INDICATIVE MODE - STATIVE AND DYNAMIC VERB FORMS

In K'eqchi two kinds of verbs are required in the Indicative Mode, stative and dynamic.  These verbs are derived from the Infinitive and are used to build phrases and sentences in the present, past and future tenses basically.

To convert Infinitive verbs into static and dynamic verbs one should know that all K'eqchi verbs end with k as a general rule.  Then, whenever a Stative or Dynamic verb is used, verb endings are inflected.  To do this, one must identify verbs ending with vowel + k and vowel + nk, either transitive or intransitive.    List of K'eqchi Infinitive Verbs.

STATIVE VERB FORM
As a simple general rule, to use the stative form of a verb in a sentence: if the verb ends with vowel + k, the verb is used in its infinitive form.  If the verb ends with vowel + nk, the verb drops the k and ends with n.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND AFFIXING USED
PRESENT: Lain in, laat inkat, aan na, lao inko, laesh enkesh, aanheb enkheb
PAST: Lain shin, laat shat, aan ish, lao sho, laesh shesh, aanheb sheb
FUTURE: Lain tin, laat tat, aan tish, lao to, laesh tesh, aanheb theb

PRESENT TENSE EXAMPLES
[banok - to cure] Lāin in banok; Aan na banok; laesh enkesh banok; no change in verb ending.  Other verbs: bokok, cutuk, chupuk, sachok, etc.

[canabank - to leave] laat inkat canaban; lāo inko canaban; aanheb enkheb canaban; dropping of k.  Other verbs: ajlaank, cuartesīnk, hasbaank, etc.

PAST TENSE EXAMPLES
[lanok - to wrap] - Lāin shin lanok; Aan ish lanok; laesh shesh lanok; no change in verb ending.  Other verbs: tojok, utz'uk, tyamok, tyuluk, etc.

[hilosink - to move] - laat shat hilosin; lāo sho hilosin; aanheb sheb hilosin; dropping of k. Other verbs: pumubānk, queloonk, salabānk, etc.

FUTURE TENSE EXAMPLES
[uc'ak - to drink] - Lāin tin uc'ak; Aan ta uc'ak; laesh tesh uc'ak; no change in verb ending.  Other verbs: quemok, nuk'uk, topok, tzolok, etc.

[nimank - to grow oneself] - laat tat nimaanq; lāo to nimanq; aanheb teheb nimanq;  change of k for q consonant ending.  Other verbs: tolobānq, mesuunq, salabānq, etc.

DYNAMIC VERB FORM
As a simple general rule, to use the dynamic form of a verb; if the verb ends with vowel + k, the verb loses both elements.  If the verb ends with vowel + nk, the verb loses the nk BUT there is an exception to this general rule and is explained further below.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND AFFIXING USED
PRESENT: Lain in, laat inka, aan nash, lao inqa, laesh enke, aanheb enkesh
PAST: Lain shin, laat sha, aan ish, lao ishqa, laesh she, aanheb sheb
FUTURE: Lain tin, laat ta, aan tish, lao taqa, laesh te, aanheb tesh

PRESENT TENSE EXAMPLES
[bac'ok - to tie] Lāin in baĉ; Aan nashbaĉ; laesh enkebaĉ; dropping of v+k ending. Other ex: boqok, cutuk, chupuk, sachok, etc.

[cubsink - to descend] laat inka cubsii; lāo inqa cubsii; aanheb enkesh cubsii; dropping of nk ending. Other ex: cuartesīnk, hasbaank, etc.

PAST TENSE EXAMPLES
[choyok - to finish] - Lāin shin choy; Aan ish choy; laesh she choy; dropping of v+k ending.  Other verbs: tojok, utz'uk, tyamok, tyuluk, etc.

[k'alunk - to hug] - laat sha k'alu; lāo ishqa k'alu; aanheb shesh k'alu; dropping of nk ending. Other ex: queloonk, c'irisīnk, taksiink, etc.

FUTURE TENSE EXAMPLES
[nuk'uk - to swallow] - Lāin tinnuq; Aan tishnuq; laesh te nuq; dropping of v+k ending. Other ex: quemok, muk'uk, topok, tzolok, etc.

[kelonk - to pull] - laat ta kelo; lāo taqa kelo; aanheb tesh kelo; dropping of nk ending. Other verbs: sumeenk, tyo'onīnk, etc.

From the 2 rules defined above to deflect Infinitive verbs into their stative and dynamic forms, a set of verbs needs special attention.  These verbs show a V + b + V + nk pattern and lose their v+nk ending.  Ex: ach'abānk, buyubānk, canabānk, ch'utubānk, etc.

Please click here or click Grammar - Grammar Part IV on the menu to continue to Part 5 of this online K'eqchi grammar basics.

Created by George Max, May 27, 2010.  Last date modified: October 19, 2010.

K'EQCHI' PRONOUNS
In K'eqchi there are pronouns that can be used to cross-reference people and subjects in clauses and sentences.  The following table presents these pronouns according to the English clasification.  Note that in K'eqchi, the Object works the same as the Possessive Pronoun.

USE
Use of K'eqchi pronouns as objects and adjectives may be confusing at first.  For this reason I include different samples for different subjects in different tenses.