copyright © 2026 Dennis Paul Himes
Stennan Verbs
Verbs have three persons, two numbers, three tenses, three aspects, and
three voices, and four moods.
Persons
The persons are first, second, and third.
Numbers
The numbers are singular and plural. Nullar nouns agree with singular
verbs.
Aspects
The aspects are imperfective, perfective, and habitual.
The habitual aspect is used for repeated or continual action. The
perfective aspect is used for actions considered as a unit within the
timeframe of the narration, and the imperfective for ongoing action or
action during which something happens.
The imperfective is somewhat equivalent to the English progressive tenses
("I am eating", etc.), but is used more often that those are in English.
The division between imperfective
and perfective is not precise, and there are some situations, especially in
main clauses, where a native speaker might use one or the other.
Consider the sentence "I ate an apple while I walked to the barn." In
Stennan bardispal ("walk") would definitely be imperfective
(bardirn), and lunnaspal ("eat") would probably be perfective
(lunnoborn), but might be imperfective (lunnorn). Unless the
meaning was "It used to be that I would eat an apple whenever I walked to the
barn", in which both verbs would be habitual, (bardelirn and
lunnolorn).
Voices
The voices are active, passive, and reflexive.
For passive verbs the (pro)noun which would have been the active subject, if
it is indicated at all, is put into the instrumental case. For reflexive
verbs the object is usually elided, but the reflexive pronoun is sometimes
used for emphasis.
Tenses
The tenses are past, present, and future.
Moods
The moods are indicative, subjunctive, imperative, and optative.
Mood is indicated by prefixes. The subjunctive prefix is ste(n)-.
The imperative prefix is gi(g)-. The optative prefix is
fru(n)-. The indicative is indicated by a null prefix. The final
consonants in the prefixes are used when the verb starts with a vowel, and
left off when it starts with a consonant.
Modals, such as should or could, are expressed by verbs which take other
verbs' infinitives as their direct objects.
Person, number, tense, aspect, and voice are
indicated by a combined suffixes. These are shown in the paradigms below.
There are three conjugations. Each paradigm shows all three.
Contents
Imperfective Active Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -urn | -arn | -er |
| 2S | -usk | -ask | -esk |
| 3S | -un | -an | -en |
| 1P | -ufti | -afti | -efti |
| 2P | -urba | -arba | -erba |
| 3P | -u | -a | -e |
|
Imperfective Active Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -orn | -orn | -irn |
| 2S | -osk | -osk | -isk |
| 3S | -on | -on | -in |
| 1P | -ofti | -ofti | -ifti |
| 2P | -orba | -orba | -irba |
| 3P | -o | -o | -i |
|
Imperfective Active Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ustirn | -astirn | -estirn |
| 2S | -ustisk | -astisk | -estisk |
| 3S | -ustin | -astin | -estin |
| 1P | -ustifti | -astifti | -estifti |
| 2P | -ustiba | -astiba | -estiba |
| 3P | -usti | -asti | -esti |
|
Imperfective Passive Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -urf | -arf | -erf |
| 2S | -ufik | -afik | -efik |
| 3S | -usif | -asif | -esif |
| 1P | -ufi | -afi | -efi |
| 2P | -ubif | -abif | -ebif |
| 3P | -uf | -af | -ef |
|
Imperfective Passive Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -orf | -orf | -irf |
| 2S | -ofik | -ofik | -ifik |
| 3S | -osif | -osif | -isif |
| 1P | -ofi | -ofi | -ifi |
| 2P | -obif | -obif | -ibif |
| 3P | -of | -of | -if |
|
Imperfective Passive Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ustirf | -astirf | -estirf |
| 2S | -ustifik | -astifik | -estifik |
| 3S | -ustisif | -astisif | -estisif |
| 1P | -ustifi | -astifi | -estifi |
| 2P | -ustibif | -astibif | -estibif |
| 3P | -ustif | -astif | -estif |
|
Imperfective Reflexive Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -urno | -arno | -erno |
| 2S | -usko | -asko | -esko |
| 3S | -uno | -ano | -eno |
| 1P | -ufto | -afto | -efto |
| 2P | -urbo | -arbo | -erbo |
| 3P | -uro | -aro | -ero |
|
Imperfective Reflexive Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -orno | -orno | -irno |
| 2S | -osko | -osko | -isko |
| 3S | -ono | -ono | -ino |
| 1P | -ofto | -ofto | -ifto |
| 2P | -orbo | -orbo | -irbo |
| 3P | -oro | -oro | -iro |
|
Imperfective Reflexive Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ustirno | -astirno | -estirno |
| 2S | -ustisko | -astisko | -estisko |
| 3S | -ustino | -astino | -estino |
| 1P | -ustifto | -astifto | -estifto |
| 2P | -ustibo | -astibo | -estibo |
| 3P | -usto | -asto | -esto |
|
Perfective Active Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -uburn | -abarn | -eber |
| 2S | -ubusk | -abask | -ebesk |
| 3S | -ubun | -aban | -eben |
| 1P | -ubufti | -abafti | -ebefti |
| 2P | -uburba | -abarba | -eberba |
| 3P | -ubu | -aba | -ebe |
|
Perfective Active Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -oborn | -oborn | -ebirn |
| 2S | -obosk | -obosk | -ebisk |
| 3S | -obon | -obon | -ebin |
| 1P | -obofti | -obofti | -ebifti |
| 2P | -oborba | -oborba | -ebirba |
| 3P | -obo | -obo | -ebi |
|
Perfective Active Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ubustirn | -abastirn | -ebestirn |
| 2S | -ubustisk | -abastisk | -ebestisk |
| 3S | -ubustin | -abastin | -ebestin |
| 1P | -ubustifti | -abastifti | -ebestifti |
| 2P | -ubustiba | -abastiba | -ebestiba |
| 3P | -ubusti | -abasti | -ebesti |
|
Perfective Passive Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -uburf | -abarf | -eberf |
| 2S | -ubufik | -abafik | -ebefik |
| 3S | -ubusif | -abasif | -ebesif |
| 1P | -ubufi | -abafi | -ebefi |
| 2P | -ububif | -ababif | -ebebif |
| 3P | -ubuf | -abaf | -ebef |
|
Perfective Passive Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -oborf | -oborf | -ebirf |
| 2S | -obofik | -obofik | -ebifik |
| 3S | -obosif | -obosif | -ebisif |
| 1P | -obofi | -obofi | -ebifi |
| 2P | -obobif | -obobif | -ebibif |
| 3P | -obof | -obof | -ebif |
|
Perfective Passive Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ubustirf | -abastirf | -ebestirf |
| 2S | -ubustifik | -abastifik | -ebestifik |
| 3S | -ubustisif | -abastisif | -ebestisif |
| 1P | -ubustifi | -abastifi | -ebestifi |
| 2P | -ubustibif | -abastibif | -ebestibif |
| 3P | -ubustif | -abastif | -ebestif |
|
Perfective Reflexive Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -uburno | -abarno | -eberno |
| 2S | -ubusko | -abasko | -ebesko |
| 3S | -ubuno | -abano | -ebeno |
| 1P | -ubufto | -abafto | -ebefto |
| 2P | -uburbo | -abarbo | -eberbo |
| 3P | -ubo | -abo | -ebo |
|
Perfective Reflexive Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -oborno | -oborno | -ebirno |
| 2S | -obosko | -obosko | -ebisko |
| 3S | -obono | -obono | -ebino |
| 1P | -obofto | -obofto | -ebifto |
| 2P | -oborbo | -oborbo | -ebirbo |
| 3P | -oboro | -oboro | -ebo |
|
Perfective Reflexive Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ubustirno | -abastirno | -ebestirno |
| 2S | -ubustisko | -abastisko | -ebestisko |
| 3S | -ubustino | -abastino | -ebestino |
| 1P | -ubustifto | -abastifto | -ebestifto |
| 2P | -ubustibo | -abastibo | -ebestibo |
| 3P | -ubusto | -abasto | -ebesto |
|
Habitual Active Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ulurn | -alarn | -eler |
| 2S | -ulusk | -alask | -elesk |
| 3S | -ulun | -alan | -elen |
| 1P | -ulufti | -alafti | -elefti |
| 2P | -ulurba | -alarba | -elerba |
| 3P | -ulu | -ala | -ele |
|
Habitual Active Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -olorn | -olorn | -elirn |
| 2S | -olosk | -olosk | -elisk |
| 3S | -olon | -olon | -elin |
| 1P | -olofti | -olofti | -elifti |
| 2P | -olorba | -olorba | -elirba |
| 3P | -olo | -olo | -eli |
|
Habitual Active Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ulustirn | -alastirn | -elestirn |
| 2S | -ulustisk | -alastisk | -elestisk |
| 3S | -ulustin | -alastin | -elestin |
| 1P | -ulustifti | -alastifti | -elestifti |
| 2P | -ulustiba | -alastiba | -elestiba |
| 3P | -ulusti | -alasti | -elesti |
|
Habitual Passive Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ulurf | -alarf | -elerf |
| 2S | -ulufik | -alafik | -elefik |
| 3S | -ulusif | -alasif | -elesif |
| 1P | -ulufi | -alafi | -elefi |
| 2P | -ulubif | -alabif | -elebif |
| 3P | -uluf | -alaf | -elef |
|
Habitual Passive Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -olorf | -olorf | -elirf |
| 2S | -olofik | -olofik | -elifik |
| 3S | -olosif | -olosif | -elisif |
| 1P | -olofi | -olofi | -elifi |
| 2P | -olobif | -olobif | -elibif |
| 3P | -olof | -olof | -elif |
|
Habitual Passive Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ulustirf | -alastirf | -elestirf |
| 2S | -ulustifik | -alastifik | -elestifik |
| 3S | -ulustisif | -alastisif | -elestisif |
| 1P | -ulustifi | -alastifi | -elestifi |
| 2P | -ulustibif | -alastibif | -elestibif |
| 3P | -ulustif | -alastif | -elestif |
|
Habitual Reflexive Present
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ulurno | -alarno | -elerno |
| 2S | -ulusko | -alasko | -elesko |
| 3S | -uluno | -alano | -eleno |
| 1P | -ulufto | -alafto | -elefto |
| 2P | -ulurbo | -alarbo | -elerbo |
| 3P | -ulo | -alo | -elo |
|
Habitual Reflexive Past
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -olorno | -olorno | -elirno |
| 2S | -olosko | -olosko | -elisko |
| 3S | -olono | -olono | -elino |
| 1P | -olofto | -olofto | -elifto |
| 2P | -olorbo | -olorbo | -elirbo |
| 3P | -oloro | -oloro | -elo |
|
Habitual Reflexive Future
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| 1S | -ulustirno | -alastirno | -elestirno |
| 2S | -ulustisko | -alastisko | -elestisko |
| 3S | -ulustino | -alastino | -elestino |
| 1P | -ulustifto | -alastifto | -elestifto |
| 2P | -ulustibo | -alastibo | -elestibo |
| 3P | -ulusto | -alasto | -elesto |
|
Imperfective Active Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | er | der | fler | | harn |
| 2S | es | dis | fles | | hask |
| 3S | en | din | flen | le | han |
| 1P | ef | dif | flef | | afti |
| 2P | eba | diba | fleb | | arba |
| 3P | e | de | fle | le | ha |
|
Imperfective Active Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | irn | dirn | flirn | | horn |
| 2S | is | dis | flis | | hosk |
| 3S | in | din | flin | li | hon |
| 1P | if | dif | flif | | ofti |
| 2P | irba | dirba | flib | | orba |
| 3P | i | di | fli | li | ho |
|
Imperfective Active Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | est | dist | flest | | astirn |
| 2S | estis | distis | flestis | | astisk |
| 3S | estin | distin | flestin | lesti | astin |
| 1P | estif | distif | flestif | | astifti |
| 2P | estib | distib | flestib | | astiba |
| 3P | esti | disti | flest | lesti | asti |
|
Imperfective Passive Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flerf | | harf |
| 2S | | | flefik | | afik |
| 3S | | | flesif | | asif |
| 1P | | | flefi | | afi |
| 2P | | | flebif | | abif |
| 3P | | | flef | | haf |
|
Imperfective Passive Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flirf | | horf |
| 2S | | | flik | | ofik |
| 3S | | | flisif | | osif |
| 1P | | | flifi | | ofi |
| 2P | | | flibif | | obif |
| 3P | | | flif | | hof |
|
Imperfective Passive Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flestirf | | astirf |
| 2S | | | flestifik | | astifik |
| 3S | | | flestisif | | astisif |
| 1P | | | flestifi | | astifi |
| 2P | | | flestibif | | astibif |
| 3P | | | flestif | | astif |
|
Imperfective Reflexive Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flerno | | arno |
| 2S | | | flesko | | asko |
| 3S | | | fleno | | ano |
| 1P | | | flefto | | afto |
| 2P | | | flerbo | | arbo |
| 3P | | | flero | | aro |
|
Imperfective Reflexive Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flirno | | orno |
| 2S | | | flisko | | osko |
| 3S | | | flino | | ono |
| 1P | | | flifto | | ofto |
| 2P | | | flirbo | | orbo |
| 3P | | | fliro | | oro |
|
Imperfective Reflexive Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flestirno | | astirno |
| 2S | | | flestisko | | astisko |
| 3S | | | flestino | | astino |
| 1P | | | flestifto | | astifto |
| 2P | | | flestibo | | astibo |
| 3P | | | flesto | | asto |
|
Perfective Active Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | eber | diber | fleber | | abarn |
| 2S | ebes | dibes | flebes | | abask |
| 3S | eben | diben | fleben | lebe | aban |
| 1P | ebef | dibef | flebef | | abafti |
| 2P | ebeba | dibeba | flebeb | | abarba |
| 3P | ebe | dibe | flebe | lebe | aba |
|
Perfective Active Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | ebirn | dibirn | flebirn | | oborn |
| 2S | ebisk | dibisk | flebisk | | obosk |
| 3S | ebin | dibin | flebin | lebi | obon |
| 1P | ebifti | dibifti | flebifti | | obofti |
| 2P | ebirba | dibirba | flebirba | | oborba |
| 3P | ebi | dibi | flebi | lebi | obo |
|
Perfective Active Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | ebestirn | dibestirn | flebestirn | | abastirn |
| 2S | ebestisk | dibestisk | flebestisk | | abastisk |
| 3S | ebestin | dibestin | flebestin | lebesti | abastin |
| 1S | ebestifti | dibestifti | flebestifti | | abastifti |
| 2P | ebestiba | dibestiba | flebestiba | | abastiba |
| 3P | ebesti | dibesti | flebesti | lebesti | abasti |
|
Perfective Passive Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | fleberf | | abarf |
| 2S | | | flebefik | | abafik |
| 3S | | | flebesif | | abasif |
| 1P | | | flebefi | | abafi |
| 2P | | | flebebif | | ababif |
| 3P | | | flebef | | abaf |
|
Perfective Passive Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flebirf | | oborf |
| 2S | | | flebifik | | obofik |
| 3S | | | flebisif | | obosif |
| 1P | | | flebifi | | obofi |
| 2P | | | flebibif | | obobif |
| 3P | | | flebif | | obof |
|
Perfective Passive Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flebestirf | | abastirf |
| 2S | | | flebestifik | | abastifik |
| 3S | | | flebestisif | | abastisif |
| 1P | | | flebestifi | | abastifi |
| 2P | | | flebestibif | | abastibif |
| 3P | | | flebestif | | abastif |
|
Perfective Reflexive Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | fleberno | | abarno |
| 2S | | | flebesko | | abasko |
| 3S | | | flebeno | | abano |
| 1P | | | flebefto | | abafto |
| 2P | | | fleberbo | | abarbo |
| 3P | | | flebo | | abo |
|
Perfective Reflexive Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flebirno | | oborno |
| 2S | | | flebisko | | obosko |
| 3S | | | flebino | | obono |
| 1P | | | flebifto | | obofto |
| 2P | | | flebirbo | | oborbo |
| 3P | | | flebo | | oboro |
|
Perfective Reflexive Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flebestirno | | abastirno |
| 2S | | | flebestisko | | abastisko |
| 3S | | | flebestino | | abastino |
| 1P | | | flebestifto | | abastifto |
| 2P | | | flebestibo | | abastibo |
| 3P | | | flebesto | | abasto |
|
Habitual Active Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | eler | diler | fleler | | alarn |
| 2S | elesk | dilesk | flelesk | | alask |
| 3S | elen | dilen | flelen | lele | alan |
| 1P | elefti | dilefti | flelefti | | alafti |
| 2P | elerba | dilerba | flelerba | | alarba |
| 3P | ele | dile | flele | lele | ala |
|
Habitual Active Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | elirn | dilirn | flelirn | | olorn |
| 2S | elisk | dilisk | flelisk | | olosk |
| 3S | elin | dilin | flelin | leli | olon |
| 1P | elifti | dilifti | flelifti | | olofti |
| 2P | elirba | dilirba | flelirba | | olorba |
| 3P | eli | dili | fleli | leli | olo |
|
Habitual Active Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | elestirn | dilestirn | flelestirn | | alastirn |
| 2S | elestisk | dilestisk | flelestisk | | alastisk |
| 3S | elestin | dilestin | flelestin | lelesti | alastin |
| 1P | elestifti | dilestifti | flelestifti | | alastifti |
| 2P | elestiba | dilestiba | flelestiba | | alastiba |
| 3P | elesti | dilesti | flelesti | lelesti | alasti |
|
Habitual Passive Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flelerf | | alarf |
| 2S | | | flelefik | | alafik |
| 3S | | | flelesif | | alasif |
| 1P | | | flelefi | | alafi |
| 2P | | | flelebif | | alabif |
| 3P | | | flelef | | alaf |
|
Habitual Passive Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flelirf | | olorf |
| 2S | | | flelifik | | olofik |
| 3S | | | flelisif | | olosif |
| 1P | | | flelifi | | olofi |
| 2P | | | flelibif | | olobif |
| 3P | | | flelif | | olof |
|
Habitual Passive Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flelestirf | | alastirf |
| 2S | | | flelestifik | | alastifik |
| 3S | | | flelestisif | | alastisif |
| 1P | | | flelestifi | | alastifi |
| 2P | | | flelestibif | | alastibif |
| 3P | | | flelestif | | alastif |
|
Habitual Reflexive Present
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flelerno | | alarno |
| 2S | | | flelesko | | alasko |
| 3S | | | fleleno | | alano |
| 1P | | | flelefto | | alafto |
| 2P | | | flelerbo | | alarbo |
| 3P | | | flelo | | alo |
|
Habitual Reflexive Past
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flelirno | | olorno |
| 2S | | | flelisko | | olosko |
| 3S | | | flelino | | olono |
| 1P | | | flelifto | | olofto |
| 2P | | | flelirbo | | olorbo |
| 3P | | | flelo | | oloro |
|
Habitual Reflexive Future
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become |
there is/are | to want |
| 1S | | | flelestirno | | alastirno |
| 2S | | | flelestisko | | alastisko |
| 3S | | | flelestino | | alastino |
| 1P | | | flelestifto | | alastifto |
| 2P | | | flelestibo | | alastibo |
| 3P | | | flelesto | | alasto |
|
Participles
There are two participles, active and passive. These are declined as
adjectives.
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| active | -ugo | -ago | -ego |
| passive | -ubi | -abi | -ebi |
Infinitives and Gerunds
There are two infinitives, active and passive. These also function as
gerunds. The nominative case is listed. The other cases are declined as
if they were second declension inanimate nouns ending in -spa and -fa,
instead of -spal and -fal.
| 1st Conj. | 2nd Conj. | 3rd Conj. |
| active | -uspal | -aspal | -espal |
| passive | -ufal | -afal | -efal |
Irregular Participles, Infinitives, and Gerunds
| meaning | to be | to not be | to become | to want |
| active participle | go | digo | flego | ago |
| passive participle | | | flebi | abi |
| active infinitive | spal | dispal | flespal | aspal |
| passive infinitive | | | flefal | afal |
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