Re: (In)transitive verbs

En réponse à Ph. D. :


>It seems to me that other IE languages (at least in
>the past) would have formed this verb by prefixing the
>adverb, making somelike "uplook" so we'd have 2
>as
They still do. Dutch and German are a big example of this. They have 
"separable verbs", the closest thing to phrasal verbs, where the prefix 
separates from the verb (and goes at the end of the sentence) in all finite 
forms, but goes back in front of the verb (before the past participle 
prefix if there is one) in all infinite forms, and "unseparable verbs" 
which also look like they are formed of a prefix added to a verb (prefix 
usually of prepositional or adverbial origin) but this prefix never 
separates. It still has an effect though: it prevents the past participle 
prefix (ge- in both Dutch and German) to be added to those verbs.

An example of separable verbs (in Dutch) is "meemaken" (participate), 
clearly made of "met": with ("mee-" in prefix form) and "maken": make. In 
finite forms the prefix separates, giving "ik maak... mee", but in infinite 
forms it prefixes back on the verb, making for instance the past participle 
"meegemaakt".

An example of unseparable verb (in Dutch again) is onderzoeken (to 
research, to examine). Despite its clear etymology ("onder": under and 
"zoeken": look for, seek), it is a single piece, giving thus "ik 
onderzoek..." and "onderzoekt" as past participle (note the absence of the 
ge- prefix here).

Germanic verbs can be such fun! :))

Christophe Grandsire.

http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr

You need a straight mind to invent a twisted conlang. 

Replies