Before learning the verb forms one by one, it helps to see the whole family. In Middle Egyptian I you read sentences with no verb at all (The Adverbial Sentence, The Nominal Sentence). Now the verb comes in.
Key idea
| Form | Shape | Rough meaning | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| sḏm=f | stem + subject | he hears; may he hear | The sḏm=f |
| sḏm.n=f | stem + .n + subject | he heard, he has heard | The sḏm.n=f |
| sḏm.tw=f | stem + .tw + subject | he is heard | The Passive |
| stative | stem + .kj, .tj, .w… | is in a state: has come, is sealed | Stative Endings |
| infinitive | stem (weak verbs + t) | to hear, hearing | The Infinitive |
| participle | stem (+ agreement) | one who hears | Participles |
| imperative | stem alone | hear! | The Imperative |
Why it works
Worked example: Name the form
- The stem is ḏd "say".
- Between the stem and the subject stands .tw.
- That is the passive sḏm.tw=f: "she is told" or "it is said".
Answer: The passive sḏm.tw=f.
Worked example: A form with no subject pronoun
- There is no = and no suffix pronoun.
- The ending .kj belongs to the stative's own set of endings: "I".
- So it is the stative: "I am alive".
Answer: The stative.
Two more ideas run through the whole verb system. First, who does it: most forms carry their subject with them, as a suffix pronoun or a noun right after the verb, while the stative carries an ending and has its subject in front. Second, what the clause is doing in the sentence: the same sḏm=f can be a main statement, a wish, or a clause that depends on another verb. The lessons ahead take each form in turn, then show how clauses fit together.
Common mistake