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

Regular verbs

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

Irregular verbs

Imperfective Active Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Serderflerharn
2Sesdisfleshask
3Sendinflenlehan
1Pefdifflefafti
2Pebadibaflebarba
3Pedefleleha

Imperfective Active Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sirndirnflirnhorn
2Sisdisflishosk
3Sindinflinlihon
1Pifdifflifofti
2Pirbadirbafliborba
3Pidifliliho

Imperfective Active Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sestdistflestastirn
2Sestisdistisflestisastisk
3Sestindistinflestinlestiastin
1Pestifdistifflestifastifti
2Pestibdistibflestibastiba
3Pestidistiflestlestiasti

Imperfective Passive Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflerfharf
2Sflefikafik
3Sflesifasif
1Pflefiafi
2Pflebifabif
3Pflefhaf

Imperfective Passive Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflirfhorf
2Sflikofik
3Sflisifosif
1Pflifiofi
2Pflibifobif
3Pflifhof

Imperfective Passive Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflestirfastirf
2Sflestifikastifik
3Sflestisifastisif
1Pflestifiastifi
2Pflestibifastibif
3Pflestifastif

Imperfective Reflexive Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflernoarno
2Sfleskoasko
3Sflenoano
1Pfleftoafto
2Pflerboarbo
3Pfleroaro

Imperfective Reflexive Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflirnoorno
2Sfliskoosko
3Sflinoono
1Pfliftoofto
2Pflirboorbo
3Pflirooro

Imperfective Reflexive Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflestirnoastirno
2Sflestiskoastisko
3Sflestinoastino
1Pflestiftoastifto
2Pflestiboastibo
3Pflestoasto

Perfective Active Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Seberdiberfleberabarn
2Sebesdibesflebesabask
3Sebendibenflebenlebeaban
1Pebefdibefflebefabafti
2Pebebadibebaflebebabarba
3Pebedibeflebelebeaba

Perfective Active Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sebirndibirnflebirnoborn
2Sebiskdibiskflebiskobosk
3Sebindibinflebinlebiobon
1Pebiftidibiftiflebiftiobofti
2Pebirbadibirbaflebirbaoborba
3Pebidibiflebilebiobo

Perfective Active Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sebestirndibestirnflebestirnabastirn
2Sebestiskdibestiskflebestiskabastisk
3Sebestindibestinflebestinlebestiabastin
1Sebestiftidibestiftiflebestiftiabastifti
2Pebestibadibestibaflebestibaabastiba
3Pebestidibestiflebestilebestiabasti

Perfective Passive Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sfleberfabarf
2Sflebefikabafik
3Sflebesifabasif
1Pflebefiabafi
2Pflebebifababif
3Pflebefabaf

Perfective Passive Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflebirfoborf
2Sflebifikobofik
3Sflebisifobosif
1Pflebifiobofi
2Pflebibifobobif
3Pflebifobof

Perfective Passive Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflebestirfabastirf
2Sflebestifikabastifik
3Sflebestisifabastisif
1Pflebestifiabastifi
2Pflebestibifabastibif
3Pflebestifabastif

Perfective Reflexive Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflebernoabarno
2Sflebeskoabasko
3Sflebenoabano
1Pflebeftoabafto
2Pfleberboabarbo
3Pfleboabo

Perfective Reflexive Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflebirnooborno
2Sflebiskoobosko
3Sflebinoobono
1Pflebiftoobofto
2Pflebirbooborbo
3Pflebooboro

Perfective Reflexive Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflebestirnoabastirno
2Sflebestiskoabastisko
3Sflebestinoabastino
1Pflebestiftoabastifto
2Pflebestiboabastibo
3Pflebestoabasto

Habitual Active Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Selerdilerfleleralarn
2Seleskdileskfleleskalask
3Selendilenflelenlelealan
1Peleftidileftifleleftialafti
2Pelerbadilerbaflelerbaalarba
3Peledilefleleleleala

Habitual Active Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Selirndilirnflelirnolorn
2Seliskdiliskfleliskolosk
3Selindilinflelinleliolon
1Peliftidiliftifleliftiolofti
2Pelirbadilirbaflelirbaolorba
3Pelidiliflelileliolo

Habitual Active Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Selestirndilestirnflelestirnalastirn
2Selestiskdilestiskflelestiskalastisk
3Selestindilestinflelestinlelestialastin
1Pelestiftidilestiftiflelestiftialastifti
2Pelestibadilestibaflelestibaalastiba
3Pelestidilestiflelestilelestialasti

Habitual Passive Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflelerfalarf
2Sflelefikalafik
3Sflelesifalasif
1Pflelefialafi
2Pflelebifalabif
3Pflelefalaf

Habitual Passive Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflelirfolorf
2Sflelifikolofik
3Sflelisifolosif
1Pflelifiolofi
2Pflelibifolobif
3Pflelifolof

Habitual Passive Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflelestirfalastirf
2Sflelestifikalastifik
3Sflelestisifalastisif
1Pflelestifialastifi
2Pflelestibifalastibif
3Pflelestifalastif

Habitual Reflexive Present

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflelernoalarno
2Sfleleskoalasko
3Sflelenoalano
1Pfleleftoalafto
2Pflelerboalarbo
3Pfleloalo

Habitual Reflexive Past

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflelirnoolorno
2Sfleliskoolosko
3Sflelinoolono
1Pfleliftoolofto
2Pflelirboolorbo
3Pflelooloro

Habitual Reflexive Future

meaningto beto not beto become there is/areto want
1Sflelestirnoalastirno
2Sflelestiskoalastisko
3Sflelestinoalastino
1Pflelestiftoalastifto
2Pflelestiboalastibo
3Pflelestoalasto

Participles, Infinitives, and Gerunds

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

meaningto beto not beto becometo want
active participlegodigoflegoago
passive participleflebiabi
active infinitivespaldispalflespalaspal
passive infinitiveflefalafal


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