[snip]
> > 1) Present (Present Singular Stem and Present Plural Stem)
> >
> > There are the following "classes" of verbs in the present singular and
> > present plural stems:
> >
> > a) n-infixal presents:
> > These verbs were formed with an n-infix to a predominantly zero-grade
> > form of the root. (e-grade is found rarely). For the most part, the
> > suffix is only seen in the first or third person.
> >
> Also, forgive my slowness: what's a "zero-grade" or an "e-grade"? Does it
> refer to what the root ends with?
Nope. They refer to the vowel of the root. The examples you chose are good to illustrate it:
> > examples:
> >
> > lij "I die" *lenh-io
> > llesh "We die" *lnh-osie
*lenh is e-grade root: *leh
*lnh is zero-grade
> > shov "I am" *syeu-uo
> > vesh "we are" *syu-osie
*syeu is e-grade root: *syeu
*syu is zero-grade
> I like these examples in particular--very interesting.
Thanks!
Elliott