Kabardian verbs

In Kabardian, like all Northwest Caucasian languages, the verb is the most inflected part of speech. Verbs are typically head final and are conjugated for tense, person, number, etc. Some of Circassian verbs can be morphologically simple, some of them consist only of one morpheme, like: кӏуэ "go", щтэ "take". However, generally, Circassian verbs are characterized as structurally and semantically difficult entities. Morphological structure of a Circassian verb includes affixes (prefixes, suffixes) are specific to the language. Verbs' affixes express meaning of subject, direct or indirect object, adverbial, singular or plural form, negative form, mood, direction, mutuality, compatibility and reflexivity, which, as a result, creates a complex verb, that consists of many morphemes and semantically expresses a sentence. For example: уакъыдэсогъэпсэлъэжы "I am forcing you to talk to them again" consists of the following morphemes: у-а-къы-дэ-со-гъэ-псэлъэ-жы, with the following meanings: "you (у) with them (а) from there (къы) together (дэ) I (со) am forcing (гъэ) to speak (псэлъэн) again (жы)".

The structure of the Kabardian verb features a rigid template of affixal slots preceding and following the verbal root. The argument structure zone, pre-stem elements, and aspectual/modal endings follow a definitive morphological polysynthetic template.

The overall structure of the Adyghe verbal complex is shown below:^[1][2][3]

Fig. 1. Prefixes

Prefixes
Argument structure zone								Pre-stem elements
Absolutive	Directional prefix	Manner / Factive	Indirect object (Oblique)	Applica- tives	General Prepositional	Locative / Prepositional	Agent (Ergative)	'Dynamic' prefix	Optative / Jussive	Negation
−12	−11	-10	−9	−8	−7	−6	−5	−4	−3	−2
с- / у- / д- / ф- / ∅ (3rd is null)	къ- (hither) ны- (toward)	зэры- (the way)	с- / у- / п- / д- / ф- / е- / а- / я-	хуэ- (for) фӏэ- (against) дэ- (with)	щы- (at)	те- (on) щӏэ- (under) хэ- (within/among) дэ- (in) пы- (on/attached) и- (in) къуэ- (behind) ӏу- (at/near) гуэ- (besides) кӏуэцӏы- (within inside)	с- / у- / д- / ф- / и- / а- / я-	мэ-	рэ-	мы-

Fig. 2. Suffixes

Prefixes	Root	Suffixes
Causa- tive	Root	Directional, inceptive, antipassive	Potential	Tense	Realization / Completion	Plural	'Dy- namic' suffix	Mood / Negation
−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	+6	+7
гъэ- (CAUS)	[Verb]	-ж (again)	-ф (can)	-ащ (PST) -ну (FUT) -(р)т (IMPF) -ат (PP)	-х	-хэ (Absolutive 3rd person plural)	-рэ	-къым (NEG) -мэ (COND) -ми (CONC) -къэ (NEG.Q) -и (AND) -у (ADV)

The differentiation of person markers depends upon the parameters of person, number, and case. Interestingly, the first and second person markers bear a close resemblance to their respective pronouns.

Presented below are the foundational markers which are subject to change contingent upon their surrounding environment.

	Absolutive	Ergative	Oblique
1S	сы-	с-	с-
2S	у(ы)-	у-/б-	у-/б-
3S	∅-	и-	∅-
1P	ды-	д-	д-
2P	фы-	ф-	ф-
3P	∅- (-хэ)	я-	я-

A cursory glance reveals that the markers undergo minimal transformations across the cases. The principal modification between absolutive and ergative markers is the -ы suffixed to the absolutive markers, and the inclusion of markers for the third person in the ergative case.

The second person singular marker warrants special attention. The true base form of the ergative is /w/, however because of the writing system, this doesn't get distinguished from the absolutive marker /wə/, as both are written with the letter <у>. In addition, in most places /w/ gets hardened, so that it might appear that б or п are the base forms.

Depending on the environment, the person markers change their phonological appearance.

The person marker gets the voicedness of the following consonant, i.e. voiceless, voiced or ejective, however, orthographically ejectivity is simply treated as voiceless.

• птхащ "you wrote it" from ∅-у-тхы-ащ
• тщIыну "we'll do it" from ∅-д-щIы-ну
• здзащ "I threw it" from ∅-с-дзы-ащ

Between vowels, the person markers get voiced.

• узолъэгъу "I see you" from у-с-о-лъэгъу
• къызоплъ "X looks at me" from ∅-къы-с+е-о-плъ

In front of consonants, the second person singular ergative у- marker gets hardened to a labial plosive. Before vowels and intervocalically there is more variation. E.g.:

• ибот "you give it to him" from ∅-∅+е-у-о-ты
• епт-а-щ "you gave it to him" from ∅-∅+е-у-ты-а-щ
• бухащ "you started it" from ∅-у-ух-а-щ
• къыуитащ "he gave it to you" from ∅-у+е-и-ты-а-щ
• къоплъ "he looks at you" from ∅-къы-у+е-плъы
• уухащ "you started it" from ∅-у-ух-а-щ

The conjugation of the Kabardian intransitive bivalent verb еплъын "to look at". The subject is Absolutive, the object is Oblique.

Conjugation of еплъын (to look at)

Subject (Abs)	Object (Oblique)
	At me	At you	At him	At us	At y'all	At them	At oneself
I		Сыноплъ {I look at you}	Соплъ {I look at him}		Сынывоплъ {I look at y'all}	Соплъ {I look at them}	Сызоплъыж {I look at myself}
You	Укъызоплъ {You look at me}		Уоплъ {You look at him}	Укъыдоплъ {You look at us}		Уоплъ {You look at them}	Узоплъыж {You look at yourself}
He	Къызоплъ {He looks at me}	Къоплъ {He looks at you}	Йоплъ {He looks at him}	Къыдоплъ {He looks at us}	Къывоплъ {He looks at y'all}	Йоплъ {He looks at them}	Зоплъыж {He looks at himself}
We		Дыноплъ {We look at you}	Доплъ {We look at him}		Дынывоплъ {We look at y'all}	Доплъ {We look at them}	Дызоплъыж {We look at ourselves}
Y'all	Фыкъызоплъ {Y'all look at me}		Фоплъ {Y'all look at him}	Фыкъыдоплъ {Y'all look at us}		Фоплъ {Y'all look at them}	Фызоплъыж {Y'all look at yourselves}
They	Къызоплъ(хэ) {They look at me}	Къоплъ(хэ) {They look at you}	Йоплъ(хэ) {They look at him}	Къыдоплъ(хэ) {They look at us}	Къывоплъ(хэ) {They look at y'all}	Йоплъ(хэ) {They look at them}	Зоплъыж(хэ) {They look at themselves}

The conjugation of the Kabardian intransitive bivalent verb еплъащ "looked at". The subject is Absolutive, the object is Oblique.

Conjugation of еплъащ (looked at)

Subject (Abs)	Object (Oblique)
	At me	At you	At him	At us	At y'all	At them	At oneself
I		Сыноплъащ {I looked at you}	Сеплъащ {I looked at him}		Сынывэплъащ {I looked at y'all}	Сеплъащ {I looked at them}	Сызэплъыжащ {I looked at myself}
You	Укъызэплъащ {You looked at me}		Уеплъащ {You looked at him}	Укъыдэплъащ {You looked at us}		Уеплъащ {You looked at them}	Узэплъыжащ {You looked at yourself}
He	Къызэплъащ {He looked at me}	Къоплъащ {He looked at you}	Еплъащ {He looked at him}	Къыдэплъащ {He looked at us}	Къывэплъащ {He looked at y'all}	Еплъащ {He looked at them}	Зэплъыжащ {He looked at himself}
We		Дыноплъащ {We looked at you}	Деплъащ {We looked at him}		Дынывэплъащ {We looked at y'all}	Деплъащ {We looked at them}	Дызэплъыжащ {We looked at ourselves}
Y'all	Фыкъызэплъащ {Y'all looked at me}		Феплъащ {Y'all looked at him}	Фыкъыдэплъащ {Y'all looked at us}		Феплъащ {Y'all looked at them}	Фызэплъыжащ {Y'all looked at yourselves}
They	Къызэплъа(хэ)щ {They looked at me}	Къоплъа(хэ)щ {They looked at you}	Еплъа(хэ)щ {They looked at him}	Къыдэплъа(хэ)щ {They looked at us}	Къывэплъа(хэ)щ {They looked at y'all}	Еплъа(хэ)щ {They looked at them}	Зэплъыжа(хэ)щ {They looked at themselves}

The conjugation of the Kabardian transitive bivalent verb лъагъун "to see". In transitive verbs, the subject is Ergative and the object is Absolutive.

Conjugation of лъагъун (to see)

Subject (Ergative)	Object (Abs)
	Me	You	Him/It	Us	Y'all	Them	Oneself
I		Узолъагъу {I see you}	Солъагъу {I see him}		Фызолъагъу {I see y'all}	Солъагъу(хэ) {I see them}	Зысолъэгъужы {I see myself}
You	Сыболъагъу {You see me}		Болъагъу Уолъагъу {You see him}	Дыболъагъу {You see us}		Болъагъу(хэ) Уолъагъу(хэ) {You see them}	Зыболъэгъуж {You see yourself}
He	Сыкъелъагъу {He sees me}	Укъелъагъу {He sees you}	Елъагъу {He sees him}	Дыкъелъагъу {He sees us}	Фыкъелъагъу {He sees y'all}	Елъагъу(хэ) {He sees them}	Зелъэгъуж {He sees himself}
We		Удолъагъу {We see you}	Долъагъу {We see him}		Фыдолъагъу {We see y'all}	Долъагъу(хэ) {We see them}	Зыдолъэгъуж {We see ourselves}
Y'all	Сыволъагъу {Y'all see me}		Фолъагъу {Y'all see him}	Дыволъагъу {Y'all see us}		Фолъагъу(хэ) {Y'all see them}	Зыволъэгъуж {Y'all see yourselves}
They	Сыкъалъагъу {They see me}	Укъалъагъу {They see you}	Ялъагъу {They see him}	Дыкъалъагъу {They see us}	Фыкъалъагъу {They see y'all}	Ялъагъу(хэ) {They see them}	Залъэгъуж {They see themselves}

The conjugation of the Kabardian transitive bivalent verb лъэгъуащ "saw". In transitive verbs, the subject is Ergative and the object is Absolutive.

Conjugation of лъэгъуащ (saw)

Subject (Ergative)	Object (Abs)
	Me	You	Him	Us	Y'all	Them	Oneself
I		Услъэгъуащ {I saw you}	Слъэгъуащ {I saw him}		Фыслъэгъуащ {I saw y'all}	Слъэгъуа(хэ)щ {I saw them}	Зыслъэгъужащ {I saw myself}
You	Сыплъэгъуащ {You saw me}		Плъэгъуащ Улъэгъуащ {You saw him}	Дыплъэгъуащ {You saw us}		Плъэгъуа(хэ)щ Улъэгъуа(хэ)щ {You saw them}	Зыплъэгъужащ {You saw yourself}
He	Сыкъилъэгъуащ {He saw me}	Укъилъэгъуащ {He saw you}	Илъэгъуащ {He saw him}	Дыкъилъэгъуащ {He saw us}	Фыкъилъэгъуащ {He saw y'all}	Илъэгъуа(хэ)щ {He saw them}	Зилъэгъужащ {He saw himself}
We		Утлъэгъуащ {We saw you}	Тлъэгъуащ {We saw him}		Фытлъэгъуащ {We saw y'all}	Тлъэгъуа(хэ)щ {We saw them}	Зытлъэгъужащ {We saw ourselves}
Y'all	Сыфлъэгъуащ {Y'all saw me}		Флъэгъуащ {Y'all saw him}	Дыфлъэгъуащ {Y'all saw us}		Флъэгъуа(хэ)щ {Y'all saw them}	Зыфлъэгъужащ {Y'all saw yourselves}
They	Сыкъалъэгъуащ {They saw me}	Укъалъэгъуащ {They saw you}	Ялъэгъуащ {They saw him}	Дыкъалъэгъуащ {They saw us}	Фыкъалъэгъуащ {They saw y'all}	Ялъэгъуа(хэ)щ {They saw them}	Залъэгъужащ {They saw themselves}

Note on pronunciation and spelling: In the past tense transitive conjugation, the first-person plural ergative prefix д- becomes the voiceless т- because it precedes the voiceless lateral fricative лъ (e.g., тлъэгъуащ instead of длъэгъуащ).

The о- prefix is a morpheme which can't be neatly categorized, as it spans over various categories be it tense, mood, dynamicity and polarization. It is only used in positive, dynamic, indicative, present tense verbs.

Originally, this morpheme was probably *уэ-, however transformed into о- in most phonological contexts.

• сошх "I'm eating it" from ∅-с-о-шхы but сшхащ "I ate it" from ∅-с-шхы-а-щ

Most notably it transformed into мэ- word initially.

• мэлажьэ "he works" from ∅-о-лэжьэ but солажьэ "I eat" from сы-о-лэжьэ
• машхэ "he eats" from ∅-о-шхэ but сошхэ "I eat" from сы-о-шхэ

It and the ergative third person singular person marker и- combine into е-.

• ешх "he eats it" from ∅-и-о-шхы

While the ergative third person plural person marker я- eats it.

• яшх "they eat it" from ∅-я-о-шхы

It and the preverb е- combine into йо-.

• йоплъ "he looks at it" from ∅-∅+е-о-плъы

Kabardian verbs can be either dynamic or static.

Dynamic verbs express (process of) actions that are taking place (natural role of verbs in English):

Сэ сожэ: "I am running";

Сэ сокӏуэ: "I am going",

Сэ солъэгъу: "I am seeing it",

Сэ жызоӏэ: "I am saying it".

Static verbs express states or results of actions:

Сэ сыщытщ: "I am standing",

Сэ сыщылъщ: "I am lying.",

Сэ сыпхъащӏщ: "I am a carpenter",

Сэ сытрактористщ: "I am a tractor-driver".

Kabardian has a rich participle morphology.

Usually, all arguments of a verb can be the pivot of participles. In addition, there are participles which may denote place, time, reason, manner, etc, which are independent from the arguments.

Other than not being able to change the grammatical category of mood, participle can mark for everything else what normal verbs can.

The absolutive participle denotes the absolutive argument of a verb. If that verb is intransitive, it refers to the subject, if it is transitive it refers to the direct object. Absolutive participles are marked by a null morpheme.

Intransitive verbs:

• кIуэр (kʷʼar): one, who goes (cf. кIуэн (kʷʼan): to go)
• жэр (ʒar): one, who runs (cf. жэн (ʒan): to run)

Intransitive verbs with preverbs:

• ежьэр (jaʑar): one, who waits for Y (cf. ежьэн jaʑan): to wait for Y)
• еплъыр (japɬər): one, who looks at Y (cf. еплъын (japɬən): to look at Y)

Transitive verbs:

• илъэгъур (jəɬaːʁʷər): one, whom X sees (cf. лъагъун (ɬaːʁʷən): to see Y)
• ишэр (jəʃar): one, whom X leads (cf. шэн (ʃan): to lead Y)

Transitive verbs with preverb:

• зэхихыр (zaxəjxər): one, whom X hears (cf. зэхэхын (zaxaxən): to hear Y)
• жыпIар (ʒəpʔaːr): that, what you said (cf. жыIэн (ʒəʔan): to say Y)
• иритыр (jərəjtər): that, what X gives to Z (cf. етын (jatən): to give Y to Z)

The ergative participle denotes the ergative argument of a verb. This participle is only present in transitive verbs and refers to the subject. It is marked by зы-.

Transitive verbs:

• зылъагъу (zəɬaːʁʷər): one, who sees Y (cf. лъагъун (ɬaːʁʷən): to see Y)
• зышэр (zəʃar): one, who leads Y (cf. шэн (ʃan): to lead Y)

Transitive verbs with preverb:

• жызыIар (ʒəzəʔaːr): one, who said Y (cf. жыIэн (ʒəʔan): to say Y)
• зэхэзыхыр (zaxazəxər): one, who hears Y (cf. зэхэхын (zaxaxən): to hear Y)
• езытыр (jazətər): one, who gives Y to Z (cf. етын (jatən): to give Y to Z)

The oblique participle denotes the oblique argument of a verb. This participle is present in every verb which has an oblique argument, usually only possible by having a preverb. It is marked by зы-. One can argue that it is simply the ergative participle, but simply applied on a preverb, however it may be useful to differentiate them, because oblique participles don't denote the subject of a verb (the ergative participle can only denote the subject) in addition they exist for transitive and intransitive verbs (the ergative participle only exists for transitive verbs).

Intransitive verbs with preverbs:

• зэжьэр (zaʑar): one, whom X waits for (cf. ежьэн jaʑan): to wait for Y)
• зэплъыр (zapɬər): one, who X looks at (cf. еплъын (japɬən): to look at Y)
• сызытесыр (səzətajsər): that, what I sit on (cf. тесын (tajsən): to sit on Y)

Transitive verbs with preverb:

• зыритыр (zərəjtər): one, to whom X gives Y (cf. етын (jatən): to give Y to Z)

Sentence Examples:

• дыгъуасэ хъыджэбз сызыхуэзар дахэщ (dəʁʷaːsa χədʒabz səzəxʷazaːr daːxaɕ): the girl, whom I met yesterday is pretty

This participle denotes time as well as location, depending on the context. It is marked by щы-.

• щылажьэр (ɕəɮaːʑar): when, X works

Sentence examples:

• Ар щылажьэр унэрщ (aːr ɕəɮaːʑar wənarɕ): he works at home (lit. where he works is home)
• Ар щылажьэр сощIэ (aːr ɕəɮaːʑar sawɕʼa): I know where/when he works
• Уэ укъыщыкIуэжам щыгъуэ сэ унэм сыщыIакъым (wa wəqəɕəkʷʼaːm ɕəʁʷa sa wənam səɕəʔaːqəm): I wasn't home when you arrived
• Си шыпхъур къыщалъхуам щыгъуэ сэ илъэсибл сыхъуат (səj ʃəpχʷər qəɕaːɬxʷaːm ɕəʁʷa sa jəɬasəjbɮ səχʷaːt): When my sister was born, I was already seven years old.
• сыщилъэгъум, ар жащ (səɕəjɬaʁʷəm, ar ʒaːɕ): When he saw me, he ran away

The locative participle denotes the place. It is marked by здэ-.

• здэлажьэр (zdaɮaːʑar): where, X works

The manner participle denotes the manner. It is marked by зэры-.

• зэрылажьэр (zarəɮaːʑar): how, X works

The reason participle denotes the reason. It is marked by щIэ-.

• щIэлажьэр (ɕʼaɮaːʑar): reason, why X works

Masdar (a form of verb close to gerund) in the Kabardian language is expressed with the suffix -н:

тхы-н "a write (writing)",

жэ-н "a run (running)",

щтэ-н "a take (taking)",

псэлъэ-н "a talk (talking)",

дзы-н "a throw (throwing)".

Masdar has grammatical cases:

Absolutive жэны-р,

Ergative жэны-м,

Instrumental жэны-м-кӏэ,

Adverbial жэн-у

and different forms for different person:

сы-жэн "I will run",

у-жэн "you will run",

жэн "he will run".

In the Adyghe language negative form of a word is expressed with different morphemes (prefixes, suffixes). In participles, adverbial participles, masdars, imperative, interrogative and other forms of verbs their negative from is expressed with the prefix -мы, which, usually, goes before the root morpheme, that describes the main meaning:

у-мы-тх "you don't write",

у-мы-кӏу "you don't go",

сы-къы-пхуэ-мы-щэмэ "if you can't bring me",

у-къа-мы-гъа-к1уэмэ "if you aren't forced to come".

In verbs the negative meaning can also be expressed with the suffix -къым, which usually goes after the suffixes of time-tenses. For example:

сы-тэджыр-къым "I am not getting up",

сы-тэ-джа-къым "I have not got up",

сы-тэджыну-къым "I will not get up".

Tense	Suffix	Example	Meaning
Present	~∅	макӏуэ [maːkʷʼa]	(s)he is going; (s)he goes
Preterite	~ащ [~aːɕ]	кӏуащ [kʷʼaːɕ]	(s)he went
Pluperfect/Discontinuous past	~гъащ [~ʁaːɕ]	кӏуэгъащ [kʷʼaʁaːɕ]	(s)he went a long time ago"
	~ат [~aːt]	кӏуат [kʷʼaːt]	(s)he had gone; (s)he went (but not there anymore)
Categorical future	~нщ [~nɕ]	кӏуэнщ [kʷʼanɕ]	(s)he will go
Factual future	~нущ [~nəwɕ]	кӏуэнущ [kʷʼanəwɕ]	(s)he will go, (s)he is about to go
Imperfect	~(р)т [~(r)t]	кӏуэ(р)т [maːkʷʼa(r)t]	(s)he was going; (s)he used to go
Categorical future conditional	~нт [~nt]	кӏуэнт [kʷʼant]	(s)he was about to go / (s)he would go
Factual future conditional	~нут [~nəwt]	кӏуэнут [kʷʼanəwt]	(s)he was about to go / (s)he would go

The past tense of verbs of type 1 are formed by adding -aщ [-aːɕ]. In intransitive verbs it indicate that the action took place, but with no indication as to the duration, instant nor completeness of the action.

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	седжащ	[sajd͡ʒaːɕ]	I [have] read it	седжакъым	[sajd͡ʒaːqəm]	I did not read it
	Second-person	уеджащ	[wajd͡ʒaːɕ]	You [have] read it	уеджакъым	[wajd͡ʒaːqəm]	You did not read it
	Third-person	еджащ	[jad͡ʒaːɕ]	He [has] read it	еджакъым	[jad͡ʒaːqəm]	He did not read it
Plural	First-person	деджащ	[dajd͡ʒaːɕ]	We [have] read it	деджакъым	[dajd͡ʒaːqəm]	We did not read it
	Second-person	феджащ	[fajd͡ʒaːɕ]	You (pl.) [have] read it	феджакъым	[fajd͡ʒaːqəm]	You (pl.) did not read it
	Third-person	еджахэщ	[jad͡ʒaːxaɕ]	They [have] read it	еджахэкъым	[jad͡ʒaːxaqəm]	They did not read it

In transitive verbs it conveys more specific information as regards to completeness of the action, and therefore they indicate some certainty as to the outcome of the action.

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	слъэгъуащ	[sɬaʁʷaːɕ]	I [have] seen it	слъэгъуакъым	[sɬaʁʷaːqəm]	I did not see it
	Second-person	плъэгъуащ	[pɬaʁʷaːɕ]	You [have] seen it	плъэгъуакъым	[pɬaʁʷaːqəm]	You did not see it
	Third-person	илъэгъуащ	[jəɬaʁʷaːɕ]	He [has] seen it	илъэгъуакъым	[jəɬaʁʷaːqəm]	He did not see it
Plural	First-person	тлъэгъуащ	[tɬaʁʷaːɕ]	We [have] seen it	тлъэгъуакъым	[tɬaʁʷaːqəm]	We did not see it
	Second-person	флъэгъуащ	[fɬaʁʷaːɕ]	You (pl.) [have] seen it	флъэгъуакъым	[fɬaʁʷaːqəm]	You (pl.) did not see it
	Third-person	ялъэгъуащ	[jaːɬaʁʷaːɕ]	They [have] seen it	ялъэгъуакъым	[jaːɬaʁʷaːqəm]	They did not see it

This is the past perfect tense. It is formed by adding ~гъащ [ʁaːɕ]. It indicates that the action took place formerly at some certain time.

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	стхыгъащ	[stxəʁaːɕ]	I wrote it	стхыгъакъым	[stxəʁaːqəm]	I didn't write it
	Second-person	птхыгъащ	[ptxaːʁaːɕ]	You wrote	птхыгъакъым	[ptxaːʁaːqəm]	You didn't write it
	Third-person	итхыгъащ	[jətxəʁaːɕ]	He wrote	итхыгъакъым	[jətxəʁaːqəm]	He didn't write it
Plural	First-person	ттхыгъащ	[ttxəʁaːɕ]	We wrote	ттхыгъакъым	[ttxəʁaːqəm]	We didn't write it
	Second-person	фтхыгъащ	[ftxəʁaːɕ]	You wrote	фтхыгъакъым	[ftxəʁaːqəm]	You didn't write it
	Third-person	ятхыгъащ	[jaːtxəʁaːɕ]	They wrote	ятхыгъакъым	[jaːtxəʁaːqəm]	They didn't write it

Verbs of this group designate repetition of action in a vividly expressed manner. They are formed by adding the suffix –т.

Сэ жысIэрт (I kept saying)

Дэ дылажьэрт (We worked repeatedly)

Ар еджэрт (He read many times)

Negative forms:

Сэ жысIэртэкъым (I did not keep saying)

Дэ дылажьэртэкъым (We did not work repeatedly)

Ар еджэртэкъым (He did not read many times)

Intransitive verbs

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	солажьэ	[sawɮaːʑa]	I work, I am working	сылажьэркъым	[səɮaːʑarqəm]	I don't work, I am not working
	Second-person	уолажьэ	[wawɮaːʑa]	You work, You are working	улажьэркъым	[wəɮaːʑarqəm]	You don't work, You are not working
	Third-person	мэлажьэ	[maɮaːʑa]	He does works, He is working	лажьэркъым	[ɮaːʑarqəm]	He doesn't work, He is not working
Plural	First-person	долажьэ	[dawɮaːʑa]	We work, We are working	дылажьэркъым	[dəɮaːʑarqəm]	We don't work, We are not working
	Second-person	фолажьэ	[fawɮaːʑa]	You (pl.) work, You are working	фылажьэркъым	[fəɮaːʑarqəm]	You (pl.) don't work, You are not working
	Third-person	мэлажьэх	[maɮaːʑax]	They work, They are working	лажьэхэркъым	[ɮaːʑaxarqəm]	They don't work, They are not working

Transitive verbs

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	соджэ	[sawd͡ʒa]	I read, I am reading	седжэркъым	[sajd͡ʒarqəm]	I don't read, I am not reading
	Second-person	уоджэ	[wawd͡ʒa]	You read, You are reading	уеджэркъым	[wajd͡ʒarqəm]	You don't read, You are not reading
	Third-person	йоджэ	[jawd͡ʒa]	He read, He is reading	еджэркъым	[jad͡ʒarqəm]	He doesn't read, He is not reading
Plural	First-person	доджэ	[dawd͡ʒa]	We read, We are reading	деджэркъым	[dajd͡ʒarqəm]	We don't read, We are not reading
	Second-person	фоджэ	[fawd͡ʒa]	You (pl.) read, You are reading	феджэркъым	[fajd͡ʒarqəm]	You don't read, You are not reading
	Third-person	йоджэх	[jawd͡ʒax]	They study, They are studying	еджэхэркъым	[jad͡ʒaxarqəm]	They don't read, They are not reading

Transitive verb examples:

Сэ адыгэбзэ грамматикэр содж (I study Circassian grammar)

Уэ адыгэбзэ грамматикэр уодж (You study Circassian grammar)

Абы адыгэбзэ грамматикэр едж (He/she studies Circassian grammar)

Дэ адыгэбзэ грамматикэр додж (We study Circassian grammar)

Фэ адыгэбзэ грамматикэр фодж (You (pl.) study Circassian grammar)

Абыхэм адыгэбзэ грамматикэр ядж or Адыгэбзэ грамматикэр яджхэр (They study Circassian grammar)

Intransitive poly-personal verb examples:

Сэ тхылъым соджэ (I read the book, I am reading the book)

Уэ тхылъым уоджэ (You read the book, you are reading the book)

Абы тхылъым йоджэ (He/she reads the book, he/she is reading the book)

Дэ тхылъым доджэ (We read the book, we are reading the book)

Фэ тхылъым фоджэ (You (pl.) read the book, you are reading the book)

Абыхэм тхылъым йоджэх (They read the book, they are reading the book)

Indicating certainty

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	сылэжьэнущ	[səɮaʑanəwɕ]	I will [definitely] work	сылэжьэнукъым	[səɮaʑanəwqəm]	I won't work
	Second-person	улэжьэнущ	[wəɮaʑanəwɕ]	You will [definitely] work	улэжьэнукъым	[wəɮaʑanəwqəm]	You won't work
	Third-person	лэжьэнущ	[ɮaʑanəwɕ]	He will [definitely] work	лэжьэнукъым	[ɮaʑanəwqəm]	He won't work
Plural	First-person	дылэжьэнущ	[dəɮaʑanəwɕ]	We will [definitely] work	длэжьэнукъым	[dəɮaʑanəwqəm]	We won't work
	Second-person	фылэжьэнущ	[fəɮaʑanəwɕ]	You will [definitely] work	флэжьэнукъым	[fəɮaʑanəwqəm]	You (pl.) won't work
	Third-person	лэжьэнухэщ	[ɮaʑanəwɕ]	They will [definitely] work	лэжьэнухэкъым	[ɮaʑanəwxaqəm]	They won't work

Indicating some uncertainty

Plurality	Person	Positive			Negative
		Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning	Cyrillic	IPA	Meaning
Singular	First-person	сылэжьэнщ	[səɮaʑanɕ]	I will/may work	сылэжьэнкъым	[səɮaʑanqəm]	I won't work
	Second-person	улэжьэнщ	[wəɮaʑanɕ]	You will/may work	улэжьэнкъым	[wəɮaʑanqəm]	You won't work
	Third-person	лэжьэнщ	[ɮaʑanɕ]	He will/may work	лэжьэнкъым	[ɮaʑanqəm]	He won't work
Plural	First-person	дылэжьэнщ	[dəɮaʑanɕ]	We will/may work	длэжьэнкъым	[dəɮaʑanqəm]	We won't work
	Second-person	фылэжьэнщ	[fəɮaʑanɕ]	You will/may work	флэжьэнкъым	[fəɮaʑanqəm]	You (pl.) won't work
	Third-person	лэжьэнхэщ	[ɮaʑanxaɕ]	They will/may work	лэжьэнхэкъым	[ɮaʑanxaqəm]	They won't work

The imperfect tense is formed with the additional suffix ~(р)т [~(r)t] to the verb. It can have meanings similar to the English "was walking" or "used to walk".

Жаринэ дыгъуасэ сыхьэтыблым телевизорым еплът - Yesterday at seven o'clock Zarina was watching TV.

Япэрэм Руслан тутын ефэрт, иджыпсту ефэжкъым - Ruslan used to smoke before, but now he does not smoke any more.

Щӏалэм щилъэгъуам, ар уэшхэм хэту къафэрт - When the young man saw her, she was dancing in the rain.' (She can still be dancing.)

Сэ еджапӏэм сыкӏуэт, си телефоным укъыщеуэм - I was going to school when you called me.

Cищӏалэгъукӏэ тутын сефэт, итӏанэ спортым сыпыхьи сыщыужащ сефу - I used to smoke in my youth, afterward I started engaging in sports and stopped smoking.

Ар ипэкӏэ пщэдджыжыкӏэ фадэ ефэт - In earlier times he used to drink booze in the morning (but now he doesn't have such a habit any more).

The suffix ~ат [~aːt] can be used for both past perfect (pluperfect) and discontinuous past:

• Past perfect: It indicates that the action took place formerly at some certain time, putting emphasis only on the fact that the action took place (not the duration)
• Past perfect 2: It expresses the idea that one action occurred before another action or event in the past.
• Discontinuous past: It carries an implication that the result of the event described no longer holds. This tense expresses the following meanings: remote past, anti-resultative ('cancelled' result), experiential and irrealis conditional.

Examples:

• Зэ си адэм лъакъуэрыгъажэкӏэ къэзжыхьыну сыригъэсат [za səj aːdam ɬaːqʷarəʁaːʒatʃʼa qazʒəħənəw sərəjʁasaːt] - My father once taught me to ride a bicycle.
• Урысыбзэ зэзмыгъэщӏэрэу, адыгэбзэ зэзгъэщӏат [wərəsəbza zazməʁaɕʼarawə, adəɣabza zazʁaɕʼaːt] - Before I started studying the language of Russian, I had learnt Adyghe.
• Сэ еджапӏэм сыкӏуат, уэ си унэм укъыщыӏухьэм [sa jadʒaːp'am səkʷʼaːt, wa səj wənam wəqəɕəʔʷəħam] - I had gone to school, when you arrived at my house.
• Даринэ лэпсыр ищӏат Руслан унэм къыщехьэжым [daːrəjna ɮapsər jəɕʼaːt, rəwsɬaːn wənam qəɕajħaʒəm]) - When Ruslan came home, Darina had already cooked soup.
• Си ӏункӏыбзэр ӏэнэм телъат [səj ʔʷəntʃʼəbzar ʔanam tajɬaːt] - My keys were lying on the table (and now they are not there).
• Щхьэгъубжэр хэт къызӏухатыр? [ɕħaʁʷəbʒar xat qəsʔʷəxaːtər] - Who had opened the window? [Now it is closed.].
• Дыкъыщыкӏуатэм си анэ полыр ипхъэнкӏытэмэ, унэм дыщигъэхьэнутэкъым [dəqəɕəkʷʼaːtam səj aːna pawɮər jəpχantʃʼətama, wənam dəɕəjʁaħanəwtaqəm] - If my mother had been sweeping the floor at the moment when we had come, she would not have let us into the house.
• Дыкъыщыкӏуатэм си анэ полыр ипхъэнкӏатэмэ, унэм дыщигъэхьэнутэкъым [dəqəɕəkʷʼaːtam səj aːna pawɮər jəpχantʃʼətama, wənam dəɕəjʁaħanəwtaqəm] - If my mother had (already) swept the floor by the time we had come, she would not have let us into the house.

The suffix ~нут [~nəwt] applies to actions that may occur or stand contrary to factual certainty.

Examples:

• Еджапӏэм сыкӏуатэмэ унэм сыщIэсынутэкъым [jadʒaːpʼam səkʷʼaːtama wənam səɕʼəsənəwtaqəm] - Had I gone to school, I would not be home.
• Сэ къэсщэхунт, ауэ ахъшэ сиӏэкъым [sa qasɕaxʷənt, aːwa aːχʃa səjʔaqəm] - I would buy (sth.), but I have no money.
• Игъуэм укъэкӏуатэмэ, директорым ущIигъэхьэнт [jəʁʷam wəqakʷʼaːtama, dəjrajktawrəm wəɕʼəjʁaħant] - If you had come on time the director would have let you in.
• Ди сэнэхьатыр фӏы ямылъэгъуатэмэ, ахэр абы кӏуэнухэтэкъым [dəj sanaħaːtər fʼə jaːməɬaʁʷaːtama, aːxar abə kʷʼanəwxataqəm] - If they had not loved our profession, they would not have gone there.
• Си анэ пщэдей къэкӏуэнутэмэ, сэ сыӏущӏэнут [səj aːna pɕadaj qakʷʼanəwtama, sa səʔʷəɕʼanəwt] - If mother were to arrive tomorrow, I would have met her.
• Дыгъуасэ си къуэщыр унэм щʼэсатэмэ, къыпхуэтеуэнут [dəʁʷaːsa səj qʷaʃər wənam ɕʼasaːtama, qəpxʷatajwanəwt] - If my brother had been at home yesterday he would have called you.

The Kabardian language has an especially complex morphology. A verb by its set of morphemes can express subjects and objects person, place, time, manner of action, negative, and other types of grammatical categories. A verb can have some combinations of different affixes to describe specific verbs in different situations.

The verbal suffix гъэ~ [ʁa~] designates causation; rendered by the verbs: to force, compel, make; to order, tell; to allow, permit; to give the opportunity to do something.; also forms transitive verbs; for example:

• псэлъэн: to talk → гъэпсэлъэн: to make (somebody) talk.
• мэжэлІэн: to become hungry → гъэмэжэлІэн: to make (somebody) go hungry.
• шхэн: to eat → гъэшхэн: to feed (somebody.)
• бзэхын: ещ disappear → гъэбзэхын: to hide/conceal (somebody., something.) quickly.

This preverb can be used with dynamic as well as static verbs. With this preverb, verbal stems are created which denote a motion to the speaker.

• кIуэн [kʷʼan]: to go → къэкIуэн [qakʷʼan]: to come here
• жэн [ʒan]: to run → къэжэн [qaʒan]: to run here
• тхэн [txan]: to write → къэтхэн [qatxan]: to write here
• хьын [ħən]: to carry Y → къэхьын [qaħən]: to carry Y here
• джэн [dʒan]: to yell → къэджэн [qadʒan]: to yell here

With dynamic verbs the preverb къэ- doesn't necessarily have a directional meaning.

• къэнэн [qanan]: to remain at Y
• хъун [χʷən]: to happen; to grow → къэхъун [qaχʷən]): to happen; to grow
• укIын [wətʃʼən]: to kill Y (an animal) → къэукIын [qawətʃʼən]: to kill Y (an animal)
• къэпцIэн [qaptsʼan]: to lie about Y
• лъытэн [ɬətan]: to take into account Y → къэлъытэн [qaɬətan]: to take into account Y

It can also result into verbs with a more resultative meaning.

• гупсысэн [gʷəpsəsan]: to think → къэгупсысын [qagʷəpsəsən]: to come up with Y
• псэлъэн: to talk → къэпсэлъэн: to pronounce Y
• вэн: to boil → къэвэн: to boil
• губжьын [gʷəbʑən]: to be angry → къэгубжьын [qagʷəbʑən]: to get angry

The verbal prefix къэ~ designates arrival, approach, movement directed to the speaker:

• мафӏэгур къэсащ: the train has arrived.

It also designates approach of some season, time:

• щӏымахуэр къэсащ: winter has arrived.

It can also adds a tinge of definiteness to the verb:

• къэпсэлъэн: to deliver a speech; to begin to speak.

The verbal prefix нэ~ [ны~] designates direction of motion from speaker to second person; for example:

• ар уи деж нэкӏуащ: he went to you.
• ар уи деж ныщӏыхьащ: he went to visit you.

It also forms verbs that convey a sense of completion of an action; for example:

• нэдысын: to finish (sewing); нэвысын: to finish ploughing/tilling.
• нэджысын: to finish (reading), to read to the end.

The verbal prefix и~ [jə~] designates movement or position inside something.

• бытулъкIэм илъын [bətəwɬtʃʼam jəɬən]: to lie inside a bottle

It can denote motion downward and inward:

• игуэн [jəgʷan]: to push Y into Z

It can denote being inside:

• вагоным исын [vaːɣawnəm jəsən]: to sit inside a wagon

It can denote removal from something:

• игъэхун [jəʁaxʷən]: to drop Y out of Z (e.g. a pocket)
• пэгуным псыр ижащ [pagʷənəm psər jəʒaːɕ]: water flowed out of the bucket
• игъэщIеикIын [jəʁaɕʼajətʃʼən]: to deflect Y backwards

The verbal prefix хэ~ [xa~] designates movement or position inside something.

• мазым хэсын: to be inside a forest

It can denote being somewhere in some sort mass, in an abstract and practical way:

• псым хэтын [psəm xatən]: to stand in water
• хасэм хэтын [xaːsam xatən]: to stand/be in the Khase
• академием хэтын [aːkaːdajməjajm xatən]: to stand/be in the academy

It can denote motion towards a mass:

• тхакIуэхэм я союзым хыхьэн [txaːkʷʼaxam jaː sawjəwzəm xəħan]: to join a writers' union
• артистхэм хыхьэн [aːrtəjstxam xəħan]: to join the artists (the ranks of artists)

The verbal prefix дэ~ [da~] designates movement or position inside something.

• къалэм дыхьэн [qaːɮam dəħan]): to be in the city

It can denote the presence in a certain territory or landscape:

• машинэр уэрамым дэтщ [maːʃəjnar waraːnəm datɕ]: the car is on the street
• пщIантIэм дэтын [pɕʼantʼam datən]: to be in the yard

It can denote motion towards a certain territory or landscape:

• пхъэр пщIантIэм дэшэн [pχar pɕʼantʼam daʃan]: bring wood into the yard

It can denote motion from a certain territory or landscape:

• щхьэгъубжэм дэплъын [ɕħaʁʷəbʒam dapɬən]: to look out of the window

The verbal suffix блэ~ [bɮa~] designates movement past somebody or something:

• унэм блэжын: to run past the house

The verbal prefix пхы~ [пхыры~] designates action, motion directed through some obstacle, object; ex.: * пхырыжын: to run through smth.;

• шэр nхъэбгъум пхыкІащ: the bullet went through the board
• пхивыкІын: to get wet/soaked through

The verbal prefix пыры~ designates action of transference over object that is of comparatively small height; ex.:

• жыхьым пырыплъын: to look over the fence

It also designates action, motion directed across some obstacle; ex.:

• псым пырышын (е зэпырышын): to take/lead across the river
• лъэмыжым пырышын: to take/lead across the bridge

The verbal prefix кӏэлъ~ [tʃʼaɬ] indicates action that happened towards after something or somebody; for example.:

• мыщэм кІэлъыкIуэн: to go after the bear;
• кІэлъежьэн: to set off/ out after, to start after, to leave after (smb., smth.);
• кІэлъесын: to swim after (smb., smth.).
• кІэлъытхэн: to write after (smb., smth.).
• кІэлъыжэн: to run after (smb., smth.).
• кIэлъыхьын: to carry after (smb., smth.).
• кIэлъыдзын: to throw after (smb., smth.).

The verbal suffix дэ~ [da~] designates action performed jointly with somebody.

• шхэн: to eat → дэшхэн: to eat with somebody.
• кӏуэн: to go → дэкӏуэн: to go with somebody.

The verbal prefix зэ~ is used in formation of reciprocal verbs; for example:

• зэзэуэн: to fight each other.

зэдэ~ is used in formation of reciprocal verbs; for example:

• зэдэгушыIэн: to joke with one another.

The verbal prefix з~ designates reflexive action; for example:

• зылъэщІын: to wipe oneself.
• зыплъыхьын: to look about oneself.
• зэгъэжьэн: to force oneself to wait;
• зэлъэфэлӏэн: to drag to oneself.

The verbal suffix здэ~ designates destination of action; for example:

• сыздэкIуэнур сощӏэ: I know where I am going to.

The verbal prefix ӏэщӏэ~ [ʔaɕʼa~] designates an action which was done unintentionally. for example:

• хьэм бaжэр ӏэщӏэтхьэлыхьaщ - "The dog slaughtered the fox (unintentionally)"
• хьэр бaжэм ӏэщӏэтхьэлыхьaщ - "The fox (unintentionally) slaughtered the dog"
• щIaлэм дыгъур ӏэщӏэyкӏaщ - "The young man (unintentionally) killed the thief"
• yэ yсӏэщӏэyкӏaщ - "I accidentally killed you"
• щӏaлэм лӏыжьым дыгъур ӏэщӏигъэyкӏaщ - "The boy made the old man accidentally kill the thief"

The verbal prefix фӏэ~ [фӏы~] designates action done against somebody's will or interest. This verbal prefix can also be used indicate that the action was done to take an object or an opportunity away from somebody else.; for example:

• кӏуэн: to go → фӏэкӏуэн: to go against somebody's wish.

The verbal prefix хуэ~ [xʷa~] designates action performed to please somebody, for somebody's sake, in somebody's interests; for example:

• анэм ӏуэху хуэщІэн: to do work for one's mother

~мы~ negatory infix; for example:

• жыӏэ: say → жумыӏэ: do not say.
• къакӏуэ: come → укъэмыкӏуэ: do not come.

Directional suffixes denote a certain directionality. They usually can only be attached in combination with directional preverbs.

The verbal suffix ~и designates action in an upward direction or against a flow. It is used in combination with the preverb дэ-.

• кIуэн: to go -> дэкІуеин: to go upwards.
• лъэн: to jump -> дэлъеин: to jump/leap up.

The verbal suffix ~х designates downward direction of action. It is always used with the preverb е-. The resulting verb is always dynamic.

Verbs are divided into groups depending on how this suffix interacts with ablaut alteration.

One group alternates, the other doesn't.

Group 1:

• лъэфын [ɬafən]: to decorate Y →елъэфэхын [jaɬafaxən]: to decorate Y from up to down
• лъэн [ɬan]: to jump → елъыхын [jaɬəxən]: to jump down

Group :

• шэн: to lead Y → ешэхын: to lead Y down
• щIын: to do/build Y → ещIыхын: to build Y from up to down

Examples:

• ежэхын: to roll down; to run down.
  • джабэм ежэхын: to roll down the mountain's slope.
  • псыр джабэм хуабжьу йожэх [psər dʒaːbam xʷabʑəw jawʒax]: the river is streaming down the mountain' slope.
• ехьэхын: to lower, sink somebody or something.
  • щхьэр ехьэхын: to hang one's head.
  • рабочэхэр шахтэм ехьэхын: to get the workers down to the mine.

The verbal suffix ~лӏ designates action directed towards, or applied to smb., smth.; ex.:

• ежэлІэн: vi to run up (to smb., smth.), to come running up (to smb., smth.);
• ехьэлІэн: vt 1. to take, carry (smb., smth. to smb., smth.);
• хьэпшыпхэр автобусым ~: to carry the articles to the bus.
• къекIуэлIащ: he appeared; he presented himself.

The verbal suffix ~хь designates action performed on a definite location or repetition of the action;

• къэжыхьын: to run about;
• къэкIухьын: to go/walk about;

It also designates movement around an object:

• Іуащхьэм къэкIухьын: to walk/go round the hill;
• жыгым къэкIухьын: to walk/go round the tree.

The verbal suffix ~гъэхэ designates absolute accomplishment/realization of the action; for example:

• кӏуагъэхэщ: he's already gone.

The verbal suffix ~ж designates recurrence/repetition of action; for example:

• къэсын: to arrive → къэсыжын: to arrive again.
• къэшэн: to bring → къэшэжын: to bring again.

~и (connective suffix) and, also; for example:

• къакӏуи еплъ: come and have a look.

~къым (verbal suffix) negatory suffix; for example:

• хьэщӏэр иджыри къэс къэсакъым: the guest hasn't arrived yet.
• сэ еджапӏэм сыкӏуакъым: I didn't go to school.

The conditional suffix is indicated by ~м(э); for example:

• ар къакIуэмэ, сэ бэзэрым сыкIуэнущ: If he comes, I will go to the market.

The verbal suffix ~ми designates concessive mood; for example:

• укIуами: even if you had gone.

~н is an infinitive-forming suffix; for example:

• тхэн: to write.
• кIуэн: to go.

The verbal suffix ~рей [~raj] designates recurrence, presence of a characteristic; for example:

• мэпсэлъэрей: he is fond of talking; he is garrulous.
• мэдауэрей: he is given to brawling; he is a brawler.

The verbal suffix ~рт designates repetition/recurrence of action; ex.:

• тхэрт: he wrote repeatedly.

The verbal suffix ~т designates the imperative mood; for example:

• жыӏэт: do say; just say.
• тхэт: just write.

The verbal suffix ~тэмэ designates subjunctive mood; for example:

• укӏуатэмэ: if you had gone.

The verbal suffix ~тэми designates concessive mood; for example:

• укӏуатэми: even if you had gone.

The verbal suffix ~ф designates the ability to perform the indicated action; for example:

• жыӏэфын: to be able to speak/talk; to speak eloquently/articulately; to manage to say (something.)
• хьыфын: to manage, be able, to take/carry (away) (something. somewhere.).

The verbal suffix ~пэ designates completeness and fulfilment of the action; ex.:

• илэжьыпащ: accomplished, realized, carried into effect;
• шхыпэн: vt to eat (up) (smth.) entirely.

The verbal suffix ~кӏэ designates absolute completeness of action; ex.:

• сщIакIэщ: I have already done it.

The verbal suffix ~ӏуэ designates slight excessiveness; ex.:

• тхэӏуэн: to write more than is necessary.

The verbal suffix ~къуэ designates excessiveness; ex.:

• псэлъэкъуэн: to out-talk somebody; to talk too much; to have a long talk with somebody, to get carried away by a conversation with somebody.

The pluralizing suffix is indicated by ~хэ; for example:

• къэкIуахэщ: they came.

The verbal suffix ~хэ designates preliminary condition; for example:

• зытхьэщIыхэн: wash yourself first.
• зытхьэщIыхи шхэ: first wash yourself, and then eat.

~ххэ (verbal suffix) designates absolute negation; for example:

• сыкIуэххэнкъым: I will definitely not go.

The verbal suffix ~щэрэ (~щэрэт) designates optative mood; ex.:

• Налшык сыкIуащэрэ: if only I could go to Nalchik; I wish I could go to Nalchik.

In Kabardian, positional prefixes express being in different positions and places, and can also express the spatial direction of a verb. Here is the positional conjugation of some dynamic verbs, showing how the prefix changes the indicated direction of the verb:

Position	Prefix	Example
		Looking (еплъын)	Throwing (едзын)
Body position/Pose	щы~ [ɕə]	щоплъ [ɕopɬ] "(s)he is looking at that place"	щедз [ɕajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing at that place"
On	те~ [taj]	топлъ [topɬ] "(s)he is looking on"	тедз [tajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing on/at"
Under	щӏэ~ [ɕʼa]	щӏоплъ [ɕʼopɬ] "(s)he is looking under"	щӏедз [ɕʼajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing under"
Through/Within some mass	хэ~ [xa]	хоплъ [xopɬ] "(s)he is looking through"	хедз [xajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing through"
Within some area	дэ~ [da]	доплъ [dopɬ] "(s)he is looking at some area"	дедз [dajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing at some area"
Inside an object		доплъ [dopɬ] "(s)he is looking inside an object"	дедз [dajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing inside an object"
Around	ӏу~ [ʔʷə]	ӏуоплъ [ʔʷopɬ] "(s)he is looking around"	ӏуедз [ʔʷajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing around"
Inside	и~ [jə~]	йоплъ [jopɬ] "(s)he is looking inside"	редз [rajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing inside"
Hanged/Attached	пы [pə]	поплъ [popɬ] "(s)he is searching by looking"	педз [pajd͡z] "(s)he is hanging by throwing"
Behind	къуэ [qʷa]	къуоплъ [qʷopɬ] "(s)he is looking behind"	къуедз [qʷajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing behind"
Aside	гуэ [ɡʷa]	гуоплъ [ɡʷopɬ] "(s)he is looking aside"	гуедз [ɡʷajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing aside"
In front of	пэӏу [paʔʷə]	пэӏуоплъ [paʔʷopɬ] "(s)he is looking in front of"	пэӏуедз [paʔʷajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing in front of"
Backwards	зэщӏэ [zat͡ʃʼa]	зэщӏоплъ [zat͡ʃʼopɬ] "(s)he is looking backwards"	зэщӏедз [zat͡ʃʼajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing backwards"
Inside within	кӏуэцӏ [kʷʼat͡sʼ]	кӏуэцӏоплъ [kʷʼat͡sʼopɬ] "(s)he is looking within inside"	кӏуэцӏедз [kʷʼat͡sʼajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing within inside"
Near	кӏэлъыры [t͡ʃʼaɬərə]	кӏэлъыроплъ [t͡ʃʼaɬəropɬ] "(s)he is looking near"	кӏэлъыредз [t͡ʃʼaɬərajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing near"
Toward	лъы [ɬə]	лъоплъ [ɬopɬ] "(s)he is looking toward"	лъедз [ɬajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing toward"
Past	блэ [bla]	блоплъ [blopɬ] "(s)he is looking past"	бледз [blajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing past"
Toward the head	щхьэры [ɕħarə]	щхьэроплъ [ɕħaropɬ] "(s)he is looking at the head"	щхьэредз [ɕħarajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing at the head"
Over	щхьэдэ [ɕħada]	щхьэдоплъ [ɕħadopɬ] "(s)he is looking pass over"	щхьэдедз [ɕħadajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing pass over"
Over and beyond	щхьэпры [ɕħaprə]	щхьэпроплъ [ɕħapropɬ] "(s)he is looking beyond"	щхьэпредз [ɕħaprajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing beyond"
Directly at	жэхэ [ʒaxa]	жэхоплъ [ʒaxopɬ] "(s)he is glaring at one's face"	жэхедз [ʒaxajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing at one's face"
Directed toward a mouth	жэдэ~ [ʒada~]	жэдоплъ [ʒadopɬ] "(s)he is looking at a mouth"	жэдедз [ʒadajd͡z] "(s)he is throwing at a mouth"

Adding a positional prefix to a verb often alters its valency by introducing a new spatial or locative argument. This new argument is always placed in the oblique case (marked by -м). The behavior of the verb and its arguments changes depending on its original transitivity.

When a positional prefix is attached to a monovalent intransitive verb, it adds a new valency. Because they don't have an oblique case argument by default, the new argument serves as the locative target, effectively turning it into a bivalent intransitive verb. Notice how the default dynamic 3rd-person prefix (мэ-/ма-) drops when the positional prefix is introduced.

Sentence	Word Breakdown	Gloss	Function	Translation
Ар маплъэ.	ар ма-плъэ	He 3SG.ABS-look	S VERB	"He is looking."
Ар абы топлъ.	ар абы ø-т-о-плъ	He that 3SG.ABS-on-look	S IO VERB	"He is looking on/at that."
Щӏалэр мэпсалъэ.	щӏалэ-р мэ-псалъэ	boy-ABS 3SG.ABS-speak	S VERB	"The boy is speaking."
Щӏалэр пщащэм топсэлъыхь.	щӏалэ-р пщащэ-м ø-т-о-псэлъыхь	boy-ABS girl-OBL 3SG.ABS-on-speak	S IO VERB	"The boy is speaking about the girl."
Щӏалэр матхэ.	щӏалэ-р ма-тхэ	boy-ABS 3SG.ABS-write	S VERB	"The boy is writing."
Щӏалэр ӏэнэм тетхэ.	щӏалэ-р ӏэнэ-м ø-те-тхэ	boy-ABS table-OBL 3SG.ABS-on-write	S IO VERB	"The boy is writing on the table."
Сэ уэ сыптопсэлъыхь.	сэ уэ сы-п-т-о-псэлъыхь	I you 1SG.ABS-2SG.OBL-on-speak	S IO VERB	"I talk about you."
Уэ сэ укъыстопсэлъыхь.	уэ сэ у-къы-с-т-о-псэлъыхь	You me 2SG.ABS-DIR-1SG.OBL-on-speak	S IO VERB	"You talk about me."
Уэ уаплъэ.	уэ у-а-плъэ	You 2SG.ABS-look	S VERB	"You look."
Уэ сэ укъызоплъ.	уэ сэ у-къы-з-о-плъ	You me 2SG.ABS-DIR-1SG.OBL-DAT-look	S IO VERB	"You look at me."
Уэ сэ укъыстоплъ.	уэ сэ у-къы-с-т-о-плъ	You me 2SG.ABS-DIR-1SG.OBL-on-look	S IO VERB	"You look on/at me."
Сэ уэ сыптоплъ.	сэ уэ сы-п-т-о-плъ	I you 1SG.ABS-2SG.OBL-on-look	S IO VERB	"I look on/at you."

Bivalent intransitive verbs cannot simply take a new positional preposition because they already have an argument in the oblique case behaving as a dative/target. Instead, the positional prefix replaces the standard directional prefix, shifting the existing oblique noun/pronoun from a general dative target to a specific locative one.

Sentence	Word Breakdown	Gloss	Function	Translation
Щӏалэр пшынэм йоуэ.	щӏалэ-р пшынэ-м ø-й-о-уэ	boy-ABS accordion-OBL 3SG.ABS-DAT-hit	S IO VERB	"The boy hits the accordion."
Щӏалэр пшынэм тоуэ.	щӏалэ-р пшынэ-м ø-т-о-уэ	boy-ABS accordion-OBL 3SG.ABS-on-hit	S IO VERB	"The boy hits on the accordion."
Сэ соуэ.	сэ с-о-уэ	I 1SG.ABS-DAT-hit	S VERB	"I hit."
Сэ уэ сыноуэ.	сэ уэ сы-н-о-уэ	I you 1SG.ABS-2SG.OBL-hit	S IO VERB	"I hit you."
Сэ уэ сыптоуэ.	сэ уэ сы-п-т-о-уэ	I you 1SG.ABS-2SG.OBL-on-hit	S IO VERB	"I hit on you."

Standard bivalent transitive verbs have an ergative subject and an absolutive direct object, but no oblique role. The addition of a positional prefix introduces a new locative argument in the oblique case, turning the verb into a trivalent transitive verb. Note how the positional prefix stacks with the ergative marker.

Sentence	Word Breakdown	Gloss	Function	Translation
Щӏалэм мывэр едз.	щӏалэ-м мывэ-р ø-е-дз	boy-ERG stone-ABS 3SG.ABS-3SG.ERG-throw	A O VERB	"The boy throws the stone."
Щӏалэм мывэр хым хедз.	щӏалэ-м мывэ-р хы-м ø-х-е-дз	boy-ERG stone-ABS sea-OBL 3SG.ABS-in-3SG.ERG-throw	A O IO VERB	"The boy throws the stone into the sea."
Щӏалэм псалъэр етх.	щӏалэ-м псалъэ-р ø-е-тх	boy-ERG word-ABS 3SG.ABS-3SG.ERG-write	A O VERB	"The boy writes the word."
Щӏалэм псалъэр ӏэнэм третх.	щӏалэ-м псалъэ-р ӏэнэ-м ø-т-р-е-тх	boy-ERG word-ABS table-OBL 3SG.ABS-on-3SG.ERG-write	A O IO VERB	"The boy writes the word on the table."
Щӏалэм пщащэр елъагъу.	щӏалэ-м пщащэ-р ø-е-лъагъу	boy-ERG girl-ABS 3SG.ABS-3SG.ERG-see	A O VERB	"The boy sees the girl."
Щӏалэм пщащэр жыгым щӏелъагъу.	щӏалэ-м пщащэ-р жыгы-м ø-щӏ-е-лъагъу	boy-ERG girl-ABS tree-OBL 3SG.ABS-under-3SG.ERG-see	A O IO VERB	"The boy sees the girl under the tree."
Сэ уэ узолъагъу.	сэ уэ у-з-о-лъагъу	I you 2SG.ABS-1SG.ERG-PRS-see	A O VERB	"I see you."
Сэ уэ унащхьэм утызолъагъу.	сэ уэ унэ-щхьэ-м у-т-ы-з-о-лъагъу	I you house-head-OBL 2SG.ABS-on-DIR-1SG.ERG-PRS-see	A O IO VERB	"I see you on the roof."
Уэ сэ унащхьэм сыптолъагъу.	уэ сэ унэ-щхьэ-м сы-п-т-о-лъагъу	You me house-head-OBL 1SG.ABS-2SG.ERG-on-see	A O IO VERB	"You see me on the roof."

Trivalent transitive verbs (also called ditransitive verbs) cannot take a positional prefix. This is because these verbs inherently require three arguments (Agent, Theme, and Recipient/Goal), meaning their oblique case slot is already occupied. Adding a locative positional prefix would conflict with the existing indirect object argument structure.

In Kabardian, certain verb roots denote a general sense of motion—such as entering, exiting, removing, or falling—but they cannot exist on their own. They inherently require a positional prefix to specify the spatial nature of the action.

Below is a matrix showing how these bound motion roots combine with common positional prefixes: те- (on), щӏэ- (under), и- (inside), and хэ- (within a mass/liquid).

Note: For the transitive roots (-хын and -хун), the 3rd-person singular ergative marker -е- stacks and merges with the positional prefix (e.g., щӏэ + е + хы + н = щӏехын).

Root	Action	те- (On)	щӏэ- (Under)	и- (Inside)	хэ- (Within Mass)
-хьэн	to enter / step into	техьэн "to step on"	щӏэхьэн "to step under"	ихьэн "to enter (inside)"	хэхьэн "to enter (water/crowd)"
-кӏын	to exit / go off	текӏын "to get off"	щӏэкӏын "to exit from under"	икӏын "to exit (inside)"	хэкӏын "to exit (water/crowd)"
-хын (transitive)	to take off / remove	техын "to take off (from top)"	щӏехын "to take out from under"	ихын "to take out from inside"	хехын "to take out of (a mass)"
-хун (transitive)	to drive off / chase	техун "to drive off (the top)"	щӏехун "to drive from under"	ихун "to drive out of (inside)"	хехун "to drive out of (a mass)"
-дзын (transitive)	to drop / throw	тедзын "to drop onto (the top)"	щӏэдзын "to throw under"	идзын "to drop inside"	хэдзын "to throw into (a mass)"
-лъэдэн	to run into	телъэдэн "to run onto"	щӏэлъэдэн "to run under"	илъэдэн "to run into (inside)"	хэлъэдэн "to run into (a mass)"
-жэн	to run	тежэн "to run on (the top)"	щӏэжэн "to run under"	ижэн "to run inside"	хэжэн "to run in (a mass)"
-хуэн	to fall	техуэн "to fall on"	щӏэхуэн "to fall under"	ихуэн "to fall inside"	хэхуэн "to fall into (a mass)"

Here is the positional conjugation of some steady-state verbs, showing how the root changes the indicated position:

	prefix	stands	sits	lies
Body position/Pose	щы~ [ɕə]	щыт [ɕət]	щыс [ɕəs]	щылъ [ɕəɬ]
On	те~ [taj]	тет [tat]	тес [tas]	телъ [taɬ]
Under	щӏэ~ [ɕʼa]	щӏэт [ɕʼat]	щӏэс [ɕʼas]	щӏэлъ [ɕʼaɬ]
Among	хэ~ [xa]	хэт [xat]	хэс [xas]	хэлъ [xaɬ]
Within some mass
Within some area	дэ~ [da]	дэт [dat]	дэс [das]	дэлъ [daɬ]
Inside an object
Around	ӏу~ [ʔʷə]	ӏут [ʔʷət]	ӏyc [ʔʷəs]	ӏулъ [ʔʷəɬ]
Inside	и~ [jə]	ит [jət]	иc [jəs]	илъ [jəɬ]
Hanged	пы~ [pə]	пыт [pət]	пыc [pəs]	пылъ [pəɬ]
Attached
Behind	къуэ~ [qʷa]	къуэт [qʷat]	къуэc [qʷas]	къуэлъ [qʷaɬ]
Aside	гуэ~ [ɡʷa]	гуэт [ɡʷat]	гуэc [ɡʷas]	гуэлъ [ɡʷaɬ]
Inside within	кӏуэцӏ~ [kʷʼat͡sʼ]	кӏуэцӏыт [kʷʼat͡sʼət]	кӏуэцӏыc [kʷʼat͡sʼəs]	кӏуэцӏылъ [kʷʼat͡sʼəɬ]

• Kabardian Verbal Affixes; collected, arranged and edited by Amjad Jaimoukha.