinal, 206.
accusative, omission
of,
616.
personal pronoun representing object, indirect, 736. object, position
of,
dative, 12c, 61a,
omitted English words rendered in
Amharic,
order
of
3.
pluperfect, 246, 336.
plural for singular, 526.
85.
clauses
c.
phonetic alphabet,
736, d.
in
sentence,
82.
plural of noun, formation
of, 96,
10.
order of words in sentence, 73,
polite
form of address and refer-
ence, 12, 26, 526.
83c.
ordinal numerals, 206.
position of accusative, 55a. position of adjective, 57a.
participle, 236.
position of nominative, 55a.
participle, construction of, 67c.
possessive expressed
participle, force of, 676. participle,
flexion
formation
of, 31.
by prepo-
sition, 70.
and
in-
potential force of perfect, 63c.
compound im-
Index. predicate, position
of,
b7a, 7Sb.
of,
expressing
preposition
reflexive pronoun, 17.
regular triliteral verb, conjuga-
preposition, composite, 47b. preposition, construction
397
69a.
posses-
tion
of, 34, 35.
relative pronoun, 14. relative pronoun, case
sive, 70.
preposition, position
relative pronoun, use
696.
of,
of, 62e.
of, 62.
preposition, simple, 47«.
repetition of word, 83a,
primitive form of verb, 21.
root of verb, 21.
process, verbs expressing, 63d,
e.
pronoun, case of relative, 62e. pronoun, demonstrative,
pronoun, distributive, pronoun, indefinite,
pronoun, personal,
pronoun, relative,
sentence, simple, 73.
19.
of,
punctuation,
4c.
method of indicating,
546.
236, 24a.
17.
simple perfect, 21, 24a.
14.
variations
anomalies
sex,
simple imperfect (= contingent),
simple perfect, force
pronoun, use of relative, 62. pronunciation,
2.
sentence, conditional, 81. 15.
12, 60, 61.
pronoun, reflexive,
in,
sentence, compound, 82.
16.
pronoun, reciprocal,
Am-
Semitic Family, place of haric
13.
18.
pronoun, interrogative,
b.
and
simple
perfect,
of,
63a.
inflexion
of,
25.
7d.
simple prepositions, 47a. simple sentence, 73.
quadriliteral of,
verb,
conjugation
singular for plural, 52a.
smallness denoted by feminine,
36.
quantity of vowels, 4b, 7d.
54c.
question, direct, 76, 77.
specific accusative, 56c, d.
question, indirect, 78, 79.
state,
verbs expressing, Q3d,
subject, position
6\d,
personal
dinated in English, 74a,
6.
substantival clause, position
form of verb, conjuga-
tion of, 41a, reflexive
tion
pronoun,
e.
reflexive
e.
736.
subordination of clauses co-or-
reciprocal pronoun, 19.
redundant
of,
of,
h, c.
form of verb, forma22.
of,
82.
substantive,
9.
substantive, formation of accusative
of,
9c.
Amharic Gh^ammar.
398
substantive, formation of plural
verb,
conjugation
substantive, gender
verb, conjugation of regular tri-
9a.
of,
substantive used as
adjective,
literal, 34, 35.
verb, derived forms
576.
of, 22.
substantive used as adverb, 46.
verb, impersonal, 43a.
syllabary, Amharic, 4a.
verb, negative, 37, 38.
tenses, 24.
verb, primitive
tenses, forces of, 24, 63.
verb with
verb, position
the
of
transference
article,
25, 42a,
verbs,
596.
conjugation
verb,
triliteral
of,
of,
736.
form
of, 21.
last radical doubled, 6.
common anomalous
bi-
literal, 44.
verbs expressing a state, process
34, 35.
or mental action, u,
quadri-
of
literal, 36.
of, 96.
displacement
of,
7d.
63c?, e.
voice, 23a.
vowel, modification of preceding
value of characters,
variations
of
consonant by,
46.
variable gender, words
of, 54e.
pronunciation,
7d.
verb,
vowels,
76, 436.
3.
vowels, contraction of adjacent, 7a.
conjugation
of
biliteral,
vowels, quantity
of, 46,
7d.
42.
verb,
conjugation
forms
of,
CAMBRIDGE
of
derived
words omitted
in English ren-
dered in Amharic,
41.
:
85.
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