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THE VERB
THE NOUN
THE ADVERB
THE PRONOUN
- pronominal endings
- possessive endings
- independent pronouns
- emphatic pronouns
SYNTAXIS
THE VERB
two kinds of verbs
The Quenya verbs can be divided in two groups, Basic (Primary) Verbs, and A-Stem Verbs.
All forms of the Quenya verbs are formed from the same stem-form, in two variations (vowel-lenghtening or not)
| Stem-vowel not lengthened |
Basic Verb |
A-Stem verb |
Aoristus (Aorist tense)
Imperfectum (Past tense)
Futurum (Future tense) |
hir-ë (from hir-i)
hir-në
hir-uva |
mapa
mapa-në
map-uva (from mapa-uva) |
| Stem-vowel lengthened |
|
|
Praesens (Present tense)
Perfectum (Perfect tense) |
hír-a
i-hír-ië |
mápë-a (from mápa-a)
a-máp-ië |
declined primary verbs
AORISTUS
IMPERFECTUM
FUTURUM |
Hir-ë (Sing.)
Hir-i-r (Plur.)
Hir-në (Sing.)
Hir-ne-r (Plur.)
Hir-uva (Sing.)
Hir-uva-r (Plur.) |
Hir-i-nyë
Hir-i-lyë
Hir-i-s
Hir-i-mmë
Hir-i-lmë
Hir-i-lyë
Hir-i-ntë
Hir-ne-nyë
Hir-ne-lyë
Hir-ne-s
Hir-ne-mmë
Hir-ne-lmë
Hir-ne-lyë
Hir-ne-ntë
Hir-uva-n(ye)
Hir-uva-l(ye)
Hir-uva-s
Hir-uva-mmë
Hir-uva-lmë
Hir-uva-lyë
Hir-uva-ntë |
PRAESENS
PERFECTUM |
Hír-a (Sing.)
Hír-a-r (Plur.)
I-hír-ië (Sing.)
I-hír-ie-r (Plur.) |
Hír-a-nyë
Hír-a-lyë
Hír-a-s
Hír-a-mmë
Hír-a-lmë
Hír-a-lyë
Hír-a-ntë
I-hír-ie-nyë
I-hír-ie-lyë
I-hír-ie-s
I-hír-ie-mmë
I-hír-ie-lmë
I-hír-ie-lyë
I-hír-ie-ntë |
imperativus
infinitivus |
positive
negative |
á hir-ë
áva hir-ë
hir-ë |
participium
gerundivum |
praesens activus
praesens passivus |
hír-a-la
hir-na
hir-ië |
| NB 1 The forms without a pronominal ending are used when the subject of a sentence has been specified
before that verb. |
AORISTUS
IMPERFECTUM
FUTURUM |
Mat-ë (Sing.)
Mat-i-r (Plur.)
Man-të (Sing.)
Man-te-r (Plur.)
Mat-uva (Sing.)
Mat-uva-r (Plur.) |
PRAESENS
PERFECTUM |
Mát-a (Sing.)
Mát-a-r (Plur.)
A-mát-ië (Sing.)
A-mát-ie-r (Plur.) |
imperativus
infinitivus |
positive
negative |
á mat-ë
áva matë
mat-ë |
participium
gerundivum |
praesens activus
praesens passivus |
mát-a-la
mat-i-na
mat-ië |
NB 1 In Primary verbs ending in -t, -c, -p or -l, the imperfectum is formed with infixion
of -n- for -t and -c, -m- for -p, and -l for -l (: tac-në >> tan-cë top-në >>
tom-pë tul-në >> tul-lë) |
declined a-stem verbs
AORISTUS
IMPERFECTUM
FUTURUM |
Map-a (Sing.)
Map-i-r (Plur)
Mapa-në (Sing)
Mapa-ne-r (Plur)
Map-uva (Sing)
Map-uva-r (Plur) |
Map-i-nyë
Map-i-lyë
Map-i-s
Map-i-mmë
Map-i-lmë
Map-i-lyë
Map-i-ntë
Mapa-ne-nyë
Mapa-ne-lyë
Mapa-ne-s
Mapa-ne-mmë
Mapa-ne-lmë
Mapa-ne-lyë
Mapa-ne-ntë
Map-uva-nyë
Map-uva-lyë
Map-uva-s
Map-uva-mmë
Map-uva-lmë
Map-uva-lyë
Map-uva-ntë |
PRAESENS
PERFECTUM |
Mápë-a (Sing)
Mápë-a-r (Plur)
A-máp-ië (Sing)
A-máp-ie-r (Plur) |
Mápa-nyë
Mápa-lyë
Mápa-s
Mápa-mmë
Mápa-lmë
Mápa-lyë
Mápa-ntë
A-máp-ië-nyë
A-máp-ië-lyë
A-máp-ië-s
A-máp-ië-mmë
A-máp-ië-lmë
A-máp-ië-lyë
A-máp-ië-ntë |
imperativus
infinitivus |
positive
negative |
á mapa
áva mapa
Mapa |
participium
gerundivum |
praesens activus
praesens passivus |
Mápa-la
Map-i-na
Map-ië |
NB 1 The final -a from A-stem verbs
drops out before the future -uva- group, the perfect
-ie- group and the gerund.
Hence Mapuva instead of Mapauva, Amápië instead of Amápaië, and Mapië instead of Mapaië |
| NB 2 The present tense of A-stem verbs is formed with the ending -ëa. Hence Mápëa instead of Mápaa |
AORISTUS
IMPERFECTUM
FUTURUM |
Lely-a (Sing.)
Lely-a-r (Plur.)
Lelya-në (Sing.)
Lelya-ne-r (Plur.)
Lely-uva (Sing.)
Lely-uva-r (Plur.) |
PRAESENS
PERFECTUM |
Lelyë-a (Sing.)
Lelyë-a-r (Plur.)
E-lél-ië (Sing.)
E-lél-ie-r (Plur.) |
imperativus
infinitivus |
positive
negative |
á lelya
áva lelya
Lelya |
participium
gerundivum |
praesens activus
praesens passivus |
Lelya-la
Lelya-i-na
Lel-ië |
NB 1 In the perfect tense and the gerund, the ending -ya of A-stem verbs drops outentirely
before the ending -ië. Hence Elélië instead of Elély(a)ië and Lelië instead of Lely(a)ië |
the verbs 'to be' and 'to leave'
|
Ná- to be
|
AORISTUS
IMPERFECTUM
FUTURUM |
Ná (Sing)
Nar (Plur)
Né (Sing)
Nér (Plur)
Nauva (Sing)
Nauvar (Plur) |
PRAESENS
PERFECTUM |
Ná (Sing)
Nár (Plur) |
| NB 1 No perfect tense of the verb to be is currently known. |
|
Auta- to leave
|
AORISTUS
IMPERFECTUM
FUTURUM |
Autë (Sing)
Aute-r (Plur)
Oan-të (Sing)
Oan-te-r (Plur)
Aut-uva (Sing)
Aut-uva-r (Plur |
Vá-në(Sing)
Vá-ne-r (Plur) |
PRAESENS
PERFECTUM |
Auta (Sing)
Auta-r (Plur)
Oan-t-ië (Sing)
Oan-t-ie-r (Plur) |
A-ván-ië (Sing)
A-ván-ie-r (Plur) |
NB 1 The verb Auta- has two past and
perfect tenses. The form Oantë/Oantië is
used when the verb is used in a
physical sense (i.e. went away, from one place to another). The form Vánë/Avánië is used in a more abstract way
(disappeared, passed, died off) |
THE NOUN
inflection of substantive nouns
| |
Singularis |
Pluralis |
Pluralis
Partitivus |
Dualis
|
|
| |
|
|
|
-t Dual |
-u Dual (Alda) |
| -a/-i/-o/-u/-ië group |
Nominativus
Accusativus
Dativus
Genitivus
Possessivus
Locativus
Allativus
Ablativus
Instrumentalis
Respectivus |
Cirya
Ciryá
Cirya-n
Ciryo
Cirya-va
Cirya-ssë
Cirya-nna
Cirya-llo
Cirya-nen
Cirya-s |
Cirya-r
Cirya-i
Cirya-in
Cirya-ron
Cirya-iva*
Cirya-ssen
Cirya-nnar
Cirya-llon
Cirya-inen
Cirya-is |
Cirya-li
Cirya-lí
Cirya-li-n
Cirya-li-on
Cirya-lí-va
Cirya-li-ssë(n)
Cirya-li-nna(r)
Cirya-li-llo(n)
Cirya-lí-nen
Cirya-li-s |
Cirya-t
Cirya-t
Cirya-nt
Cirya-to
Cirya-twa
Cirya-tsë
Cirya-nta
Cirya-lto
Cirya-nten
Cirya-tes |
Ald-u
Ald-ú
Ald-u-(e)n
Ald-u-o
Ald-u-va
Ald-u-ssë
Ald-u-nna
Ald-u-llo
Ald-u-nen
Ald-u-s |
| |
|
|
|
|
-t Dual |
-u Dual (Ehtë) |
| -ë group |
Nominativus
Accusativus
Dativus
Genitivus
Possessivus
Locativus
Allativus
Ablativus
Instrumentalis
Respectivus |
Lassë
Lassé
Lasse-n
Lassë-o
Lass-éva
Lasse-ssë
Lasse-nna
Lasse-llo
Lasse-nen
Lasse-s |
Lass-i
Lass-í
Lass-in
Lass-ion
Lass-iva*
Lasse-ssen
Lasse-nnar
Lasse-llon
Lass-inen
Lass-is |
Lasse-li
Lasse-lí
Lasse-li-n
Lasse-li-on
Lasse-lí-va
Lasse-li-ssë(n)
Lasse-li-nna(r)
Lasse-li-llo(n)
Lasse-lí-nen
Lasse-li-s |
Lasse-t
Lasse-t
Lasse-nt
Lasse-to
Lasse-twa
Lasse-tsë
Lasse-nta
Lasse-lto
Lasse-nten
Lasse-tes |
Eht-u
Eht-ú
Eht-u-(en)
Eht-u-o
Eht-u-va
Eht-u-ssë
Eht-u-nna
Eht-u-llo
Eht-u-nen
Eht-u-s |
| |
|
|
|
|
-u Dual |
-t Dual |
| Consonant group |
Nominativus
Accusativus
Dativus
Genitivus
Possessivus
Locativus
Allativus
Ablativus
Instrumentalis
Respectivus |
Nat
Nat
Nat-e-n
Nat-o
Nat-wa
Nat-e-ssë
Nat-e-nna
Nat-e-llo
Nat-e-nen
Nat-e-s |
Nat-i
Nat-í
Nat-in
Nat-ion
Nat-iva
Nat-i-ssen
Nat-i-nnar
Nat-i-llon
Nat-inen
Nat-is |
Nat-e-li
Nat-e-lí
Nat-e-li-n
Nat-e-li-on
Nat-e-lí-va
Nat-e-li-ssë(n)
Nat-e-li-nna(r)
Nat-e-li-llo(n)
Nat-e-lí-nen
Nat-e-li-s |
Nat-u
Nat-ú
Nat-u-(e)n
Nat-u-o
Nat-u-va
Nat-u-ssë
Nat-u-nna
Nat-u-llo
Nat-u-nen
Nat-u-s |
Elen-et
Elen-et
Elen-ent
Elen-e-to
Elen-e-twa
Elen-e-tsë
Elen-e-nta
Elen-e-lto
Elen-e-nten
Elen-e-tes |
| NB 1 |
The Accusative case is no longer used in the Third Age, and the Nominative
case is used for objects of a sentence instead. |
|
| 2 |
The Meaning of the Respective case in unknown. The meaning of the Partitive
Plural is uncertain. |
|
| 3 |
The Consonant Noun-group is not attested in the Plotz Letter. It seems to use
a helping vowel (-e- in Singular, Partitive Plural
and -t Dual; -i- in Plural) where
the case ending begins in a consonant. Not so however in the Possessive Singular. |
|
| 4 |
The Locative, Allative and Ablative cases in the Partitive Plural can use either
the Singular or the Plural case-ending. |
|
| 5 |
The Ablative Plural-ending can also be -llor, instead of -llon, though this is not
attested in the Plotz letter |
|
| 6 |
The Dative -u Dual could be either
-un or -uen. We lack definite proof. |
|
| 7 |
In the Genitive, Allative, Instrumental and Respective case, it might me possible
to use a shorthened form of the -t Dual (Hence Elento, Elenta,
Elenten and
Elentes instead of Eleneto, Elenenta, Elenenten and Elenetes respectively. |
|
| 8 |
It is not wholly sure how a word from the -ië group would behave (e.g. would
the Dative Plural of tië be tiein* or tiín* or tién*) |
|
inflection of adjective nouns
Positive Form
| |
Singular |
Plural |
|
|
| |
|
| -a group |
Laiqua- |
Laiquë- |
NB 1 |
When the adjective is placed after the noun it describes, it will usually take the case-ending instead
of that noun. The case endings are similar to those of the (Substantive) Nouns. |
| -ëa group |
Laurëa- |
Laurië- |
2 |
There is most likely only one Plural form of the Adjective, that is used for Plural, Partitive Plural
and Dual alike. |
| -ë group |
Carnë (Carni-) |
Carni- |
3 |
In the Consonant group, the same rule for helping vowel is used as in the Consonant Group of the
(Substantive) Nouns. It is, however, not 100 % certain that the helping vowel -i- is used in Plural forms. |
| Consonant group |
Firin- |
Firin- |
|
|
Comparative form
No specific comparative form is known, but it is possible to compare two things using the formula
| A ná/nar [Adjective] lá B |
For instance Anar ná calima lá Isil, meaning [the] Sun is bright beyond [the] Moon,
or Neri nar poldë lá Nissi (Men are strong beyond women)
| |
Positive |
Superlative |
Superlative form
The superlative form of an adjective is formed by adding the 'superlative or intensive' prefixan-
to an adjective. When added to an adjective beginning with a vowel or in c-, n-,
qu-, t-, v-, w-, or y- (and
maybe in f- and h-), nothing happens. Otherwise, the prefix is partially or wholly
assimilated |
Alta
Calima
Fána
Halla
Norna
Quanta
Taura
Vanya
Wenya
Yára |
Analta
Ancalima
Anfána*
Anhalla*
Annorna
Anquanta
Antaura
Anvanya
Anwenya
Anyára |
| |
Pitya |
Ampitya |
| |
Lauca
Moina
Ringa
Sarda |
Allauca
Ammoina
Arringa
Assarda |
THE ADVERB
Adverbs are used to describe a verbal action. It is not clear whether Quenya Adverbs can also describe
adjectives and/or other Adverbs.
There are various kinds of Adverbs.
Adverbs derived from Adjectives
- -Adjectives in -a are usually formed by adding -vë. It is however uncertain
whether all adjectives can be 'adverbialized' in this way. It seems rather unsafe to use this kinds of derivations
when another, basic Adverb of the same meaning is attested.
- -Adjectives in -ë are turned into Adverbs by replacing the final -ë
with the Adverbial ending - ivë.
- -Adjectives ending in a consonant (so far, only Adjectives in -n are attested) pose quite
a problem, since it's not clear how the ending -vë is added. Possibilities include Melinvë,
Melimbë and Melinavë from Melin
| Adjective |
Adverb |
Alta
Anda
Saila
Tulca
Mussë
Nindë
Ringë |
Altavë
Andavë
Sailavë
Tulcavë
Mussivë
Nindivë
Ringivë |
Adverbs derived from (Substantival) Nouns
Examples: Oialë,
THE PROUNOUN
pronominal endings
Pronominal endings are added to the end of a verb when no subject of a sentence has been specified before
that verb.
Possessive endings are added to the end of a noun to indicate the owner of that noun
Hypothetical forms are marked with an '*'.
| |
Singularis
Long Short |
Pluralis
Long Short |
Dualis |
1
1 Exclusive
1 Inclusive
2 Familiar
2 Corteous
3 |
-nyë
-ccë*
-lyë
-s |
-n
-l
-ro* / -rë* |
-mmë
-lmë
-ccë*
-lyë
-ntë |
-l |
-lvë |
-lwë |
| NB 1 |
The pronominal endings -ro and -rë are used for respectively
he and her, but are not actually attested. |
| 2 |
The familiar form of the second person Singularis/Pluralis is
highly hypothetical, and derived from Sindarin pron. -ch, poss. -cca |
| 3 |
Pluralis first person Exclusive means 'We, not including you'.
Pluralis Inclusive means 'You, I, and others'. Dualis first person
Inclusive means 'You and I' |
|