Conjugation of Verbs

Verbs in Pāli are formed from a basic stem or root (dhātu). There are seven groups classes of
these verbal stems or roots (dhātu-gaṇas) based on the distinct conjugational signs added to
them.
The Seven classes are:
1) Bhuvādi-gaṇa – sign ‘a’
2) Rudhādi-gaṇa – sign ‘ṃ’ – ‘a’
3) Divādi-gaṇa – sign ‘ya’
4) Svādi-gaṇa – signs: ‘ṇo, ṇu, uṇā’
5) Kiyādi-gaṇa – sign ‘ṇā’
6) Tanādi-gaṇa – sign ‘o, yira’
7) Curādi-gaṇa – Sign ‘e, aya’
*Roots in these groups go through a process of transformation before they can be used as verbs.
The process of transformation is called strengthening the verb into guṇa form. After
strengthening letters ‘i or ī’ becomes ‘e’; ‘u or ū’ becomes ‘o’. The letter ‘e’ followed by ‘a’ is
changed into ‘ay’. The letter ‘o’ followed by ‘a’ becomes ‘av’.
Example: Root nī -> ne + a – naya; Root bhū -> bho + a – bhava.

There three tenses: Present (Vattamānā-kāla), Past (Atīta-kāla), Future (Anāgata-kāla).

There are two Voices: Active and Passive
There are three persons (purisa): Third person (paṭhama-purisa), Second Person (Majjhima-
purisa), and First Person (Uttama-purisa)

Conjugation of paca (cl.1, to cook) in the Present, Active Voice.

Person Singular Plural

3rd pacati pacanti
2nd pacasi pacatha
1st pacāmi pacāma

Conjugation of pāla (cl.7, to protect) in the Present, Active Voice.

Person Singular Plural

3rd Pāleti Pālenti
2nd Pālesi Pāletha
1st Pālemi Pālema

Conjugation of vikkiṇa (cl.5, to sell) in the Present, Active Voice.

Person Singular Plural
3rd Vikkiṇāti Vikkiṇanti
nd
2 Vikkiṇāsi Vikkiṇātha
1st Vikkiṇāmi Vikkiṇāma
Conjugation of paca (cl.1, to cook) in the Past Tense
Person Singular Plural
3rd Apacī, pacī, apaci, paci Apaciṃsu, paciṃsu, apacuṃ,
pacuṃ
2nd Apaco, paco Apacittha, pacittha
1st Apaciṃ, paciṃ Apacimha, pacimha,
apacimhā, pacimhā

Conjugation of pāla (cl.7, to protect) in the Past Tense

Person Singular Plural

3rd Pālesi, pālayi Pālesuṃ, pālayuṃ,
pālayiṃsu
2nd Pālayo Pālayittha
1st Pālesuṃ, palayiṃ Pālayimha, pālayimhā

Conjugation of paca (cl.1, to cook) in the Future Tense

Person Singular Plural

3rd Pacissati pacissanti
2nd Pacissasi pacissatha
1st Pacissāmi pacissāma

Conjugation of paca (cl.1, to cook) in the Imperative Mood

Person Singular Plural
3 rd pacatu pacantu
2 nd Paca; pacahi pacatha
1 st Pacāmi Pacāma

Conjugation of paca (cl.1, to cook) in the Optative or potential Mood

Person Singular Plural
3 rd Paceyya Paceyyuṃ
2 nd Paceyyāsi Paceyyātha
1 st Paceyyāmi Paceyyāma