Verb Tense and Polarity
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Verb Tense and Polarity
Aruvic verbs usually keep the same root. Tense and negation are marked with short particles before the verb.
The copula esa, meaning “is / am / are,” is often dropped in casual speech.
Verb Formula
[TENSE / NEGATION PARTICLE] + [VERB ROOT]
The verb root itself usually does not change.
Present
Present tense uses the bare verb.
Examples:
nava = goes / sails
maka = does / makes
rani = knows / is familiar with
Past
Past tense uses ta before the verb.
Examples:
ta nava = went / sailed
ta maka = did
ta havi = had
ta esa = was / were
Future
Future tense uses vo before the verb.
Examples:
vo nava = will go / will sail
vo vena = will come
vo maka = will do / will make
Negation
Negation uses ura before the verb or before the tense particle.
Examples:
ura nava = does not go / does not sail
ura ta nava = did not go / did not sail
ura vo nava = will not go / will not sail