Lesson 24

The Second Present ⬆

The Second Present has exactly the same inflection as the Circumstantial. This ambiguity poses a serious difficulty for the reader of Sahidic Coptic which can be resolved only by a careful study of the context. The uses of the Second Present parallel those of the Second Perfect:

  1. emphasis on an adverbial element:

    ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
    It is because of my sins that these things happen to me.

  2. preceding various interrogative expressions:

    ⲉⲕϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ?
    Whom do you seek?
    ⲉϥⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲟⲩ?
    Why is he weeping?
    ⲉϥⲧⲱⲛ?
    Where is he?

    When ⲧⲱⲛ is used with a nominal subject, the usual idiom is ⲉϥⲧⲱⲛ N? Where is N?, without the expected ⲛ̅ϭⲓ:

    ⲉϥⲧⲱⲛ ⲡⲉⲕⲉⲓⲱⲧ?
    Where is your father?

    The alternate construction (ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲕⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲧⲱⲛ?) is less frequent.

Clauses containing second tense forms are negated with ⲁⲛ:

ⲉⲓⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲁⲛ.
It is not here that I dwell.
ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲁⲛ.
It is not for you that I did it.

As may be seen from the translation, the negation applies to the adverbial element and is not a negation of the verb proper.

24.2 The Bipartite Conjugation ⬆

The Bipartite Conjugation (Present-Imperfect System). The First Present, its relative forms, the Circumstantial, the Second Present, and the Imperfect comprise a system:

Pres. I ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
Rel. Pres. I ⲉⲧϥ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲧ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
Circumstantial ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
Pres. II ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
Imperfect ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅

Following the penetrating analysis of H. J. Polotsky (see Bibliography), Coptic scholars now refer to this system as the Bipartite Conjugation. This term arises from the fact that the base form, the First Present, consists only of subject + predicate, with no conjugational prefix. The remaining forms of the system consist of this bipartite nucleus preceded by a set of elements called converters: the relative converter ⲉⲧ/ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ, the circumstantial converter ⲉ/ⲉⲣⲉ, the second tense converter ⲉ/ⲉⲣⲉ, and the imperfect converter ⲛⲉ/ⲛⲉⲣⲉ. The term tripartite is applied to all other Coptic verbal conjugations, which consist of a verbal prefix + subject + predicate, e.g. the First Perfect ⲁ⸗ϥ-ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅, ⲁ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅. The First Future is a special case and will be treated in the following lesson.

The conjugations belonging to the Bipartite Conjugation may have three kinds of predicates: infinitives, qualitatives, or adverbial predicates (i.e. adverbs or prepositional phrases). In the tripartite conjugations only the infinitive may be used. The conjugations of the Bipartite Conjugation, as we have already seen, characterize an action as durative, continuing, or (less commonly) habitual. The following features of the Bipartite Conjugation are equally distinctive:

  1. The First Present requires the use of ⲟⲩⲛ̅- (neg. ⲙⲛ̅-) before an indefinite subject (e.g. ⲟⲩⲛ̅-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅). The use of ⲟⲩⲛ̅-/ⲙⲛ̅- is optional after the converters, e.g. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ or ⲛⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛ̅-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅.
  2. Apart from the use of ⲙⲛ̅- just mentioned, negation is universally with (ⲛ̅) ... ⲁⲛ.
  3. An infinitive cannot, in general, be used in the prenominal or prepronominal form, i.e. prepositional direct object markers (ⲙ̅ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲉ, etc.) must be used. This rule, known as Jernstedt's Rule (see Bibliography), has the following exceptions:
    1. the verb ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲟⲩⲉϣ- ⲟⲩⲁϣ⸗, which may occur in all forms; e.g. ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ or ϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̅.
    2. infinitives having indefinite pronominal or numerical objects; e.g. ⲛϥ̅ϯ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲁⲛ he is giving us nothing.
    3. certain types of compound verbs; see 26.1.

The Imperfect may be expanded into a subsystem of its own by the prefixation of the other converters:

Imperfect ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
Imperfect Rel. ⲉⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
Imperfect Circum. ⲉ-ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅

These forms have all the characteristics of, and belong to, the Bipartite Conjugation. The relative forms have already been introduced. The circumstantial forms are used syntactically exactly like the Circumstantial (of Pres. I). The past tense of the action is explicitly marked, however, while in the Circumstantial it must be gained from the context. Second tense forms of the Imperfect may occur, but they are too rare for consideration here. All verbal forms containing the imperfect converter may be followed by ⲡⲉ.

Cardinal numbers 11-18⬆

The 'teens are formed by prefixing ⲙⲛ̅ⲧ- to special forms of the units. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧ- is a proclitic form of ⲙⲏⲧ ten:

11 m. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩⲉ f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓ
12 m. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ(ⲉ)
13 m. f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ
14 m. f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ
15 m. f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲏ
16 m. f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲥⲉ
17 m. f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲁϣϥ(ⲉ)
18 m. f. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧϣⲙⲏⲛⲉ

Construction is the same as that of the units:

ⲙⲛ̅ⲧϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
thirteen men

Vocabulary 24⬆

Greek words:

Exercises⬆

    1. ϩⲉⲛϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲓⲱ ⲛ̅ ϩⲉⲛϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ some women who were washing some cloaks
    2. ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲃ̅ⲧϥ̅ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ the form into which he changed himself
    3. ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲙⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲧⲉ a woman whose husband loved her very much
    4. ⲟⲩⲭⲏⲣⲁ ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲥϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲱⲛⲉ a widow whose son was ill
    5. ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲛⲉⲩⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲕⲱⲧⲉ the crowd which was standing around him
    6. ⲡⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁⲟⲩⲟⲛϩϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ the mystery which will be revealed
    7. ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲟⲫⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ-ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ̅ the prophet who the crowd killed
    8. ⲟⲩⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲉϥϫⲟⲥⲉ an exalted / high mountain
    9. ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉϥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲓⲥⲉ a great light coming down from the heights
    10. ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲉϥⲥⲃ̅ⲧⲱⲧ ϩⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ a completely prepared people
    11. ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲉⲛϣⲓⲡⲉ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ a teacher who we revere
    12. ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲓⲱ ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ the grain which the ass was eating some of
    13. ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲧ ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̅ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ the chosen disciples of our Lord
    14. ⲟⲩⲣ̅ⲣⲟ ⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ a wicked king
    15. ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲉϥϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ an empty cup
    16. ⲡⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ ⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ the great festival which the monks were preparing
    17. ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲣⲁϩⲧϥ̅ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ the man who they killed on the road
    18. ⲡϣⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲛⲟϫϥ̅ ⲉϫⲙ̅ ⲡⲕⲱϩⲧ̅ the wood which I threw onto the fire
    19. ⲟⲩϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲉϥⲡⲁϩⲧ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ a slave bowing in the presence of his master
    20. ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲣⲇⲁⲛⲏⲥ the ones who were coming down to the Jordan
    1. ⲡⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲛ̅ ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ the twelve apostles
    2. ⲡⲉⲓϣⲟⲙⲛ̅ⲧ ⲙ̅ ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ these three disciples
    3. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ ϩⲉⲛⲉⲉⲧⲉ fourteen monasteries
    4. ⲥⲁϣϥ̅ ⲛ̅ ⲇⲁⲓⲙⲱⲛ seven demons
    5. ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲏⲓ ⲉⲩϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ eight empty houses
    6. ⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ ⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ten great authorities
    7. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲛ̅ ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ twelve women
    8. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲏ ⲛ̅ ϩⲟⲟⲩ fifteen days
    9. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲛ̅ ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ eleven years
    10. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲩⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲧ eleven months
    1. ⲉϥⲧⲟⲛⲧⲛ̅ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲕ ⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ? To whom does he compare you (ms. sg.)?
    2. ⲉⲥⲧⲱⲛ ⲧⲁϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲃⲣ̅ⲣⲉ? Where is my new tunic?
    3. ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲁⲥⲧⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ. You (fm. sg.) will be exalted over all the women of this world.
    4. ⲥⲱⲧⲡ̅ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛ̅ ϥⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ. Choose four men for yourself (ms. sg.).
    5. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ, ⲁⲩⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲩϯⲙⲉ. When that year passed, they returned to their village.
    6. ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲓⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲓϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ. On that day, you (pl.) will be ashamed about these wicked deeds.
    7. ⲁϥϩⲉ ⲉϫⲙ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲕⲓⲙ. He fell onto the ground and didn't move.
    8. ⲛ̅ⲧⲁϥⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲛⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲟⲩ? To what did he compare them?
    9. ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲏⲡ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲁ. It is because of his mercy that these things are acceptable to our Lord.
    10. ⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ⲣⲁϩⲧ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲁⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲃⲉ ⲛⲁ-ⲡⲉϥϯⲙⲉ. It is because of the thing that I did against those of his village that he wants to kill me.
    11. ⲟⲩⲛ̅-ⲟⲩϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲩ ⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ. An evil day is coming.
    12. ⲉⲩⲧⲱⲛ ⲛⲉⲛϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ? Where are our companions?
    13. ⲁϥⲕⲓⲙ ⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲧⲏⲏⲃⲉ. He touched his mouth with his finger.
    14. ⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ ⲉⲧ ϫⲟⲥⲉ. We will bless your (ms. sg.) exalted name.
    15. ⲉϥⲧⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ. It is a little child that he is like.
    16. ⲙⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲁ-ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲕⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲉ ϣⲓⲏⲧ. Afterwards, the brothers returned to Scetis.
    17. ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲕⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ? Why do you (ms. sg.) want to kill these men?
    18. ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲉ ⲟⲩ? What are you (pl.) preparing yourselves for?
    19. ⲁⲩⲙⲉⲩⲧ-ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡϯⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲧⲡⲉⲣⲓⲭⲱⲣⲟⲥ. They killed everyone who was living in the village and the surrounding region.
    20. ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ⲉⲥⲥⲃ̅ⲧⲱⲧ. They found the table prepared.