Appendix:Coptic verbs

Coptic verb conjugation differs between each dialect. This guide is tailored to the Bohairic dialect.

Infinitive forms
Each verb in Bohairic has an infinitive marked with "̀ⲉ", "to". Every verb also has a negative infinitive "ⲉϣⲧⲉⲙ", "to not".


 * Infinitive:
 * Negative Infinitive:

Imperative forms

 * Imperative:
 * Negative Imperative:

Pronouns
Bohairic has 8 pronouns.

Ⲁⲛⲟⲕ(I), Ⲁⲛⲟⲛ(We)

Ⲛⲑⲟⲕ(You m.), Ⲛⲑⲟ(You f.), Ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ(You pl.)

Ⲛⲑⲟϥ(He), Ⲛⲑⲟⲥ(She), Ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ(They)

Pronouns can and usually are omitted when constructing sentences. For example, English "We read the books" could be "Ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲱϣ ̀ⲛⲛⲓϫⲱⲙ"; the phrase would more simply and commonly be written "Ⲧⲉⲛⲱϣ ̀ⲛⲓⲛⲓϫⲱⲙ".

Durative sentences
Durative sentences are sentences that continue over a period of time have two parts: Present and future

Present:
 * Simple Present, e.g.:
 * Circumstantial, e.g.:
 * Focalising, e.g.: (The focalised present resembles the past perfect tense)
 * Preterite, e.g.:
 * Relative, e.g.:

Future:
 * Simple Future, e.g.:
 * Circumstantial, e.g.:
 * Focalising, e.g.:
 * Preterite, e.g.:
 * Unreal Conditional, e.g.:
 * Relative, e.g.:

Non-Durative sentences
Non-durative sentences are sentences that have a specific ending.

Past:
 * Affirmative Perfect, e.g.:
 * Negative Perfect, e.g.:
 * Affirmative Preterite, e.g.:
 * Negative Preterite, e.g.:
 * Circumstantial, e.g.:
 * Focalising, Relative, Precursive e.g.:

Aorist:
 * Affirmative Perfect, e.g.:
 * Negative Perfect, e.g.:

Optative:
 * Affirmative Perfect, e.g.:
 * Negative Perfect, e.g.:

Jussive/Causative:
 * Affirmative Jussive, e.g.:
 * Affirmative Causative, e.g.:
 * Negative Jussive/Causative, e.g.:

Subordinate Clause
Real Conditional:
 * Affirmative Conditional, e.g.:
 * Negative Conditional, e.g.:

Conjunctive:
 * Affirmative Conjunctive, e.g.:
 * Negative Conjunctive, e.g.:

Limitative, Expectative:
 * Limitative, e.g.:
 * Expectative, e.g.:

Accusative & Dative Qualifier
Transitive verbs must include an accusative ̀ⲛ-/̀ⲙ or dative ̀ⲉ- qualifier for affected nouns.

E.g. Ϯⲱϣ ̀ⲙⲡⲓⲱϣ I am reading the lesson. Ϯⲙⲟⲩϯ ̀ⲉϯϣⲁⲩ. I call the cat.

Forms of the verb
There are four forms of a verb in Bohairic Coptic:

1. Absolute

Absolute is the default form of Bohairic verbs, it is used with prefixes:

ⲥϧⲁⲓ ̀ⲙⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ - write the book

2. Construct/Nominal

This is an unstressed form used when a noun object follows immediately with no prefix. The the stress is moved from the verb to the noun. Only transitive verbs have a construct form.

ⲥϧⲁⲓ -> ⲥϧⲉ ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ - write the book

3. Pronominal

This is the form taken when a suffix is attached. Only transitive verbs have a pronominal form.

ⲥϧⲁⲓ -> ⲥϧⲉ -> ⲥϧⲏⲧϥ - write it

4. Qualitative/Stative

The qualitative expresses a state serving the function of a past participle.

ⲥϧⲁⲓ -> ⲥϧⲉ -> ⲥϧⲏⲧ -> ⲥϧⲏⲟⲩⲧ, ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ ⲉⲧⲥϧⲏⲟⲩⲧ - the written book

Suffix Verbs
Some verbs only exist with a suffix attached:

Ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲁⲕ ̀ⲙⲙⲁⲩ, Ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲁϥ ̀ⲙⲙⲁⲩ You(m.) have, He has

Ⲡⲉϫⲁⲕ, Ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ You(m.) said, He said

Object pronouns
Object pronouns are pronouns attached to the end of verbs. -ⲓ me -ⲕ you(m.) -ⲧⲉ you(f.) -ϥ he/it -ⲥ she/it -ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ you(pl.) -ⲧⲉⲛ we -ⲟⲩ them

Consonant Changes
Bohairic has consonantal changes following these letters: ⲃ, ⲕ, ⲗ, ⲓ, ⲙ, ⲛ, ⲟⲩ, ⲣ

Ⲕ turns into Ⲭ e.g. Ⲕⲥⲁϫⲓ, Ⲭⲟⲩⲱⲙ You speak, You eat

Ⲡ turns into Ⲫ e.g. Ⲡⲓϫⲱⲙ, Ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ The book, (The) God

Ⲧ,Ϯ turns into Ⲑ e.g. Ϯⲓϣⲉⲣⲓ, Ⲑⲙⲁⲩ The girl, The mother