Verbs in Naucan express actions, states, and processes. The system distinguishes between finite and non-finite forms. The verbal system marks, in finite forms, tense, aspect, polarity, mood, and voice.
Tense: Present, Past, Future.
Aspect: Simple, Progressive (continuous).
Polarity: Positive, Negative
Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative (including Prohibitive).
Voice: Active and Passive.
Tenses, Aspects and Mood
Indicative Mood: Used for real actions and facts.
Subjunctive Mood: Expresses hypothetical, potential, or desired actions.
Imperative Mood: Used for commands or requests. It includes a negative form called the Prohibitive.
Simple Aspect: Expresses actions as whole units.
Progressive Aspect: Expresses actions in progress, using the auxiliary "to be" + gerund.
Voice
Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
Passive Voice: Formed with "to be" + participle. The action is received by the subject.
Polarity
All verbal tenses have a negative form, marked with the prefix ra-.
Prefix ra-:
If root starts with a- → eliminate a, ra- becomes rā-.
Irregular negative forms exist, especially for the verb to be.
In Naucan, each verbal tense and mood has specific semantic functions. While some correspond directly to English tense-aspect combinations, others have broader or more flexible usage. Below is an explanation of each tense's core meanings and example sentences illustrating their use. Negative forms follow the same temporal logic as their affirmative counterparts and are not treated separately in this section.
Present Simple
The Naucan present simple, marked with -m / -am, is used for the following functions:
Habitual actions or habits:
Example in English: He drinks tea at breakfast.
Example in Naucan: Innum na ragattek. (“I sleep lying down.”)
Repeated actions or events:
Example in English: We catch the bus every morning.
Example in Naucan: Rinam urna no izan enkerēn. (“We sing every day.”)
General truths or current facts:
Example in English: Water freezes at zero degrees.
Example in Naucan: Niskum issaw. (“Birds fly.”)
Fixed arrangements or time-tabled events:
Example in English: His mother arrives tomorrow.
Example in Naucan: Tenkanam kawne khūbes. (“The father comes tomorrow.”)
Condition for a future action or state:
Example in English: If I eat, I won’t be hungry.
Example in Naucan: Yodi na unawm, ramibō na ukomkē. (“If I drink, I won’t be thirsty.”)
Present Progressive
The Naucan present progressive is formed with the verb sām followed by the gerund form (-rok). It is used for the following functions:
Ongoing actions (actions happening right now)
Example in English: You are using the Internet.
Example in Naucan: Sām gi unawrok kīphkē. (“You are drinking water.”)
Temporary event or situation (limited duration)
Example in English: The weather forecast was good, but it’s raining at the moment.
Example in Naucan: Rakōrizit na kantu, phun na sām kanrok. (“I didn't want to go, but I'm going.”)
Emphasis on a continuing series of repeated actions, often with “always, forever, constantly”
Example in English: Harry and Sally are always arguing!
Example in Naucan: Sudizōm sām zenigrok! (“It's always snowing!”)
Past Simple
The Naucan past simple is marked with -zit. It is used for the following functions:
Past situations, events, or states
Example in English: My father died last year.
Example in Naucan: Wodēzit kawne nathe. (“My father died.”)
Habitual actions in the past
Example in English: I used to go swimming every Thursday when I was at school.
Example in Naucan: Rinzit urna no izan enkerēn. (“We used to sing every day.”)
Past Progressive
The Naucan past progressive is formed with zayt + gerund (-rok). It is used for the following function:
Ongoing actions in the past, including interrupted actions
Example in English: Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.
Example in Naucan: Zayt so no tommin zēnzōm na kanzit. (“He was at home when I came.”)
Future Simple
The Naucan future simple is marked with -bō (after vowel or diphthong ending stems) or -ibō (after consonant-final stems). It is used for the following functions:
Future actions
Example in English: The sun will rise tomorrow.
Example in Naucan: Tenkanibō kawne nathe. (“My father will come.”)
Predictions
Example in English: There will be snow in many areas tomorrow.
Example in Naucan: Khūbes uranibō. (“It will rain tomorrow.”)
Arrangements, plans, and intentions
Example in English: I'm meeting Jim at the airport.
Example in Naucan: Kanibō na ken thōren. (“I will go to the mountains.”)
An action or event that will take place immediately or very soon
Example in English: The train is about to leave.
Example in Naucan: Awskanibō tren imis. (“The train will leave now.”)
Unwillingness (expressed with the negative form)
Example in English: I won’t leave until I’ve seen the manager!
Example in Naucan: Rawkanibō na ten trenēn! (“I won’t get off the train!”)
Orders
Example in English: You will do exactly as I say.
Example in Naucan: Darībō gi kak na phēmwe. (“You will as I say.”)
Invitations
Example in English: Will you marry me?
Example in Naucan: Kōribō gi tenkantu? (“Would you like to come?”)
Polite questions about the future
Example in English: Will I be sleeping in this room?
Example in Naucan: Innubō na no tommin githen? (“Will I sleep at your house?”)
Future Progressive
The Naucan future progressive is formed with sibō followed by the gerund form of the main verb. It is used to express actions that will be in progress at a specific moment in the future.
An action in progress in the future
Example in English: This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
Example in Naucan: Khūbes sibō uranrok thro izan sudin. (“It will be raining all day tomorrow.”)
The Naucan subjunctive is used primarily in subordinate clauses expressing assessments, doubts, influence, or conditions. It also appears in some main clauses to express hypothetical or improbable situations.
The subjunctive is formed with specific endings depending on tense:
Present subjunctive: -we or -e
Past subjunctive: -zēs
Future subjunctive: -bey or -ibey
Present Simple Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used when the main clause is in the present indicative and expresses assessments, doubts, wishes, influence, or preferences.
Uses:
Assessments or doubts
Example in English: I doubt you'll arrive on time.
Example in Naucan: Rīkotam nak uk gi unawe kīphkē tirkē. (“I like that you drink a lot of water.”)
Influence (orders, advice, wishes, preferences)
Example in English: I advise you to arrive on time.
Example in Naucan: Kōrim na uk gi unawe kīphkē tirkē. (“I want you to drink a lot of water.”)
Present Progressive Subjunctive
Same as present subjunctive, but referring to ongoing actions.
It is not very common in everyday speech.
Uses:
Ongoing actions in subordinate clauses
Example in English: I like that you are drinking a lot of water.
Example in Naucan: Rīkotam nak uk gi sē unawrok kīphkē tirkē. (“I like that you are drinking a lot of water.”)
Past Subjunctive
Used when the main clause is in the past indicative, or in main clauses for improbable wishes or conditions.
Uses:
In subordinate clauses with past indicative: assessments, doubts, preferences
Example in English: He wanted us to eat.
Example in Naucan: Kōrizit so uk urna yuntuzēs. (“He wanted us to eat.”)
In main clauses: improbable wishes
Example in English: What if we went faster?
Example in Naucan: A yodi kanzēs urna khisse tane? (“ What if we went faster?”)
In subordinate clauses with future subjunctive: improbable conditions
Example in English: If I were taller I would be happy.
Example in Naucan: Yodi na sē āpharkē tanek, sibey na saru. (“If I were taller I would be happy.”)
Past Progressive Subjunctive
Same uses as the past subjunctive, but for ongoing or interrupted actions.
Not very commonly used.
Future Subjunctive
Used when referring to chance, uncertainty, or future possibility, especially in subordinate clauses.
Uses:
Future chance or possibility
Example in English: If it's sunny, we'll go to the beach.
Example in Naucan: Yodi kar sibey, kanibey urna ken mesēn. (“If it's sunny, we'll go to the sea.”)
Future Progressive Subjunctive
Same logic as future subjunctive but focusing on ongoing actions in the future.
Not very commonly used.
Imperative
In Naucan, the imperative is formed with the suffix -re.
The subject pronoun is usually omitted, as the addressee is clear from context.
Uses:
Commands, requests, instructions, directions
Example in English: Run!
Example in Naucan: Dizure! (“Run!”) / Kanre! ("Let's go!")
Prohibitive (Negative Imperative)
The prohibitive form in Naucan is created by adding the prefix ra- to the verb root, followed by the imperative suffix -re.
As with the affirmative imperative, the subject pronoun is typically omitted.
Uses:
Negative commands, bans, prohibitions
Example in English: Don’t run!
Example in Naucan: Radizure! (“Don’t run!”)
Irregular Verbs:
In Naucan, most verbs are regular and follow the same conjugation patterns.
There are three irregular verbs:
satu → "to be"
matu → "to have" (inanimate object)
mitu → "to have" (animate object)
Impersonal Verbs:
Verbs describing weather phenomena are impersonal:
zenigtu → "to snow"
urantu → "to rain"
Auxiliary Verbs:
Naucan uses the verb "to be" (satu) as its only auxiliary verb.
It is used to form:
Progressive aspects (present, past, future) → sām ardirok ("I am walking").
Passive voice → sām tayette ("it is bought").
There are no other auxiliary verbs in Naucan.
Declarative Sentences (VSO)
The default structure in Naucan is Verb–Subject–Object (VSO).
Structure:
Negation → Verb → Subject → Direct/Prepositional Object or Attribute → Indirect Object
Example:
Tayem tapi zadek urkē. → "The boy buys eggs."
If any core element of the sentence—such as the subject, direct object, or oblique argument—is a subordinate clause, it is displaced to the end of the main clause.
Adjuncts can appear at the beginning, at the end, or in a parenthetical position for emphasis.
The word order can be altered for emphasis, but VSO is neutral.
Interrogative Sentences (VSO)
The standard word order in Naucan sentences is Verb-Subject-Object (VSO), and this order is consistently maintained even in interrogative sentences. However, word order can be altered to give emphasis or highlight a particular element of the sentence. In such cases, the emphasized element is placed at the beginning of the sentence to draw attention to it.
Subordinate Clauses (SVO)
In subordinate clauses, the order changes to:
Subject → Verb → Direct/Prepositional Object or Attribute → Indirect Object
Example:
Ikum na uk gi muzawm bekik. → "I see that you read a book."
Infinitives (-tu)
Base form of the verb.
After modal verbs or as the complement of another verb.
It can also function as a noun.
Participles (-tte / -itte)
Form the passive voice.
Form adjectives: tayette → "bought" (adj.).
Form some nouns (especially abstract): phēmitte → "a saying" (something said).
Gerunds (-rok → -rek)
Form the progressive tenses.
Form agent nouns: ardirek → "walker"; tayerek → "buyer".
These nouns can also function adjectivally: tapi tayerek → "the buying boy".
Additionally, it appears in certain predicative or adverbial constructions, such as “Kaythrok gayak, ikuzit urna rannek nathek.” (“While drinking tea, we saw my mother”).
In Naucan, several modal and auxiliary meanings are expressed through periphrastic constructions combining an auxiliary verb with the infinitive form (-tu). Below are the main types:
Obligation:
mīttu (to have to, must) + infinitive
Example: Mītam na arditu. → “I must walk.”
Possibility / Permission:
gemtu (may, be possible) + infinitive
Example: Gemam gi unawtu. → “You may drink.”
Volition / Will:
kōritu (to want) + infinitive
Example: Kōrim so kantu. → “He wants to go.”
Intention / Future Plan:
kantu (to go) + ku + infinitive
Example: Kanam na ku arditu. → “I am going to walk.”
Probability:
Expressed with the adverb khages (“maybe”) + verb.
Example: Khages ardim so. → “Maybe he walks.”
Necessity:
thartu (to need) + infinitive
Example: Tharam na unawtu. → “I need to drink.”
Ability / Capacity:
gōttu (to know how to) + infinitive
arēttu (to be able to) + infinitive
Example: Gōtam na rintu. → “I know how to sing.”
Example: Arētam na arditu. → “I am able to walk.”