Present Stem Endings
Most Georgian verbs carry an ending such as -ებ or -ობ in the present.
How It Works
Look at these present-tense verbs. Each one has an ending between its root and the person ending.
| Ending | I | He or she | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ებ | ვაკეთებ | აკეთებს | do, make |
| -ობ | ვცხოვრობ | ცხოვრობს | live |
| -ავ | ვხატავ | ხატავს | draw |
| -ამ | ვსვამ | სვამს | drink |
| -ი | ვთვლი | თვლის | count |
The ending stays in every person of the present: ვაკეთებ, აკეთებ, აკეთებს, ვაკეთებთ, აკეთებთ, აკეთებენ. With -ი, the he-form ends in -ის: თვლის (tvlis).
It usually stays in the future too, after the preverb: დავხატავ (I will draw), გავაკეთებ (I will do). Some verbs have no ending at all: ვწერ (I write), ვჭამ (I eat).
A dictionary lists a verb by its he-form, so the ending helps you find it: from ვცხოვრობ, look up ცხოვრობს.
Examples (5)
- დედა ვახშამს აკეთებს.
Mum is making dinner.
აკეთებს has the ending -ებ.
- ჩვენ თბილისში ვცხოვრობთ.
We live in Tbilisi.
ვცხოვრობთ has -ობ, then -თ for we.
- ნინო სახლს ხატავს.
Nino is drawing a house.
ხატავს has the ending -ავ.
- დილით ჩაის ვსვამ.
I drink tea in the morning.
ვსვამ has the ending -ამ.
- ბავშვები ფეხბურთს თამაშობენ.
The children are playing football.
თამაშობენ keeps -ობ before -ენ.
Common Mistakes
Using the he-form for I.
მე სახლს ხატავს.მე სახლს ვხატავ.The I-form takes ვ- and has no -ს at the end.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Present stems end in a small set of endings.
Related Patterns
- ვ- (I and We)The I and We Marker
The prefix for I and we.
Level 1 - -ს (He, She, It)The He or She Ending
The ending for he, she or it.
Level 1 - The Future Tense
The ending usually stays in the future.
Level 2 - ი-...-ებ (Future of Activity Verbs)Future of Activity Verbs
Where -ობ turns into -ებ in the future.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Present Stem Endings in Bubblegum
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