A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

16 2 Overview

c. long imperfective subsystem

LoImpfP [long imperfective positive]

LoImpfN [long imperfective negative] (after Neg waer)

Prohib [prohibitive] (after Neg waer)

For example, 'get' has PerfP -sjraew-, Shlmpf -sjrew-, and LoImpfP
-jamew-. The perfective and short imperfective subsystems generally differ
only in vocalism, while the long imperfective subsystem is characterized by
consonantal (as well as vocalic) ablaut features.
Some of these stems can occur clause-initially, but others (PerfN, Shlmpf,
LoImpfN, Prohib) occur only after a preverbal particle (for the Shlmpf the
relevant particle need not be adjacent). The specifically negative stems occur
after Negative preverb waer. The Shlmpf stem is used after Future ad and in
some other dependent positions.

The Resit is very common, and in many cases can be translated as a
present-tense stative verb in English ('know', 'be sitting'). The LoImpfP
denotes recurring or habitual events, as well as progressives ('be dancing').
For morphological purposes, it is necessary to distinguish numerous verb
classes, based on their basic stem shape, e.g. -vPQvC- or -CuCCu- (+ -t). See
§2.11, below, for the notation. Two important factors in verbal morphology are
the heaviness of the stem (light, middleweight, or superheavy, the latter two
subsumed under "heavy"); the presence of any full V's initially, medially, or
finally; and (for V-final) stems whether the verb takes Augment -t.
Participles, which agree in number and gender (but not person), are used
in subject relatives. They can be formed from those non-imperative verb stems
that occur clause-initially (PerfP, Resit, LoImpfP). In combinations involving a
preverbal particle, the Participial affix can be added to the particle, the details
depending on dialect. Modifying adjectives are a special case of intransitive
participle.
Essentially all verbs have a Verbal Noun (VblN) formed by ablaut. A
large number of verbs also have an Agentive. There are a number of less
productive nominalization patterns confined to a few verbs.
Valency-changing derivations include causative, mediopassive, passive,
and reciprocal. These categories are expressed by derivational prefixes with
some associated ablaut changes. Causative and passive are especially
productive, and layered derivations (e.g. passive of causative) are very
common. Each such derived verb has its own full set of stems of type (12), as
well as participles and a VblN.

2.6 Simple main clauses

Simple main clauses have the shape [verb(-\clitics) (subject) (object) ...].
Clitics may include object or dative pronominals, directionals, and/or PPs with