The Agglutinative Nature of Manipuri Verbs

In Manipuri grammar, verbs consist of a root verb stem onto which several grammatical suffixes are stacked like building blocks.

For example, take the root verb ꯆꯥ (Cha - to eat):

  • ꯆꯥ-ꯏ (Cha-i): Eats (Simple Present)
  • ꯆꯥ-ꯔꯦ (Cha-re): Has eaten (Perfect / Completed)
  • ꯆꯥ-ꯒꯅꯤ (Cha-gani): Will eat (Future)
  • ꯆꯥ-ꯗꯦ (Cha-de): Does not eat (Present Negative)
  • ꯆꯥ-ꯔꯣꯏ (Cha-roi): Will not eat (Future Negative)

    • Tense Suffixes Breakdown

    1. Habitual / Present Tense: **-ꯏ / -ꯃꯤ (-i / -mi)**

    Appended to describe general truths or ongoing habits:

  • ꯇꯝꯕ (Tamba - to learn) $\rightarrow$ ꯇꯝꯃꯤ (Tam-mi - learns)
  • ꯍꯥꯏꯕ (Haiba - to speak) $\rightarrow$ ꯍꯥꯏ (Hai - speaks)

    • 2. Completed / Perfective Aspect: **-ꯔꯦ / -ꯂꯦ (-re / -le)**

    Indicates an action that has freshly finished:

  • ꯆꯠꯄ (Chatpa - to go) $\rightarrow$ ꯆꯠꯂꯦ (Chat-le - has gone / departed)
  • ꯄꯥꯕ (Paba - to read) $\rightarrow$ ꯄꯥꯔꯦ (Pa-re - has read)

    • 3. Future Tense: **-ꯒꯅꯤ (-gani / -kani)**

    Expresses intention or events that will occur:

  • ꯂꯥꯛꯄ (Lakpa - to come) $\rightarrow$ ꯂꯥꯛꯀꯅꯤ (Lak-kani - will come)
  • ꯇꯧꯕ (Touba - to do) $\rightarrow$ ꯇꯧꯒꯅꯤ (Tou-gani - will do)

    • Negation in Manipuri: How to Say "No / Not"

    Negation in Manipuri is formed by inserting negative suffixes directly before the sentence termination:

    AffirmativeMeaningNegativeNegative Meaning
    ꯈꯪꯏ (Khang-i)I knowꯈꯪꯗꯦ (Khang-de)I do not know
    ꯇꯧꯏ (Tou-i)Does itꯇꯧꯗꯦ (Tou-de)Does not do it
    ꯂꯥꯛꯀꯅꯤ (Lak-kani)Will comeꯂꯥꯛꯂꯣꯏ (Lak-loi)Will not come
    ꯆꯥꯔꯦ (Cha-re)Have eatenꯆꯥꯗ꯭ꯔꯤ (Cha-dri)Have not eaten yet

    Politeness and Honorific Suffixes

    Manipuri has a rich system of respectful speech, especially when talking to elders or in formal settings:

  • Add -ꯕꯤ (-bi / -pi) to make a request polite:
  • ꯂꯥꯛꯎ (Lak-u - Come [informal])
  • ꯂꯥꯛꯄꯤꯌꯨ (Lak-pi-yu - Please come [polite])