Finished or Not Finished
A preverb usually shows that an action is finished, or will be.
How It Works
Compare these three forms of write:
| Form | Meaning | Preverb |
|---|---|---|
| წერს | is writing, writes | none |
| დაწერს | will write it | და- |
| დაწერა | wrote it | და- |
The present, with no preverb, is for an action that is going on or happens again and again: ნინო წერილს წერს (Nino is writing a letter).
The preverb adds the idea of one finished action, with an end point. That is why the future and the simple past usually have one: ნინომ წერილი დაწერა (Nino wrote the letter, and it is done).
The same holds for other verbs: აკეთებს, გააკეთებს, გააკეთა (do); ხატავს, დახატავს, დახატა (draw); ჭამს, შეჭამს, შეჭამა (eat).
At Level 4 you will meet past forms without a preverb, for actions that were going on.
Examples (5)
- ნინო წერილს წერს.
Nino is writing a letter.
No preverb: the writing is going on.
- ნინო ხვალ წერილს დაწერს.
Nino will write the letter tomorrow.
და- in the future: the letter will get done.
- ნინომ წერილი დაწერა.
Nino wrote the letter.
და- in the past: the letter is done.
- ბავშვი სახლს ხატავს.
The child is drawing a house.
No preverb: still drawing.
- ბავშვმა სახლი დახატა და დედას აჩვენა.
The child drew a house and showed it to mum.
და- on დახატა: the drawing is finished.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A preverb makes an action finished.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Finished or Not Finished in Bubblegum
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