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RV 46 (Rh)

Note 5.1 Verb: Perfective

In Amharic as in other Semitic languages the verbs are listed in the dictionaries in the 3rf person masculine singular Perfective form and not in the 'Infinitive' as in so many other languages.

Thus the verb 'to want' is listed under /fəlləgə/ 'he wanted', the verb 'to see' under /ayyə/ 'he saw', etc.

The great majority of Amharic verbs have three basic consonants (traditionally known as 'radical' or 'root' consonants) the second of which is almost always doubled.

There are, however, a great number of verbs with two, four, or even five radicals. Some of the two-radical verbs, such as /ayyə/ 'he saw' /hədə/ 'he went', etc. are among the most common ones.

The classification of Amharic verbs will be gradually introduced in the later units.

Following is a list of various verb forms which have occurred in Units 1 through 5 together with the corresponding Perfective form in the right hand column.