Just like in English, Verbs follow the subject in Tai and that’s the only rule you need to know and that they are called
s,[q@ (sāang) in Ahom
5.1 Action Verbs
An action verb or dynamic verb is the main verb that describes the action that the subject in a sentence actually performs. In any simple sentence you have,
Subject + Action Verb + Object
kw kinq xw@
(kao gin khāo)
- I eat rice
Action Verbs are further classified into transitive verbs and intransitive verbs.
5.1.1 Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb needs a direct object to complete its meaning. Example -
kw rkq$ m]#
(kao râk máu)
- I love you
kw rkq$ epa@ em]@
(kao râk pāw māe)
- I love my parents
Here, love (râk) is a transitive verb and you (máu) and parents (pāw māe) are the direct objects as love is directly acting on you and parents.
5.1.2 Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object — meaning, it doesn’t act upon something or someone else. Example -
kw ka! yU!
(kao kàa yùu)
- I am going
There is no direct object here and still the sentence makes perfect sense. But the sentence kw rkq$ yU! (kao râk yùu) or “I am loving” doesn't make any sense meaning love (râk) is primarily transitive and always needs a direct object to act upon.
But is go (kàa) always intransitive? Let's see -
kw ka! rU[q# rCnq# kU@ bnq#
(kao kàa róng rén kūu wán)
- I go to school everyday
Here, go (kàa) is - an intransitive verb because it is not acting on any direct object (róng rén kūu wán) is just extra detail about the action and not the object that is being acted upon by the action verb (still confused? just ask yourself if “go what?” or “go whom?” makes any sense)
So, in short “go” (pai / kàa) is always intransitive!
5.2 Copular Verbs
Copular verbs, also known as linking verbs, connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement — like its description or state — rather than showing action.
Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement
kw pCnq A,j@ xM#
(kao pen āai khám)
- I am Ai Kham
Here am/to be pCnq (pen) is the linking verb that links the subject “I” to the subject complement, or in this case - Ai Kham, which is the name of the boy.
5.3 Auxilary Verbs
Auxilary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are the verbs that "help" the main verb by adding tense, mood, or voice
Subject + Auxilary Verb + Action Verb< + Object / Complement
kw et pj k,tq!
(kao te pai kàat)
- I will go to the market
Here, et (te) is the auxilary verb that helps in adding tense (will) as verbs don't have tense forms in Ahom. We will learn more about tenses later.
5.3.1 Modal Verbs
Model verbs is a type of verb that contextually indicates a modality such as a likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestion, order, obligation, necessity, possibility or advice.
mnq# n,[q# l,tq@ xoM# tj# dj@
(mán náang lāat kháwm tái dāi)
- She can speak Tai
Here dj@ (dāi) after the verb implies that an action can be done. In here we learn that the subject can or has the ability to speak Tai.
m]# et dj@ l,tq@ xoM# tj#
(máu te dāi lāat kháwm tái)
- You must speak Tai
Here et dj@ (te dāi) before the verb implies that an action must be done. In here we learn that the subject has the obligation to speak Tai.
For negation of sentence with auxilary verb, you add the negation marker before the auxilary and not before the main verb. For example -
[Enq# sEw$ tj# eka$ AM! dj@
(ngérn sêr tái kâw àm dāi)
- Money cannot buy friends
But if there was no auxilary verb, you would add the negation marker before the main verb only-
[Enq# AM! sEw$ tj# eka$
(ngérn àm sêr tái kâw )
- Money doesn't buy friends
So that was all for the shorts verbs lesson. Head out to Grammar section, to learn more about adverbs after this. And also check verbs and tenses lessons after that.
Happy Learning
- Learn Ahom Team
We thank @birmanicus for providing all audio in this lessons as well as other lessons. So please make sure to follow him on instagram
5.1 Action Verbs
An action verb or dynamic verb is the main verb that describes the action that the subject in a sentence actually performs. In any simple sentence you have,
Subject + Action Verb + Object
kw kinq xw@(kao gin khāo)
- I eat rice
Action Verbs are further classified into transitive verbs and intransitive verbs.
5.1.1 Transitive Verbs
A transitive verb needs a direct object to complete its meaning. Example -
kw rkq$ m]#(kao râk máu)
- I love you
kw rkq$ epa@ em]@(kao râk pāw māe)
- I love my parents
Here, love (râk) is a transitive verb and you (máu) and parents (pāw māe) are the direct objects as love is directly acting on you and parents.
5.1.2 Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb is a verb that does not take a direct object — meaning, it doesn’t act upon something or someone else. Example -
kw ka! yU!(kao kàa yùu)
- I am going
There is no direct object here and still the sentence makes perfect sense. But the sentence kw rkq$ yU! (kao râk yùu) or “I am loving” doesn't make any sense meaning love (râk) is primarily transitive and always needs a direct object to act upon.
But is go (kàa) always intransitive? Let's see -
kw ka! rU[q# rCnq# kU@ bnq#(kao kàa róng rén kūu wán)
- I go to school everyday
Here, go (kàa) is - an intransitive verb because it is not acting on any direct object (róng rén kūu wán) is just extra detail about the action and not the object that is being acted upon by the action verb (still confused? just ask yourself if “go what?” or “go whom?” makes any sense)
So, in short “go” (pai / kàa) is always intransitive!
5.2 Copular Verbs
Copular verbs, also known as linking verbs, connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement — like its description or state — rather than showing action.
Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement
kw pCnq A,j@ xM#(kao pen āai khám)
- I am Ai Kham
Here am/to be pCnq (pen) is the linking verb that links the subject “I” to the subject complement, or in this case - Ai Kham, which is the name of the boy.
5.3 Auxilary Verbs
Auxilary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are the verbs that "help" the main verb by adding tense, mood, or voice
Subject + Auxilary Verb + Action Verb< + Object / Complement
kw et pj k,tq!(kao te pai kàat)
- I will go to the market
Here, et (te) is the auxilary verb that helps in adding tense (will) as verbs don't have tense forms in Ahom. We will learn more about tenses later.
5.3.1 Modal Verbs
Model verbs is a type of verb that contextually indicates a modality such as a likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestion, order, obligation, necessity, possibility or advice.
mnq# n,[q# l,tq@ xoM# tj# dj@(mán náang lāat kháwm tái dāi)
- She can speak Tai
Here dj@ (dāi) after the verb implies that an action can be done. In here we learn that the subject can or has the ability to speak Tai.
m]# et dj@ l,tq@ xoM# tj#(máu te dāi lāat kháwm tái)
- You must speak Tai
Here et dj@ (te dāi) before the verb implies that an action must be done. In here we learn that the subject has the obligation to speak Tai.
For negation of sentence with auxilary verb, you add the negation marker before the auxilary and not before the main verb. For example -
[Enq# sEw$ tj# eka$ AM! dj@(ngérn sêr tái kâw àm dāi)
- Money cannot buy friends
But if there was no auxilary verb, you would add the negation marker before the main verb only-
[Enq# AM! sEw$ tj# eka$(ngérn àm sêr tái kâw )
- Money doesn't buy friends
So that was all for the shorts verbs lesson. Head out to Grammar section, to learn more about adverbs after this. And also check verbs and tenses lessons after that.
Happy Learning
- Learn Ahom Team
We thank @birmanicus for providing all audio in this lessons as well as other lessons. So please make sure to follow him on instagram