Disclaimer
Sindarin is a complex language with limited examples to guide us, especially for certain verb tenses. The information provided here represents our best interpretations based on the available material. However, some aspects may not be entirely accurate, and there could be mistakes or misinterpretations of the rules.
I am not an expert, but I have a general understanding of how Sindarin works. It is important for anyone studying this material to double-check the information and compare it with other reliable sources. Language learning is a journey, and accuracy improves as we learn more.
Past Tense: How to Conjugate Sindarin I-Stem Verbs
Step 1: Is the Verb MONOSYLLABIC or POLYSYLLABIC?
First, check if the verb has one syllable (MONOSYLLABIC) or more than one syllable (POLYSYLLABIC).
1a: MONOSYLLABIC (one syllable)
Example: bal-
- What to do:
- Copy the vowel in the stem and place it at the beginning of the stem:
- ped- → eped
- nor- → onor
- bal- → abal
- nidh- → enidh
- gal- [ng] → angal
- dag [nd] → andag
- badh [mb] → ambadh
- gir- → igil
- sav- → asav
- Proceed to Step 2.
1b: POLYSYLLABIC (two or more syllables)
- Check the verb ending:
- If the verb ends in B, D, or G, follow these rules:
- B: 1st and 2nd person forms change to MM; 3rd person singular changes to MP.
- D: 1st and 2nd person forms change to NN; 3rd person singular changes to NT.
- G: 1st and 2nd person forms change to NG; 3rd person singular changes to NC.
- Examples:
- echad- → echant (3rd person singular) / echann- (all others)
- ethog- → ethonc (3rd person singular) / ethong- (all others)
- Proceed to Step 5 to apply the suffixes.
- If the verb does not end in B, D, or G, go to Step 3 for vowel changes.
Step 2: Apply Soft Mutation to Monosyllabic Verbs
Soft mutation is a change that happens to the first consonant of the verb. Here are the rules:
Soft Mutation Rules:
- B → V
- C → G
- D → DH
- F → F
- G → ’ (G disappears)
- H → CH
- L → L
- M → V
- MB → MM
- N → N
- ND → ND
- NG → NG
- P → B
- R → R
- S → H (H disappears after vowels)
- T → D
Examples:
- ped- → eped → ebed
- nor- → onor → onor
- bal- → abal → aval
- nidh- → enidh → enidh
- gal- [ng] → angal → angal
- dag [nd] → andag → annag
- badh [mb] → ambadh → ammadh
- gir- → igil → il
- sav- → asav → ahav
Proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Apply Vowel Changes Based on the Final Consonant
If the verb ends in B, D, or G, skip to Step 4.
Vowel Changes:
- a → o (3rd person singular), ó (all other forms)
- e → i (3rd person singular), í (all other forms)
- i → i (3rd person singular), í (all other forms)
- o → u (3rd person singular), ú (all other forms)
Examples:
- ped- → eped → ebed → (proceed to Step 4)
- nor- → onor → onor → onúr-
- bal- → abal → aval/avól-
- nidh- → enidh → enidh/enídh-
- gal- [ng] → angal → angal/angól-
- dag [nd] → andag → annag → (proceed to Step 4)
- badh [mb] → ambadh → ammadh/ammódh-
- gir- → igil → il/ír-
- sav- → asav → ahav → aw/óv- (process)
- achar- → achor/achór-
- abgen- → abgin/abgín-
Proceed to Step 5.
Step 4: Special Rules for Verbs Ending in B, D, DH, or G
- B → 1st and 2nd person forms change to MM; 3rd person singular changes to MP.
- D → 1st and 2nd person forms change to NN; 3rd person singular changes to NT.
- G → 1st and 2nd person forms change to NG; 3rd person singular changes to NC.
Examples:
- ped- → eped → ebed → ebent/ebenn-
- dag [nd] → andag → annag → annanc/annang-
Proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Apply Pronominal Suffixes for I-Stem Verbs
- 1st person singular: -in (I)
- 1st person plural exclusive: -if (We, excluding listener)
- 1st person plural inclusive: -ib (We, including listener)
- 2nd person formal singular: -il (You - formal)
- 2nd person formal plural: -idh (You - formal, plural)
- 2nd person informal singular: -ig (You - informal)
- 2nd person informal plural: -igir (You - informal, plural)
- 3rd person plural: -ir (They)
Step 6: Confirm Conjugation
Final Check: Double-check all steps to make sure the conjugation is correct.