by Max Wheeler
reblir
participle reblert, reblerta, etc. (or regular reblit, reblida, etc.)
otherwise regular IIIa
renyir
Val. like tenyir: strong IIIb stem: riny-; weak IIIb stem: reny- elsewhere regular IIIa
soferir
participle sofert, soferta, etc. (or regular soferit, soferida, etc.)
otherwise regular IIIa
sortir
strong IIIb stem: surt-
present indicative sg./3pl.: surto (Bal./Val. surt), surts, surt, surten
present subjunctive sg./3pl.: surti, surtis, surti, surtin; Val./NW surta, surtes, surta, surten
weak IIIb stem: sort-
suplir
participle suplert, suplerta, etc. (or regular suplit, suplida, etc.)
otherwise regular IIIa
teixir
Val. strong IIIb stem: tix-
present indicative sg./3pl.: tix, tixes, tix, tixen
present subjunctive sg./3pl.: tixa, tixes, tixa, tixen
Val. weak IIIb stem: teix-
elsewhere regular IIIa
tenir (verb of mixed conjugation, see 16.6.3)
tenyir
Val. strong 1Kb stem: tiny-
present indicative sg./3pl.: tiny, tinys, tiny, tinyen
present subjunctive sg./3pl.: tinya, tinyes, tinya, tinyen
Val. weak IIIb stem: teny-
elsewhere regular IIIa
tossir
strong IIIb stem: tuss-
present indicative sg./3pl.: tusso (Bal./Val. tus), tusses, tus, tussen
present subjunctive sg./3pl.: tussi, tussis, tussi, tussin; Val./NW tussa, tusses, tussa, tussen
weak IIIb stem: toss
Bal. optionally IIIa
venir (verb of mixed conjugation, see 16.6.3)
vestir
Val. strong IIIb stem: vist-
present indicative sg./3pl.: vist, vistes, vist, visten
present subjunctive sg./3pl.: vista, vistes, vista, visten
Val. weak IIIb stem: vest-
(Bal. optionally IIIb stem: vest-
present indicative: vest, vests, vest, vestim, vestiu, vesten
present subjunctive: vesti, vestis, vesti, vestim/vestiguem, vestiu/vestigueu, vestin)
elsewhere regular IIIa
16.6.3 IRREGULAR VERBS OF MIXED CONJUGATION
anar
infinitive: anar (an- Conjugation I)
future stem: anir (an Conjugation III): future: aniré, aniràs, etc.; conditional: aniria, etc.
stem 1: an- (regular Conjugation I)
present indicative: 1pl. anem, aneu, Bal. anam, anau
imperfect: anava, etc.
gerund: anant
present subjunctive: 1 pl. anem, 2pl. aneu
preterite: aní, anares, etc.
past subjunctive: anés, Bal. etc. anàs, Val. anara, etc.
participle (weak): anat, anada, etc.
stem 1B: va-
present indicative: 2sg. vas, 3sg. va, 3pl. van
irregular imperative: 2sg. vés
stem 2C: vaj-
1sg. present indicative: vaig
sg./3pl. present subjunctive: vagi, vagis, vagi, vagin; Val./NW vaja, vages, vaja, vagen
eixir (verb of mixed conjugation, at least in Valencian)
regular (weak) participle: eixit, eixida, etc.
strong Conjugation IIIb stem: ix-
2–3sg./3pl. present indicative: ixes, ix, ixen
weak Conjugation IIIb stem: eix-
infinitive: eixir
future: eixiré, etc.; conditional: eixiria, etc.
1–2pl. present indicative: eixim, eixiu
imperfect: eixia, etc.
gerund: eixint
then
either
stem 2: isc- (Conjugation II) (Valencian preference)
1sg. present indicative: isc
present subjunctive: isca, isques, isca, isquem, isqueu, isquen
preterite: isquíl, etc.
past subjunctive: isqués, etc.; Val. isquera, etc.
or
strong Conjugation IIIb stem: ix-
1sg. present indicative: ixo
present subjunctive: ixi, ixis, ixi, ixin
weak Conjugation IIIb stem: eix-
preterite: eixí, etc.
past subjunctive: eixís, etc.
escriure
strong participle: escrit, escrita, etc.
stem 1: escriv- (Conjugation III)
present indicative: 1pl. escrivim, 2pl.. escriviu
imperfect: escrivia, etc.
gerund: escrivint
(major variant) preterite/past subjunctive stem = stem 1: escriv (Conjugation III)
preterite: escriví, escrivires, etc.
past subjunctive: escrivís, etc.
stem 1B: escriu (Conjugation II)
infinitive: escriure
future: escriuré, etc.; conditional: escriuria, etc.
present indicative: 2sg. escrius, 3sg. escriu, 3pl. escriuen
stem 2 (1sg. present indicative, present subjunctive, and alternative for preterite, past subjunctive): escrig(Conjugation II)
1sg. present indicative: escric
present subjunctive: escrigui, escriguis, escrigui, escriguem, escrigueu, escriguin; Val./NW escriga, escrigues, escriga, escriguem, escrigueu, escriguen
(alternative) preterite: escrigui, etc.
(alternative) past subjunctive: escrigués, etc.; Val. escriguera, etc.
estar
stem 1: est(Conjugation I)
infinitive: estar
future: estaré, etc.; conditional: estaria, etc.
present indicative: 1 pl. estem, 2pl. esteu, Bal. estam, estau
imperfect: estava, etc.
gerund: est ant
participle: regular (weak) estat, estada, etc.
stem 1B: (e)sta-
present indicative: 2sg. estàs, 3sg. està, 3pl. estan
imperative: Bal. 2sg. està, 2pl. estau; Val. 1sg. està, 2pl. esteu
stem 2: estig- (Conjugation II)
1sg. present indicative: estic
present subjunctive: estigui, estiguis, estigui, estiguem, estigueu, estiguin;
Val./NW estiga, estigues, estiga, estiguem, estigueu, estiguen
irregular imperative: 2sg. estigues, 2pl.. estigueu (Bal. estigau)
preterite: estiguí, etc.
past subjunctive: estigués, etc.; Val. estiguera, etc.
tenir
Note the close parallel between venir and tenir, in all except their imperatives.
infinitive: tenir (less formal tindre)
future stem: tindr- (Bal. tendr-): future: tindré, etc.; conditional: tindria, etc.
(Bal. tendré, tendria, etc.)
3sg. present indicative: té
irregular imperative: 1sg. in compounds only: -tén
stem 1: ten (Conjugation IIIb)
present indicative: 2sg. tens, 1pl. tenim, 2pl. teniu, 3pl. tenen
imperfect: tenia, etc.
gerund: tenint
stem 2: teng-(Conjugation II)
1 sg. present indicative: tine
present subjunctive: tingui, tinguis, tingui, tinguem, tingueu, tinguin; Val./NW tinga, tingues, tinga, tinguem, tingueu, tinguen
irregular imperative: tingues, tingueu (alongside regular té, teniu; Val. also 2sg. tin)
preterite: tinguί, etc.
past subjunctive: tingués, etc. Val. tinguera, etc.
participle: tingut, tinguda, etc.
(Bal.: stem 2: teng(Conjugation II)
1sg. present indicative: tene
present subjunctive: tengui, tenguis, tengui, tenguem, tengueu, tenguen
preterite: tenguί, etc.
past subjunctive: tengués, etc.
participle: tengut, tenguda, etc.)
venir
Note the close parallel between venir and tenir, in all except their imperatives.
irregular imperative: 2sg. vine (in compounds: -vén)
in
finitive: venir (less formal vindre)
future stem: vindr-(Bal. vendr-): future: vindré, etc.; conditional: vindria, etc.; (Bal. vendré, vendria, etc.)
3sg. present indicative: ve
stem 1: ven- (Conjugation IIIb)
present indicative: 2sg. véns, 1 pl. venim, 2pl.. veniu, 3pl.
vénen imperfect: venia, etc.
gerund: venint
stem 2: ving(Conjugation II)
1sg. present indicative: vine
present subjunctive: vingui, vinguis, vingui, vinguem, vingueu, vinguin;
Val./NW vinga, vingues, vinga, vinguem, vingueu, vinguen
preterite: vinguί, etc.
past subjunctive: vingués, etc.; Val. vinguera, etc.
participle: vingut, vinguda, etc.
(Bal. stem 2: veng-(Conjugation II)
1sg. present indicative: véne
present subjunctive: véngui, vénguis, véngui, venguem, vengueu, vénguen
preterite: vengui, etc.
past subjunctive: vengués, etc.
participle: vengut, venguda, etc.)
viure
stem 1: viv-(Conjugation III)
present indicative: 1pl. vivim, 2pl. viviu
imperfect: vivia, etc.
gerund: vivint
stem 1 B: viu- (Conjugation II)
infinitive: viure
future: viuré, etc.; conditional: viuria, etc.
present indicative: 2sg. vius, 3sg. viu, 3pl. viuen
stem 2: vise-(Conjugation II)
1sg. present indicative: vise
present subjunctive: visqui, visquis, visqui, visquem, visqueu, visquin; Val./NW/optionally Bal. visca, visques, visca, visquem, visqueu, visquen
preterite: visqui, etc.
past subjunctive: visqués, etc.; Val. visquera, etc.
participle: viscut, viscuda, etc.
17 USE OF INDICATIVE (NON-CONTINUOUS) VERB FORMS
In this chapter we look at the use of the most fundamental finite verb forms. The forms themselves have been presented in Chapter 16. The use of compound or periphrastic ‘progressive forms’ is covered in Chapter 18, and the use of the subjunctive forms is covered in Chapter 19. The sets of verb forms here combine in various ways the categories of tense and aspect. The category of tense relates the time of the event or state presented by the verb either to the time of the speech event (with values past, present, and future), or to some other time mentioned in the discourse or inferred from the context (anteriority or relative tense, for example pluperfect, future perfect). Aspect in Catalan involves two systems: perfective versus imperfective, a distinction which is made only within the past tense, and the perfect, which, strictly speaking, occurs only within present tense; see 17.2 on perfect and other compound forms.
17.1 SIMPLE FORMS
17.1.1 PRESENT INDICATIVE
The forms of the present indicative are discussed at 16.5.5; what follows is to be read in conjunction with discussion of the Catalan progressive (continuous) forms in 18.1 and 18.2. The most regular use of the present tense is to refer to situations in progress at the time of speaking. Although this does not include all the uses of the present tense, as will be seen below, it reflects uses like simultaneous, actual, habitual or general present. This tense corresponds to three patterns in English: parlo. ‘I speak’ (simple), ‘I do speak’ (compound with auxIIIary ‘do’), and ‘I am speaking’ (progressive: ‘be’ + gerund).
Canta com un àngel.
She is singing/sings like an angel. (i.e. is singing now)
En aquest moment la teva amiga torna del mercat.
At this moment your friend is coming back from the market.
Ara li llegeixen el veredicte.
They are now reading out the verdict to him.
Sí que ho entenc.
I do understand.
The Catalan simple present itself may have a progressive value, so that it often appears (as above) where English uses the progressive form. In many contexts the distinction between the two available forms in Catalan is very slight:
Plou?/Està plovent? Doncs no surto. Is it raining? I’m not going out then.
Escriu/Està escrivint les seves memòries. He’s writing his memoirs.
The simple present in Catalan otherwise can be described as denoting:
(i) Current states:
Sembla trista. She looks sad.
Fa sol. It’s sunny.
(ii) Events seen as belonging to an actual, habitual or general present:
Encara viuen en aquest carrer.
They still live in this street.
Els teus amics no creuen en aquestes coses.
Your friends don’t believe in these things.
Tothom pensa que cal fer alguna cosa.
Everybody thinks that something must be done.
Cada dilluns vaig al cinema.
I go to the cinema every Monday.
The present can also be used to give orders, especially in illative sentences or in coordinations (see Chapter 28):
Així, doncs, demà em compres el diari.
So, then, you’ll buy me the newspaper tomorrow.
Te’n vas a la botiga de la cantonada i em portes dues llaunes de cervesa.
Off you go to the shop on the corner and fetch me two cans of beer.
Strict coincidence between present time and present tense is not always maintained. In fact, the present tense can refer both to the past and to the future. For example, the present tense (‘historic present’) may be used to narrate facts that occurred in the past. This device is favoured as a way of enlivening narrative or historical writing, and it occurs also in speech more frequently than the equivalent in English (e.g. Then he gets on his high horse and tries to tell us how to do it’). The historic present assumes awareness in the reader/ listener that the events referred to belong in the past.
El Tractat dels Pirineus de 1659 separa Catalunya Nord de la resta del territori.
The Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 separated North Catalonia from the rest of the territory.
–Seu aquí– em diu –i treu-te aquestes sabatotes brutes.
‘Sit down here,’ she said to me, ‘and take off those horrible dirty shoes.’
Future events or intentions can also be expressed with the present tense. Again, the listener will be aware of the time through other clues, like adverbs or coherence with the rest of the text:
Demà em present al banc i em queix al director.
Tomorrow I’m going to the bank and complaining to the manager.
Jo li explico la situació ara mateix.
I’ll explain the situation to her right now.
Què faig amb això?
What shall I do with this?
Conditional clauses can refer to a possible future event. In these cases the choice of tense depends not on the time but on the possibilities of the hypothesis becoming a reality; for full discussion of conditional sentences see Chapter 34.
Si mai m’ho torna a dir, el denuncio/el denunciaré.
If he ever says that to me again I’ll report him.
Si vas a aquell restaurant, ja veuràs com hi tornes/hi tornaràs.
If you try that restaurant you see how you’ll go back there again.
As mentioned above, present time is also expressed through the present tense of the progressive (or continuous) periphrasis estar + gerund (18.1). The choice between the simple present and the progressive is similar in certain respects to the corresponding pattern in English – there are contexts in which, for example, diuen equals ‘they say’, and estan dient equals ‘they are saying’. But this parallelism can also be misleading; whatever else may also be appropriate, the Catalan simple present is always appropriate when describing a situation contemporaneous with the speech time, whereas, for English, with activity verbs, only the progressive is appropriate. Thus, for example, Què diuen? ‘What are they saying?’ This contrast is discussed more fully in Chapter 18.
17.1.2 PRETERITE
The preterite (past perfective) has two equivalent forms in Catalan: the simple (or synthetic): arribaren ‘they arrived’, and the periphrastic (or analytic): van arribar ‘they arrived’ (see 16.5.6.2). The first-person singular form of the synthetic preterite, e.g. aní ‘I went’, is virtually obsolete, occurring only in Valencia and Ibiza and in some poetry.
Both ways of conjugating this tense are equivalent and do not produce differences in meaning. The standard written language alternates freely (and evenly) between the simple and the periphrastic preterite, and it is normal to find both forms present in the same sentence:
S’acostà a la porta i va trucar-hi dos cops. = Es va acostar a la porta i hi trucà dos cops.
He went up to the door and knocked twice.
In any given piece of writing, prevalence of the periphrastic preterite will be associated with an informal tone, while prevalence of the simple form will produce an effect of formality. This phenomenon reflects the fact that in speech the simple preterite is only very occasionally used except in the Balearic and Valencian dialects (where it is natural and very much alive, alongside the periphrastic form).
17.1.2.1 Use of the preterite
The preterite combines past time with perfective aspect; in expressing perfective aspect, the preterite contrasts with the imperfect (below 17.1.3). Perfective aspect locates a situation in the past without focusing on its extent in time, its internal subdivisions (if any), or its relation to another situation. The preterite is used when the event or state represented by the verb occurred in a time which is past and finished except when today is involved. The past time referred to by this tense is thus a period that does not include ‘today’, or is a time not regarded as being connected to the present (for which the present perfect is appropriate). The comparative illustrations given below draw attention to this distinction.