The Verbal Chain (components)

Question 1

base verb

Answer 1

the inalterable verb itself (i.e., du7 ‘to square’)–remains towards the end of the verbal chain. suffixes are attached to this base, never inserted into it.

Question 2

.0

Answer 2

3rd person singular patient marker

Question 3

(n.)

Answer 3

the often silent marker for the 3rd person singular agent (of action)
mu.na.(n.)du–he built for…

Question 4

.na

Answer 4

dative case marker, which references an aforementioned dative case (somewhere in the sentence which the verb completes–**verbs always punctuate sentences, since Sumerian is an SOV language)

Question 5

mu.

Answer 5

venitive case marker? (see complicated discussion of mu- prefix in Christopher Wood’s seminal thesis, “Grammar of Perspective…) (2008), ch. 3

Question 6

verb form syllablic tendencies

Answer 6

tend to be one-syllable units, consisting variably of CV (consonant-vowel) or CVC (cf. du ‘to build’ and dug ‘to speak’)

Question 7

reduplication

Answer 7

the repetition of the verbal base alters the verb from the hamtu into the maru.

Question 8

nu.

Answer 8

(Modal Prefix “mp”) negative

Question 9

bara.

Answer 9

MP –venitive, negative affirmative

Question 10

na.

Answer 10

MP prohibitive, affirmative

Question 11

ga.

Answer 11

MP cohortative

Question 12

ha.

Answer 12

MP precative, affirmative

Question 13

sa.

Answer 13

MP

Question 14

u.

Answer 14

MP prospective

Question 15

iri.

Answer 15

MP

Question 16

nus.

Answer 16

MP

Question 17

bi.

Answer 17

particle that cross-references an earlier locative case–this particle is only used for inanimates

Question 18

Eridug.a- e0- gu.a- bi. (n.). du0

Answer 18

literally: at Eridug, the house, by the river, he built