Quenya Lesson 6 -- Verbs, Wishing and Imperative Tenses; Pronouns for Verbs

< Lesson 5    

Updated Version February 2013

Present:

Lihan Taifun (teaching)

AelKennyr Rhiano

Shawn Daysleeper

Addition from last week #1:

There are also examples of "nai" used with the present tense. That would express a wish for something right now, rather than in the future.

     "Nai Eru lye mánata."      May Eru be blessing you.

     "Nai amanya onnalya"     May your child (be) blessed.

««¤»»

Addition from last week #2:

The word for "maybe" is cé (sometimes spelled ce; always pronounced “ke”).

     Nolë caruva ta.        Nolë will do that.

     Cé Nolë caruva ta.   Maybe Nolë will do that.

««¤»»

Imperative

The form for giving commands.

     Add -ë to basic verbs. Leave A-stem verbs unchanged.

     Use á (do it!) or áva (don't!)

          Á tulë!                               Come here!

          Á matë ta!                        Eat that!

          Áva matë ta!                    Don't eat that!

          Á hlarë ómai Hínion.     Hear the Voices of your Children.  (from the Invocation at Olwë's healing ritual)

««¤»»

Pronoun Endings for Verbs

Tolkien changed his scheme of pronouns frequently. This is taken from a late-1960's source, and is Ardalambion's favorite.

A pronoun for the subject of the verb can (but does not need to be) attached to the end of the verb. Stand-alone pronouns do exist.

     -nyë, -n                     I

     -lyë, -l                        you (one person, formal/polite)

     -tyë                             you (one person, informal/familiar)

     -ldë                             you (a group)

     -s, (rarely -së)           he/she/it (/genderless singular “they”)

     -ltë (variant: -ntë)  they (plural)

These are used only if the subject of the verb is not explicitly stated. Use the “short” form if no other ending will be added; otherwise use the “long” form. The plural pronouns (such as –ldë and –ltë) do not need the -r plural ending on the verb.

     lassë lanta    a leaf falls    lanta

     lantas            it falls           lanta- -s (it)

     lassi lantar   leaves fall    lanta- -r (verb plural)

     lantaltë         they fall       lanta- -lte (they)

The pronoun endings -n, -l, -s, -t could also refer to the object of the verb. The subject-pronoun would go first, then the object pronoun.  (-t would be “them”, plural)

     Hantanyel     I thank you.

««¤»»

Students would like more practice. Next time I teach this class, I will include more exercises. Next week will be review and practice.

> Review Summary