Introduction to Sahidic Coptic — Thomas O. Lambdin
Preface
The present work is an expansion of a series of elementary lessons developed gradually during twenty years of teaching Sahidic Coptic at the college level. The Lessons are designed to provide a carefully graded introduction to the basic grammar and vocabulary of the language. The content of the Lessons and the mode of presentation were dictated by purely practical pedagogical considerations; the book is in no way intended to be a scientific reference grammar. The Reading Selections are furnished with glosses designed to facilitate the translation to unsimplified material. A thorough mastery of these and the Lessons will bring the student to the level at which any Sahidic text of average difficulty can be read with no trouble. The emphasis on basic matters has necessitated the omission of much technical linguistic data not immediately relevant to the needs of the average beginning student. Those who are interested in a detailed study of the phonology, in the relationship of Sahidic to the other Coptic dialects, or in the historical development of Coptic from ancient Egyptian may consult the standard works on these subjects as cited in the Bibliography.
A special effort has been made to provide a Glossary that will be useful to the student beyond his first year's study. In addition to covering the words used in the present text, the Glossary is intended to contain the full vocabulary of the Sahidic New Testament, including most associated phrases and idioms, as well as a generous selection of lexical items from other Biblical and literary texts. Deliberately excluded from the Glossary are words of a specialized nature, such as the names of plants, vessels, implements, drugs, and animals occurring only in technical texts that usually provide little clue to their precise meanings; nor has any effort been made to include the unusual lexical usage of Shenute. For these items the reader must consult the indispensible A Coptic Dictionary of W. E. Crum, which, together with M. Wilmet, Concordance du nouveau testament sahidique, is the main authority for the Glossary included here.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to my colleague, George W. MacRae, the Charles Chauncey Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Theological Studies, Harvard Divinity School, for encouraging me to undertake this work and for his helpful comments on a large portion of the manuscript; to Mr. Gary A. Bisbee, for the exceptional skill and care with which he prepared the final copy for publication; to Mr. Watson E. Mills, Director of the Mercer University Press, for his part in initiating and publishing this work.
idemhaving the same meanings as the immediately preceding word
imperf.imperfect
Imperf.the Imperfect
imptv.imperative
indef.indefinite
indep.independent
Inf.Infinitive
Infl. Inf.Inflected Infinitive
intens.intensive
interrog.interrogative
intr.intransitive
Intro.Introduction
lit.literally
m., masc.masculine
n.noun, nominal
neg.negative
no.number
obj.object
oft.often
p.c.participium conjunctivum
part.particle
Perf. Ithe First Perfect
pers.person
phr.phrase
pl.plural
pred.predication, predicate
prep.preposition
Pres. Ithe First Present
prob.probably
procl.proclitic
pron.pronominal
Q.qualitative
q.v.which see
recipr.reciprocal
reflex.reflexive
Rel.Relative Form
s.singular
s.v.sub voce
Sah.Sahidic
sim.similar(ly)
sing.singular
sthg.something
subunder
subj.subject
suff.suffix(ed)
tr.transitive
usu.usually
vb.verb, verbal
Vocab.Vocabulary
w.with
±with or without
+with, plus, and
=is fully equivalent in function and meaning to
The names of specific conjugations and inflected verbal forms are capitalized throughout the book.
Introduction
The political unification of Egypt took place around the beginning of the third millennium B.C. with the establishment of the First Dynasty at Memphis. Soon afterward written records began to appear in the hieroglyphic script, which together with its cursive derivatives, hieratic and demotic, remained the sole medium for writing the Egyptian language until the end of the second century A.D. At that time, the missionaries of the Church, then centered in Alexandria, undertook the translation of the Bible from Greek into Egyptian in order to facilitate their task of Christianizing the country. They abandoned the three-thousand-year-old hieroglyphic writing system, probably as much because of its complexity and imperfections as for its "heathen" associations, and chose instead to employ a modified form of the Greek alphabet. Egyptian in this new guise is known as Coptic, a modern term derived from Arabic qubṭî, itself a corruption of the Greek word (ai)gúpti(os), Egyptian.
The conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. and the subsequent Greek-speaking administration of the country under the Ptolemies led to the thorough Hellenization of Lower (i.e. Northern) Egypt. Egyptian-Greek bilingualism was apparently commonplace in the Delta, and it is probable that much Greek technical, legal, and commercial terminology was introduced into spoken Egyptian at this time. Rough and unsystematic attempts to transcribe Egyptian in the Greek alphabet were made as early as the third century B.C. It was only natural, then, that the Coptic translators of the Bible not only adopted the Greek alphabet but also generously supplemented the native lexicon with many more borrowings from Greek. The Greek vocabulary of any Coptic text is significantly large.
Evidence of dialectal differences is found as early as the third millenium B.C., but the general conservatism of the hieroglyphic script and the practice of standardizing a particular form of the language for long periods of time (e.g. Middle Egyptian, New Egyptian) tend to obscure the great dialectal diversity that must have existed in the spoken language as one traveled the 750 miles down the Nile from Aswan to the Mediterranean. The individual dialects first become recognizable when we reach the Coptic period and see the language spelled out in the Greek alphabet. The exact geographical location of the dialects is still a matter of scholarly debate, but the reader should become familiar with their names and the approximate chronological range of their use for literary purposes.
Sahidic, the dialect treated in this book, was the dialect chosen for the official translation of the Bible mentioned above. There is conflicting evidence on its geographical location: the name Sahidic, from Arabic aṣ-ṣaʿîd, Upper (i.e. Southern) Egypt, places it in the south (hence its alternate name: Theban, Thebaic); linguistic considerations, however, favor a northern locale, in the neighborhood of Memphis and the eastern Delta. One cannot rule out the possibility that both locations are correct; the fact that Thebes and Memphis alternated as the capital of Egypt through much of its history and were the chief centers of religious (priestly), building, and commercial activity could have led to the development of an "urban" dialect in these two areas, quite distinct from the dialects of the "rural" areas that lay between. By the fourth century A.D. Sahidic was firmly established as the standard literary dialect and retained this status until its demise around the tenth century. Surviving texts in Sahidic include, in addition to the New Testament and a large portion of the Old, a considerable corpus of Church literature and some remnants of secular literature, nearly all of which is translated from Greek. Of native works we have only the writings of Pachomius (c. 300), the founder of Egyptian monasticism; Shenute (c. 400), the administrator of the White Monastery in Upper Egypt; and Besa, a disciple of Shenute. The Coptic writings of Shenute, who attempted to mould the language into a literary vehicle comparable to Greek, are often referred to as the "classics" of Sahidic literature. Their syntactic complexity and unusual vocabulary usage, however, place them beyond the scope of the present work, which is based on the language of the more widely studied translation literature.
Bohairic replaced Sahidic as the standard literary dialect. Bohairic texts are attested as early as the ninth century, but the dialect does not seem to have achieved wide usage until it was adopted as the official language of the Coptic Church in the eleventh century. Most Bohairic texts come from after this time, and many of them were translated from Sahidic originals. The term Bohairic comes from Arabic al-buhairah, Lower (i.e. Northern) Egypt; it is generally assumed that Bohairic was the dialect of the Western Delta, including Alexandria and Nitria. The designation Memphitic has also been used for this dialect.
Fayyumic, as its name implies, was the dialect of northern Middle Egypt in the vicinity of the Fayyum Basin. It is well attested in texts ranging from the fourth to the eleventh century, but it apparently never attained the status of Sahidic.
Achmimic, generally located in the area of Akhmim (Panopolis) in southern Middle Egypt, enjoyed only a brief literary period from the third to the fifth century.
Subachmimic, tentatively localized between Akhmim and Thebes, was used extensively in the fourth and fifth centuries for the translation of Manichaean and Gnostic literature. Its association with this heretical material probably had much to do with its early demise as a literary dialect. The Nag Hammadi texts are in Subachmimic or a variety of Sahidic influenced by Subachmimic in varying degrees.
For further details on the dialects the reader should consult the works of Worrell, Vergote, Kahle, and Till cited in the Bibliography.
The Arab conquest of Egypt in 641 A.D. and the subsequent suppression of the native Christian population resulted in the gradual dying out of the Egyptian language in favor of Arabic. We cannot be sure how long this process took, but it is safe to assume that by the fifteenth century Coptic had ceased to be a native spoken language, thus bringing to an end a continuous written record of over four thousand years.
The Coptic Alphabet
Sahidic Coptic is written in the Greek alphabet augmented by six letters borrowed from Demotic script, the last stage of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. The letters of the full alphabet, together with their conventional transcription, are as follows:
ⲁa
ⲃb
ⲅg
ⲇd
ⲉe
ⲍz
ⲏē
ⲑth
ⲓi
ⲕk
ⲗl
ⲙm
ⲛn
ⲝks
ⲟo
ⲡp
ⲣr
ⲥs
ⲧt
ⲩu
ⲫph
ⲭkh
ⲯps
ⲱō
ϣš
ϥf
ϩh
ϫj, ǧ
ϭč, c
ϯti
The following paragraphs deal with the Coptic, not the Greek, pronunciation of this alphabet.
Spelling and Pronunciation
a. The Consonants
ⲃ was apparently pronounced like English v in voice, but it is generally read simply as b in back.
ⲅ occurs only as a positional variant of ⲕ in a very small set of forms. Pronounced like the g of good.
ⲇ and ⲍ do not normally occur in standard Sahidic spelling. ⲍ may occur for ⲥ in a few words, e.g. ⲁⲛⲍⲏⲃⲉ for ⲁⲛⲥⲏⲃⲉ school. Pronounced d as in dog and z as in zoo respectively.
ⲫ, ⲑ, and ⲭ occur in Sahidic Coptic words only as combinations of two consonants: ⲡ + ϩ, ⲧ + ϩ, and ⲕ + ϩ respectively. ⲑ is fairly frequent, e.g. ⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ evil, for ⲡⲉⲧ ϩⲟⲟⲩ. ⲫ and ⲭ are rare and need not be used at all. The Copts seem to have used this same pronunciation for these letters in Greek words, contrary to the ordinary Greek pronunciation of ⲫ as f, ⲑ as th (thin), and ⲭ as ch (German ich, ach).
ⲕ, ⲡ, and ⲧ were like English k, p, t, but without aspiration. Thus, they were more like the k, p, t of skin, spin, stop than the aspirated sounds of kin, pin, top.
ⲗ, ⲙ, and ⲛ were probably the same as English l, m, and n.
ⲝ is simply a combination of ⲕ + ⲥ, rarely used. E.g. ⲝⲟⲩⲣ ring.
ⲣ is conventionally pronounced like English r in road. Its actual pronunciation is unknown.
ⲥ was like English s in see.
ⲯ is simply ⲡ + ⲥ, rarely used. E.g. ⲯⲓⲧⲉ nine (psite).
ϣ was the sh of shall.
ϥ was the f of foot.
ϩ was probably like English h in hope.
ϫ is conventionally pronounced like the j of judge. Its actual pronunciation was probably closer to that of the [tʸ] of tune.1
ϭ, conventionally like the ch of church, was probably closer to the [kʸ] of cue, cute.
ϯ is merely a graphic symbol for ⲧ + ⲓ, but it was the normal way to spell this sequence of sounds. E.g. ϯⲙⲉ village (time).
1 Brackets are used to indicate phonetic pronunciation in standard phonetic symbols. Do not confuse these with the conventional transcriptions.
b. The simple vowels
ⲁ like the a of father. E.g. ⲁϥ [af] meat.
ⲉ like the e of let. E.g. ϩⲉⲛ [hɛn] some.
ⲏ probably like the a of hate. E.g. ⲙⲏⲧ [met] ten.
ⲓ like the i of machine. This vowel is always spelled ⲉⲓ in initial positions: ⲉⲓⲛⲉ [íne] to bring, ⲉⲓⲥ [is] behold. Internally and finally the spelling alternates between ⲓ and ⲉⲓ, but ⲓ is preferred.
ⲟ like the o of log, fog, dog, off, on. E.g. ⲧⲟⲡ [tɔp] edge.
ⲩ does not appear as a simple vowel in Coptic words.
ⲟⲩ is the normal writing of the vowel [u], the oo of food. E.g. ⲛⲟⲩⲃ noub [nub] gold.
ⲱ like the o of hope. E.g. ϩⲱⲡ [hop] to hide.
c. Semivowels and diphthongs
The consonants y and w of English yet and wet are often referred to as semivowels because they are the same sounds as the vowels [i] and [u] of beet and boot very briefly articulated. The Coptic vowels ⲉⲓ (ⲓ) and ⲟⲩ may function as consonants in the same way. E.g. ⲉⲓⲱⲧ [yot] father, ⲟⲩⲟⲡ [wɔp] to become pure.
The semivowels ⲉⲓ (ⲓ) and ⲟⲩ combine with a preceding simple vowel to form various diphthongs. Many of the diphthongs have more than one spelling; the reader should follow the spelling used in the Lessons. The diphthongs should be pronounced carefully, with the value of the single vowel as given above plus a final y or w as the case may be.
ⲁⲓ, ⲁⲉⲓ as in ⲥⲁⲉⲓⲛ [sayn] physician, ⲁⲓⲡⲱⲧ [aypót] I ran.
ⲁⲩ (rarely ⲁⲟⲩ) as in ⲛⲁⲩ [naw] to see, ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ [awpót] they ran.
ⲉⲓ (less commonly ⲉⲉⲓ) as in ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ [pɛyrómɛ] this man. Although a knowledge of the grammar is necessary for making the correct distinction between ⲉⲓ = [i] and ⲉⲓ = [ɛy], the problem is not a serious one: in normal Sahidic spelling ⲉⲓ has the value ⲉ + ⲓ (1) in the demonstrative adjectives ⲡⲉⲓ- ⲧⲉⲓ- ⲛⲉⲓ- (Lesson 5), (2) in the first person verbal prefixes of the forms ⲉⲓ-, ⲛⲉⲓ-, ⲙⲉⲓ- (Lesson 21 and following), and in a few isolated words like ⲉⲓⲉ [ɛyɛ] (Lesson 29).
ⲉⲩ (rarely ⲉⲟⲩ), as in ⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ [ɛwšátʸɛ] while they were talking.
ⲏⲓ as in ⲡⲏⲓ [pey] the house.
ⲏⲩ (less commonly ⲏⲟⲩ) as in ⲧⲏⲩ [tew] wind.
ⲓⲉⲓ, ⲉⲓⲉⲓ is very rare and is [yi] not [iy], e.g. ϩⲓⲉⲓⲃ [hyib] lamb.
ⲓⲟⲩ is rare, e.g. ⲥⲓⲟⲩ [siw] star.
ⲟⲉⲓ, ⲟⲓ as in ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ [wɔyn] light.
ⲟⲟⲩ as in ⲙⲟⲟⲩ [mɔw] water, ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ [mɔwt] dead.
ⲱⲓ as in ⲉϫⲱⲓ [ɛtʸóy] on me; rare except in final position.
ⲱⲟⲩ as in ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ [town] to stand up, ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ [ɛtʸów] on them.
ⲟⲩⲓ (rare) as in ⲛⲟⲩⲓ [nuy] mine; also possibly as [wi] in some words, e.g. ⲕⲟⲩⲓ [kwi] small.
ⲟⲩⲟⲩ (rare) as in ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ [muwt] to kill, ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ [nuw] theirs.
Double Vowels
The double writing of any of the simple vowels is generally understood to be an indication of the presence of a glottal stop, i.e. the complete but very brief stoppage of airflow in the glottis, conventionally indicated by ʾ in transcription. Thus ⲙⲁⲁⲃmáʾăb thirty, ⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉséʾĕpe remainder, ϣⲟⲟⲡšóʾŏp to be. The stress is on the first vowel; the vowel after the glottal stop was probably of very brief duration.
Vowel doubling occurs in diphthongs as well, e.g. ⲙⲁⲁⲩmáʾăw mother, ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉméʾĕwe to think. There is no sure way of knowing whether ⲟⲟⲩ indicates [ɔw] or [ɔ́ʾɔ̆w].
Syllabification and the Supralinear Stroke
One of the most distinctive features of Sahidic spelling is the short stroke placed over certain consonants or groups of consonants. This supralinear stroke, as it is called, indicates a syllable, but there is some disagreement among Coptic scholars on how this syllabification actually sounded in the spoken language. When the stroke is used over a voiced consonant such as ⲛ, it probably meant that the consonant is functioning as the vowel, i.e. the most sonorous part, of the syllable in question, exactly like the final n of English button and sudden, phonetically [-tn̥] and [-dn̥]. Thus, ϣⲛ̄ⲧ (to seek me) was pronounced [šn̥t] and ⲛ̄ⲧ (to bring me) as [n̥t]. The voiced consonants capable of having this syllabic pronunciation are ⲃ, ⲗ, ⲙ, ⲛ, and ⲣ, known mnemonically as the blemner consonants. Note that they are all voiced continuants, i.e. consonants whose voiced duration may be prolonged at will (remember that ⲃ is v, not b). E.g.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
(we hear)
[tn̥sótm̥]
ϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̄
(to disturb)
[štɔ́rtr̥]
ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ
(fish)
[tv̥t]
ⲕⲣⲙ̄ⲣⲙ̄
(to mutter)
[krḿ̥rm̥]
The stroke over the remaining consonants may be pronounced as a brief ⲉ or as ə (the first vowel of English above) before the consonant over which the stroke is placed, e.g. ⲥⲡ̄ⲥⲱⲡϥ̄ [səpsópəf] to entreat him. This pronunciation may also be used with the blemner consonants for the sake of convenience.
In non-standard texts, of which there are many, the vowel ⲉ is often written instead of using the stroke (and vice versa), but most frequently in proclitic elements and initial clusters, e.g. ⲥⲉⲡⲥⲱⲡϥ̄ = ⲥⲡ̄ⲥⲱⲡϥ̄, ϩⲉⲙ ⲡⲏⲓ = ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ. In standard spelling ⲉ is used regularly instead of the stroke only when the consonant preceding the consonant that would have had the stroke is a blemner; thus ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲉⲕ and ⲛⲟϭⲛⲉϭ are words of the same pattern as ⲥⲟⲡⲥⲡ̄ and ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̄. This convention may have been adopted to prevent incorrect syllabification: ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲕ could be read as [mɔ́km̥k] or [mɔ́kmək]. The chief exceptions are indeed words where a different syllabification is required: ϣⲟⲙⲛ̄ⲧ [šɔ́mn̥t] three, ⲧⲱⲙⲛ̄ⲧ [tómn̥t] to befall. The ⲛ̄ of these words is an intrusive (secondary) glide from the labial ⲙ to the dental ⲧ; the earlier forms were ϣⲟⲙⲧ̄ and ⲧⲱⲙⲧ̄. The convention likewise does not apply when the final consonant is also a blemner: ⲛⲁϩⲙⲛ̄ [náhmn̥] to rescue us. Much of the variation between ⲉ and a stroke that occurs in the writing of certain verbal prefixes (e.g. ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣϥ̄-, ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥ-; ⲙⲁⲣϥ̄-, ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥ-) probably results from inconsistent application of this rule.
The forms ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ (to arise) and ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ (to know) have been standardized in the Lessons. In the Reading Selections the orthography of the source has been followed.
Stress
Coptic is a highly compounding language, mostly by prefixation. All prefixal elements are proclitic, i.e. unstressed and bound, to the word which stands last in the sequence, regardless of its length, e.g.
ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ = ϩⲛ̄-ⲧⲉ-ϥ-ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ-ⲁⲧ-ⲧⲁⲕⲟ́
in his imperishability
Any element designated as prefixal in the course of the Lessons should be considered as proclitic. All simple prepositions are proclitic, like ϩⲛ̄ in the above example, but for the sake of clarity they are written as separate words in this text.
The main stress, then, is on the word standing at the end of the compound. The successive application of the following rules will enable the reader to apply the correct stress in all but the rarest cases:
Stress is always on one of the last two syllables of a word.
The vowels ⲏ, ⲟ, and ⲱ are always stressed.
Final simple -ⲁ and simple -ⲉⲓ, -ⲓ are always stressed.
Final -ⲟⲩ is stressed except (1) when it is the suffixed pronoun of the 3rd person plural (a knowledge of the grammar will make this clear), and (2) in the words ⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ (back), ⲥⲡⲟⲧⲟⲩ (lips), ⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ (curse), and ⲣⲁⲥⲟⲩ (dream).
Final -ⲉ is unstressed except in the adjectives introduced in Lesson 15 (thus, ⲥⲁⲃⲉ́, wise, ⲃⲗ̄ⲗⲉ́, blind, etc.) and in a few miscellaneous words like ⲃⲉⲕⲉ́ (wages), ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲉ́ (witness), ⲕⲛ̄ⲧⲉ́ (figs), ⲛⲁⲙⲉ́ (truly).
A final syllable marked by a stroked consonant is never stressed unless it is the only syllable of the word.
Assimilation
Assimilation, for our present purposes, may be defined briefly as the alteration of a sound due to its proximity to another sound, usually resulting in greater phonetic compatibility. The final ⲛ̄ of prefixal elements (e.g. prepositions, particles, articles) is regularly assimilated to ⲙ̄ before ⲡ and ⲙ, e.g.
*ϩⲛ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ → ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
in the house
*ⲛ̄ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ → ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ
the signs
The assimilation of consonant -ⲛ also occurs but is not standard, e.g. ⲧⲉⲙⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ for ⲧⲉⲛⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ (our faith). In some texts the particle ⲛ̄, which has several grammatical functions, assimilates completely to ⲃ, ⲗ, and ⲣ, e.g. ⲛ̄ⲃⲣ̄ⲣⲉ → ⲃ̄ⲃⲣ̄ⲣⲉ (the young), ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ → ⲣ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ (the men). This is not considered standard, but it is not uncommon; numerous examples will be met in our reading selection from the Wisdom of Solomon.
Whatever the pronunciation of the supralinear stroke was, an alternate spelling with -ⲁ- often occurs before final -ϩ: ⲱⲛⲁϩ = ⲱⲛϩ̄ to live. This represents an assimilation to the guttural quality of ϩ.
An alternation between -ⲱ- and -ⲟⲩ- in certain word patterns is a result of an assimilation in the pre-Coptic stage. ⲱ was altered to ⲟⲩ after ⲙ and ⲛ; thus, words like ⲙⲟⲩϩ, ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ, ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ, and ⲛⲟⲩⲕ originally had the same vowel as ⲕⲱⲧ, ⲕⲱⲧⲉ, ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ, and ⲧⲱⲕ respectively.
The Spelling of Greek Words
Greek words in Coptic are usually spelled correctly. Certain types of errors do occasionally occur, however, resulting in part from the discrepancy between the classical spelling and the contemporary pronunciation, and they must be taken into account when consulting a standard Greek dictionary. The most frequent of these are confusions between (1) ⲏ and ⲩ; (2) ⲉ and ⲁⲓ; (3) ⲓ and ⲏ; (4) ⲟ and ⲱ; (5) ⲅ and ⲕ; (6) ⲓ and ⲉⲓ; (7) ⲏ and ⲉ; (8) ⲧ and ⲇ; (9) initial ϩ and zero. All of these are illustrated by the following words chosen from our Reading Selections.
ⲃⲩⲙⲁ = ⲃⲏⲙⲁ (βῆμα)
ⲥⲡⲩⲗⲏⲟⲛ = ⲥⲡⲏⲗⲁⲓⲟⲛ (σπήλαιον)
ⲡⲉⲣⲓⲭⲟⲣⲟⲥ = ⲡⲉⲣⲓⲭⲱⲣⲟⲥ (περίχωρος)
ⲟⲣⲕⲁⲛⲟⲛ = ⲟⲣⲅⲁⲛⲟⲛ (ὄργανον)
ⲡⲉⲣⲉⲓⲉⲣⲕⲁⲍⲉ = ⲡⲉⲣⲓⲉⲣⲅⲁⲍⲉ (περιεργάζε-)
ϯⲥⲧⲁⲍⲉ = ⲇⲓⲥⲧⲁⲍⲉ (διστάζε-)
ⲉⲑⲣⲓⲟⲛ = ⲁⲓⲑⲣⲓⲟⲛ (αἴθριον)
ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲥⲥⲁⲓ = ⲕⲏⲣⲩⲥⲥⲉ (κηρύσσε-)
ϩⲩⲇⲱⲛⲏ = ϩⲏⲇⲟⲛⲏ (ἡδονή)
ⲡⲓⲑⲉ = ⲡⲉⲓⲑⲉ (πείθε-)
ⲉⲥⲩⲭⲁⲍⲉ = ϩⲏⲥⲩⲭⲁⲍⲉ (ἡσυχάζε-)
ϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲍⲉ = ⲉⲗⲡⲓⲍⲉ (ἐλπίζε-)
Lesson 1
1.1 Gender. There are two grammatical genders in Coptic: masculine and feminine. Nouns denoting male beings are usually masculine; those denoting females, feminine. The gender of other nouns cannot, in general, be deduced either from their form or meaning and must be learned for each noun. Examples:
masculine
feminine
ⲉⲓⲱⲧ
father
ⲙⲁⲁⲩ
mother
ⲕⲁϩ
earth, ground
ⲡⲉ
sky, heaven
ϩⲟⲟⲩ
day
ⲟⲩϣⲏ
night
There are some pairs of nouns where a formal relationship exists between the masculine and the feminine form:
masculine
feminine
ⲥⲟⲛ
brother
ⲥⲱⲛⲉ
sister
ϣⲏⲣⲉ
boy, son
ϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ
girl, daughter
ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ
old man
ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲱ
old woman
ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣ
dog (male)
ⲟⲩϩⲱⲣⲉ
dog (female)
These will be noted in the lesson vocabularies. The derivational process involved is no longer a productive one in Coptic: such pairs cannot be formed at will.
1.2 Number: singular and plural. Only a relatively small number of nouns have preserved a distinct plural form. For example:
singular
plural
ⲉⲓⲱⲧ
father
ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ
fathers
ⲥⲟⲛ
brother
ⲥⲛⲏⲩ
brothers
ϫⲟⲓ
ship
ⲉϫⲏⲩ
ships
The plural is otherwise made explicit by the form of the article (see below), the noun itself remaining unchanged. Those plurals that are in common use will be given in the lesson vocabularies along with the singular. They should be learned as they occur, since there is no consistent pattern for their formation.
1.3 The definite article. The definite article has the forms
masc. sing.
ⲡ, ⲡⲉ
fem. sing.
ⲧ, ⲧⲉ
common plural
ⲛ̄, ⲛⲉ
These are attached directly to the noun, as in
ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
man
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the man
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the men
ϭⲓϫ
hand
ⲧϭⲓϫ
the hand
ⲛ̄ϭⲓϫ
the hands
The plural article appears as ⲙ̄ before ⲡ and ⲙ (cf. Intro., p. xvi):
ⲡⲉ
sky
ⲧⲡⲉ
the sky
ⲙ̄ⲡⲏⲩⲉ
the heavens
ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ
sign
ⲡⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ
the sign
ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ
the signs
Before nouns beginning with a vowel the plural article appears as either ⲛ̄ or ⲛ:
ⲉϫⲏⲩ
ships
ⲛ̄ⲉϫⲏⲩ or ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ
the ships
Before initial stroked consonants there are several possibilities:
ⲙ̄ⲧⲟⲛ, ⲉⲙⲧⲟⲛ
repose
ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟⲛ, ⲡⲙ̄ⲧⲟⲛ, ⲡⲉⲙ̄ⲧⲟⲛ
the repose
ⲛ̄ⲕⲁ, ⲉⲛⲕⲁ
thing
ⲛⲉⲛⲕⲁ, ⲛⲛ̄ⲕⲁ, ⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲕⲁ
the things
The fuller forms ⲡⲉ-, ⲧⲉ-, ⲛⲉ- are used regularly before nouns beginning with two consonants:
ⲕⲗⲟⲙ
crown
ⲡⲉⲕⲗⲟⲙ
the crown
ⲛⲉⲕⲗⲟⲙ
the crowns
ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
woman
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
the woman
ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ
the women
Note that ⲟⲩ and (ⲉ)ⲓ have a consonantal value (w and y respectively) in certain initial situations:
ⲟⲩϩⲟⲣ
dog
ⲡⲉⲩϩⲟⲣ
the dog (pewhor)
ⲛⲉⲩϩⲟⲟⲣ
the dogs
ϩⲓⲏ
road
ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ
the road (tehyē)
ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
the roads
The fuller forms are also used with certain nouns denoting periods of time:
ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ
the time
ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ
the day
ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ
the hour (ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ)
ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ
the year
ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ
the night (ⲟⲩϣⲏ)
Note that ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ and ⲟⲩϣⲏ fall under the two-consonant rule above.
1.4 Prepositions. Coptic prepositions are proclitic (i.e. unstressed and bound) to the word they govern. In many texts some or all of the prepositions are printed as a unit with the following word: ϩⲓⲡϫⲟⲓ on the ship, ⲉⲡⲏⲓ to the house. In this text, however, all prepositions will be printed as separate words: ϩⲓ ⲡϫⲟⲓ, ⲉ ⲡⲏⲓ. An exception will be made only in the case of the preposition ⲉ (to, for) if it is ligatured orthographically to a following ⲟⲩ- as ⲉⲩ-.
The preposition ⲙⲛ̄ (with) is used as the conjunction "and" in joining two nouns:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
the man and the woman
A definite noun followed by a prepositional phrase or local adverb (e.g. ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ there) constitutes a full predication (sentence) in Coptic:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲓ ⲡϫⲟⲓ.
The man is on the ship.
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
The woman is in the house.
ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
The ships are there.
In sentences of this type there is no overt equivalent of English "is/are". We shall refer to sentences of this type as sentences with adverbial predicates.
Vocabulary 1
In the lesson vocabularies all nouns will be given with the definite article, separated from the noun by a period. This device makes both the gender of the noun and the correct form of the article clear at a glance. To save space, the article is not included in the definition. Prepositions and particles which regularly have assimilation of final ⲛ̄ to ⲙ̄ before ⲡ and ⲙ will be noted, as e.g. ϩⲛ̄ (ϩⲙ̄).
ⲡ.ⲣⲱⲙⲉ man, person; mankind.
ⲧⲉ.ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ) woman, wife.
ⲡ.ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ old man, monk.
ⲑⲗ̄ⲗⲱ old woman (= ⲧ.ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲱ).
ⲡ.ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ book, book-roll, document.
ⲡ.ⲱⲛⲉ stone.
ⲧⲉ.ϩⲓⲏ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ) road, way, path.
ⲡ.ⲧⲟⲟⲩ mountain; monastery.
ⲡ.ⲏⲓ house.
ⲡ.ⲛⲟⲩⲃ gold.
ϩⲛ̄ (ϩⲙ̄) in.
ϩⲁ under.
ϩⲓ on, upon.
ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ (ϩⲓϫⲙ̄) on, upon.
ⲙⲛ̄ with, together with, in the company of; and.
Exercises
ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ
on the road
ϩⲓ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ
on the mountain
ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ
in the road
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
in the house
ϩⲁ ⲡⲏⲓ
under the house
ϩⲁ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ
under the stone
ϩⲓ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ
in / on the book
ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
with the man
ⲙⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
with the woman
ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
upon the roads
ϩⲁ ⲛ̄ⲏⲓ
under the houses
ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲩ
on the mountains
ϩⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲏⲓ
in the houses
ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ
with the women
ϩⲓ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ
on the gold
ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ
the gold and the books
ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲑⲗ̄ⲗⲱ
the old man and the old woman
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
the man and the woman
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ
the men and the women
ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲱ
the old men and the old women
ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
The stone is on the road.
ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
The old men are on the road.
ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲱ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
The old women are in the house.
ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ϩⲁ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ.
The gold is under the stone.
ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲓ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ.
The book is on the stone.
ⲡⲏⲓ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
The house is on the mountain.
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
The men are on the mountain.
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
The woman is with the man.
ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
The books are in the house.
Lesson 2
2.1 The indefinite article. The indefinite article for nouns of either gender is ⲟⲩ in the singular, ϩⲉⲛ in the plural, prefixed directly to the noun:
ⲟⲩϫⲟⲓ
a ship
ϩⲉⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ
ships, some ships
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ
a man
ϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ
men, some men
ⲟⲩϩⲓⲏ
a road
ϩⲉⲛϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
roads, some roads
The plural indefinite article may be translated as "some, certain" or be omitted entirely in translation, as the context requires. The plural indefinite article is frequently written as ϩⲛ̄ and is easily confused with the preposition ϩⲛ̄. In the exercises to the lessons we shall always distinguish between the two, but in part of the Reading Selections the orthography of the source is maintained.
Because the use of the Coptic articles, both definite and indefinite, corresponds closely to the use of the articles in English, only exceptions to this general correspondence will be noted in the following lessons when appropriate. References to the omission of the article require special attention. For the present lesson note that indefinite nouns designating unspecific quantities of a substance require an indefinite article in Coptic where there is none in English:
ⲟⲩⲙⲟⲟⲩ
water
ϩⲉⲛⲟⲉⲓⲕ
bread
ϩⲉⲛⲁϥ
meat
The choice between the singular and plural article here is lexical, i.e. it depends on the particular noun. All such nouns, if definite and specific, may of course appear with the definite article: ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ, ⲡⲟⲉⲓⲕ, ⲡⲁϥ. Abstract nouns, such as ⲙⲉ truth, often appear with either article (ⲟⲩⲙⲉ, ⲧⲙⲉ) where English employs no article.
2.2 Indefinite nouns cannot be used as subjects of sentences with adverbial predicates unless introduced by the word ⲟⲩⲛ̄- or its negative:
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
A monk is on the road.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄- is actually a predicator of existence ("there is, there are"), and the sentence given may also be translated as "There is a monk on the road.".
The negative of ⲟⲩⲛ̄- is ⲙⲛ̄- (also spelled ⲙ̄ⲙⲛ̄-). In general, an indefinite article is deleted (omitted) in negation in Coptic:
ⲙⲛ̄-ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
There is no monk on the road.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
There is no man in the house.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄- and ⲙⲛ̄- are not used before definite nouns.
The sentence ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ is negated by adding ⲁⲛ:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲁⲛ.
The man is not in the house.
2.3 The genitive (or possessive) relationship between two nouns is expressed by the preposition ⲛ̄ (of):
ⲡⲏⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the house of the man
the man's house
ⲧϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
the woman's daughter
If the first noun is indefinite, however, the preposition ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ is used instead of ⲛ̄:
ⲟⲩϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ
a book of the monk
ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
a servant of the king
Vocabulary 2
ⲡ.ϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ, ⲧ.ϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ (ⲑⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ) slave, servant.
ⲡ.ⲣ̄ⲣⲟ (pl. ⲛ̄.ⲣ̄ⲣⲱⲟⲩ) king.
ⲧ.ⲣ̄ⲣⲱ queen.
ⲡ.ϫⲟⲓ (pl. ⲛ.ⲉϫⲏⲩ) ship, boat.
ⲧⲉ.ⲙⲣⲱ (pl. ⲛ̄.ⲙ̄ⲣⲟⲟⲩⲉ) harbor.
ⲡ.ⲙⲟⲟⲩ water.
ⲡ.ⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ river.
ⲡ.ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ fish.
ⲡ.ⲣⲁⲛ name.
ⲡ.ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ light.
ⲧ.ⲡⲉ (pl. ⲙ̄.ⲡⲏⲩⲉ) sky, heaven.
ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄) of.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ of.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄- there is, there are.
ⲙⲛ̄-, ⲙ̄ⲙⲛ̄- there is not, there are not.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ (prep.) about, concerning; for the sake of, because of.
ⲁⲛ not.
Exercises
ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲓ
on the boat
ϩⲁ ⲧⲡⲉ
under the sky
ϩⲛ̄ ⲙ̄ⲡⲏⲩⲉ
in the heavens
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
about the king
ⲙⲛ̄ ⲑⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ
with the (female) slave
ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ
in the harbor
ϩⲓ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
on the river
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ
about the gold
ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲙⲣⲟⲟⲩⲉ
in the harbors
ϩⲁ ⲡϫⲟⲓ
under the boat
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϩⲉⲛⲣ̄ⲣⲱⲟⲩ
about some kings
ϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ϩⲉⲛϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ
some men and some women
ϩⲉⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̄ ϩⲉⲛϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
some mountains and some roads
ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲱⲛⲉ
under a stone
ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲧⲟⲟⲩ
on a mountain
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲧⲃ̄ⲧ
in a fish
ϩⲓ ϩⲉⲛⲏⲓ
on some houses
ⲙⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϩⲗ̄ⲗⲱ
with an old woman
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ
about a book
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ
about the light
ⲛ̄ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
the fish (pl.) of the river
ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the men's boats
ⲛ̄ⲏⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
the king's houses
ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ
the old man's name
ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲉ
the light of the sky
ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ
the water of the harbor
ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲣ̄ⲣⲱ
the queen's name
ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ
the monk's books
ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
the water of the river
ϩⲉⲛⲱⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ
some stones of the mountain
ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
a slave of the king
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ
the wife of the slave
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ϩⲛ̄ ⲙ̄ⲡⲏⲩⲉ.
There is (a) light in the heavens. / Light is in the heavens.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ.
There are no fish in the harbor. / No fish are in the harbor.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ.
There is no water in the river. / No water is in the river.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
An old man is on the road. / There is an old man on the road.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛⲱⲛⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ.
There are some stones in the harbor. / Some stones are in the harbor.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲏⲓ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
There is no house on the mountain. / No house is on the mountain.
ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ϩⲓ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ ⲁⲛ.
The boats are not on the river.
ⲙⲛ̄-ϫⲟⲓ ϩⲓ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ.
No boat is on the river. / There is not a boat on the river.
ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲓ ⲁⲛ.
The books are not on the boat.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲛⲟⲩⲃ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ.
There is no gold in the slave's house. / No gold is in the slave's house.
Lesson 3
3.1 Relative clauses. As we shall see in subsequent lessons, relative clauses in Coptic exhibit a variety of forms, depending on the type of predication involved. In the present lesson we shall consider only those relative clauses associated with sentences with adverbial predicates. Note the transformation
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
The man is in the house.
→
(ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ) ⲉⲧ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
(the man) who is in the house
The relative pronoun ⲉⲧ functions here as the subject of the relative clause; it is not inflected for number or gender:
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ
the woman who is on the road
ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲑⲉⲛⲉⲉⲧⲉ
the monks who are in the monastery
Negation is with ⲁⲛ:
ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲑⲉⲛⲉⲉⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ.
Relative clauses cannot be used to modify an indefinite noun. This is an important general rule of Coptic.
Any relative clause may be substantivized, i.e. converted to the status of a noun, by prefixing the appropriate form of the definite article:
ⲡⲉⲧ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
the one who (he who, that which) is in the house
ⲧⲉⲧ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ
the one (f.) who is with the boy
ⲛⲉⲧ ϩⲓ ⲡϫⲟⲓ
those who (those things which) are on the ship
Such constructions may refer to persons or things, depending on the context.
The relative clause ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ, who (which) is there, is used to express the further demonstrative "that":
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
that man
ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
those ships
3.2 Greek nouns. The typical Coptic text contains a large number of Greek loanwords. Greek masculine and feminine nouns retain their gender; Greek neuter nouns are treated as masculine:
ὁ ἄγγελος
ⲡⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ
the angel
ἡ ἐπιστολή
ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ
the letter
ἡ ψυχή
ⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ
the soul
τὸ πνεῦμα
ⲡⲉⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ
the spirit
τὸ δῶρον
ⲡⲇⲱⲣⲟⲛ
the gift
Greek nouns appear in the nominative singular form of Greek and are usually not inflected in any way. Occasionally, however, a Coptic plural ending is added to a Greek noun:
ⲛ̄ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲟⲩⲉ
the letters
ⲛⲉⲯⲩⲭⲟⲟⲩⲉ
the souls
The Greek noun ἡ θάλασσα (the sea) was borrowed as ⲧ.ϩⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ, i.e. ⲑ was taken as the definite article plus ϩ. Thus, "a sea" is ⲟⲩϩⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ.
Initial χ, φ, θ, ψ, ξ of Greek nouns are considered two consonants in attaching the definite article (cf. Intro., p. x).
ⲧⲉ.ⲭⲱⲣⲁ
the country
ⲡⲉ.ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲥⲟⲫⲟⲥ
the philosopher
ⲧⲉ.ⲯⲩⲭⲏ
the soul
ⲧⲉ.ⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ
the offering
Vocabulary 3
ⲡ.ϯⲙⲉ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ⲧⲙⲉ) town, village.
ⲡ.ⲣⲟ (pl. ⲛ̄.ⲣⲱⲟⲩ) door, gate.
ⲡ.ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ (pl. ⲛ̄.ϫⲓⲥⲟⲟⲩⲉ) master, owner, lord; w. art., the Lord.
ⲡ.ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ god; w. art., God.
ⲡⲉ.ⲕⲣⲟ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ⲕⲣⲱⲟⲩ) shore, bank, margin-land.
ⲡ.ⲕⲁⲕⲉ darkness.
ⲡ.ϣⲏⲣⲉ son, child, boy.
ⲧ.ϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ daughter, girl.
ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ (adv.) there, in that place.
ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄ (ϩⲓⲣⲙ̄) (prep.) at the mouth or entrance of.
ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̄, ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̄ (ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄) in the presence of, before.
Greek nouns:
ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ (ἡ θάλασσα) sea, ocean.
ⲧ.ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ (ἡ πόλις) city.
ⲧ.ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ (ἡ ἐπιστολή) letter.
ⲡ.ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ (ὁ ἄγγελος) angel, messenger.
ⲡ.ⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ (ὁ τάφος) tomb.
ⲡ.ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ (ὁ μαθητής) pupil, disciple.
ⲧ.ⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ (ἡ ἐκκλησία) church.
Proper names:
ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ (Παῦλος) Paul.
ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ (Ἰησοῦς) Jesus; almost always abbreviated in Coptic texts: ⲓ̄ⲥ̄, ⲓ̄ⲏ̄ⲥ̄.
Exercises
ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ
at the entrance of the church
ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
in the presence of the king
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ
in the tomb
ⲙⲛ̄ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ
with the disciples
ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
the door of the house
ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲓ
the boat's owner
ⲛ̄ϫⲓⲥⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ
the owners of the boats
ⲧϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ
the (male) slave's daughter
ϩⲓⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
at the entranceway / doorway of the house
ⲟⲩⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡϯⲙⲉ
a church of the village
ⲟⲩⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ
a letter of Paul
ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲛ̄ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄
the disciples of Jesus
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
in the name of the Lord
ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
in the presence of God
ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
the bank of the river
ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ
upon the shore of the sea
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲕⲉ
in darkness
ϩⲓⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ
at the entrance / door of the tomb
ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ
the disciple's books
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲉ
the men of the villages
ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ
the stone which is in the harbor
ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲧ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄
the disciples who are with Jesus
ⲡⲕⲁⲕⲉ ⲉⲧ ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
the darkness which is upon the city
ⲛ̄ⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
the churches which are in the city
ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲙ̄ⲡⲏⲩⲉ
the light which is in the heavens
ⲛ̄ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ
the fish which are in the sea
ⲡϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲉⲧ ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
the slave who is in the presence of the master
ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
the water which is in the river
ⲛ̄ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲙ̄ⲡⲏⲩⲉ
the angels who are in the heavens
ⲛ̄ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲉⲧ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ
the monks who are in the monastery
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
the men of that city
ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
those villages
ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
that man's disciples
ⲛ̄ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
the children / sons of that (male) slave
ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ⲉⲧ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
the ships which are on the bank of the river
ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲉ.
God is in heaven.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϯⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
No church is in that village. / There is no church in that village.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ.
There is an angel at the door of the tomb. / An angel is at the door of the tomb.
ⲛ̄ⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ.
The letters are with the books.
ⲙⲛ̄-ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
There is no book there. / No book is there.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ.
There is a disciple of Paul in the doorway. / A disciple of Paul is in the doorway.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲕⲁⲕⲉ.
There is no light in the darkness.
ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲁⲛ.
The owner of the house is not in the house.
ⲡϫⲟⲓ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ ⲁⲛ.
The boat is not on the river.
ⲛ̄ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϯⲙⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
The children of the village are on the road.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲕⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
There are some tombs in those banks.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲕⲉ ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ.
There is (a) darkness upon the city.
Lesson 4
4.1 Pronominal possession is indicated by inserting a bound form of the appropriate pronoun between the definite article and the noun so modified. It is best to learn the forms, i.e. the article plus the pronoun, as a unit:
masc. sing. noun
sg.
1 com.
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ
my father
2 masc.
ⲡⲉⲕⲉⲓⲱⲧ
your father
2 fem.
ⲡⲟⲩⲉⲓⲱⲧ
your father
3 masc.
ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ
his father
3 fem.
ⲡⲉⲥⲉⲓⲱⲧ
her father
pl.
1 com.
ⲡⲉⲛⲉⲓⲱⲧ
our father
2 com.
ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲉⲓⲱⲧ
your father
3 com.
ⲡⲉⲩⲉⲓⲱⲧ
their father
fem. sing. noun
sg.
1 com.
ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲁⲩ
my mother
2 masc.
ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲁⲁⲩ
your mother
2 fem.
ⲧⲟⲩⲙⲁⲁⲩ
your mother
3 masc.
ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ
his mother
3 fem.
ⲧⲉⲥⲙⲁⲁⲩ
her mother
pl.
1 com.
ⲧⲉⲛⲙⲁⲁⲩ
our mother
2 com.
ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲙⲁⲁⲩ
your mother
3 com.
ⲧⲉⲩⲙⲁⲁⲩ
their mother
plural noun (my brothers, etc.)
sg.
1 com.
ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ
2 masc.
ⲛⲉⲕⲥⲛⲏⲩ
2 fem.
ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲛⲏⲩ
3 masc.
ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲏⲩ
3 fem.
ⲛⲉⲥⲥⲛⲏⲩ
pl.
1 com.
ⲛⲉⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ
2 com.
ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲛⲏⲩ
3 com.
ⲛⲉⲩⲥⲛⲏⲩ
Note that there is a gender distinction in the second and third persons of the singular but not of the plural. This is characteristic of all pronominal paradigms in Coptic. The term "common" (com.) refers to forms or categories where no gender distinction is made.
4.2 The nearer demonstrative "this" is expressed by the forms
masc. sing.
ⲡⲉⲓ-
fem. sing.
ⲧⲉⲓ-
com. pl.
ⲛⲉⲓ-
prefixed directly to the noun:
ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ
this man
ⲧⲉⲓⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
this woman
ⲛⲉⲓⲥⲛⲏⲩ
these brothers
After a noun with a demonstrative adjective the genitive is usually expressed by ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ, as in
ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ
this book of my brother('s)
4.3 The pronominal element -ⲕⲉ- inserted between the article and the noun expresses "other":
ⲡⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the other man
ⲛ̄ⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the other men
The indefinite article is omitted in the singular but not in the plural:
ⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
another man
ϩⲉⲛⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
(some) other men
-ⲕⲉ- may also be used after demonstrative or possessive prefixes:
ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
this other man
ⲡⲁⲕⲉϫⲟⲓ
my other ship
-ⲕⲉ- is not inflected for number or gender in this usage.
Vocabulary 4
ⲡ.ⲥⲟⲛ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ⲥⲛⲏⲩ) brother; often of a brother monk.
ⲧ.ⲥⲱⲛⲉ sister.
ⲡ.ⲉⲓⲱⲧ (pl. ⲛ̄.ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ) father; (pl.) parents, ancestors.
5.1 Sentences with nominal predicates. A second type of non-verbal sentence is illustrated by
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ.
He (It) is my father.
ⲧⲁⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲧⲉ.
She (It) is my mother.
ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲉ.
They are (It is) my brothers.
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡⲉ.
He (It) is a man.
ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲧⲉ.
She (It) is a woman.
ϩⲉⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ⲛⲉ.
They are (It is) ships.
The pronominal subject is expressed by ⲡⲉ (m.s.), ⲧⲉ (f.s.), and ⲛⲉ (pl.), the choice of which depends usually on the gender and number of the predicate noun. Simple two-member sentences like the above are relatively rare except in response to such questions as "Who is that?" "What are these?" where an answer giving the predicate alone is sufficient, the subject being understood from the context. Modifiers of the predicate, such as a genitive phrase, may optionally stand after the pronominal subject.
ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ.
He is the son of the priest.
A nominal subject may be added to the basic predication, producing a three-member sentence in which ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ are reduced virtually to the status of a copula. If the predicate is indefinite, the order is almost always predicate + ⲡⲉ, the subject being placed before or after the whole unit:
ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ.
My father is a teacher.
If the subject and predicate are both definite, the normal position of ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ is between them:
ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ.
This man is our teacher.
Identification of subject and predicate in this case can be made only on a contextual basis. The rarer order, ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ, places as emphasis on the real subject: "As for this man, he is our teacher."
In the event that there is a disagreement in the number or gender of subject and predicate, the copula ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ usually assumes the number and gender of the noun immediately preceding it.
All of the preceding sentences are negated by placing ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄) before the predicate and ⲁⲛ before the ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ:
ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
It is not my father.
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
My father is not a teacher.
ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
This man is not our teacher.
Note that in the case where both subject and predicate are definite, the nominal element negated is, by definition, the predicate.
Sentences with nominal predicates are converted to the status of relative clauses with ⲉⲧⲉ. For the moment we shall restrict ourselves to those clauses where ⲉⲧⲉ functions as the subject of the relative clause:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ
the man who is a teacher
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ
the man who is not a teacher
The phrase ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ is frequently used to introduce explanatory material, much like English "namely, i.e., that is to say":
ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ ⲡⲉⲭ̄ⲥ̄
our savior, i.e. Jesus Christ
5.2 The nearer demonstrative pronouns (this, these) are ⲡⲁⲓ (m.s.), ⲧⲁⲓ (f.s.), and ⲛⲁⲓ (pl.). They are frequently employed as subjects in sentences with nominal predicates:
ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ.
These are his words.
ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁϫⲟⲓ.
This is my ship.
ⲧⲁⲓ ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲧⲉ.
ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲓ.
This is a maidservant.
Vocabulary 5
ⲡ.ⲥⲁϩ teacher, master; scribe.
ⲡ.ⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ priest (Christian or otherwise).
ⲡ.ϩⲁⲙϣⲉ (pl. ⲛ̄.ϩⲁⲙϣⲏⲩⲉ) carpenter.
ⲡ.ⲉⲣⲡⲉ, ⲡ.ⲣ̄ⲡⲉ (pl. ⲛ̄.ⲣ̄ⲡⲏⲩⲉ) temple.
ⲡ.ⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ crowd, throng.
ⲡ.ϩⲁⲓ husband.
ⲧ.ϭⲟⲙ power, strength.
ⲧ.ⲙⲏⲧⲉ middle, midst; ⲛ̄/ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ in the middle/midst of.
ⲡ.ϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ (f. ⲧ.ϭⲁⲙⲁⲩⲗⲉ) camel.
ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ (adv.) perhaps.
Greek nouns:
ⲡⲉ.ⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ (ὁ χριστός) the Christ; regularly abbr. ⲭ̄ⲥ̄.
These pronouns occur frequently in sentences with ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ. When used as predicates in a two-member sentence, they are invariably followed by ⲡⲉ:
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ.
It is I.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ.
It is she.
ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲡⲉ.
It is we.
In three-member sentences they may appear in ordinary subject or predicate positions:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲭ̄ⲥ̄.
He is the Christ.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ.
He is a god.
ⲛⲉϥϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ.
We are his servants.
In sentences with an indefinite nominal predicate a special construction without ⲡⲉ is used with the pronouns of the 1st and 2nd person; negation is with ⲁⲛ alone:
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲟⲩϩⲁⲙϣⲉ (ⲁⲛ).
I am (not) a carpenter.
ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ.
We are priests.
In this construction a reduced proclitic form of the pronoun is very often used:
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-
I
ⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄-
you (m.s.)
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ-
you (f.s.)
ⲁⲛ-
we
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-
you (c.pl.)
as in
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ (ⲁⲛ).
I am (not) an angel.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄-ⲟⲩϩⲁⲙϣⲉ.
You are a carpenter.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ.
You are pupils.
A 3rd person masc. form ⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄- also occurs, but is very rare. The reduced forms of the 1st and 2nd person pronouns may also be used with a definite predicate, but this construction is rather infrequent:
These pronouns are used in sentences with ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ:
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ?
Who is it?
ⲁϣ ⲡⲉ?
What is it?
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ?
Who is this man?
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ?
What is your name? (note idiom)
ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ?
What is this?
ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ?
What are these?
The interrogative pronoun normally stands first. The choice of number and gender for the copula depends on the understood or expressed subject. The pronoun ⲟⲩ is also found with the indefinite article:
ⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ?
What is it? (lit.: It is a what?)
ϩⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲉ?
What are they? (lit.: They are whats?)
When the subject is a personal pronoun of the 1st or 2nd person, it may be placed before ⲛⲓⲙ or ⲟⲩ in normal or proclitic form:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄-ⲛⲓⲙ?
Who are you?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲟⲩ?
What are you?
The personal pronoun may be repeated for emphasis:
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ?
Who am I?
Note that ⲛⲓⲙ may also be used in ordinary genitive constructions:
ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲓⲙ?
Whose son?
Vocabulary 6
ⲡ.ϣⲱⲥ (pl. ⲛ̄.ϣⲟⲟⲥ) shepherd.
ⲧ.ⲥⲱϣⲉ field, open country.
ⲛ.ⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ sheep (pl.).
ⲡ.ⲉⲟⲟⲩ glory, honor.
ⲡ.ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ sign, token; marvel, miracle.
ⲧ.ⲥⲏϥⲉ sword.
Greek nouns:
ⲡ.ⲗⲁⲟⲥ (ὁ λαός) people.
ⲡ.ⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ (ὁ συγγενής) kinsman (usually plural).
ⲡ.ⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ (ὁ νόμος) law.
ⲡ.ϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ (ὁ ἡγεμών) governor, one in authority.
Proper names:
ⲧ.ⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ Syria (note article).
ⲧ.ⲅⲁⲗⲓⲗⲁⲓⲁ Galilee (note article).
ϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ Judea (ⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ; note article).
ⲡ.ⲓⲥⲣⲁⲏⲗ Israel, usually abbreviated as ⲡⲓ̄ⲏ̄ⲗ̄ (use article when it denotes the people).
Exercises
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ.
I am a slave of the governor.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩϣⲱⲥ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ϩⲓ ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ.
There is a shepherd there in the field.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ.
You (ms. sg.) are our teacher.
ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ.
We are his sheep.
ⲛ̄ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
It is not us.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ.
He is the glory of his people.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ-ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟ?
Who are you (fm. sg.)?
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲟⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
I am an angel of God.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
There is a sword there.
ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ?
What is this marvel?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ.
He is your (fm. sg.) husband.
ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
This is God's law.
ⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ?
What is the gospel?
ⲡⲓ̄ⲏ̄ⲗ̄ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲟⲥ.
His people is Israel.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ.
It's them.
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲉ? ⲛⲉⲥⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ ⲛⲉ.
Who are they? They are her relatives.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
You (fm. sg.) are my wife.
ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲱⲛⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
It is not a stone.
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ.
I am Joseph.
ⲡⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲓϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
The glory of the Lord is upon this man.
ⲁϣ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ? ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲉ.
What is this? It is a sign.
ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲭ̄ⲥ̄.
Perhaps he is the Christ.
ⲟⲩϯⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲅⲁⲗⲓⲗⲁⲓⲁ ⲡⲉ.
It is a village of Galilee.
ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ?
Whose temple is this?
ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲡⲉ.
This book is a gospel.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̄ ⲡⲉ.
It's you (pl.).
ⲁϣ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ?
What is the way?
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ.
There is a governor in Syria.
ⲁϣ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲓϭⲟⲙ?
What is this power?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ.
You (pl.) are priests.
ⲑⲗ̄ⲗⲱ ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ.
The old woman is in the presence of the governor.
ⲙⲛ̄-ϯⲙⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲟⲣⲓⲛⲏ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
There is no village in that hill-country.
ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ.
This is the king's law.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛϣⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲓ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
There are some shepherds on the mountain.
ⲡⲉⲓⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲉ.
This light is a sign.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲧⲉ.
She is a virgin.
ⲛ̄ϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲉ?
Whose camels are they?
ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲭ̄ⲥ̄ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
John is not the Christ.
ⲡⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲡⲁⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ ⲡⲉ.
The other man is my relative.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲁⲙϣⲉ.
He is the son of the carpenter.
ⲁϣ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲕⲁⲕⲉ ⲉⲧ ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ?
What is the darkness which is upon the city?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲉ.
They are my brothers.
ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ.
These are the words of your (pl.) law.
ⲛ̄ⲕⲉⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ.
The other sheep are in the field.
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ?
What is the governor's name?
ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲥⲏϥⲉ.
This is my sword.
ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥϭⲟⲙ ⲡⲉ.
It is a sign of his power.
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ?
Who is John's mother?
Lesson 7
7.1 The First Perfect. Verbal inflection in Coptic is commonly, but not solely, of the form: verbal prefix + subject (noun/pronoun) + verb. The infinitive is the main lexical form of the verb and may occur in all of the verbal conjugations. Its uses and further modifications will be dealt with in subsequent lessons. The conjugation known as the First Perfect is the narrative past tense par excellence and corresponds to the English preterite (simple past: I wrote, I wept, I sat down) or, if the context demands, the English perfect (I have written):
ⲁⲓⲃⲱⲕ
I went
ⲁⲕⲃⲱⲕ
you (m.s.) went
ⲁⲣⲃⲱⲕ
you (f.s.) went
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ
he went
ⲁⲥⲃⲱⲕ
she went
ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ
we went
ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ
you (c.pl.) went
ⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ
they went
The pronominal elements are for the most part familiar from the possessive prefixes of Lesson 4. In the 1st person singular ⲓ is normal for most of the verbal system (contrast the -ⲁ- of ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ). The pronominal element of the 2nd person feminine exhibits much variation and should be noted carefully for each conjugation introduced: ⲁⲣⲉⲃⲱⲕ and ⲁⲃⲱⲕ are also attested in the First Perfect.
If the subject is nominal, the verbal prefix is ⲁ-:
ⲁ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲃⲱⲕ
the man went
There are two other ways in which nominal subjects may be used in a verbal phrase: (1) they may stand before the verbal unit, which in the First Perfect still requires a pronoun as well:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ
the man went
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲥⲃⲱⲕ
the woman went
or (2) they may stand after the verbal unit, again with a pronominal subject, introduced by the element ⲛ̄ϭⲓ:
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the man went
ⲁⲥⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
the woman went
All three constructions are common and differ only in the emphasis accorded the subject. When the verbal prefix is followed by the indefinite article, the resulting ⲁ-ⲟⲩ… may be spelled ⲁⲩ…, as in
ⲁ-ⲟⲩϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲃⲱⲕ
ⲁⲩϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲃⲱⲕ
a monk went
7.2 The prepositions ⲉ, ϣⲁ, ⲉϫⲛ̄ are frequent after verbs of motion.
ⲉ indicates motion to or toward a place or person, less commonly motion onto or into:
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ.
He went to the shore.
ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.
They ran to the church.
ⲁⲩⲁⲗⲉ ⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲓ.
They got on (or into) the ship.
Otherwise the preposition ⲉ is very frequent in a general referential sense: "to, for, in regard to," with many other nuances that will be noted in passing.
ϣⲁ indicates motion to, up to; it is used more frequently with persons than places:
ⲁϥⲡⲱⲧ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
He ran to his father.
ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ.
We went to the bishop.
ⲉϫⲛ̄ indicates motion onto, on:
ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲱ.
He got on the donkey.
ⲁⲥϩⲉ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲕⲁϩ.
She fell on the ground.
ⲉϫⲛ̄ properly denotes motion onto, while ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ denotes static location; the two are sometimes interchanged. The same contrast exists with the less frequent pair ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄ (at the entrance of) and ⲉⲣⲛ̄ (to the entrance of).
Several of the prepositions we have already introduced also occur freely with verbs of motion. For example ϩⲓ, ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ (on or along a surface), ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ (behind, after), ⲙⲛ̄ (along with), ϩⲛ̄ (within a circumscribed area), ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̄ (into the presence of), ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄ (up to, near). The preposition ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ often has the sense of English "after" in "to go after," i.e. to go to fetch, or "to run after," i.e. to try to overtake. The reader should give particular attention to the use of prepositions with verbs, since these combinations are sometimes quite idiomatic and unpredictable.
Vocabulary 7
ⲃⲱⲕ to go.
ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ to walk, go on foot (usually).
ⲉⲓ to come; ⲉⲓ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ to come after, come to get.
ⲁⲗⲉ to go up, climb (onto, up to: ⲉ); to mount (an animal: ⲉϫⲛ̄).
ⲡⲱⲧ to run, to flee; ⲡⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ to pursue.
ϣⲗⲏⲗ to pray (for something: ⲉ, ⲉⲧⲃⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϩⲁ; for someone: ⲉ).
ⲣⲓⲙⲉ to weep (for someone: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄).
ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ to sit down (at: ⲉ).
ⲡ.ⲉⲓⲱ (pl. ⲛ.ⲉⲟⲟⲩ) ass, donkey.
ⲡⲉ.ϩⲧⲟ (f. ⲧⲉ.ϩⲧⲱⲣⲉ; pl. ⲛⲉ.ϩⲧⲱⲱⲣ) horse.
ⲛ̄ϭⲓ subject marker (see the lesson).
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ why?
The prepositions ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϣⲁ, ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄, ⲉⲣⲛ̄ as given in the lesson.
Greek nouns:
ⲡⲉⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ (ὁ θρόνος) throne.
ⲧⲉ.ⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ (ἡ τράπεζα) table.
Exercises
ⲁ-ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ.
The brothers went to the city.
ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲏⲓ.
The boy came to our house.
ⲁⲥⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.
His sister went to the doorway of the church.
ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ.
They came after their children.
ⲁ-ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ.
His mother walked to the tomb.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲁⲗⲉ ⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲓ.
His disciples climbed onto the boat.
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ϣⲁ ⲕⲉⲥⲟⲛ.
He went to another brother.
ⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ.
We came to the entrance of his house.
ⲁϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ.
Jesus walked on the shore of the sea.
ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲁⲗⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
The monks went up to the monastery.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲡⲱⲧ ⲉ ⲕⲉⲙⲁ.
His disciples ran to another place.
ⲁϥϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ.
He prayed for his children.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲡⲱⲧ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ?
Why did you (pl.) run onto the road?
ⲁⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲛϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲡϯⲙⲉ.
We walked with our wives to the village.
ⲁⲩϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲃⲱⲕ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ.
A monk went to the bishop.
ⲁϥϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
He prayed for our sins.
ⲁⲥⲉⲓ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲑⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
The (female) slave came into the presence of her master.
ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲉ.
Our Lord ascended to heaven.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲡⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ?
Why did you (ms. sg.) pursue my father?
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲣⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ?
Why did you weep over those men?
ⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ.
He sat down on the river's bank.
ⲁ-ⲑⲗ̄ⲗⲱ ⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲥϣⲏⲣⲉ.
The old woman wept for her son.
ⲁⲩϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩⲥⲛⲏⲩ.
They sat down with their brothers.
ⲁⲓⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲧⲁϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ.
I walked on the road with my daughter.
ⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ.
They went on that road to the city.
ⲁ-ⲡⲉϥϩⲧⲟ ⲡⲱⲧ ϣⲁ ⲧⲉϩⲧⲱⲣⲉ.
His (male) horse ran up to the mare.
ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϩⲧⲟ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲕⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ.
The bishop mounted his horse.
ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲁⲥⲉⲓ ϣⲁ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ.
His mother came to the king in / of the city.
ⲁⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲧ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
We prayed for our brothers who were / are in the monastery.
ⲁⲓⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
I wept over my sins.
ⲁ-ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ.
The king sat down on his throne.
ⲁ-ⲡⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲓⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
The disciple sat down in the doorway of the house.
ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛ̄ϣⲏⲣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ.
The children ran on the road to the harbor.
ⲁ-ⲡⲉⲓⲱ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉϥϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
The donkey walked behind its owner.
ⲁⲛⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲛⲉⲟⲟⲩ.
We mounted our donkeys.
ⲁⲩϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ.
His wife and his daughters sat down at the table.
ⲁ-ϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲓ ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ.
Some men came near the church.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲓⲱ ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ?
Why did you walk behind the donkey on the road?
ⲁ-ⲓ̄ⲥ̄ ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ.
Jesus sat down with his disciples.
ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛ̄ϣⲟⲟⲥ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ.
The shepherds walked behind their sheep.
ⲁ-ⲡϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ ⲡⲱⲧ ⲉ ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ.
The camel ran to the field.
ⲁⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ.
We prayed for a sign.
ⲁ-ⲡⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲓ ϣⲁ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲛ̄ ϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ.
The people of the city came to the governor of Judea.
ⲁ-ⲧϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲥⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ.
The girl sat down with her relatives.
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ.
The governor went to Syria.
ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲓ̄ⲏ̄ⲗ̄.
This is the God of Israel.
Lesson 8
8.1 Directional adverbs. Coptic possesses a set of directional adverbs which correspond very closely to English adverbs of the type "up, down, in, out, over, along, etc." As with their English counterparts, the directional meanings found with verbs of motion are for all practical purposes the basic meanings (e.g. to go up, to sink down, to run in), but extended uses are equally common (e.g. to shut up, to quiet down, to think over). The Coptic directional adverbs consist formally of the preposition ⲉ plus a noun, with or without the definite article. Most of the nouns in question are seldom met outside of these particular expressions and will be considered in more detail in a later lesson. Because these adverbs are so frequent, we shall follow the practice of other editors and write them as single units. The following eight are the most important:
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
out, away
ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ
in
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ
up, down
ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ
down
ⲉⲑⲏ
forward, ahead
ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ
back, rearward
ⲉⲧⲡⲉ
upward
ⲉⲡϣⲱⲓ
upward
The adverbs may be used alone, as in
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
He went away.
ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
He came in.
ⲁϥⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ.
He ran back.
But they very frequently combine with a simple preposition to form a compound prepositional phrase. Among the most frequent of these are
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉ
out to, away to
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄
out of, out from in, away from; (rarely) out into
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗
same as preceding
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ
away from on, out from on, away from at
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄
(1) away from (a person); (2) through, out through (a place); (3) through the agency of (a person or thing)
ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ
to, into, toward
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉ
up to, down to
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̄
up onto, down upon
ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ
down to, down into, down onto, down on
ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉϫⲛ̄
down onto, down on
ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲉ
back to
ⲉⲑⲏ ⲉ
ahead to, forward to
The meaning of most such compounds when used with verbs of motion is generally self-evident, but caution is in order when dealing with their use with other verbs. The dictionary should always be consulted to check on idiomatic and unpredictable meanings.
8.2 Clauses containing a First Perfect may be coordinated with the conjunction ⲁⲩⲱ (and) or follow one another with no conjunction (termed "asyndeton"):
ⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
ⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ, ⲁϥⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
He sat down and wept.
8.3 Many infinitives are used as masculine singular nouns. This usage will be noted without further comment in the lesson vocabularies from now on ("as n.m.:"). For the infinitives in Vocabulary 7 note the nouns ⲡⲉ.ϣⲗⲏⲗ prayer, ⲡ.ⲡⲱⲧ flight, and ⲡ.ⲣⲓⲙⲉ weeping.
Vocabulary 8
ϣⲁϫⲉ to speak, talk (to, with: ⲉ, ⲙⲛ̄; about: ⲉ, ϩⲁ, ⲉⲧⲃⲉ; against ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ, ⲟⲩⲃⲉ); as n.m.: word speech; matter, affair.
ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ to arise, get up (from: ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄); to rise up (against: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̄).
ⲧ.ⲣⲓ cell (of a monk).
ⲡ.ϩⲱⲃ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ) work, task; thing, matter, affair.
ⲣⲁⲕⲟⲧⲉ Alexandria.
ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄ (prep.) (1) through, by means of, by the agency of; (2) from with, from by (a person).
ⲟⲩⲃⲉ (prep.) against, opposite.
ⲁⲩⲱ (conj.) and.
Greek noun:
ⲡ.ⲃⲏⲙⲁ (τὸ βῆμα) platform, dais, viewing or judgement seat.
Note: Only the less predictable combinations of verb and prepositional phrase will be given in the lesson vocabularies. Other combinations in the exercises should be self-evident from the meanings of the individual words involved.
Exercises
ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲗⲏⲗ
through your (ms. sg.) prayers
ⲟⲩⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ
against our brothers
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓϩⲓⲏ
out through this road
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ
away to the river
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
out of the city
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ
away from the table
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ
about his task
ⲟⲩⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ
against your (pl.) words
ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ
through his words
ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲣⲁⲕⲟⲧⲉ
into Alexandria
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ
up to the platform
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ
up onto the mountain
ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲁⲣⲓ
into my cell
ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲓϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ
under these tasks / because of these things
ϣⲁ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ
to his disciples
ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ
at the entrance of his cell
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲣⲓⲙⲉ
about your (fm. sg.) weeping
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲡⲱⲧ
in his flight
ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ
down to the sea
ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ
down to the water
ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲩϯⲙⲉ
back to their village
ⲉⲑⲏ ⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲩ
ahead to the mountains
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ
away from the platform
ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϩⲧⲟ
up onto the horse
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ
out through the door of the house
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ
away from here
ⲟⲩⲃⲉ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
against the name of the king
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
through the agency of the Lord
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲡⲱⲧ
about your (pl.) flight
ⲁⲩⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ, ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
They got up and ran away.
ⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ, ⲁⲛϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ.
We came in and sat down.
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϯⲙⲉ.
He went back to his village.
ⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
He sat down and spoke with the men.
ⲁⲓⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ.
I got up from the table.
ⲁⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲣⲁⲕⲟⲧⲉ.
We walked in to Alexandria.
ⲡⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲱ.
The other man got up onto the donkey.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲣⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲩⲏⲓ?
Why have you (feminine sing.) run out of your house?
ⲁ-ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ.
The monk went into his cell.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ?
Why have you (pl.) spoken against our Lord?
ⲁⲓϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁϩⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
I sat down beside my father.
ⲁⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉⲩⲏⲣⲡ̄.
They spoke about their wine.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̄ ϩⲉⲛϩⲧⲱⲱⲣ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
There are some donkeys and some horses there.
ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ.
He came down from the platform.
ⲁⲩⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ.
The men rose up against the king.
ⲁⲓϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
I talked about my sins.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ.
The women walked down to the shore.
ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲙⲉ.
We went up / down to our villages.
ⲁⲥⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
She fled from those men.
ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ.
We went into the presence of the bishop.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ?
Why did you (ms. sg.) go back to the marketplace?
ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ.
He went out of this world.
ⲁⲥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲥⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲥϣⲏⲣⲉ.
She spoke with her mother about her children.
ⲁⲩⲁⲗⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲧⲱⲱⲣ.
The men mounted their horses.
ⲁⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ.
They spoke about the bread and the (pl.) fish.
ⲁⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲃⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ.
They spoke against his commandments.
ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲡⲉⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ.
He arose from the throne.
ⲁⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉⲑⲏ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲕⲁⲕⲉ.
We walked ahead in the darkness.
ⲁϥⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ.
He went up to the platform.
ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ.
He spoke about the monk's affairs.
Lesson 9
9.1 Prepositions with pronominal suffixes. A pronominal object of a preposition is expressed by means of a suffixed form of the pronoun. The preposition itself assumes a prepronominal form which must be learned with each preposition. For example, the preposition ⲉ becomes ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ before pronominal suffixes. The mark ⸗ is a convention used in Coptic grammars to indicate any form to which a pronominal suffix is to be added. The prepronominal forms of the prepositions introduced thus far are as follows:
ⲛ̄
ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗
ϩⲛ̄
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ⸗
ϩⲁ
ϩⲁⲣⲟ⸗
ϩⲓ
ϩⲓⲱ(ⲱ)⸗
ⲙⲛ̄
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁ⸗
ϣⲁ
ϣⲁⲣⲟ⸗
ⲉ
ⲉⲣⲟ⸗
ϩⲓϫⲛ̄
ϩⲓϫⲱ⸗
ⲉϫⲛ̄
ⲉϫⲱ⸗
ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄
ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗
ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ
ⲛ̄ⲥⲱ⸗
ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄
ϩⲓⲣⲱ⸗
ⲉⲣⲛ̄
ⲉⲣⲱ⸗
ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̄
ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁ⸗
ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄
ϩⲁϩⲧⲏ⸗
ⲟⲩⲃⲉ
ⲟⲩⲃⲏ⸗
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧ⸗
Because the variety exhibited by the prepronominal forms is at first puzzling, the following comments may be of some help:
In ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ and ϩⲁⲣⲟ⸗ the final syllable -ⲣⲟ⸗ is an original part of the preposition; it was lost in the normal prenominal form. ϣⲁⲣⲟ⸗ is on analogy with these.
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ⸗ and ϩⲓⲱ⸗ were originally compounds: ⲛ̄ ϩⲏⲧ⸗ in the belly (of), ϩⲓ ⲱ(ⲱ)⸗ on the back (of). The prenominal form ϩⲛ̄ was originally a noun meaning "interior" (cf. the ϩⲟⲩⲛ of ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ); ϩⲓ was a simple preposition.
ϩⲓϫⲱ⸗ and ⲉϫⲱ⸗ are ϩⲓ and ⲉ with the noun ϫⲱ⸗ (head, top); the noun is reduced to -ϫ- in ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ and ⲉϫⲛ̄, which also contain the genitival ⲛ̄.
ϩⲓⲣⲱ⸗ and ⲉⲣⲱ⸗ are ϩⲓ and ⲉ with the noun ⲣⲱ⸗ mouth, door; the latter is reduced to ⲣ in ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄ and ⲉⲣⲛ̄, with genitival ⲛ̄.
ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ is ϩⲓ plus the noun ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ (hand); the latter is reduced to -ⲧ- in ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄, with genitival ⲛ̄.
ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁ⸗ contains the noun ϩⲣⲁ⸗ (face). The initial element is obscure. ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̄ also contains the genitival ⲛ̄.
ϩⲁϩⲧⲏ⸗ consists of ϩⲁ plus the noun ϩⲧⲏ⸗ (heart, breast), reduced to -ϩⲧ- with the genitival ⲛ̄ in ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄.
The nouns contained in these expressions will be dealt with in a later lesson.
Typical inflections of these prepositions are as follows:
ⲉⲣⲟⲓ
to me
ⲉⲣⲟⲕ
to you (m.s.)
ⲉⲣⲟ
to you (f.s.)
ⲉⲣⲟϥ
to him
ⲉⲣⲟⲥ
to her
ⲉⲣⲟⲛ
to us
ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̄
to you (pl.)
ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ
to them
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲓ
with me
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ
etc.
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲉ
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲥ
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲛ
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲏⲧⲛ̄
ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ
in me
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲕ̄
etc.
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲉ
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧϥ̄
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲥ̄
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲛ̄
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ
ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲓ
against me
ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲕ
etc.
[ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲧⲉ]
ⲟⲩⲃⲏϥ
ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲥ
ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲛ
ⲟⲩⲃⲉ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄
ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲩ
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧ
because of me
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲕ̄
etc.
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲉ
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧϥ̄
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲥ̄
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲛ̄
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄
ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲟⲩ
The prepronominal form of ϩⲓ appears as both ϩⲓⲱ⸗ and ϩⲓⲱⲱ⸗; typical forms are
ϩⲓⲱⲱⲧ
on me
ϩⲓⲱⲱⲕ, ϩⲓⲱⲕ
etc.
ϩⲓⲱⲱⲧⲉ
ϩⲓⲱⲱϥ, ϩⲓⲱϥ
ϩⲓⲱⲱⲥ, ϩⲓⲱⲥ
ϩⲓⲱⲱⲛ, ϩⲓⲱⲛ
ϩⲓ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄
ϩⲓⲱⲟⲩ
The following details on the forms of suffixed pronouns in general should be noted for future reference:
The 1st pers. sing. suffix appears as ⲓ after a single vowel, as zero (nothing) after -ⲧ⸗, and as ⲧ elsewhere.
The suffix of the 2nd pers. fem. sing. appears as zero after a single vowel other than -ⲁ⸗, as -ⲉ in place of a single -ⲁ⸗, as -ⲉ after -ⲧ⸗, and as -ⲧⲉ elsewhere.
The suffix of the 2nd pers. pl. appears as -ⲧⲛ̄ after single -ⲟ⸗, -ⲁ⸗, -ⲱ⸗, with the change of -ⲟ⸗ to -ⲱ⸗ and -ⲁ⸗ to -ⲏ⸗. After -ⲧ⸗ one uses -ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄. Elsewhere -ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄ is usually added to the prenominal form of the preposition or other form in question, as in ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄.
Vocabulary 9
ϣⲱⲡⲉ to come into being; to take place, happen; ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ to befall, happen to (someone). ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ it happened that (followed directly by the principal verb, as in ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲛ it happened that he came to us).
ⲙⲟⲩ to die (of, from: ⲉⲧⲃⲉ, ϩⲁ); as n.m.: death, manner of death.
ϩⲉ to fall; ϩⲉ ⲉ to fall to, upon, into; to find, chance upon; ϩⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to perish, be lost, fall away.
ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄ to lie down, sleep; often a euphemism for dying.
ϩⲱⲛ to draw near, to approach (someone or something: ⲉ, ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ).
ϩⲓⲥⲉ to grow weary, exhausted; to be troubled, afflicted. As n.m. labor, toil; weariness, affliction.
ϩⲕⲟ to grow hungry; as n.m.: hunger, famine.
ⲡ.ⲕⲁϩ earth, ground.
ⲡ.ϣⲁ festival, feast day.
ⲡⲉ.ϩⲟⲟⲩ day; ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲟⲩ (adv.) today (note loss of ϩ); ϣⲁ ⲡⲟⲟⲩ up until today, until now.
ⲡⲉ.ϭⲗⲟϭ bed.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ (ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲱ⸗) (prep.) after (of time); ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲥ (adv.) afterward.
Greek words:
ⲇⲉ (δέ) postpositive conjunction: but, however. Frequently marks the introduction of a new subject or topic and has no translation value.
ⲧ.ⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲱⲅⲏ (ἡ συναγωγή) synagogue
Exercises
Translate the following prepositional phrases. Replace the nominal object with the appropriate pronominal suffix. E.g. ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲓϩⲱⲃ → ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧϥ̄.
The boy arose from the ground and ran to his father.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁ-ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄.
After these things, our Lord died.
ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲥϩⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉϭⲗⲟϭ.
It happened that she found the gold under the bed.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ.
The boats approached the harbor.
Lesson 10
10.1 The Direct Object. The direct object of a transitive verb is usually introduced with the preposition ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄, ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗):
ⲁϥⲕⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ.
He built a house.
ⲁϥⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ.
He built it.
Many verbs, especially those denoting perception, employ ⲉ:
ⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ.
We heard his voice.
ⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
We heard it.
Occasionally other prepositions assume this function, as for example ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ in
ⲁϥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
He looked for his wife.
ⲁϥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲥ.
He looked for her.
The appropriate preposition for each transitive verb will be given in the lesson vocabularies when a verb is introduced.
10.2 The Indirect Object (Dative). An indirect object, if present, is introduced with the preposition ⲛ̄ (ⲛⲁ⸗, inflected like ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁ⸗ in §9.1):
ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
I gave the book to the man.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ.
I gave him the book.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲁϥ.
I gave it to him.
It is unfortunate that the prenominal forms of the most frequent direct and indirect object markers are the same (ⲛ̄, ⲙ̄ before ⲡ and ⲙ). In general the direct object precedes the indirect object unless the direct object is nominal and the indirect object is pronominal. In the latter case either order is correct, but there is a preference for placing the indirect object first. The preposition ⲉ (ⲉⲣⲟ⸗) also often marks what Greek and English regard as an indirect object (dative).
10.3 The Negative of the First Perfect. The negative forms of the First Perfect are not formally related to the positive forms:
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲃⲱⲕ
I did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲕⲃⲱⲕ
you (m.s.) did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲃⲱⲕ
you (f.s.) did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ
he did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲥⲃⲱⲕ
she did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛⲃⲱⲕ
we did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲕ
you (pl.) did not go
ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲃⲱⲕ
they did not go
With a nominal subject: ⲙ̄ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲃⲱⲕ the man did not go.
Variant spellings such as ⲙ̄ⲡⲕ̄-, ⲙ̄ⲡϥ̄-, and ⲙ̄ⲡⲛ̄- are not uncommon.
10.4 As noted in Lesson 9, many prepositions consist of a simple preposition compounded with a noun. The nouns occurring in these expressions belong to a special group which take pronominal suffixes to indicate possession. We shall deal with the more important of these individually in later lessons, but for the moment note ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, the pre-suffixal form of ⲧⲱⲣⲉ (hand). The absolute form ⲧⲱⲣⲉ survives only in the special meanings "handle, tool, spade" and in some compound verbal expressions (see Glossary); in the sense of "hand" it has been replaced by ϭⲓϫ. Prepositions compounded with ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, such as ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, often employ a construction with an anticipatory pronominal object before the real nominal object, the latter being introduced by the particle ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄):
ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
by (through the agency of) the king
ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲏⲩ
to (into the hands of) his brothers
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̄ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
from (from the hand of) his wife
This same construction is also occasionally found with the other prepositions introduced thus far.
Vocabulary 10
ⲕⲱⲧ to build, erect (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲛⲁⲩ to see, look at (ⲉ).
ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ to hear, listen to (ⲉ); to obey (ⲛⲁ⸗, ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ).
ϣⲓⲛⲉ to seek, look for, inquire after (ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ); to visit (ⲉ); to greet (ⲉ).
ϭⲓⲛⲉ to find (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ϯ to give (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to entrust (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to: ⲉⲧⲛ̄); ϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲉ, ϯ ⲙⲛ̄ to fight with; ϯ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to sell (to: ⲉ, ⲛⲁ⸗).
ϫⲓ to take, receive (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ϥⲓ to lift up, take, bear, carry (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); ϥⲓ ⲙⲛ̄ to agree with; ϥⲓ ϩⲁ to bear, tolerate.
ⲧⲉ.ϣⲧⲏⲛ garment, tunic.
ⲧ.ϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ, ⲡ.ϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ garment, cloak.
ⲡⲉ.ϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ sound, voice.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ (ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗) from; used in a wide variety of expressions, but very frequently with verbs of receiving, accepting, hearing. The separative notion lies in the verbal idiom; thus, with other verbs it has the sense of (being) near, by, with, in the hand of.
ⲉⲧⲛ̄ (ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗) to; used frequently with verbs of entrusting, giving, handing over, transmitting.
Exercises
ⲁϥϯ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϣⲧⲏⲛ.
He gave me a tunic.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁϫⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
I sold him my boat.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄.
I gave the gold to him.
ⲁⲛϯ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We fought with those men.
ⲁⲩϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲛ.
They fought against us.
ⲁϥϯ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ.
He gave the gold to his son.
ⲁⲩϥⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲣⲱϥ.
They lifted the stone off of him.
ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ.
He lifted up his son.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛϥⲓ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We did not agree with them.
ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϭⲗⲟϭ, ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
He lifted up his bed and went away.
ⲁⲩⲕⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲣ̄ⲡⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
They built a temple there.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲩϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
They did not obey their master.
ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ.
I heard the voice of the priest.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲩ.
I did not hear about her death.
ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϫⲟⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We saw a boat there.
ⲁⲩϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲓ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ.
They sought me in the marketplace.
ⲁⲛϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ.
We found him on the shore with our teacher.
ⲁⲓϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ.
I visited him in his cell.
ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ.
He saw an angel.
ⲁⲓϫⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
I received them from my father.
ⲁⲩϫⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧ.
They took it from me.
ⲁⲛϯ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲉ.
We entrusted her to you (fm. sg.).
ⲁϥϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉϥϭⲗⲟϭ.
He found it under his bed.
ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
His father did not enter.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄?
Why didn't you (pl.) fall asleep?
ⲁⲛϥⲓ ϩⲁ ⲛ̄ϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We tolerated those afflictions.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲥϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲡⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ.
She did not approach the tomb.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϯ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
I did not sell the cloak.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϯ ⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓϣⲧⲏⲛ.
I did not give you (fm. sg.) this tunic.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲓ?
Why didn't you (fm. sg.) come to me?
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We did not speak with them.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲩϯ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲏⲧⲛ̄?
Why did they fight with you (pl.)?
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
He did not find us there.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲁⲗⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲩϫⲟⲓ.
They did not climb onto their boat.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ϫⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲓⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ.
You (pl.) did not receive these commandments from your fathers / ancestors.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲡⲕⲁϩ.
He did not arise from the ground.
ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ, ⲁϥⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
He heard their voices and fled.
ⲁⲩϥⲓ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ.
The crowd agreed with the bishop.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ.
We did not hear his words.
ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ.
He took my cloak.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲛⲁϥ.
His disciple did not obey him.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ.
My son did not come back.
ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ.
I heard about these things from my brother.
ⲁϥϯ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ.
He entrusted his mother to his disciples.
ⲁⲩϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ.
They found him in the midst of the crowd.
ⲁ-ⲡϩⲁⲙϣⲉ ⲕⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
The carpenter built us a house there.
ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲁ-ⲡⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ ⲙⲟⲩ.
Perhaps your (fm. sg.) husband has died.
ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥϭⲟⲙ.
I saw the glory of the Lord and his power.
ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲟⲣⲓⲛⲏ.
They fled with us to the hill-country.
ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ.
He spoke with me about the gospel.
Lesson 11
11.1 The Forms of the Infinitive. The nominal or pronominal object of many transitive verbs may be suffixed directly to the infinitive without the use of a prepositional object marker, as in
ⲁⲓϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
→
ⲁⲓϭⲛ̄-ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
I found my father.
ⲁⲓϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ.
→
ⲁⲓϭⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄.
I found him.
Infinitives that allow this construction have three distinct forms: (1) the normal (absolute) dictionary form (ϭⲓⲛⲉ), (2) the prenominal form (ϭⲛ̄-; note the conventional use of the single hyphen), and (3) the prepronominal form (ϭⲛ̄ⲧ⸗). For infinitives of some patterns these three forms are more or less predictable; for others there is much irregularity. We shall deal with the most important patterns individually in subsequent lessons. The forms of the pronouns to be suffixed to a given infinitive are very much the same as those suffixed to the prepronominal forms of the prepositions as given in §9.1. Other examples will be given as required.
11.2 Infinitives of the pattern ϫⲓ (i.e. consonant + ⲓ). Infinitives of this pattern show some irregularities, but three of these verbs (ϥⲓ, ϯ, ϫⲓ) are especially frequent and their forms should be learned:
ϯ
ϯ-
ⲧⲁⲁ⸗
to give
ϫⲓ
ϫⲓ-
ϫⲓⲧ⸗
to take
ϥⲓ
ϥⲓ-
ϥⲓⲧ⸗
to raise, carry
ϣⲓ
ϣⲓ-
ϣⲓⲧ⸗
to measure
The verbs ⲥⲓ (to become sated) and ⲉⲓ (to come) are intransitive and do not take direct objects. ϥⲓ, ϣⲓ, and ⲥⲓ may also be spelled as ϥⲉⲓ, ϣⲉⲓ, and ⲥⲉⲓ; the spelling ⲧⲉⲓ for ϯ is rare.
Object pronouns are attached to these verbs as follows:
ϫⲓⲧ
ϫⲓⲧⲕ̄
ϫⲓⲧⲉ
ϫⲓⲧϥ̄
ϫⲓⲧⲥ̄
ϫⲓⲧⲛ̄
ϫⲓ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄
ϫⲓⲧⲟⲩ
ⲧⲁⲁⲧ
ⲧⲁⲁⲕ
ⲧⲁⲁⲧⲉ
ⲧⲁⲁϥ
ⲧⲁⲁⲥ
ⲧⲁⲁⲛ
ϯ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄
ⲧⲁⲁⲩ
Note that ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄ (2nd pers. pl.) is attached to the prenominal form of the infinitive; the prepronominal form is also found: ϫⲓⲧ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄.
Vocabulary 11
ϣⲓ ϣⲓ- ϣⲓⲧ⸗ to measure (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to measure out; as n.m.: measure, weight, extent; moderation.
ⲥⲓ to become sated, filled (with: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲕⲱ (1) to put, place, set (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); (2) to leave, abandon (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); ⲕⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ to leave, abandon, renounce; ⲕⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ ⲛⲁ⸗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to forgive (someone: ⲛⲁ⸗; something: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲉⲓⲛⲉ to bring (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to a person: ⲛⲁ⸗, ϣⲁ); ⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to publish.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ to send (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to a person: ⲛⲁ⸗, ⲉ); ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ to send for.
ⲙⲉ to love, come to love (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲙⲓⲥⲉ to bear (a child: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); as n.m.: giving birth; offspring, progeny, one born.
ϣⲱⲛⲉ to fall ill, become sick; as n.m.: sickness, disease.
ⲣⲁϣⲉ to rejoice (at, over: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̄); as n.m.: joy, gladness.
ⲧⲉ.ⲩϣⲏ night (ⲟⲩϣⲏ).
ⲡ.ϩⲁⲧ silver, money, coins.
ⲡⲉ.ϣⲃⲏⲣ, ⲧⲉ.ϣⲃⲉⲉⲣⲉ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ) friend, companion.
ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ (adv.) very, very much, exceedingly; also ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲧⲉ.
Exercises
ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲁⲧ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲉ.
They entrusted me to you (fm. sg.).
ⲁⲛϣⲓⲧⲥ̄ ⲛⲁⲩ.
We measured it out to them.
ⲁⲓϫⲓⲧϥ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ.
I received it from them.
ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲛ.
You (pl.) gave it to us.
ⲁⲩϫⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲥ̄.
They took them out of it. / They received some of it.
ⲁⲕϥⲓⲧ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ.
You (ms. sg.) lifted me up.
ⲁⲓϣⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̄.
I measured them out to you (pl.).
ⲁⲓⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲥ.
I gave them to her.
ⲁϥϥⲓ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
He carried you (pl.) away / out.
ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲁⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧ.
They entrusted you (fm. sg.) to me.
ⲁⲓϯ-ⲡⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲛⲁⲥ.
I gave the bread to her.
→
ⲁⲓⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲥ
I gave it to her.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϯ-ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ.
He did not give the money to me.
→
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲓ
He did not give it to me.
ⲁⲛϯ-ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄.
We entrusted the books to him.
→
ⲁⲛⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄
We entrusted them to him.
ⲁϥϯ-ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
He sold them his house.
→
ⲁϥⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
He sold it to them.
ⲁⲥϯ-ⲧⲉϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲛⲁⲛ.
She gave us the tunic.
→
ⲁⲥⲧⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲁⲛ
She gave it to us.
ⲁⲛϫⲓ-ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ.
We received the gold from them.
→
ⲁⲛϫⲓⲧϥ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ
We received it from them.
ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ϫⲓ-ⲧⲉⲓⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄.
You (pl.) received this peace through him (i.e., through his agency).
→
ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ϫⲓⲧⲥ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄
You received it through him.
ⲁⲩϣⲓ-ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
They measured the road.
→
ⲁⲩϣⲓⲧⲥ̄
They measured it.
ⲁⲓϣⲓ-ⲡⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲛⲁⲩ.
I measured out the bread to them.
→
ⲁⲓϣⲓⲧϥ̄ ⲛⲁⲩ
I measured it out to them.
ⲁⲕϣⲓ-ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ.
You (ms. sg.) measured out the money to me. / You weighed the silver for me.
We abandoned our companions in the village and went ahead to the monastery.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ, ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩ.
Afterwards, the old man became ill and died.
ⲁϥⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ.
He rejoiced exceedingly with me over the death of the king.
ⲁϥⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ.
He loved that woman very much.
ⲁ-ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ.
God sent his law to them.
ⲁϥⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ.
The bishop sent for the monk.
ⲁⲓϣⲓ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲏⲣⲡ̄.
I measured out the bread and the wine to them.
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲁⲩϣⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ.
The men measured the field.
ⲙⲛ̄-ϣⲓ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ.
There is no moderation in his words.
ⲁⲩⲥⲓ, ⲁⲩⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ, ⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
They became filled, they got up from the table, and they left.
ⲁϥⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϩⲓⲟⲙⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϯⲙⲉ.
He sent the women and their children out of the village.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲕⲱ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ?
Why didn't God forgive you (pl.) your sins?
ⲁⲛⲥⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲛⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
We became sated with his words and we sent him away.
ⲁⲛⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
We rejoiced over the words of our Lord.
ⲁϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲣⲛ̄ ⲧⲣⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ.
He brought his son to the entrance of the monk's cell.
ⲁϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲁⲧ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲛ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ.
He brought the silver to us in the night.
ⲁⲥⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϯⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
She bore her son in that village.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ.
She did not bear him here.
ⲁ-ⲡϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
The (male) slave loved his master's daughter.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ?
Why didn't you (fm. sg.) bring me the book?
ⲁⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
They published his commandments.
ⲁⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁϥ.
They brought me into his presence.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲓ?
Why have you sent for me?
Lesson 12
12.1 The relative form of the First Perfect. When the First Perfect is used in relative clauses, it combines with the relative pronoun into a single unit.
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
which I heard
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
etc.
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲣⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲧⲁ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
These forms are very frequently spelled with ⲛ̄ for initial ⲉⲛ-, as ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓ-, ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕ-, etc.
The relative pronoun ⲉⲛⲧ- of the preceding paradigm and ⲉⲧ, which was introduced in §3.1, cannot be preceded directly by prepositions or direct object markers. The real syntactic function of the relative pronoun within the relative clause must be expressed by a resumptive pronoun. The general construction is most clearly understood by"Copticizing" a few English examples:
the man who went →
the man who he went
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ
the man whom I saw →
the man who I saw him
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
the man to whom I gave the money →
the man who I gave the money to him
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓϯ-ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛⲁϥ
the boat into which we climbed →
the boat which we climbed into it
ⲡϫⲟⲓ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲛⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
the sound which they heard →
the sound which they heard it
ⲡⲉϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
This use of resumptive pronouns is required in Coptic in all but a few instances which will be mentioned later on. Similar constructions with ⲉⲧ will be treated in Lesson 19.
When a relative clause contains more than one verb, the relative pronoun need not be repeated:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
the man who arose and left
12.2 The relative pronoun has the form ⲉⲧⲉ before the negative First Perfect:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
the man who did not flee
ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
the books which he did not find
12.3 As mentioned in §3.1, all relative clauses in Coptic may be substantivized by prefixing the appropriate form of the definite article. Resumptive pronouns are required. Study the following examples carefully:
the one who (or: he who) went
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ
the one (m.) whom they sent
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
the one (m.) to whom I gave the money
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓϯ-ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛⲁϥ
that (m.) which I took from you
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓϫⲓⲧϥ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ̄
those who took it (m.)
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϫⲓⲧϥ̄
the one (f.) whom they entrusted to us
ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁⲁⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲛ̄
12.4 Infinitives (cont.). With the exception of the verbs treated in §9.2, monosyllabic infinitives of the pattern consonant + vowel are relatively uncommon and do not constitute any sort of unified class. Some of these verbs are very important, however, and their forms should be learned:
ⲥⲱ
ⲥⲉ-
ⲥⲟⲟ⸗
to drink
ⲕⲱ
ⲕⲁ-
ⲕⲁⲁ⸗
to put, place
ⲉⲓⲱ
ⲉⲓⲁ-
ⲉⲓⲁⲁ⸗
to wash
ϫⲱ
ϫⲉ-
ϫⲟⲟ⸗
to say
ⲙⲉ
ⲙⲉⲣⲉ-
ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ⸗
to love
Some verbs of this type are intransitive and do not take direct objects: e.g. ⲙⲟⲩ (to die), ⲛⲁ (to pity), ϣⲁ (to rise: of the sun etc.), ϩⲉ (to fall), ϭⲱ (to remain).
12.5 When introducing a direct quotation, the verb ϫⲱ requires a "dummy" object (it: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ, -ⲥ) followed by the conjunction ϫⲉ, as in
ⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
He said, "I have not seen him."
With this particular verb the alternate object form ϫⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ is not permitted in the First Perfect. ϫⲱ may, of course, have a real direct object otherwise:
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϫⲉ-ⲛⲁⲓ.
I did not say these things.
Vocabulary 12
ⲥⲱ ⲥⲉ- ⲥⲟⲟ⸗ to drink (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); often with ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ in partitive sense (drink some of); as n.m.: drinking, a drink.
ⲉⲓⲱ ⲉⲓⲁ- ⲉⲓⲁⲁ⸗ to wash (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); + ⲉⲃⲟⲗ idem.
ϫⲱ ϫⲉ- ϫⲟⲟ⸗ to say (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲛⲁ to have pity, mercy (on: ⲛⲁ⸗, ϩⲁ); to pity; as n.m.: mercy, pity, charity.
ⲱ or ⲱⲱ to become pregnant, to conceive (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ϣⲁ to rise (of sun etc.); as n.m.: rising.
ϭⲱ to stop, cease, come to a stop; to delay, tarry. ϭⲱ ⲉ to wait for; ϭⲱ ⲙⲛ̄ to wait with, stay with.
ⲡ.ϩⲟ face.
ⲧ.ⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ foot.
ⲡ.ⲣⲏ the sun.
ⲡ.ⲁⲡⲟⲧ (pl. ⲛ.ⲁⲡⲏⲧ) cup.
ⲡ.ϥⲱ hair.
ⲡ.ⲙⲁⲁϫⲉ ear.
ⲡ.ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ, ⲧ.ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ milk.
ϫⲉ (conj.) introducing direct quotation.
Exercises
ⲡϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
the rising / festival which happened there
ⲡⲉⲑⲣⲟⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲉϫⲱϥ
the throne which he sat upon
ⲡⲉⲓⲱ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲁⲗⲉ ⲉϫⲱϥ
the donkey which I mounted
ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲉ
the money which I gave you (fm. sg.)
ⲛⲉϩⲧⲱⲱⲣ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲛϫⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ̄
the horses which we received from you (ms. sg.)
ⲛ̄ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱϥ
the children who walked behind him
ⲧϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥϣⲱⲛⲉ
the girl who fell ill
ⲡⲏⲣⲡ̄ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ-ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲥⲟⲟϥ
the wine which the monk drank
ⲧⲉϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥⲉⲓⲁⲁⲥ
the tunic which she washed
ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲩ
the words he said
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲛⲛⲁ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲟⲩ
the men we pitied
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲥⲙⲓⲥⲉ
the woman who conceived and gave birth
ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ-ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ ϭⲱ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧϥ̄
the place in which the monks stopped
ⲡⲉϣⲃⲏⲣ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϭⲱ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
the companion they waited for
ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ϭⲱ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
the monk who you (pl.) waited for
ⲡⲉϩⲧⲟ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
the horse you (ms. sg.) sold me
ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲣⲕⲁⲁϥ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ
the book which you (fm. sg.) set on the table
ⲡⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓⲥⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧϥ̄
the cup from which I drank
ⲧⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲥⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲥ̄
the milk he drank some of / the milk from which he drank
ⲛⲉϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛⲕⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲛ
the friends who we abandoned
ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲉϫⲱϥ
the speech / saying over which he rejoiced
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥⲉⲓⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ
the woman who washed his feet
ⲡⲥⲱ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲥⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
the drink which I became filled with
ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ-ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϣⲓⲧϥ̄ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̄
the money which our master measured out to you (pl.)
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲕⲱ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
the man whose sins you (ms. sg.) forgave
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲕ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ
the men who came to you (ms. sg.) in the night
ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧⲟⲩ
the brothers who he loved
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲟ
the man whose face you (ms. sg.) saw
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ-ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ
the men for whom the bishop prayed
ⲡⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱϥ
the disciple who they pursued
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϭⲱ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϯⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
the ones (i.e., the people) who stopped in that village
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲁⲡⲟⲧ
the one (i.e., the man) who drank from this cup
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϯ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲕ
the one (i.e., the man) who pitied me and gave me a piece of bread
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲉ-ⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ
the one (i.e., the man) who spoke these words
ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ
the one (i.e., the woman) who conceived me
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲛϭⲱ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ
the ones (i.e., the people) who we waited for
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲉ-ⲡⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ
the one (i.e., the man) who drank the milk
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
the ones (i.e., the people) who went away to the city
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲏⲓ
the ones (i.e., the people) who approached the entrance of his house
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ̄
the one (i.e., the man) who sent me to you (pl.)
ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧⲥ̄
the one (i.e., woman) who he loved
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲉⲓⲁ-ⲛⲉⲩϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ
the ones (i.e., the people) whose cloaks they washed / the ones (i.e., the people) who washed their cloaks
ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ
the ones (i.e., the people) who did not hear the speech
ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓϫⲟⲟϥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̄
the thing which I said to you (pl.)
ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
the ones (i.e., the people) who he did not send
ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
the ones (i.e., the people) who did not publish them / the things which they did not publish
ⲁⲥⲉⲓⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϩⲟ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲁϫⲉ.
She washed his face and his ears.
ⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
He said, "I have not seen him / it."
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲥⲱ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
After these things, the woman conceived.
ⲁϥⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
He wept over his companions who died on the road.
ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲥⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲣⲡ̄.
The monk did not drink any of the wine.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲡϣⲁ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲏ ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
After the rising of the sun, we left.
ⲁ-ⲧϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲉⲓⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥϥⲱ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ.
The girl washed her hair in the water of the river.
ⲁ-ⲡⲣⲏ ⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
The sun came up over the mountain.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲉⲓⲁ-ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄ϩⲟ?
Why didn't you (pl.) wash your faces?
ⲁⲩϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛϫⲓⲧϥ̄.
They said to us, "We did not take it."
ⲁⲛϭⲱ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We stayed with them in that night.
ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲉⲓ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ.
He spoke with us about his brothers who had not come with him.
ⲁ-ⲡⲣⲏ ϣⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲛⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ, ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
The sun rose, and we got up and went out.
ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲁⲙⲁⲁϫⲉ.
I heard these words in / with my ears.
Lesson 13
13.1 The Temporal. A special conjugation is used to express a subordinate temporal clause (English "when" with a simple past or pluperfect verb), as in
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ, ⲁⲓⲡⲱⲧ ϣⲁⲣⲟϥ.
When I saw him, I ran to him.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϫⲱⲕ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
When he had completed his work, he left.
The full inflection of this form, called the Temporal Conjugation, is as follows:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
when I heard
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲕⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
etc.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
when the man heard
Alternate spellings, such as ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲓ-, ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲕ̄-, ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣϥ̄-, are common.
The Temporal is negated by prefixing -ⲧⲙ̄- to the infinitive:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲧⲙ̄ϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
when I did not find him
With a nominal subject, -ⲧⲙ̄- usually remains with the verbal prefix:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲧⲙ̄-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̄
when the man did not answer
A Temporal clause usually stands before the main clause, but occurrences after the main clause are not rare:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ, ⲁⲓⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
ⲁⲓⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ.
I wept when I heard his words.
When a Temporal clause is continued with a second verb, the Temporal prefix is not repeated and the First Perfect is used:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲟ…
when I heard his voice and saw his face…
13.2 Relative clauses with ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ. Contrast the two sentences:
ⲁ-ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
My father left me there.
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
It was my father who left me there.
The second sentence, known in English as a type of cleft sentence ("it was … that/who …"), singles out the subject ("my father and no one else") as the actor, while the first sentence merely describes a past action with no special emphasis. The Coptic correspondent of the English cleft sentence employs ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ followed by the relative form of the verb. ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ usually combine with the relative form to produce ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓ-, ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕ-, etc.:
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
This form should not be confused with the nominalized relative ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ etc., which consists of the definite article plus the relative form (see §12.3). Contrast
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
It was my father who left me there.
ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
My father is the one who left me there.
The second sentence is a normal ⲡⲉ sentence: ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ is the subject, ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲕⲁⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ is the predicate.
The cleft sentence with ⲡⲉ is a favorite one with the interrogative pronouns:
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲕ?
Who sent you?
Who was it that sent you?
ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ?
What did you give to them?
What was it that you gave to them?
Note that in this case the English cleft sentence pattern ("who was it that") is slightly different from the one given above.
13.3 The preposition ⲉ is used before an infinitive to express purpose:
ⲁⲓⲉⲓ ⲉ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ.
I have come to speak with you.
The subject of the infinitive in this construction is usually the same as that of the main verb, but some laxness occurs, as in
ⲁϥⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲉ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ.
He sent me to speak with you.
13.4 Coptic has no real passive conjugations. The passive is expressed by using the 3rd pers. pl. of the active form in an indefinite sense:
ⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲕ.
I have been sent to you.
That such expressions are to be taken in a passive sense is most evident (1) when there is no clear reference for the pronoun "they", or (2) when an agent is added, usually with ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̄, as in
ⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ.
I have been sent by the king.
13.5 Infinitives (continued). Transitive infinitives of the pattern ⲕⲱⲧ have the following forms:
ⲕⲱⲧ
ⲕⲉⲧ-
ⲕⲟⲧ⸗
to build
ϫⲱⲕ
ϫⲉⲕ-
ϫⲟⲕ⸗
to complete
ϩⲱⲡ
ϩⲉⲡ-
ϩⲟⲡ⸗
to hide, to conceal
ⲱⲡ
ⲉⲡ-
ⲟⲡ⸗
to count
Transitive verbs of this pattern are quite common.
Vocabulary 13
ϫⲱⲕ (forms above) ± ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to finish, complete (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); as n.m.: end, completion.
ϩⲱⲡ (forms above) to hide, conceal (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲱⲡ (forms above) to count (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to esteem, have regard for (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to ascribe (someone or something: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to: ⲉ), to reckon as.
ⲃⲱⲗ ⲃⲉⲗ- ⲃⲟⲗ⸗ (1) to loosen, unfasten, undo (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); (2) to interpret, explain (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); ⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ = (1) and also: to nullify, annul (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲧⲱⲙ ⲧⲉⲙ- ⲧⲟⲙ⸗ to close, shut (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲟⲩⲉⲙ- ⲟⲩⲟⲙ⸗ to eat (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; partitive: ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄); ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ to gnaw at.
ϣⲱⲡ ϣⲉⲡ- ϣⲟⲡ⸗ (1) to receive, accept (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; from: ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄); (2) to buy (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; for a price: ϩⲁ).
ⲟⲩⲱⲛ to open (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲉ).
ⲡ.ⲁϥ meat, flesh (human or animal); piece of meat.
It happened that when the gate of the city was opened, the people ran out through it. / It happened that when they opened the gate of the city, the people ran out through it.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲓⲃⲱⲕ, ⲁⲓϫⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩϩ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲓ.
When I went, I took the rope with me.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲩ, ⲁⲛⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ.
When we heard the words which he spoke, we rejoiced very much.
When they saw the light of / in his face and heard his words, they fell to the ground and hid their faces.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ?
Why have you (pl.) annulled the commandments of your ancestors?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉⲥⲧⲙ̄ϩⲉ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲥϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ, ⲁⲥⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
When she did not find her daughter there, she wept.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲧⲙ̄ⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ, ⲁⲓⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
When he did not open the door of his cell, I went away.
Lesson 14
14.1 The Second Perfect. As we shall see in subsequent lessons, each "first" tense in Coptic has a counterpart called a second tense, the use of which places a special emphasis on some element of the sentence other than the verb, usually an adverbial phrase. Contrast the following:
First Perfect:
ⲁ-ⲡⲁⲓ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲕ̄.
This happened because of you.
Second Perfect:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲡⲁⲓ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲕ̄.
It was because of you that this happened.
As our translation indicates, the English cleft sentence is a handy way to render Coptic sentences with second tense verbal forms. Except for the special uses taken up below, the use of a second tense is not obligatory but depends on what the writer chooses to emphasize.
The Second Perfect has the same inflectional forms as the Relative of the First Perfect, but usually without the initial ⲉ: ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, etc.
When phrases containing interrogative pronouns or adverbs are placed after the verb, a second tense is regularly used, but exceptions are not rare:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ?
Why did you send him?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ?
To whom did he bring this letter?
But if the interrogative phrase is placed first, as is usually the case with ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ, the first tense is used:
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲕⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ?
14.2 Further remarks on interrogative pronouns and adverbs. The interrogative pronouns ⲛⲓⲙ (who?) and ⲟⲩ (what?) may be used as subjects or objects of verbs and as objects of prepositions. When they are used as the subject of a verb, the verb is normally in the second tense form:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲟⲩ ϣⲱⲡⲉ?
What happened?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲛⲓⲙ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ?
Who went in?
Examples of object usage, again regularly with the second tense:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ?
Whom did you see?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲓⲙ?
To whom did you give it?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲕⲁ-ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ?
What did he put there?
The construction introduced in §13.2 is used much more frequently than the preceding:
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ?
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ?
The interrogative adverbs ⲧⲱⲛ (where?), ⲉ ⲧⲱⲛ (whither?), ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲱⲛ (whence?), and ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ (or ⲧⲛⲁⲩ, when?) occur regularly in post-verbal position with a second tense:
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲡⲉⲕⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉ ⲧⲱⲛ?
Where did your father go?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩ ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ?
When did they die?
14.3 Infinitives (continued). In infinitives of the type ⲕⲱⲧ the ⲱ is modified to ⲟⲩ when the initial consonant is ⲙ or ⲛ:
ⲙⲟⲩⲣ
ⲙⲉⲣ-
ⲙⲟⲣ⸗
to bind
ⲙⲟⲩⲛ
—
—
to remain
The ⲟ of the presuffixal form is regularly replaced by ⲁ before stem final ϩ and (usually) ϣ:
ⲟⲩⲱϩ
ⲟⲩⲉϩ-
ⲟⲩⲁϩ⸗
to put, place
ⲟⲩⲱϣ
ⲟⲩⲉϣ-
ⲟⲩⲁϣ⸗
to want, desire
ⲙⲟⲩϩ
ⲙⲉϩ-
ⲙⲁϩ⸗
to fill
Vocabulary 14
ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲙⲉⲣ- ⲙⲟⲣ⸗ to bind, tie (someone: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ or suff.; with: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ϩⲛ̄; to: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ).
ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ (or ⲛⲟⲩϫ) ⲛⲉϫ- ⲛⲟϫ⸗ to cast, throw (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; at, into: ⲉ); ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to discard, throw away, abandon; ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ to cast down.
ⲟⲩⲱϩ ⲟⲩⲉϩ- ⲟⲩⲁϩ⸗ (1) to put, place, set (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); ⲟⲩⲱϩ ⲉϫⲛ̄ to add to, augment; (2) intrans.: to settle, dwell, reside (in: ϩⲛ̄; with: ⲙⲛ̄).
ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲟⲩⲉϣ- ⲟⲩⲁϣ⸗ to want, wish, desire (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); as n.m.: wish, desire; ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ of his own volition, as he wished. ⲟⲩⲉϣ- may be compounded with another infinitive: ⲟⲩⲉϣ-ⲉⲓ to wish to come, ⲟⲩⲉϣ-ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ to wish to hear.
ⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲙⲉϩ- ⲙⲁϩ⸗ ± ⲉⲃⲟⲗ (1) to fill (something: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ or suff.; with: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ϩⲛ̄, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄); (2) intrans.: to become filled, full (of, with: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗). An indefinite noun after ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ (that with which something is filled) normally has no article.
ϯ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ ϩⲓ to put (a garment: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗) on, to dress.
ⲡⲉ.ⲥⲛⲁⲩϩ bond, fetter.
ⲡⲉ.ϣⲧⲉⲕⲟ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ϣⲧⲉⲕⲱⲟⲩ) prison.
ⲧ.ⲣⲙ̄ⲉⲓⲏ (pl. ⲛ̄.ⲣⲙ̄ⲉⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ) tear(s).
ⲧ.ϭⲓϫ hand.
ⲧⲱⲛ (adv.) where? ⲉ ⲧⲱⲛ whither? ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲱⲛ whence?
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ, ⲧⲛⲁⲩ (adv.) when?
Greek nouns:
ⲡⲉ.ⲥⲭⲏⲙⲁ (τὸ σχῆμα) fashion of dress; monk's habit; ⲙⲟⲩⲣ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥⲭⲏⲙⲁ to garb someone in a monk's habit, to accept into monkhood.
When I closed the door, I sat down and counted the money which was given to me.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉⲩϩⲟⲟⲣ ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ.
The dogs gnawed at his feet.
ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲛⲟϫϥ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
This is the stone which was discarded.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲡϣⲁ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ?
When did the festival happen?
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲓⲥⲛⲁⲩϩ?
Who undid these fetters?
ⲁ-ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲟⲣⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲥⲭⲏⲙⲁ.
The bishop accepted us into monkhood.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛⲕⲁ-ⲡⲉⲛϯⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲕⲟ.
It was because of the famine that we abandoned our village.
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲟⲩⲁϩⲕ̄ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ?
Who put you (ms. sg.) here?
ⲁⲥⲟⲩⲉϩ-ⲧⲉⲥϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϭⲗⲟϭ.
She put her daughter on the bed.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲁϣⲉ.
His words filled them with joy.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲛⲉⲓϩⲓⲥⲉ ϩⲉ ⲉϫⲱⲛ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ?
Why have these afflictions befallen us?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲩⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲩ?
When was the gate of the city opened?
ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲕ ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ?
What happened to you (ms. sg.) in the gateway?
ⲁⲓⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩϩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ ⲡⲕⲁϩ.
I threw the rope down to the ground.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲩⲉϣ-ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ.
They did not want to hear my words.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲭⲏⲣⲁ ϣⲁ ⲡⲟⲟⲩ.
I did not see the widow until now.
ⲁⲓⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄.
I wanted to go to sleep.
Lesson 15
15.1 Adjectives. Although there is some debate over the existence of adjectives as a grammatical category in Coptic, it is nevertheless convenient to retain the designation for the words treated in this lesson. Most attributive adjectives may either precede or follow the noun they modify, joined to the noun with a linking particle ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄). The noun and adjective form a close unit; any article, possessive adjective, or demonstrative stands before the whole unit:
ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
ⲟⲩⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲟϭ
a large city
ⲡⲁⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲛ̄ ϣⲏⲣⲉ
ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ
my beloved son
ⲡⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁⲃⲉ
the wise man
These examples represent the normal attributive adjective construction. There are, however, some restrictions on certain special groups of adjectives:
Several adjectives show a distinct preference for the position before the noun in the given construction. These include ⲛⲟϭ great, ⲕⲟⲩⲓ small, ϣⲏⲙ small, ϣⲟⲣⲡ̄ first, ϩⲁⲉ last, and ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ beloved.
A few adjectives may be used after a noun without the linking ⲛ̄. These include ⲁⲥ old, ⲛⲟϭ great, ⲕⲟⲩⲓ small, ϣⲏⲙ small, ⲟⲩⲱⲧ single, ⲟⲩⲱⲃϣ̄ white. With the exception of a few fixed expressions, this construction is rare in standard Sahidic and should not be imitated.
Some adjectives have distinct feminine and plural forms; e.g.
masc.
fem.
pl.
ⲕⲁⲙⲉ
ⲕⲁⲙⲏ
—
black
ϩⲁⲉ
ϩⲁⲏ
ϩⲁⲉⲉⲩ(ⲉ)
last
ⲥⲁⲃⲉ
ⲥⲁⲃⲏ
ⲥⲁⲃⲉⲉⲩ(ⲉ)
wise
ϭⲁⲗⲉ
—
ϭⲁⲗⲉⲉⲩ(ⲉ)
lame
ⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ
—
ⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ
beloved
ϣⲟⲣⲡ̄
ϣⲟⲣⲡⲉ
—
first
ϩⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ
ϩⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧⲉ
ϩⲟⲩⲁⲧⲉ
first
ϣⲙ̄ⲙⲟ
ϣⲙ̄ⲙⲱ
ϣⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ
alien, foreign
The plurals in -ⲉⲉⲩⲉ also occur as -ⲉⲉⲩ. The fem. forms are used with sing. and plural fem. nouns. The plural forms occur mainly in substantivized usage:
ⲛ̄ⲥⲁⲃⲉⲉⲩⲉ
the wise
ⲛ̄ϩⲟⲩⲁⲧⲉ
the elders, prominent persons (e.g. of a city)
Greek adjectives may appear (1) in the Gk. masc. sing. form with nouns of either gender or number:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ
the good man
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ
the good woman
or (2) in the Gk. fem. sing. form if the modified noun refers to a female person:
ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲅⲁⲑⲏ
the good woman
or (3) in the Gk. neuter form with nouns of either gender if they denote non-humans:
ⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲗⲉⲓⲟⲛ
the perfect spirit
Greek substantivized neuter adjectives are treated as masculine in Coptic:
ⲡⲁⲅⲁⲑⲟⲛ
good, that which is good (τὸ ἀγαθόν)
A noun may be modified by more than one adjective, with various orders:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ
the righteous poor man
ⲡⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ⲣ̄ⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ
the great (and) righteous king
All Coptic adjectives may be substantivized ("one who is…, that which is…") by prefixing the appropriate form of the article:
ⲡⲉⲃⲓⲏⲛ
the poor man
ⲛⲉⲃⲓⲏⲛ
the poor (people)
ⲡⲉⲓϩⲏⲕⲉ
this poor man
ⲧⲉⲓϩⲏⲕⲉ
this poor woman
ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲃⲉ
a wise man
ϩⲉⲛⲥⲁⲃⲉⲉⲩⲉ
wise men
When the first noun in a genitive construction is followed by an adjectival phrase, ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ may optionally be used instead of ⲛ̄ for the genitive:
ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ ϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the man's crippled child
15.2 Adjectives as predicates are treated exactly like noun predicates. Note the obligatory use of the indefinite article:
What is the name of the village which you (pl.) reached that night?
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲓ?
Who was looking for me?
ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲛⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲛ̄ ϣⲏⲣⲉ.
This is the voice of our beloved son.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲃⲓⲏⲛ.
I gave the money to the poor.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
I did not want to speak with that crippled man.
ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲓ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲡⲱϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲓϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ?
What is the measure to which this righteous monk has attained?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲛⲟϫⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲧⲱⲛ?
Where did you (ms. sg.) discard them? / From where did you throw them?
ⲁⲓϭⲱ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲩϯⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ.
I remained in their village for a year.
Lesson 16
16.1 The interrogative pronouns ⲁϣ, ⲟⲩ, and ⲛⲓⲙ may be used adjectivally. This usage is most frequent in certain fixed expressions, the most important of which are
ⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ (of) what sort? This phrase is used attributively, as in
ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ϫⲟⲓ?
What sort of ship?
or predicatively (note obligatory use of indefinite article):
ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ?
Of what sort is this man?
ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϩⲉ (of) what sort? ⲛ̄ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϩⲉ in what way? how?
ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϩⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ?
Of what sort is this sign?
ⲛ̄ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϩⲉ ⲁⲕϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ?
How did you find him?
ϩⲛ̄ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ? at what time?
Similar use of ⲟⲩ and ⲛⲓⲙ is rarer, e.g. ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ? what man? ⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ what sort? In special contexts these same or similar expressions may have an indefinite value: ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ such and such a person, ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϯⲙⲉ some village or other, ⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲟⲩ this and that.
16.2 "Each, every" is expressed by ⲛⲓⲙ (not the same word as ⲛⲓⲙ who?) placed after a singular noun with no article: ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ every man, everyone; ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ everything; ϯⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ every village. Pronominal resumption is usually in the plural:
ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ
everything which we heard
ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲛⲏⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
every evil thing that he did
But resumption in the singular is not rare.
16.3 The indefinite pronouns are ⲟⲩⲟⲛ anyone; ⲗⲁⲁⲩ anyone, anything. These are most frequent in negative contexts as "no one, nothing":
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
I saw no one there.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϯ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲓ.
He gave me nothing.
ⲗⲁⲁⲩ also appears with the indefinite article: ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲁⲩ.
ⲗⲁⲁⲩ is often used adjectively:
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ.
No man saw me.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϣⲉⲡ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̄.
I received no book from him.
When (ⲟⲩ)ⲗⲁⲁⲩ or phrases beginning with (ⲟⲩ)ⲗⲁⲁⲩ are direct objects of transitive verbs (i.e. object with ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗), the use of the prenominal form of the infinitive is obligatory in the First Perfect and its negative. Thus ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϣⲱⲡ ⲛ̄ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ… is not permitted in the sentence above.
As a nominal predicate ⲗⲁⲁⲩ means "nothing", even when no negative is formally involved. The indefinite article is obligatory:
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲁⲩ.
I am nothing.
ϩⲉⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
Their gods are nothing.
ⲛ̄ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ or ⲗⲁⲁⲩ alone may be used adverbially in the sense "(not) at all":
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ (ⲛ̄) ⲗⲁⲁⲩ.
I didn't speak with him at all.
Note also the expression ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ everyone, everybody.
16.4 "All, the whole (of)" is expressed by ⲧⲏⲣ⸗ used in apposition to a preceding noun or pronoun. A resumptive suffix is required:
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
all the men (lit. the men, all of them)
ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄
the whole world, all the world
ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ.
They all came in.
The pronominal suffixes are the same as those used on prepositions and infinitives; the 2nd pers. pl. form is ⲧⲏⲣⲧⲛ̄. The 3rd pers. pl. ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ may also be used for 2nd pers. pl. reference.
They are used like the numbers three to five in §15.3.
Partitive expressions with numbers employ the preposition ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗):
ⲟⲩⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
one of the men
ϣⲟⲙⲛ̄ⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
three of them
ϣⲟⲙⲛ̄ⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ
three of the ships
The number"one", ⲟⲩⲁ (f. ⲟⲩⲉⲓ) is also used as an indefinite pronoun: a certain one, a certain man (or woman), as in
ⲁ-ⲟⲩⲁ ⲃⲱⲕ ϣⲁ ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ.
A certain man went to the archbishop.
Vocabulary 16
ⲑⲉ (ⲧ.ϩⲉ) manner, way. ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ prep. like, in the manner of; with pron. suff.: ⲛ̄ ⲧⲁϩⲉ like me, as I do. ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ in this way, thus.
ⲧ.ⲙⲓⲛⲉ kind, sort, type, species. ⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ of what sort? ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ of this sort, such.
ⲡⲉ.ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ time, occasion. ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ every time, always. ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ once, on one occasion (in the past). ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ at this/that time.
ⲡⲉ.ⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ presence. ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ in the presence of; with pron. suff.: ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲙ̄ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ in my presence.
And the words and expressions treated in the lesson.
Greek words and names:
ⲧⲉ.ⲭⲱⲣⲁ (ἡ χώρα) land, country.
ⲧ.ⲉⲣⲏⲙⲟⲥ (ἡ ἐρῆμος) desert, wilderness.
ⲡ.ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ (ὁ καρπός) fruit.
ⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ (Μωυσῆς) Moses.
ⲡ.ⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ (ὁ ἀρχιεπίσκοπος) archbishop.
ⲡ.ⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲣⲉⲩⲥ (ὁ ἀρχιερεύς) high-priest.
Exercises
ϩⲟⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ
some of this sort
ⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ
six sheep
ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄
all the money
ⲟⲩⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϭⲁⲗⲉⲉⲩⲉ
one of the lame
ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲟⲟⲩ?
what sort of glory?
ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁϣϥ̄ ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲟⲩ
for seven days
ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̄
all night / the whole night
ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓϣⲟⲡⲟⲩ
everything that I received
ⲟⲩⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ
a sword of this sort
ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲧⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ
all the villages of Syria
ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲙⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲣⲉⲩⲥ
in the presence of the high priest
ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁⲃⲉ
like a great wise man
ⲡⲁϩⲁⲧ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄
all my money
ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ
every man who he saw
ϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ
three kinds
ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲱⲅⲏ
everyone who is in the synagogue
ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄
the whole law of Moses
ⲥⲟⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲱϣⲉ
six fields
ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ
these ten commandments
ⲛⲉⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ
all the regions of this world
ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁϣϥⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ
for seven years
ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ
like a faithful servant
ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲛ̄
all of us
ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
all the poor of the city
ϩⲛ̄ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲁ
in any place
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ϫⲟⲓ
eight big ships
ⲟⲩⲁ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
one of them
ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲩ
every word he spoke
ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ϣⲱⲛⲉ?
what kind of sickness?
ϣⲱⲥ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ
two shepherds
ϩⲓϫⲛ̄ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ϩⲓⲏ
upon any road
ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲙ̄ⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
in his presence
ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ
any fruit
ϥⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ
four signs
ⲉ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϣⲓ?
to what measure?
ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉϥⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϯⲙⲉ
in his region and in his village
ⲛ̄ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲧ
for eight months
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲁϣⲉ
with great rejoicing
ⲟⲩⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲣⲉⲩⲥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲛⲏⲣⲟⲥ
a wicked high priest
ⲛⲉⲛϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
all our companions
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲕⲁ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉϫⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ.
I put nothing on the table.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ϩⲟⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ.
There are some of this sort in every city.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕϩⲁⲡ ⲛ̄ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ϩⲉ?
How did you (ms. sg.) find your money?
ⲟⲩⲁϣ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲓⲛⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ?
What kind is this book?
ϩⲛ̄ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲁⲥⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥϣⲏⲣⲉ?
At what time did she bear her son?
ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ? ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲁⲩ.
Who am I? I am nothing.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϯ-ⲟⲩⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲓ.
He gave me nothing.
ⲁⲛⲕⲁ-ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲛ.
We abandoned everyone.
ϩⲉⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲛⲏⲣⲟⲛ.
Their wicked words are nothing.
ⲁ-ⲟⲩⲁ ⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ.
Someone came to him in the night.
ⲁⲥϭⲱ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲥⲥⲩⲅⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ.
She stayed with one of her relatives.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ?
Why did you (fm. sg.) act like this?
ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲁ-ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲓ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ.
Once, the archbishop came to our monastery.
ⲁⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲯⲓⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
The nine men were brought in to him.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲩⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄.
I was sent to this whole people.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲙⲉⲣⲉ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
I loved no one in that place.
ⲁ-ϩⲟⲉⲓⲛⲉ ϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ.
Some (people) fell very ill on that occasion.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϯ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲛⲁⲛ.
He gave no bread to us.
ϩⲛ̄ ⲁϣ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲡⲱϩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ?
When did you (pl.) reach here?
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
There is no one there with him.
Lesson 17
17.1 The Imperative of most verbs is the same as the Infinitive, with no indication of number or gender:
ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲓ.
Walk behind me.
ⲙⲉⲣ-ⲡϫⲟⲓ ⲉ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ.
Tie the boat to the rock.
ⲙⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
Love the Lord.
ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ.
Listen to my words.
Negation is with the prefix ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄-:
ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
Don't speak with them.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ.
Do not go to the city.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ.
Do not lie down here.
A few verbs have special Imperative forms with prefixed ⲁ-:
ⲛⲁⲩ:
ⲁⲛⲁⲩ
look, see
ⲟⲩⲱⲛ:
ⲁⲩⲱⲛ
open
ϫⲱ:
ⲁϫⲓ-, ⲁϫⲓ⸗
say, speak
ⲉⲓⲛⲉ:
ⲁⲛⲓ-, ⲁⲛⲓ⸗
bring
ⲉⲓⲣⲉ:
ⲁⲣⲓⲣⲉ, ⲁⲣⲓ-, ⲁⲣⲓ⸗
do, make
The verb ⲙⲁ, ⲙⲁ-, ⲙⲁⲧ⸗ (or ⲙⲏⲉⲓ⸗) is used as the imperative of ϯ, but ϯ may also be used. The imperative of ⲉⲓ (to come) is expressed by ⲁⲙⲟⲩ, which has distinct feminine and plural forms: f. ⲁⲙⲏ, pl. ⲁⲙⲏⲉⲓⲧⲛ̄.
17.2 The vocative is expressed by using a noun with the definite article or a possessive prefix: ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ O king! ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ O my son! The Greek vocative particle ⲱ (Gk. ὦ) may also be used, but not before a designation of God.
17.3 Infinitives of the type ⲙⲓⲥⲉ, with stressed vowel -ⲓ- and final unstressed -ⲉ, have the following prenominal and presuffixal forms:
ⲙⲓⲥⲉ
ⲙⲉⲥ(ⲧ̄)-
ⲙⲁⲥⲧ⸗
to bear (a child)
ⲉⲓϣⲉ
ⲉϣⲧ̄-
ⲁϣⲧ⸗
to hang up, suspend
The prenominal forms of many of these verbs occur with or without the final -ⲧ. Several important verbs of this type have irregularities:
ⲉⲓⲣⲉ
ⲣ̄-
ⲁⲁ⸗
to do, make
ⲉⲓⲛⲉ
ⲛ̄-
ⲛ̄ⲧ⸗
to bring
ϣⲓⲛⲉ
ϣⲛ̄-
ϣⲛ̄ⲧ⸗
to seek, inquire
ϭⲓⲛⲉ
ϭⲛ̄-
ϭⲛ̄ⲧ⸗
to find
The final ⲛ̄ of ⲛ̄-, ϣⲛ̄-, and ϭⲛ̄- may be assimilated to ⲙ̄ before a following ⲡ or ⲙ. Note that in ⲛ̄ⲧ⸗, ϣⲛ̄ⲧ⸗ and ϭⲛ̄ⲧ⸗ the syllabic ⲛ̄ is the stressed vowel of the word. ⲣ̄- is often written as ⲉⲣ-. Suffixes are added to these forms regularly: ϭⲛ̄ⲧ, ϭⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄, ϭⲛ̄ⲧⲉ, ϭⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄, ϭⲛ̄ⲧⲥ̄, ϭⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄, ϭⲛ̄-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄, ϭⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩ. ⲁⲁ⸗ is inflected like ⲧⲁⲁ⸗ in §11.2.
17.4 There is a certain ambiguity surrounding the terms transitive and intransitive in classifying Coptic verbs. The strictest definition of a transitive verb requires (1) that its direct object be marked with the "preposition" ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗) and (2) that the general equivalence ⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ = ⲕⲟⲧϥ̄ be attested for the verb, i.e. that the verb possess prenominal and presuffixal forms. A less strict definition would require a transitive verb to satisfy either, but not necessariy both, of the above criteria. This is approximately the position adopted by W. E. Crum in his Coptic Dictionary, the standard lexical work in the field. Verbs not satisfying either of these criteria are labeled intransitive or are left unlabeled.
In the present work the designation transitive is extended to include verbs having prenominal and presuffixal forms that correspond exactly in meaning to the infinitive with ⲉ or ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ (e.g. ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ, ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ). Thus ⲥⲟⲧⲙⲉϥ = ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲣⲟϥ and ϣⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄ = ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱϥ are taken as fully equivalent to the criterion ⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ = ⲕⲟⲧϥ̄ above. A verb like ⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ (to seize) is considered transitive because its direct object is marked by ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, even though it does not have prenominal or presuffixal forms. It seems reasonable, therefore, to extend the designation transitive even further and to include verbs like ⲛⲁⲩ and ⲉⲓⲙⲉ (to understand), both of which normally have an object with ⲉ, but neither of which has prenominal or presuffixal forms. In other words, as long as there is no lexical contrast requiring the preposition ⲉ to have the semantic force of a true preposition (for, in regard to), we have generally labeled verbs with ⲉ-objects as transitive in the glossary of this work. Some subjectiveness remains, however, and one can sympathize with W. E. Crum in his desire to drop the terms transitive and intransitive altogether (op. cit., p. vii).
Vocabulary 17
ϩⲁⲣⲉϩ vb. tr. to guard, watch (ⲉ; from: ⲉ, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄); to keep, observe, preserve (ⲉ).
ⲉⲓⲙⲉ vb. tr. to understand (ⲉ); to know, realize (that: ϫⲉ).
ϣⲙ̄ϣⲉ vb. tr. to serve, worship (ⲛⲁ⸗); as n.m. service, worship.
ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ vb. tr. to call (ⲉ), summon, name. Note the constructions:
ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ.
They named him John.
ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ.
They called his name John.
ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
They named him after his father.
ⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ vb. tr. to grasp, seize, take possession of, take captive (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to learn by heart.
ⲡ.ϫⲁϫⲉ (pl. ⲛ̄.ϫⲓϫⲉⲉⲩⲉ) enemy.
ⲡ.ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ soldier.
ⲧⲉ.ⲥⲃⲱ (pl. ⲛⲉ.ⲥⲃⲟⲟⲩⲉ) teaching, instruction, doctrine.
ⲡⲉ.ⲛⲕⲁ thing (in general); property, belongings; ⲛ̄ⲕⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ everything.
ϫⲉ (1) conj. that, introducing noun clauses after verbs of speaking, knowing, perceiving; (2) introduces proper name or epithet in certain constructions.
The prefix of the 2nd pers. fem. sing. also appears as ⲧⲉⲣ- or ⲧⲣ̄-. ⲟⲩⲛ̄ must be used to introduce an indefinite nominal subject.
The First Present usually describes action, activity, or process in progress at the time of speaking. It is therefore equivalent to the English progressive present (am weeping, am writing, etc.) except in those English verbs that do not normally use this form (e.g. think, know, see, hear, understand, wish, hope, believe), where its equivalent is the simple present: ϯⲉⲓⲙⲉ I understand, ϯⲛⲁⲩ I see, etc.
The First Present is negated with ⲛ̄ before the subject pronoun and ⲁⲛ after the verb: ⲛ̄ϯⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ I am not weeping. The second pers. ⲛ̄ⲕⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ usually appears as ⲛⲅ̄ⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ, with ⲅ for ⲕ by assimilation to the preceding ⲛ̄ and with a shift of the supralinear stroke: ⲛ̄ⲅⲣⲓⲙⲉ to ⲛⲅ̄ⲣⲓⲙⲉ (i.e. from əng- to nəg-). A similar shift of the stroke occurs in the 3rd pers. sing.: ⲛϥ̄ⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ, ⲛⲥ̄ⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ. ⲛ̄ is optional before a nominal subject: (ⲙ̄) ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ. An indefinite subject requires the negation ⲙⲛ̄; no ⲁⲛ is used: ⲙⲛ̄-(ⲟⲩ)ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲣⲓⲙⲉ no man (or no one) is weeping. As in the negative of predications of existence, the indefinite article is usually omitted if the negation is felt as general rather than particular.
The infinitives ⲃⲱⲕ and ⲉⲓ are not used in the First Present.
With the sole exception of ⲟⲩⲱϣ (to wish, love), the prenominal and presuffixal forms of the infinitive cannot be used in the First Present. Certain compound verbs are an exception to this rule and will be considered in a later lesson.
The pronominal prefixes of the First Present and its negative are also used before adverbial predicates:
ϯϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ.
I am in the house.
ⲛ̄ⲥⲉϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲁⲛ.
They are not in the house.
18.2 The First Future (Fut. I) is formed by prefixing ⲛⲁ- to the Infinitive. Inflection is exactly like that of the First Present, including its negative:
ϯⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ, ⲕⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ…
Neg.
ⲛ̄ϯⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ, ⲛⲅ̄ⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ…
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ
Neg.
(ⲙ̄) ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ
Neg.
ⲙⲛ̄-ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲣⲓⲙⲉ
The First Future corresponds to the English simple future (I shall write, I shall go) or to the intended (planned) future (I am going to write, going to go). The 2nd pers. pl. commonly appears as ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁ- for expected ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁ-.
18.3 The term intransitive as applied to Coptic verbs requires a further comment (cf. §17.4). Coptic has many intransitive verbs, such as verbs of motion (ⲉⲓ, ⲃⲱⲕ, ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ) and verbs denoting activities involving no direct object (ⲣⲓⲙⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄, etc.), whose classification is not problematic. But the intransitive use of verbs that are also transitive requires some attention. In certain situations any transitive verb may be used intransitively: the object may be omitted because it is understood from the context, or the speaker may wish to predicate the action of the verb without reference to any particular object (e.g. we plowed all day as opposed to we plowed the field). This usage is as commonplace in Coptic as it is in English and will not be noted in the vocabularies or final glossary. There is another type of intransitive usage, however, that is quite different. Compare the following:
(1)
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϫⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
when he had completed his days
(2)
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲛⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
when his days were completed
(1) is the normal active transitive use of ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ; (2) involves a change in voice from active to passive (or medio-passive, as a more general term). For speakers of English this medio-passive usage offers no problem since many English verbs have the same ambiguity: he closed the door vs. the door closed; he burned the paper vs. the paper burned. In the vocabularies and final glossary the designation intr. before the meaning of a verb whose transitive meaning is given first will always refer to this medio-passive usage. Of the transitive verbs introduced up to this point, the following have important medio-passive uses:
ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ intr. to be completed, finished, fulfilled; to die.
ϩⲱⲡ intr. to hide (oneself).
ⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ intr. to be melted, scattered, dispersed; to come undone, be loosened; to go to pieces.
ⲧⲱⲙ intr. to shut, close (subject: door, eyes, mouth, etc.).
ⲟⲩⲱⲛ intr. to open.
ⲟⲩⲱϩ intr. to settle, dwell; to alight (on: ϩⲓϫⲛ̄, ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ϩⲓϫⲛ̄).
ⲙⲟⲩϩ intr. to become filled, full (of, with: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
18.4 Infinitives of the type ⲕⲱⲧⲉ (to turn), with stressed -ⲱ- and final unstressed -ⲉ, have the same prenominal and presuffixal forms as the type ⲕⲱⲧ:
ⲕⲱⲧⲉ
ⲕⲉⲧ-
ⲕⲟⲧ⸗
to turn
ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ (to throw), with -ⲟⲩ- for -ⲱ- because of initial ⲛ (cf. p. xvi) also belongs to this type; the infinitive ⲛⲟⲩϫ mentioned in Voc. 14 is a less frequent variant. Infinitives with -ⲱⲱ- and final -ⲉ have similar forms:
ϣⲱⲱϭⲉ
ϣⲉⲉϭⲉ-
ϣⲟⲟϭ⸗
to strike, wound
18.5 Greek verbs occur frequently in Coptic texts. These have a single fixed infinitive form resembling the Greek imperative form and are inflected like any other Coptic verb. Examples:
ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ
πιστεύω
to believe (ⲉ)
ⲉⲡⲓⲧⲓⲙⲁ
ἐπιτιμάω
to rebuke (ⲛⲁ⸗)
ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ
πειράζω
to tempt (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗)
ⲛⲏⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ
νηστεύω
to fast
ⲁⲣⲭⲓ
ἄρχω
to begin (+ ⲛ̄ + Inf.: to begin to do something)
Vocabulary 18
ⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲕⲉⲧ- ⲕⲟⲧ⸗ vb. tr. to turn (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; away: ⲉⲃⲟⲗ; back: ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ); intr. to rotate, circulate; to surround, go around (ⲉ); to consort (with: ⲙⲛ̄).
ⲥϩⲁⲓ vb. tr. to write (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; on, in: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϩⲓ, ϩⲓϫⲛ̄, ϩⲛ̄; to: ⲛⲁ⸗, ⲉ, ϣⲁ); to register; to draw, paint; as n.m. writing, letter.
ϭⲱϣⲧ̄ vb. intr. to look, glance (at: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ, ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ); ϭⲱϣⲧ̄ (ⲉⲃⲟⲗ) ϩⲏⲧ⸗ to look forward to, expect, await. Often with ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ, ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ, ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ.
ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ vb. tr. to know (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; about: ⲉⲧⲃⲉ; how to: ⲛ̄ + Inf.; that: ϫⲉ); to recognize, be acquainted with; as n.m. knowledge.
ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ vb. intr. to think, suppose (that: ϫⲉ; about: ⲉ); to ponder, consider (often + ⲉⲃⲟⲗ); as n.m. thought, mind.
ⲕⲱⲧⲉ n.m. neighborhood, surroundings; ⲙ̄/ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ in the neighborhood of, near, around; pron. obj. are expressed w. poss. prefixes: ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲕⲱⲧⲉ around him.
ϩⲏⲧ⸗ prep. forward to, before; used idiomatically with certain verbs, like ϭⲱϣⲧ̄ above and ⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to flee (ϩⲏⲧ⸗: from); anticipatory suffix is required.
ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ, ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϫⲉ conj. because.
ⲡ.ϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ desert, wilderness.
ⲧⲉ.ϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ, ⲡⲉ.ϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ dove.
ⲃⲗ̄ⲗⲉ (pl. ⲃⲗ̄ⲗⲉⲉⲩ, ⲃⲗ̄ⲗⲉⲩⲉ) adj. blind.
And the Greek verbs in §18.5 above.
Exercises
ⲁ-ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
His work was finished.
ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ.
Our souls will fill with joy.
ⲛ̄ϯⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲕ ⲁⲛ.
I do not believe you (ms. sg.).
ϯⲛⲁϩⲱⲡ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ.
I will hide in the desert.
ⲁ-ⲡⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁϣϥ̄ ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲟⲩ.
The devil tempted him for seven days.
ⲡⲉⲡⲛ̄ⲁ̄ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲧⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲁⲛ ⲉ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
The unclean spirit does not want to come out.
ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄ ⲛⲁⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
At that time, this whole world will be scattered.
ⲁ-ⲡⲃⲗ̄ⲗⲉ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ, ⲡⲁϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
The blind man said, "Pity me, my lord."
ⲁ-ⲡⲛⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϣⲙ̄ϣⲉ ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
The time of his service finished.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲟⲩⲱϩ ⲁⲛ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲭⲱⲣⲁ.
We will not settle in this region.
ϯⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ.
I think that you (ms. sg.) are righteous.
ⲛ̄ⲃⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲃⲗ̄ⲗⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲁⲟⲩⲱⲛ.
The eyes of the blind will open.
ⲕⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲛⲓⲙ?
Who do you (ms. sg.) think I am?
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ?
Why are you (pl.) consorting with men of this sort?
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲁⲩϩ ⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ.
His fetters loosened from his feet.
ⲁⲩϩⲱⲡ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ.
The brothers hid from the king's soldiers.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲕⲉⲡⲓⲧⲓⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ?
Why are you (ms. sg.) rebuking me?
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲟⲗⲏ.
You (pl.) will not understand his parables.
ⲛ̄ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲛ.
They will not believe my words.
ⲛ̄ϫⲓϫⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲁⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲛϯⲙⲉ.
The enemies will surround our village.
ⲁ-ⲧⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲱⲛ, ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ.
The sky opened and a great light came out.
ⲁ-ⲧⲉⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲁⲣⲭⲉⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
The woman began to weep.
ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲕⲉⲧ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ.
Perhaps you (pl.) will be turned back.
ⲛ̄ϣⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲥⲱϣⲉ.
The shepherds are guarding the sheep in the field.
ⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲃⲁⲗ ⲧⲱⲙ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ.
His eyes closed in death.
ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲟⲩⲱϩ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲑⲓ̄ⲗ̄ⲏ̄ⲙ̄.
They will settle near Jerusalem.
ϯⲛⲁⲛⲉϫ-ⲡⲁϥ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲟⲟⲣ.
I will throw the meat to the dogs.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ.
We will name him after his father.
ⲁⲛϣⲉⲡ-ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲕⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲛ.
We received the letter which you (ms. sg.) wrote to us.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲏⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲓⲙ?
Why are you (pl.) always fasting?
ⲁ-ⲛⲉⲥⲃⲁⲗ ⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲙ̄ⲉⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ.
Her eyes filled with tears.
ⲛ̄ⲥⲉϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ ⲁⲛ.
They are not on the road.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ, ⲁϥϭⲱϣⲧ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
When he heard the sound, he looked.
ϯⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁ-ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ ⲙⲟⲩ.
I am weeping because my brother has died.
ⲁ-ⲧⲉϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲱϩ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲃⲏⲙⲁ.
The dove alighted upon the platform.
ⲥⲉⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲭ̄ⲥ̄.
They think that he is the Christ.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲥϩⲁⲓ.
You (fm. sg.) do not know how to write.
ⲉⲡⲓⲧⲓⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
Rebuke them over their sins.
ⲧⲛ̄ϭⲱϣⲧ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧϥ̄ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
We are looking forward to that day.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ⲛⲏⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ.
He did not want to fast.
ⲁ-ⲡⲉⲡⲛ̄ⲁ̄ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉϫⲱϥ ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ.
The spirit came down upon him like a dove.
ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ.
These are the words which he wrote in the book.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲇ̄ⲁ̄ⲇ̄.
We do not know the words of David.
ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ϫⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
I know that you (ms. sg.) are the son of God.
ⲁⲩϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲧⲟⲙⲥ̄.
They approached the gate and closed it.
ⲛⲥ̄ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲁⲛ.
She is not in the house.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲃⲱ.
We know that his teaching is great.
ϯⲛⲁⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ.
I will flee from them to the desert.
ⲁϥϩⲕⲟ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲁϥⲛⲏⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲛ̄ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲟⲩ.
He became very hungry because he fasted for eight days.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲧⲉⲓⲭⲏⲣⲁ ⲛ̄ ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲓ?
Why is this poor widow walking behind me?
ⲁϥⲁⲣⲭⲓ ⲛ̄ ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ.
He began to speak with the crowd.
ⲁϥⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
He turned away the poor.
ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲕ. ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ.
I know you (ms. sg.). You are the devil.
ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲕⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ?
Why are you (ms. sg.) tempting me like this?
ⲛ̄ⲥⲉⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲕⲱⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ.
They are not around him.
ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ϫⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓⲣ̄-ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄.
You (pl.) will know that it is because of you that I have done these things.
ϯⲛⲁⲱⲡ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϫⲏⲩ ⲉⲧ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲙⲣⲱ.
I will count the ships that are in the harbor.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲁⲩⲕⲟⲧⲛ̄ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲛⲏⲓ.
When we wished to leave, they turned us back to our house.
Lesson 19
19.1 The relative forms of the First Present and First Future employ the relative pronoun ⲉⲧ, ⲉⲧⲉ. When the relative pronoun is the subject of the relative clause, no further pronominal subject element is required:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲣⲓⲙⲉ
the man who is weeping
ⲛⲉⲧ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ
those who hear my words
ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲉⲧ ⲛⲁⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
the soldiers who will seize him
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲛⲁⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲁⲧ
the men who will bring the silver
When the relative pronoun is not the subject of the relative clause, a subject noun or pronoun and resumptive pronouns are required; the relative pronoun combines with the various subject elements as follows:
ⲉϯ
who/which I…
ⲉⲧⲕ̄
who/which you…
ⲉⲧⲉ(ⲣ)
etc.
ⲉⲧϥ̄
ⲉⲧⲥ̄
ⲉⲧⲛ̄
ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄
ⲉⲧⲟⲩ
(note this form)
With nominal subject:
ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
who/which the man…
Study the following examples carefully:
ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉϯⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ
the words which I am writing
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲕ̄ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱϥ
the man whom you are seeking
ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲟⲩⲱϩ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧⲥ̄
the city in which they are settling
ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲧϥ̄ⲛⲁⲕⲁⲁϥ ⲛ̄ⲥⲱϥ
the child whom he will leave behind
ⲛⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲉⲧϥ̄ⲛⲁⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲛ
the commandments which he will give to us
ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲕⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲧⲁⲁϥ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ̄
the money which your father will entrust to you
When the verb of the relative clause is negative Pres. I or Fut. I, the relative pronoun is ⲉⲧⲉ and subject as well as resumptive pronouns must be expressed in all constructions:
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲛ
the men who do not heed me
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛϥ̄ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲛ
the man who will not heed me
ⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ
the words which we do not understand
ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲁⲙⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ
the villages which they will not seize
19.2 The direct object of a transitive verb may be used in a reflexive sense:
ⲁⲓⲛⲟϫⲧ̄ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ ⲡⲕⲁϩ.
I threw myself to the ground.
ⲁϥⲉⲓⲁⲁϥ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ.
He washed himself in the water of the river.
Some verbs have special meanings in the reflexive, e.g.
ⲟⲩⲁϩ⸗ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ to place oneself in the following of, go in accordance with; also simply "to follow".
ⲕⲟⲧ⸗ (1) to return, go back (to: ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲉ, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉ, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϣⲁ, ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ, ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉ); (2) to repeat an action, usually coordinated, as in
ⲁϥⲕⲟⲧϥ̄ ⲁϥⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
He wept again.
or with ⲉ + Inf., as in
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛⲕⲟⲧⲛ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ.
We did not see her again.
The verb ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ occurs optionally with reflexive suffixes: ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛϥ̄ = ⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ (he arose). After stem-final -ⲛ the 2nd pers. masc. sing. suffix -ⲕ often appears as -ⲅ: ⲁⲕⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛⲅ̄ you arose.
The reflexive verb ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗, to stand, is actually a compound of ⲁϩⲉ (a form of the verb ⲱϩⲉ, to stand) and the preposition ⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗ to or at the foot/feet of. ⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗ itself consists of the prep. ⲉ and the noun ⲣⲁⲧ⸗ foot, which belongs to that small group of nouns that may take pronominal suffixes in a possessive sense: ⲣⲁⲧ my foot, ⲣⲁⲧⲕ̄ your foot, etc.
19.3 Infinitives of the type ⲥⲱⲧⲡ̄, to choose, constitute the largest class of verbs in Coptic and have the following prenominal and presuffixal forms:
ⲥⲱⲧⲡ̄
ⲥⲉⲧⲡ̄-
ⲥⲟⲧⲡ⸗
When the final consonant of the infinitive is a blmnr consonant, the presuffixal form is usually written with -ⲉ- before the suffixes -ⲧ, -ⲕ, -ϥ, -ⲥ: ⲥⲟⲧⲙⲉϥ, ⲥⲟⲧⲙⲉⲧ, ⲥⲟⲧⲙⲉⲕ, etc. When the final consonant is -ϩ, spelling alternates between -ϩ and -ⲁϩ in the unbound form: ⲟⲩⲱⲛⲁϩ or ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̄.
When the second consonant of the Infinitive is ϩ (more rarely ϣ), the presuffixal form may have -ⲁ- instead of -ⲟ-:
ⲟⲩⲱϩⲙ̄
ⲟⲩⲉϩⲙ̄-
ⲟⲩⲁϩⲙ⸗
to repeat
ⲧⲱϩⲙ̄
ⲧⲉϩⲙ̄-
ⲧⲁϩⲙ⸗
to invite
When the infinitive begins with ⲙ or ⲛ, -ⲱ- is replaced with -ⲟⲩ-:
ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ
ⲙⲉⲩⲧ-
ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ⸗
to kill
ⲛⲟⲩϩⲙ̄
ⲛⲉϩⲙ̄-
ⲛⲁϩⲙ⸗
to rescue
Vocabulary 19
ϣⲓⲃⲉ ϣⲃ̄(ⲧ)- ϣⲃ̄ⲧ⸗ vb. tr. to change, alter (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. and reflex. to change, be altered (to: ⲉ; into: ϩⲛ̄; in form: ⲛ̄ ⲥⲙⲟⲧ).
ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗ vb. reflex. to stand (before: ⲉ; against: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲟⲩⲃⲉ; with ⲙⲛ̄).
ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̄ ⲟⲩⲉⲛϩ̄- ⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ⸗ (often + ⲉⲃⲟⲗ) vb. tr. to reveal, make manifest (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to: ⲛⲁ⸗, ⲉ); reflex. to appear, reveal self; intr. to appear, become manifest.
ϭⲱⲗⲡ̄ ϭⲉⲗⲡ̄- ϭⲟⲗⲡ⸗ (usually + ⲉⲃⲟⲗ) vb. tr. to reveal (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to: ⲉ, ⲛⲁ⸗); vb. intr. to become revealed, known, clear.
ⲣⲱⲕϩ̄ ⲣⲉⲕϩ̄- ⲣⲟⲕϩ⸗ vb. tr. to burn (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); vb. intr. to burn.
ⲡⲱϩⲧ̄ ⲡⲉϩⲧ̄- ⲡⲁϩⲧ⸗ vb. intr. and reflex. to bow, prostrate self.
Negation is with ⲧⲙ̄- placed either before the whole expression or before the infinitive: ⲧⲙ̄ⲧⲣⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ or ⲧⲣⲁⲧⲙ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ that I not hear.
The Inflected Infinitive is used in the following ways:
As a complementary infinitive, with ⲉ, after appropriate verbs of wishing or commanding when the subject of the infinitive is different from that of the main verb. Contrast
ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉ ϭⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ.
I want to remain here.
ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕϭⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ.
I want you to remain here.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲧⲙ̄ⲧⲣⲉⲕⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
We want you not to go away.
It is not incorrect, however, to say ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲉⲧⲣⲁϭⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ, with no change in subject.
Like the ordinary infinitive with ⲉ, the Inflected Infinitive is used in a wide range of result or purpose expressions, often corresponding to English "for… to…"
ⲁ-ⲡⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
The time arrived (lit. was fulfilled) for us to leave.
He gave him the power (for him) to cast out unclean spirits.
Because of the frequent use of the Inflected Infinitive with ⲉ, we shall spell this as a single unit, as in the preceding examples.
With the preposition ϩⲛ̄ + the definite article ⲡ- the Inflected Inf. has the force of a temporal clause with "while, as":
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲣⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ
while/as he was walking
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲣⲉ-ⲡⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ ϣⲗⲏⲗ
as the priest was praying
The tense of such "clauses" depends on the context. They occur frequently after introductory ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ:
ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲙ̄ϣⲉ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲉ…
It happened, however, as he was serving in the temple, that…
After the preposition ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ and without an article the Inflected Inf. is equivalent to a temporal clause with "after":
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲧⲣⲁⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ
after I saw them, …
ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲧⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
after his father left, …
The Inflected Inf. is used frequently with the impersonal expressions treated in the following paragraph. Other uses will be taken up in a later lesson.
20.2 Impersonal Expressions. The impersonal use of ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ was introduced in Vocabulary 9. There are several other impersonal expressions, some verbal, some anomalous, which occur frequently:
ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄ it is necessary (neg. ⲛ̄ ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄ ⲁⲛ), followed by the Inflected Inf. The subject of the infinitive may be anticipated with the preposition ⲉ; an untranslatable ⲡⲉ often co-occurs with ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄.
ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄ (ⲡⲉ) ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
It is necessary that we flee.
ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄ (ⲡⲉ) ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲉⲧⲣⲁϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲕ.
It is necessary that I speak with you.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ it is possible; neg.: ⲙⲛ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ it is not possible. The subject of a following infinitive may be introduced with ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, with the Inflected Inf., or both:
ⲙⲛ̄-ϣϭⲟⲙ ⲉ ⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ.
It is not possible to understand his words.
ⲙⲛ̄-ϣϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛ ⲉ ⲉⲓⲙⲉ.
ⲙⲛ̄-ϣϭⲟⲙ (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲛ) ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲉⲓⲙⲉ.
It is not possible for us to understand.
ϣϣⲉ (or ⲥϣⲉ) it is appropriate, proper, fitting; neg.: ⲛ̄ ϣϣⲉ ⲁⲛ or ⲙⲉϣϣⲉ. The subject of the infinitive may be anticipated with prep. ⲉ.
ϣϣⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉ ⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
It is proper for him to enter.
ⲛ̄ ϣϣⲉ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̄ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ϭⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ.
It is not proper for you to remain here.
The relative forms ⲡⲉⲧⲉ ϣϣⲉ, ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ϣϣⲉ, what is proper (neg.: ⲡⲉⲧⲉ/ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲙⲉϣϣⲉ) are often used as substantives.
ⲣ̄-ⲁⲛⲁ⸗ to please, used impersonally with subject ⲥ- and an object suffix, or with a personal subject and a reflexive suffix. The suffix on ⲁⲛⲁ⸗ is required; a nominal object is anticipated by a suffix and introduced with ⲛ̄.
Study the following examples:
ⲁⲥⲣ̄-ⲁⲛⲁϥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ.
It pleased him to come (i.e. he came willingly) into this world.
ⲁⲥⲣ̄-ⲁⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ.
It pleased the crowd (for them) to see this.
ⲁⲓⲣ̄-ⲁⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲁϫⲉ.
It pleased me to hear your words.
Note also the partially synonymous verb ⲣ̄-ϩⲛⲁ⸗ to be willing, desire, which is used only with a personal subject and reflexive suffix:
ⲁⲓⲣ̄-ϩⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ.
I wanted to write to you (about) these things.
ⲣ̄-ϩⲛⲁ⸗ is not used in the First Present; ⲣ̄-ⲁⲛⲁ⸗ has no such restriction.
20.3 The verb ⲡⲉϫⲉ-, ⲡⲉϫⲁ⸗, followed by its subject, is equivalent to ϫⲱ in the First Perfect, but is used only to report speech, with ϫⲉ:
ⲡⲉϫⲉ-ⲡϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ ϫⲉ…
The old man said, "…
ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲓ ϫⲉ…
He said to me, "…
20.4 Infinitives of the types ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̄, to console, and ϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̄, to disturb, have the following prenominal and presuffixal forms:
ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̄
ⲥⲗ̄ⲥⲗ̄-
ⲥⲗ̄ⲥⲱⲗ⸗
ϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̄
ϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲣ̄-
ϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲱⲣ⸗
With the exceptions of the infinitives treated below in Lesson 26, the remaining types of transitive infinitives do not constitute regular classes of any significant size. The following verbs of minor types have occurred in the lessons up to this point:
ϣⲙ̄ϣⲉ
ϣⲙ̄ϣⲉ-
ϣⲙ̄ϣⲏⲧ⸗
to serve
ⲥϩⲁⲓ
ⲥⲉϩ-
ⲥϩⲁⲓ⸗
to write
ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄
ⲥⲟⲩⲛ̄-
ⲥⲟⲩⲱⲛ⸗
to know
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲉⲩ-
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ⸗
to send
When the presuffixal form of the infinitive ends in a diphthong, as in ⲥϩⲁⲓ⸗ and ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ⸗, the object suffix of the 3rd pers. pl. regularly appears as -ⲥⲟⲩ: ⲥϩⲁⲓⲥⲟⲩ to write them, ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥⲟⲩ to send them. The -ⲥ- of this form sometimes appears also before other suffixes, e.g. ⲥϩⲁⲓⲥϥ̄ to write it.
Vocabulary 20
ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̄ ⲥⲗ̄ⲥⲗ̄- ⲥⲗ̄ⲥⲱⲗ⸗ vb. tr. to console, comfort (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. to be comforted; as n.m. consolation.
ϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̄ ϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲣ̄- ϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲱⲣ⸗ vb. tr. to disturb, trouble (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. to be disturbed, troubled; as n.m. trouble, disturbance.
ⲥⲟⲡⲥⲡ̄ ⲥⲡ̄ⲥⲡ̄- ⲥⲡ̄ⲥⲱⲡ⸗ vb. tr. to beseech, entreat (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗), often followed by ⲉⲧⲣⲉ-. The unbound and prenominal forms also occur as ⲥⲟⲡⲥ̄ and ⲥⲉⲡⲥ̄-. As n.m. prayer, entreaty.
ⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̄ ⲟⲩⲉϣⲃ̄- ⲟⲩⲟϣⲃ⸗ vb. tr. to respond to (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲛⲁ⸗); to answer.
ϫⲛⲟⲩ ϫⲛⲉ- ϫⲛⲟⲩ⸗ vb. tr. to ask, question (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; for: ⲉ; about: ⲉⲧⲃⲉ).
ⲙⲟⲕⲙⲉⲕ ⲙⲉⲕⲙⲟⲩⲕ⸗ vb. intr. or reflex. to think, ponder; as n.m. thought(s).
ⲙⲟⲥⲧⲉ ⲙⲉⲥⲧⲉ- ⲙⲉⲥⲧⲱ⸗ vb. tr. to hate.
ⲕⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ ⲉ + Inf. to allow (someone) to do (something).
Greek words:
ⲡ.ⲥⲱⲙⲁ (τὸ σῶμα) body.
ⲡ.ⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ (ὁ πειρασμός) temptation.
And the impersonal expressions ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄, ϣϣⲉ, ⲟⲩⲛ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ, ⲙⲛ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ.
The Imperfect is optionally, but often, followed by an untranslatable ⲡⲉ: ⲛⲉⲓⲕⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ, ⲛⲉⲕⲕⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ, etc. Negation is with ⲁⲛ: ⲛⲉⲓⲕⲱⲧ ⲁⲛ (ⲡⲉ), ⲛⲉⲕⲕⲱⲧ ⲁⲛ (ⲡⲉ), etc.
The Imperfect is used to describe an action, activity, or process as in progress in past time and is normally the equivalent of the English past progressive unless idiom requires the simple past, e.g. ⲛⲉⲩⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ they knew (not: they were knowing). It also often conveys the meaning of habitual or recurring activity in the past: they used to build, they would build.
Relative clauses containing an Imperfect are introduced with the relative pronoun ⲉⲧⲉ or, more frequently, with ⲉ- prefixed directly to the verbal form:
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ
the man who was walking on the road
ⲡⲏⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲩⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
ⲡⲏⲓ ⲉⲛⲉⲩⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
the house which they were building
Pronominal resumption of the subject is required. In general, the prenominal and suffixal (prepronominal) forms of the infinitive may not be used in the Imperfect.
21.2 The Qualitative. Many verbs possess a second lexical form known as the qualitative. The qualitative describes a state or quality resulting from the action, activity, or process expressed by the Infinitive; it is most conveniently taken as equivalent to English "to be" plus an adjective. The qualitative of transitive verbs is passive from the English point of view. E.g.
Inf.
ⲕⲱⲧ
to build
Q.
ⲕⲏⲧ
to be built (i.e. in a fully constructed state)
Inf.
ϩⲱⲡ
to hide
Q.
ϩⲏⲡ
to be hidden, secret
The form of the qualitative is more or less predictable for verbs belonging to the main classes:
type
ⲕⲱⲧ:
Q.
ⲕⲏⲧ
ⲙⲟⲩⲣ:
Q.
ⲙⲏⲣ
ⲏⲡ
to be reckoned, ascribed to (ⲉ)
ϫⲏⲕ (ⲉⲃⲟⲗ)
to be finished, done, perfect
ⲃⲏⲗ
to be loosened, undone, untied, dissolved
ϣⲏⲡ
to be received, acceptable
ⲙⲏϩ, ⲙⲉϩ
to be full
ⲟⲩⲏϩ
to live, dwell, be
ⲙⲏⲣ
to be bound
ⲧⲏⲙ
to be shut
ⲟⲩⲏⲛ
to be open
type
ⲕⲱⲧⲉ:
Q.
ⲕⲏⲧ
ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ:
Q.
ⲛⲏϫ
ⲕⲏⲧ
to be turned, turning, circulating
ⲛⲏϫ
to be lying, reclining (esp. at table); to be
type
ⲙⲓⲥⲉ:
Q.
ⲙⲟⲥⲉ
ⲙⲟⲥⲉ
to be born
ϣⲟⲃⲉ
to be different, various
type
ⲥⲱⲧⲡ̄:
Q.
ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̄
ⲡⲱϩⲧ̄:
Q.
ⲡⲁϩⲧ̄
ⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ̄
to be manifest, clear, plain
ϭⲟⲗⲡ̄
to be known, revealed, clear
ⲣⲟⲕϩ̄
to be burned, destroyed by fire
ⲡⲁϩⲧ̄
to be prostrated, bowing
type
ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̄:
Q.
ⲥⲗ̄ⲥⲱⲗ
ϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̄:
Q.
ϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲱⲣ
ⲥⲗ̄ⲥⲱⲗ
to be consoled
ϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲱⲣ
to be disturbed, upset
Otherwise, there is some irregularity:
ⲕⲱ:
Q.
ⲕⲏ
to be situated, lying; to be
ⲥϩⲁⲓ:
Q.
ⲥⲏϩ
to be in writing, written
ⲥⲓ:
Q.
ⲥⲏⲩ
to be sated, full
Note that ⲕⲏ, ⲛⲏϫ, and ⲟⲩⲏϩ may all correspond to English "to be" when location or position is involved.
The qualitative is a verb and may stand in place of the Infinitive in the First Present and the Imperfect, together with their negative and relative forms. It is especially important to keep in mind that the qualitative does not express a passive action (cf. §13.4); it describes the state that the subject is (or was) in:
ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲟ ⲧⲏⲙ ⲡⲉ.
The door was shut.
ⲛ̄ϯϣⲧⲣ̄ⲧⲱⲣ ⲁⲛ.
I am not disturbed.
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲏϫ ϩⲓ ⲡⲕⲁϩ.
The man is lying on the ground.
ⲛ̄ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙⲏⲣ
the men who are bound
The qualitative may not be used in any of the other conjugations introduced up to this point, including the various constructions with the Infinitive and Inflected Infinitive.
21.3 Prepositional phrases with ϩⲛ̄ + a noun with the indefinite article occur very frequently as adverbs:
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
completely
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϣⲥ̄ⲛⲉ
suddenly
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ
hurriedly
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲙⲉ
truly
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲣⲁϣⲉ
joyfully
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲥⲉ
with difficulty, anxiously
ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϣⲧⲟⲣⲧⲣ̄
agitatedly
For ϣⲥ̄ⲛⲉ, ⲙⲉ, and ϭⲉⲡⲏ see the Vocabulary below.
Vocabulary 21
ⲙⲟⲩⲛ vb. intr. (± ⲉⲃⲟⲗ) to remain, last, endure; as n.m. perseverance, continuing. ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ continuously.
ⲥⲙⲟⲩ, Q ⲥⲙⲁⲙⲁⲁⲧ vb. tr. to bless (ⲉ); Q to be blessed.
ⲥⲱϭ ⲥⲉϭ- ⲥⲟϭ⸗ Q ⲥⲏϭ vb. tr. to paralyze; Q to be paralyzed.
ⲧⲉ.ⲩⲛⲟⲩ (ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ) hour. ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ adv. immediately, forthwith. ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ adv. now. ϣⲁ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ until now. ϫⲓⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ from now on.
ⲉⲛⲉϩ eternity; freq. as adv. forever (with neg.: never). ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ, ϣⲁ ⲛⲓⲉⲛⲉϩ idem (for ⲛⲓ- see §30.8).
It happened that when they asked him, he answered them anxiously.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ϣⲁ ⲛⲓⲉⲛⲉϩ.
We will bless his name forever.
ⲁ-ⲡⲉⲓϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲥⲟϭϥ̄ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲣⲏⲧⲉ.
This illness paralyzed his feet.
ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϯⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ ϫⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲭ̄ⲥ̄.
Now I know that you (ms. sg.) are the Christ.
ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲙⲉ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲟⲩ.
This is truly the hour of his death.
ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲉϫⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ.
Immediately, they ran onto the shore.
ϣⲁ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛⲕⲟⲧⲛ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
We have not seen him again until now.
ϯⲛⲁϭⲱ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁϣϥ̄ ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲟⲩ.
I will stay with him for seven days.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲓϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲙⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ.
I never spoke with some of this type.
Lesson 22
22.1 Possession is predicated by the use of ⲟⲩⲛ̄- and ⲙⲛ̄- compounded with the preposition ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ⸗. There are two sets of forms:
(A)
(B)
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ϯ-
I have
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄-
you have
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉ-
etc.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄-
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲥ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲥ̄-
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄-
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲏⲧⲛ̄
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲩ
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩ-
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the man has
And similarly for the negative: (A) ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓ I do not have; (B) ⲙⲛ̄ϯ-. Set (B) is actually a reduced proclitic form of (A). Both sets may be accompanied by an untranslatable ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ (there).
If the possessor is pronominal (i.e. suffixal), an immediately following object is unmarked:
(A) ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
(B) ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄-ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
He has a wife.
But if some word intervenes (and this is possible only in set A), the object is marked with ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
(A) ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
He has a wife.
If the possessor is a noun, the object is usually not marked:
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
The man has a wife.
Pronominal objects are used only with set (A) and are attached directly to the subject suffixes. These are generally limited to the third person forms:
m.s.
-ϥ, -ⲥϥ̄
f.s.
-ⲥ
ⲥ.pl.
-ⲥⲟⲩ
as in ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓϥ̄, ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓⲥϥ̄ I have it (m.), ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕⲥ̄ you have it (f.), ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲥⲟⲩ he has them.
We have seen that the genitive is expressed with ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ after indefinite nouns (ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ), nouns with demonstrative prefixes (ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ), and nouns with a following modifier (ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ ϭⲁⲗⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ). ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ⸗ is used similarly when the possessor is pronominal:
ⲟⲩϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓ
a servant of mine
ⲡⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕ
this book of yours
ϣⲟⲙⲛ̄ⲧ ⲛ̄ ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
three sons of his
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ⸗ may be used predicatively:
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ⲏⲓ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ.
He has a large house.
ⲡⲏⲓ ⲉⲧ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
the house that belongs to him
ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲁ⸗ is also sometimes used to predicate possession:
ⲙⲛ̄-ϩⲁⲧ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛⲁⲓ.
I have no money.
The occasional use of ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ to indicate possession should also be noted. We have already seen an instance of this in the idiom ⲟⲩⲛ̄-/ⲙⲛ̄-ϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ lit., there is/is-not power in.
22.2 Possessive pronouns, corresponding to English mine, yours, his, hers, etc., are formed by adding the appropriate pronominal suffix to m.s. ⲡⲱ⸗, f.s. ⲧⲱ⸗, c.pl. ⲛⲟⲩ⸗; thus, ⲡⲱⲓ, ⲡⲱⲕ, ⲡⲱ, ⲡⲱϥ, ⲡⲱⲥ, ⲡⲱⲛ, ⲡⲱⲧⲛ̄, ⲡⲱⲟⲩ, and similarly for ⲧⲱ⸗ and ⲛⲟⲩ⸗. When used as predicates of ⲡⲉ- sentences, they serve to predicate possession:
ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲛⲉ
the books which are his
ⲡⲱⲓ ⲡⲉ.
It is mine.
ⲡⲉⲓϫⲟⲓ ⲡⲱϥ ⲡⲉ.
This ship is his.
ⲛⲟⲩⲕ ⲛⲉ.
They are yours.
ⲧⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ.
It (f.) is yours.
The proclitic pronouns ⲡⲁ-, ⲧⲁ-, and ⲛⲁ- are used to express "that of, that which pertains or belongs to". Number and gender are determined by an understood or expressed antecedent. The exact meaning must be gained from the context:
ⲛⲁ-ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ
the affairs of my father
ⲛⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲁ-ⲡⲉϥⲥⲟⲛ
his children and those of his brother
ⲛⲁ-ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ
the inhabitants of the city
ⲛⲁ-ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ
people of this sort
22.3 The qualitative (continued). Many intransitive verbs of motion or position (e.g. ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ, ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗, ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ) do not have a strong contrast in meaning between infinitive and qualitative, the process and state involved being about the same thing. ⲁϩⲉ and ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ are in fact qualitative forms that have usurped the role of the infinitives ⲱϩⲉ and ϩⲙ̄ⲥⲉ for all practical purposes. But note the following:
Inf.
Q.
ⲃⲱⲕ
ⲃⲏⲕ
to be going, be on the way there
ⲉⲓ
ⲛⲏⲩ
to be coming, be on the way here, be about to come, be about to arrive
ⲡⲱⲧ
ⲡⲏⲧ
to be fleeing, running, in pursuit
ϩⲱⲛ
ϩⲏⲛ
to be near, nigh, at hand
ϭⲱ
ϭⲉⲉⲧ
to remain, wait, stay, be
ⲙⲟⲩⲛ
ⲙⲏⲛ
to be enduring, lasting, continual
ⲁⲗⲉ
ⲁⲗⲏⲩ
to be riding, mounted
The infinitives ⲉⲓ and ⲃⲱⲕ may not be used in the First Present and Imperfect; only the qualitatives ⲛⲏⲩ and ⲃⲏⲕ appear in these conjugations. For the other verbs the qualitative is preferred, but the infinitive is also found. The future nuance of ⲛⲏⲩ is especially noteworthy.
There are many intransitive verbs for which the infinitive and qualitative bear a "becoming"/"being" relationship to each other:
Inf.
ϣⲱⲡⲉ
to become, come into existence
Q.
ϣⲟⲟⲡ
to be, to exist
Inf.
ⲱⲱ
to become pregnant
Q.
ⲉⲉⲧ
to be pregnant
Included among these are many verbs with -ⲟ- or -ⲁ- in the final stem syllable:
Inf.
ⲛ̄ϣⲟⲧ
to become hard
Q.
ⲛⲁϣⲧ̄
to be hard
Inf.
ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ
to become well
Q.
ⲟⲩⲟϫ
to be well
Inf.
ϩⲕⲟ
to become hungry
Q.
ϩⲕⲁⲉⲓⲧ
to be hungry
Inf.
ⲁⲓⲁⲓ
to increase
Q.
ⲟⲓ
to be great
Inf.
ⲟⲩⲟⲡ
to become holy
Q.
ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
to be holy
Vocabulary 22
ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ to become sound, whole, safe; Q ⲟⲩⲟϫ to be sound, whole, safe; as n.m. health, safety, salvation.
ⲛ̄ϣⲟⲧ, Q ⲛⲁϣⲧ̄ to become/be hard, harsh, difficult.
ⲙ̄ⲧⲟⲛ, Q ⲙⲟⲧⲛ̄ to become/be at ease, at rest, relieved; as n.m. rest, relief. The Q is also used impersonally: ⲥⲙⲟⲧⲛ̄ it is easy (to do: ⲉ, ⲉⲧⲣⲉ).
ⲙ̄ⲕⲁϩ, Q ⲙⲟⲕϩ̄ to become/be painful, difficult; as n.m. (pl. ⲙ̄ⲕⲟⲟϩ) pain, difficulty, grief. The Q is used impersonally: ⲥⲙⲟⲕϩ̄ it is difficult (to do: ⲉ, ⲉⲧⲣⲉ).
ⲟⲩⲟⲡ, Q ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ to become/be pure, holy, hallowed.
ⲁⲓⲁⲓ, Q ⲟⲓ to increase (in age, size, quantity); Q to be great, honored.
ⲁϣⲁⲓ, Q ⲟϣ to become/be numerous, many.
ⲡ.ⲁϩⲉ lifetime.
ⲕⲏⲙⲉ Egypt.
ϩⲁϩ adj. of quantity: many, usually before sing. noun with ⲛ̄, as in ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ many men.
ⲡ.ϩⲏⲧ heart, mind, intellect.
ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ (they) both, both (of them); used appositionally to another pronominal element, as in ⲁⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲁⲩ they both went. Sim. for other numbers: ⲙ̄ ⲡϣⲟⲙⲛ̄ⲧ all three of them.
ϣⲟⲟⲡ Q to be, to exist; a predicate adj. is introduced with ⲛ̄ and has no article: ⲛⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲛⲏⲣⲟⲥ he was wicked.
Exercises
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ.
We have no peace here.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉ-ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ ϫⲟⲓ.
My father has eight boats.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛ̄ ϩⲁⲧ.
I have a little money.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̄ ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ.
He has many books.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ.
They have six sheep.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲟⲉⲓⲕ.
They don't have bread.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧϥ̄-ⲟⲩϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲥ.
He has an old cloak.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ?
Do you (fm. sg.) have a husband?
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲥ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲁϣϥ̄ ⲛ̄ ϣⲏⲣⲉ.
She has seven children.
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ϯ-ⲟⲩϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲃⲣ̄ⲣⲉ.
I have a new tunic.
ⲡⲉⲓϭⲗⲟϭ ⲡⲱⲓ ⲡⲉ. ⲙ̄ ⲡⲱⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
This bed is mine. It is not yours (ms. sg.).
ⲡⲁϫⲟⲓ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲁ-ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ
my boat and that of my brother
ⲛⲁ-ⲡϣⲁ
the matters of the festival
ⲡⲉϥⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲁ-ⲛⲉϥⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ
his tomb and those of his ancestors
ⲡⲁⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲁ-ⲛⲁϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ
my bread and that of my friends
ⲧⲉⲓⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲧⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ.
This sword is yours (ms. sg.).
ⲛⲉⲓⲁⲡⲏⲧ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲩ ⲛⲉ.
These cups are theirs.
ⲡⲛⲟⲩϩ ⲡⲱⲛ ⲡⲉ.
The rope is ours.
ⲡⲉⲛⲏⲓ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲡⲁ-ⲧⲉⲭⲏⲣⲁ
our house and that of the widow
ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲱ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ.
The gold is not yours (fm. sg.).
ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲧ ϣⲱⲛⲉ.
And immediately the sick man became well.
ⲡⲟⲩⲣⲁⲛ ⲛⲁⲟⲩⲟⲡ ϫⲓⲛ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϣⲁ ⲉⲛⲉϩ.
Your (fm. sg.) name will become hallowed from now to eternity.
ⲁϥⲁⲓⲁⲓ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϩⲟⲟⲩ.
The man increased in his days (i.e., he got older).
ⲁⲛⲕⲟⲧⲛ̄ ⲉ ⲕⲏⲙⲉ ϩⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϭⲉⲡⲏ.
We returned to Egypt hurriedly.
ⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲁϥⲙ̄ⲕⲁϩ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲉϫⲱⲛ.
The task became very difficult for us.
ⲛⲥ̄ⲙⲟⲧⲛ̄ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛϥⲓ ϩⲁ ⲛⲉⲓⲙ̄ⲕⲟⲟϩ.
It is not easy for us to tolerate these difficulties.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲥⲉ-ⲏⲣⲡ̄ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲁϩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̄.
He did not ever drink wine in his whole life.
ⲁ-ⲡϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲕⲏⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ϣⲟⲧ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲩ.
The heart of the king of Egypt became hardened against them.
ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲟϫ ⲛ̄ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲏⲣⲉ.
Your (ms. sg.) children are well.
ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉϥϩⲃⲏⲩⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲧ̄.
His words and his works are harsh.
ⲥⲙⲟⲕϩ̄ ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲕϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲁ-ⲛⲉⲕϣⲃⲉⲉⲣ.
It is difficult for me to believe your (ms. sg.) words and those of your friends.
ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲡ̄ⲛ̄ⲁ̄ ⲉⲧ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ.
He became filled with the holy spirit.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̄ⲡⲱϩ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ, ⲁ-ⲡⲁϩⲏⲧ ⲙ̄ⲧⲟⲛ.
When we reached the city, my heart became relieved.
The Circumstantial is used only in subordinate clauses modifying either a particular element of the main clause or the main clause as a whole. Such clauses describe an activity or state existing simultaneously with the time designated by the verb of the main clause and do not, in themselves, have a tense. They correspond to various English constructions: nominative absolutes, participial modifiers, or temporal clauses with "as, while, when" and a progressive verb form. Typical uses in Coptic include
subject complement:
ⲉⲓⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ ϩⲁϩⲧⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲉ, ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ.
Standing near the temple, I saw a great crowd.
object complement:
ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ.
They found the man sitting in the marketplace.
ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
We saw them walking on the road.
complement to the entire main clause:
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ ϫⲱ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ, ⲁⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ.
As our teacher was saying these things, a great wonder occurred.
If the context requires it, circumstantial clauses may also be translated as causal, concessive, or conditional clauses.
There are several important special uses of circumstantial clauses in Coptic:
They are regularly used as relative clauses to modify an indefinite antecedent. Contrast
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ
the man who understands my words
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ
a man who understands my words
Such indefinite antecedents include ⲗⲁⲁⲩ, ⲟⲩⲁ, ⲟⲩⲟⲛ, and ϩⲟⲉⲓⲛⲉ. Further examples will be found in the exercises.
Certain verbs are regularly followed by the Circumstantial of a complementary verb:
ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̄.
They continued talking the whole night.
ⲁⲥⲗⲟ ⲉⲥⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
She stopped crying.
The Circumstantial of ϫⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ is regularly used to introduce direct quotation after appropriate verbs:
ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̄ ⲛⲁⲩ, ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ…
He answered them, saying…
The Circumstantial is not negated. Instead, the circumstantial prefix ⲉ-, also called the circumstantial converter, is added to the negative of the First Present:
ⲉ-ⲛϯⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲁⲛ
I, not hearing
ⲉ-ⲛⲅ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲁⲛ
you, not hearing
After ⲉ- the syllabic pronunciation of ⲛ is given up; the stroke is not needed, but is sometimes retained.
23.2 Nouns as adjectives. In Coptic, as in English, a large number of nouns may do double duty as adjectives (cf. pencil sharpener, bookstore, brick wall, etc.). The order is reversed in Coptic, with the modifying noun second, preceded by the adjectival linking ⲛ̄ (ⲙ̄):
ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲛ̄ ϩⲁⲧ
a silver cup
ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ
a desert place
ⲡⲉϥⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲱⲙⲁ
his corporeal form (lit. body-form)
ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲕⲱϩⲧ̄
a fiery river
Such items are very frequent, but not as freely formed as their English counterparts. In some cases two translations are possible: ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲏⲣⲡ̄ a wine cup or a cup of wine. Note that, as with adjectives, the construction differs from the genitive by the absence of an article on the second noun.
Several words form a large number of compounds whose meanings are more or less completely predictable. Among these are
ⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ (place of), as in
ⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ϣⲱⲡⲉ
dwelling place
ⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲱⲙ
eating place, refectory
ⲙⲁ ⲙ̄ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ
road, path
ⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲕⲁ-ⲟⲉⲓⲕ
pantry (place for putting bread)
ⲥⲁ ⲛ̄ (seller of, vendor of, dealer in), as in
ⲥⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲃ̄ⲧ
fish-monger
ⲥⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲁϥ
meat-seller
ⲥⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲏⲣⲡ̄
wine-seller
ⲥⲁ ⲛ̄ ϩⲁⲧ
dealer in silver
A glance through the final Glossary will provide dozens of further examples.
The nouns ⲣⲱⲙⲉ and ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ often occur redundantly in this construction; the order of the nouns may be reversed:
ⲧⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
his sister (lit., woman-sister)
ⲡϩⲁⲙϣⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the carpenter (lit., man-carpenter)
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ϫⲁϫⲉ
the enemy (lit., enemy-man)
Noun-noun modification does not always correspond exactly to English idiom, but little difficulty will be met in translating these constructions. Most of them will not be given separate listing in the vocabularies or Glossary.
Vocabulary 23
ⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ + Circum.: to continue (doing something).
ϭⲱ + Circum.: to continue, persist in (doing something).
ⲗⲟ vb. intr. (1) to cease, stop, come to an end; + Circum.: to stop (doing something); (2) to leave, depart (from: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ϩⲛ̄, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄). This verb has special Imperative forms: m.s. ⲁⲗⲟⲕ; f.s. ⲁⲗⲟ; c.pl. ⲁⲗⲱⲧⲛ̄.
ⲟⲩⲱ vb. intr. to cease, stop, come to an end; + Circum.: to stop (doing something), to finish (doing something), to have already (done something).
Jesus, perfect in the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, walking in the spirit in the wilderness for many days, being tempted by the devil, and he did not eat anything in those days. When they were completed, he became hungry.
ⲁⲓϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲉⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛ̄ ϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ.
I sat down writing for three hours.
ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̄.
They kept weeping for the whole night.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉⲛϭⲱ ⲉⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ.
We did not continue praying when we heard these things.
ⲛ̄ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲥⲟⲩⲱ ⲉⲥϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ.
Immediately, she ceased being sick and became well.
He rebuked them, saying, "Tell no man about this thing."
Lesson 24
24.1 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:
emphasis on an adverbial element:
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲃⲉ.
It is because of my sins that these things happen to me.
preceding various interrogative expressions:
ⲉⲕϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ 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 ⲛ̄ϭⲓ:
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 ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲁⲛ.
It is not here that I dwell.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲓⲁⲁⲥ 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 (Present-Imperfect System). The First Present, its relative forms, the Circumstantial, the Second Present, and the Imperfect comprise a system:
Pres. I
ϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Rel. Pres. I
ⲉⲧϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Circumstantial
ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Pres. II
ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Imperfect
ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
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-ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, ⲁ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄. 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:
The First Present requires the use of ⲟⲩⲛ̄- (neg. ⲙⲛ̄-) before an indefinite subject (e.g. ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄). The use of ⲟⲩⲛ̄-/ⲙⲛ̄- is optional after the converters, e.g. ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ or ⲛⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄.
Apart from the use of ⲙⲛ̄- just mentioned, negation is universally with (ⲛ̄) … ⲁⲛ.
An infinitive cannot, in general, be used in the prenominal or prepronominal form, i.e. prepositional direct object markers (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲉ, etc.) must be used. This rule, known as Jernstedt's Rule (see Bibliography), has the following exceptions:
the verb ⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲟⲩⲉϣ- ⲟⲩⲁϣ⸗, which may occur in all forms; e.g. ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ or ϯⲟⲩⲁϣϥ̄.
infinitives having indefinite pronominal or numerical objects; e.g. ⲛϥ̄ϯ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲁⲛ he is giving us nothing.
The Imperfect may be expanded into a subsystem of its own by the prefixation of the other converters:
Imperfect
ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Imperfect Rel.
ⲉⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Imperfect Circum.
ⲉ-ⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
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.
24.3 Numbers (continued). The 'teens are formed by prefixing ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ- to special forms of the units. ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ- is a proclitic form of ⲙⲏⲧ ten:
11
m.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩⲉ
f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓ
12
m.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ
f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ(ⲉ)
13
m. f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ
14
m. f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ
15
m. f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲏ
16
m. f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲥⲉ
17
m. f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲥⲁϣϥ(ⲉ)
18
m. f.
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϣⲙⲏⲛⲉ
Construction is the same as that of the units:
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
thirteen men
Vocabulary 24
ⲣⲱϩⲧ̄ ⲣⲉϩⲧ̄- ⲣⲁϩⲧ⸗ Q ⲣⲁϩⲧ̄ vb. tr. to strike, kill (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to strike down, cast down.
ⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲥⲃ̄ⲧⲉ- ⲥⲃ̄ⲧⲱⲧ⸗ Q ⲥⲃ̄ⲧⲱⲧ vb. tr. to prepare, make ready (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; for: ⲉ); intr. and reflex. to get ready.
ϫⲓⲥⲉ ϫⲉⲥⲧ̄- ϫⲁⲥⲧ⸗ Q ϫⲟⲥⲉ (± ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ) vb. tr. to raise up, exalt (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; over: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϩⲓϫⲛ̄); intr. to be exalted; as n.m. heights. ⲡⲉⲧ ϫⲟⲥⲉ the Almighty.
ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ vb. intr. to pass (subj. usually period of time).
ⲕⲓⲙ ⲕⲉⲙⲧ̄- ⲕⲉⲙⲧ⸗ vb. tr. to touch (ⲉ; with: ⲉ); to move, shift, stir (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲉ); vb. intr. to move, stir, be moved.
ϣⲓⲡⲉ vb. intr. to be ashamed (about: ⲉⲧⲃⲉ); as n.m. shame. ϣⲓⲡⲉ ϩⲏⲧ⸗ to revere, be humbled before.
ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ Q to be empty, vain.
ϩⲟⲟⲩ Q to be bad, wicked.
ⲧⲟⲛⲧⲛ̄ ⲧⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄- ⲧⲛ̄ⲧⲱⲛ⸗ Q ⲧⲛ̄ⲧⲱⲛ vb. tr. to liken, compare (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to: ⲉ, ⲙⲛ̄, ⲉϫⲛ̄).
ⲥⲱⲧⲡ̄ ⲥⲉⲧⲡ̄- ⲥⲟⲧⲡ⸗ Q ⲥⲟⲧⲡ̄ vb. tr. to choose, select (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); Q also = to be excellent, exquisite.
ⲙⲟⲩⲟⲩⲧ ⲙⲉⲩⲧ- ⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ⸗ vb. tr. to kill (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲡ.ⲧⲏⲏⲃⲉ finger.
ⲉ ⲟⲩ why? for what reason?
ϣⲓⲏⲧ Scetis, the Lower Egyptian center of monasticism, in the Western Delta.
They killed everyone who was living in the village and the surrounding region.
ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲡⲉⲍⲁ ⲉⲥⲥⲃ̄ⲧⲱⲧ.
They found the table prepared.
Lesson 25
25.1 The relative, imperfect, circumstantial, and second tense converters may be used with the First Perfect, the First Future, existential and possessive predications, and copulative sentences with ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ. The relative forms for all of these have already been discussed. The second tense of the First Perfect, i.e. the Second Perfect, was introduced in Lesson 14. The second tense forms of existential, possessive, and copulative sentences are too rare for inclusion here.
Neg.
First Perfect
ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Perf. I Rel.
ⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Perf. I Circum.
ⲉ-ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉ-ⲙⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Pluperfect
ⲛⲉ-ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛⲉ-ⲙⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (ⲡⲉ)
Second Perfect
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲁⲛ
The imperfect of the First Perfect (ⲛⲉ-ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄) corresponds to the English pluperfect: he had heard, he had written. The circumstantial of the First Perfect is used to describe an action as completed prior to the tense of the verb in the main clause.
ⲉ-ⲁϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ, ⲁϥⲥϩⲁⲓ…
Having sat down, he wrote…
ⲁⲛϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉ-ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩ.
We found him dead (lit., having died).
First Future
ϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Fut. I Rel.
ⲉⲧϥ̄ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Fut. I Circum.
ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Fut. I Imperfect
ⲛⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
Second Future
ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
The circumstantial of the First Future describes an action as imminent, about to take place, with respect to the tense of the main clause:
ⲉⲓⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲁϥⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ.
As I was about to leave, he summoned me.
ⲁⲛϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲙⲟⲩ.
We found him on the point of death.
The imperfect of the First Future describes an action as imminent in past time:
ⲛⲉⲓⲛⲁⲁⲗⲉ ⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲓ (ⲡⲉ).
I was about to get on the ship.
This form is commonly called the imperfectum futuri. The Second Future (ⲉϥⲛⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄) has all the normal uses of a second tense form. Special uses of both these conjugations will be mentioned later on.
The First Future and its related system are formally an off-shoot of the Present System, with ⲛⲁ- inserted before the infinitive. It has no other characteristics of the Bipartite Conjugation, however: (1) it is not durative (except with certain aspectually neutral verbs, e.g. ⲣⲁϣⲉ); (2) only the Infinitive may occur in predicate position; (3) the prenominal and prepronominal forms of the Infinitive occur freely.
Existential and Possessive
ⲟⲩⲛ̄-/ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
ⲙⲛ̄-/ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
Relative
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ̄-/ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ̄-/ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
Circumstantial
ⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛ̄-/ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
ⲉ-ⲙⲛ̄-/ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
Imperfect
ⲛⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛ̄-/ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
ⲛⲉ-ⲙⲛ̄-/ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ
The circumstantial forms describe a state simultaneous to the tense of the main clause:
ⲉ-ⲙⲛ̄-ⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ, ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
There being no food there, we left.
ⲁⲛϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉ-ⲙⲛ̄-ϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ ⲉ ϣⲁϫⲉ.
We found him unable to speak.
The imperfect forms simply place the state in past time:
ⲛⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛ̄- (or ⲛⲉⲩⲛ̄-) ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ (ⲡⲉ).
There was a man.
ⲛⲉⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̄ ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ (ⲡⲉ).
He had many wives.
Copulative sentences with ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ:
Relative
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ
Circumstantial
ⲉ-ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ
ⲉ-ⲛ ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ
Imperfect
ⲛⲉ-ⲟⲩⲥⲁϩ ⲡⲉ
The circumstantial and imperfect are used as above.
The circumstantial forms of all the subsystems listed above have a frequent use as relative clauses after indefinite antecedents:
ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉ-ⲁϥⲕⲉⲧ-ⲟⲩⲏⲓ
a man who had built a house
ⲟⲩⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲩⲛⲁϭⲟⲗⲡϥ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
a mystery which is about to be revealed
ⲟⲩⲭⲏⲣⲁ ⲉ-ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲥ ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ
a widow who has no son
ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉ-ⲟⲩⲭⲏⲣⲁ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ
a boy whose mother is a widow
The circumstantial converter ⲉⲣⲉ- is sometimes used improperly for ⲉ- before copulative sentences.
ⲛ̄ⲅ-, ⲛ̄ϥ-, and ⲛ̄ⲥ- also appear frequently as ⲛⲅ̄-, ⲛϥ̄-, ⲛⲥ̄-. The conjunctive is used to continue the force of a preceding verbal prefix. In a sense, it is no more than an inflected form of the conjunction "and". It is especially frequent after a First Future or an Imperative:
ϯⲛⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ.
I shall go and speak with him.
ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲛ̄ⲅⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲧⲁⲥⲃⲱ.
Sit down and listen to my teaching.
ⲁⲛⲓ-ⲛ̄ϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁϥ.
Bring the books and give them to him.
It may be used to continue the force of virtually any preceding verbal prefix except that of the affirmative First Perfect, but even this restriction does not hold in the relative forms. It is also used after an Inflected Infinitive, as in
ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ.
It is necessary that we go and speak with him.
In many instances, especially where there is a change of subject, the Conjunctive clause has the meaning of a purpose or result clause:
ⲁⲛⲓϥ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
Bring him to me so that I may see him.
ⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲱⲙ.
Give them (food) so that they may eat.
This usage depends very much on the presence of an injunctive (imperative) force, implicit or explicit, in the first clause. For the conjunctive with Greek conjunctions, see Lesson 30.
The Conjunctive resembles the Tripartite Conjugation: only the Infinitive may be used as its verbal component. Negation is with -ⲧⲙ̄- before the Infinitive. If the Conjunctive continues a negative verb, however, the negation may carry over.
Vocabulary 25
ⲟⲩⲉ, Q ⲟⲩⲏⲩ vb. intr. to become/be distant, far (from: ⲉ, ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); as n.m. distance. ⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲉ away, to a distance. ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲩⲉ at a distance.
ⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲧⲁϩⲉ- ⲧⲁϩⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁϩⲏⲩ vb. tr. (1) to cause to stand; to create, establish (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); (2) to reach, attain, catch up to (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to seize, arrest (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ϭⲱⲛⲧ̄, Q ϭⲟⲛⲧ̄ vb. intr. to become/be angry, furious (at, against: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄); as n.m. wrath, fury.
ⲙ̄ⲡϣⲁ vb. intr. to be worthy, deserving (of: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to do: ⲛ̄, ⲉ + Inf.).
ⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲧⲁⲕⲉ- ⲧⲁⲕⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁⲕⲏⲩ vb. tr. to destroy, put an end to (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. to perish; as n.m. destruction, perdition.
ⲱⲙⲥ̄ ⲉⲙⲥ̄- ⲟⲙⲥ⸗ Q ⲟⲙⲥ̄ vb. tr. to sink, dip, immerse (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. to sink (into: ϩⲛ̄, ⲉ, ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ).
ϩⲱⲗ, Q ϩⲏⲗ vb. intr. to fly.
ⲡ.ϣⲏⲛ tree.
ⲡ.ⲧⲁⲣ branch.
ⲡ.ⲉⲗⲟⲟⲗⲉ grape.
ⲡ.ϩⲁⲗⲏⲧ (pl. ϩⲁⲗⲁⲧⲉ) bird.
ⲧ.ϫⲉⲛⲉⲡⲱⲣ roof.
ⲧ.ⲃⲱ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲗⲟⲟⲗⲉ grape-vine.
ⲧ.ⲃⲱ tree, vine. ⲃⲱ is used when type of tree is mentioned; use ϣⲏⲛ otherwise.
ⲡ.ⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲗⲟⲟⲗⲉ vineyard.
Exercises
ⲡⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲉⲗⲟⲟⲗⲉ ⲟⲩⲏⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϯⲙⲉ.
The vineyard isn't far from the village.
ⲉ-ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ, ⲁⲩⲗⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
Having destroyed the city, they departed.
ϩⲁⲡⲥ̄ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲕⲥⲟⲃⲧⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̄.
It is necessary for you (ms. sg.) to prepare him a bedroom.
ⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲉ-ⲛ̄ϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲩⲙⲏⲣ ⲛ̄ⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ.
They stood the children, bound, in the presence of the governor.
ⲁⲙⲏⲉⲓⲧⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉ ⲧⲉϥⲥⲃⲱ.
Come (pl.) and hear his teaching.
ⲛⲉⲓⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲓϭⲱϣⲧ̄ ⲉ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ.
I was standing at a distance looking at the crowd.
There was someone in Egypt who had a paralyzed son. And he brought him and set him in the cell of Apa Makarios, and he left him weeping near the door, and he went to a distance. The monk looked and saw the little boy weeping, and he said to him, "Who brought you here?" And he said, "It was my father. He brought me, he cast me away, and he went." The monk said to him, "Get up and run and catch up to him." And immediately, he became well, and he arose, he caught up to his father, and in this way they went to their house rejoicing.
Note: The term ⲁⲡⲁ is a title of respect, ultimately from Aramaic ʾabbā, father. ⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ is a proper name.
Lesson 26
26.1 Compound verbs. Coptic vocabulary is particularly rich in compound verbs. Most compound verbs consist of a simple infinitive in the prenominal form plus a nominal element, usually without an article, e.g. ϯ-ⲉⲟⲟⲩ to praise, ϫⲓ-ⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ to be baptized. Meanings are for the most part predictable from those of the components.
The verbs most frequently occurring in compounds are ϯ- to give, ϫⲓ- to take, ϥⲓ- to raise, carry, ϭⲛ̄- to find, ⲕⲁ- to put, and ⲣ̄- to do, make. Some examples:
ϯ-ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ to produce fruit.
ϯ-ⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓⲁ to repent; to humble or abase one's self.
ϯ-ⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁ⸗ to praise.
ϯ-ⲥⲃⲱ ⲛⲁ⸗ to teach someone (something: ⲉ).
ϫⲓ-ⲥⲃⲱ to receive instruction, be taught (something: ⲉ).
ϭⲛ̄-ⲙ̄ⲧⲟⲛ to find rest.
ϭⲛ̄-ϩⲱⲃ ⲙⲛ̄ to have dealings with.
ϭⲙ̄-ϭⲟⲙ (ϭⲛ̄-ϭⲟⲙ) to have power, prevail (over); to be able (to do: ⲉ + Inf.).
ϥⲓ-ⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ to take heed, be concerned (for, about: ⲉ, ⲛⲁ⸗, ⲉⲧⲃⲉ, ϩⲁ).
Compounds with ⲣ̄- are the most frequent of all and fall into two groups. In the first group ⲣ̄- has its basic meaning "to do, make, perform":
ⲣ̄-ⲛⲟⲃⲉ to sin (against: ⲉ).
ⲣ̄-ⲟⲩ to do what?
ⲣ̄-ⲡⲁⲓ to do this, thus.
ⲣ̄-X ⲛ̄ ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ (X is a number) has two meanings: (1) to reach the age of X; (2) to pass X years.
In the second group of ⲣ̄- compounds ⲣ̄- has the meaning "to become", e.g. ⲣ̄-ⲣ̄ⲣⲟ to become king (over: ⲉϫⲛ̄). The second element may be virtually any noun or adjective in the language, so that a complete catalogue is impossible. Qualitatives are uniformly ⲟ ⲛ̄, as in ⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲣ̄ⲣⲟ to be king. Further examples:
ⲣ̄-ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ to grow old; ⲟ ⲛ̄ ϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ to be old.
ⲣ̄-ϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ to become governor; ⲟ ⲛ̄ ϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ to be governor.
ⲣ̄-ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ to become lord, master (over: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄); ⲟ ⲛ̄ ϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ to be lord, master.
The distinction between these two groups is often blurred, however, with qualitatives of the ⲟ ⲛ̄ type being extended to the first group as well, e.g. ⲣ̄-ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ to marvel, become amazed (at: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲉ, ⲉⲧⲃⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄), to admire; Q ⲟ ⲛ̄ ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ to be amazed.
Less frequently the nominal element of a compound verb has the definite article:
ⲣ̄-ⲡⲱⲃϣ̄ to forget (ⲛ̄).
ⲣ̄-ⲡⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ to remember (ⲛ̄).
ϯ-ⲑⲉ ⲛⲁ⸗ to provide the means to someone (so that: ⲉ, ⲉⲧⲣⲉ).
In the case of ⲣ̄-ⲡⲱⲃϣ̄, ⲣ̄-ⲡⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ, and many others of this type a pronominal object is expressed by a possessive prefix on the noun: ⲣ̄-ⲡⲉϥⲱⲃϣ̄ to forget him, ⲣ̄-ⲡⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ to remember him.
Because compound verbs employ the prenominal form of the infinitive, the question arises concerning their occurrence in the Bipartite Conjugation, where the prenominal form is usually prohibited. In general, compound verbs are an exception to Jernstedt's Rule and may be used freely as they stand in the Bipartite Conjugation. Two types of compounds, however, do tend to follow Jernstedt's Rule:
the type ⲣ̄-ⲡⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ, with the definite article on the noun. In the Bipartite Conjugation the full form of the infinitive is used. Contrast
ⲁⲓⲣ̄-ⲡⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ.
I remembered him.
ϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ.
I remember him.
many compounds whose nominal element is a part of the body. Contrast
ⲁⲓϯ-ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̄.
I helped her.
ϯϯ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̄.
I am helping her.
26.2 The element ϣ-, ⲉϣ-, originally a full verb "to know, know how to", may be prefixed to any infinitive to express "can, be able". E.g.
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϣⲃⲱⲕ.
He was not able to go.
ⲛ̄ϯⲛⲁϣϯ-ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲕ̄ ⲁⲛ.
I shall not be able to help you.
It occurs redundantly and optionally in the compounds of ϭⲟⲙ: ⲟⲩⲛ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ, ⲙⲛ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ, ϭⲙ̄-(ϣ)ϭⲟⲙ.
26.3 Infinitives of the type ⲧⲁⲕⲟ. There is a fairly large group of verbs whose infinitives begin with ⲧ- and end in -ⲟ, e.g. ⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲧⲁⲕⲉ- ⲧⲁⲕⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁⲕⲏⲩ to destroy. At an older stage of Egyptian these verbs were compound causatives with a form of ϯ (to give) plus a verbal form inflected by suffixation. Thus, the original construction involved two verbs (e.g. I caused that he pay a fine) which coalesced into a single verb with two objects (I caused him to pay a fine). Traces of the older construction survive in Sahidic, e.g. Luke 3:.4 ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄ⲧⲧⲉ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲟⲥⲉ Do not make anyone pay a fine (i.e. suffer a loss). ⲧⲧⲟ ⲧⲧⲉ- is the causative of ϯ itself. The lack of an object marker on the second object is characteristic of the construction, but the absence of an article in this particular example stems from its association with the compound verb ϯ-ⲟⲥⲉ to pay a fine, suffer a loss. In general, however, there is no need to take the older construction into account in Coptic, since most of these verbs are simply transitive. Some examples:
ⲧⲁⲙⲟ ⲧⲁⲙⲉ- ⲧⲁⲙⲟ⸗ vb. tr. to tell, inform (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; of, about: ⲉ, ⲉⲧⲃⲉ; that: ϫⲉ); causative of ⲉⲓⲙⲉ.
ⲧⲁⲗⲟ ⲧⲁⲗⲉ- ⲧⲁⲗⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁⲗⲏⲩ (± ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ) vb. tr. to cause to go up, cause to board, cause to mount; to raise up, offer up, send up (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); caus. of ⲁⲗⲉ.
ⲧⲁⲛϩⲟ ⲧⲁⲛϩⲉ- ⲧⲁⲛϩⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁⲛϩⲏⲩ vb. tr. to bring (back) to life, let live, keep alive (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); caus. of ⲱⲛϩ̄.
ⲧ + ϣ results in initial ϫ:
ϫⲡⲟ ϫⲡⲉ- ϫⲡⲟ⸗ vb. tr. to give birth to (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to acquire, obtain, get (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; often with reflex. dative ⲛⲁ⸗ for one's self); caus. of ϣⲱⲡⲉ.
ϫⲡⲓⲟ ϫⲡⲓⲉ- ϫⲡⲓⲟ⸗ Q ϫⲡⲓⲏⲧ vb. tr. to put to shame, to blame, scold, reproach (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; for: ⲉⲧⲃⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϩⲁ); caus. of ϣⲓⲡⲉ.
Sometimes the initial ⲧ- is lost, as in
ⲕⲧⲟ ⲕⲧⲉ- ⲕⲧⲟ⸗ Q ⲕⲧⲏⲩ vb. tr. to turn; this verb has become completely synonymous with its base ⲕⲱⲧⲉ.
A few verbs have retained a final -ⲥ or -ⲟⲩ (a frozen subject suffix):
ϫⲟⲟⲩ ϫⲉⲩ- ϫⲟⲟⲩ⸗ vb. tr. to send (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; to: ⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗, ⲛⲁ⸗, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϣⲁ); + ⲉⲃⲟⲗ away, out, off; + ϩⲁⲑⲏ ahead.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ to send (already introduced). Originally ϫⲟⲟⲩ meant "to cause to go" (caus. of ϣⲉ to go) and ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩ meant "to cause to bring" (caus. of ⲉⲓⲛⲉ).
ⲧⲟⲩⲛⲟⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲛⲉⲥ- ⲧⲟⲩⲛⲟⲥ⸗ vb. tr. to awaken, arouse, raise up (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); caus. of ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ (probably).
The Imperative of these verbs may optionally have a prefixed ⲙⲁ-: ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲙⲟ, ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲗⲟ, etc. Cf. §17.1.
Vocabulary 26
(The compound verbs given in 26.1, the prefix ϣ- in 26.2, and the verbs ⲧⲁⲙⲟ, ⲧⲁⲗⲟ, ⲧⲁⲛϩⲟ, ϫⲡⲟ, ϫⲡⲓⲟ, ⲕⲧⲟ, ϫⲟⲟⲩ, and ⲧⲟⲩⲛⲟⲥ in 26.3)
ⲱⲃϣ̄ ⲉⲃϣ̄- ⲟⲃϣ⸗ Q ⲟⲃϣ̄ vb. tr. to forget, overlook, neglect (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. to sleep, fall asleep; as n. forgetting, sleep.
ⲱⲛϩ̄, Q ⲟⲛϩ̄ vb. intr. to become/be alive, live; as n.m. life.
ⲟ the Q of ⲉⲓⲣⲉ.
ⲡ.ⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ care, concern, anxiety. ⲣ̄-ⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ (Q ⲟ ⲛ̄) to become/be a care or concern (for: ⲛⲁ⸗).
ⲧⲉ.ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ wonder, amazement, miracle.
ϯ-ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, ϯ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ to help, assist (object suffix is required; nominal object with ⲛ̄).
Greek words:
ⲧⲉ.ⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ (ἡ θυσία) offering, sacrifice.
ⲡ.ⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ (τὸ βάπτισμα) baptism. ϯ-ⲃⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲙⲁ to baptize.
Exercises
ⲡⲉⲓϣⲏⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛϥ̄ϯ-ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ.
This tree does not produce fruit.
ⲛϥ̄ϭⲙ̄-ϭⲟⲙ ⲁⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ.
He is not able to destroy the souls of the righteous.
27.1 Negative adjective compounds. The prefix ⲁⲧ- is used to form negative adjectives from verbs and nouns:
ⲁⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄
ignorant
ⲁⲧⲙⲟⲩ
immortal
ⲁⲑⲏⲧ
senseless, foolish
ⲁⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
disobedient
ⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ
imperishable
ⲁⲧϭⲟⲙ
powerless, impotent
ⲁⲧⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
invisible
This prefix was originally a negative relative pronoun; a trace of this older usage is found in the resumptive pronoun required in some expressions, e.g.
ⲁⲧⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟ⸗
unseeable, unseen
ⲁⲧϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲟ⸗
ineffable; without ⲉⲣⲟ⸗: speechless
ⲁⲧⲕⲓⲙ ⲉⲣⲟ⸗
immovable
The resumptive pronoun agrees with the modified noun:
ⲟⲩⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲧϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
an ineffable mystery
ⲟⲩϭⲟⲙ ⲛ̄ ⲁⲧⲕⲓⲙ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ
an immovable power
Nearly all ⲁⲧ- adjectives freely compound with ⲣ̄- (Q ⲟ ⲛ̄), as in ⲣ̄-ⲁⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̄ to become/be ignorant, ⲣ̄-ⲁⲧⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ̄ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to become/be invisible.
27.2 Compound nouns. The distinction between a compound noun and a noun + ⲛ̄ + noun phrase is somewhat arbitrary. As a working definition we shall assume (1) that the first noun of a true compound noun must be in a reduced form different from the free (unbound) form, if indeed the latter exists; (2) that the linking ⲛ̄ be absent or at least optional. The most productive compounding prefixes are ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ-, ⲣⲙ̄(ⲛ̄)-, ⲣⲉϥ-, and ϭⲓⲛ.
ⲣⲉϥ- forms agent or actor nouns; the second element is normally a simple or compound infinitive, but occasionally a qualitative:
ⲣⲉϥⲣ̄-ⲛⲟⲃⲉ
sinner
ⲣⲉϥϣⲙ̄ϣⲉ
server, worshipper
ⲣⲉϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ
dead person
ⲣⲉϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ
destroyer; perishable
ⲣⲉϥϫⲓⲟⲩⲉ
thief
These may be used nominally or adjectivally, e.g.
ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲉϥⲣ̄-ⲛⲟⲃⲉ
a sinful woman
ⲟⲩⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲉϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ
a destructive spirit
ⲧⲉⲓⲥⲁⲣⲝ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲉϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ
this perishable flesh
and may be formed freely from virtually any appropriate verb in the language.
ⲣⲙ̄-, ⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄-, a reduced form of ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̄, man of:
ⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄ⲕⲏⲙⲉ
an Egyptian
ⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ
a wise, discerning person
ⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲍⲁⲣⲉⲑ
a person from Nazareth
ⲣⲙ̄ⲧⲱⲛ
a person from where? as in ⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ϩⲉⲛⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄ⲧⲱⲛ? Where are you from?
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ- is used to form feminine abstract nouns from adjectives or other nouns. Compounds in ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ- are extremely numerous; the following is a typical sampling:
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ
priesthood
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲉⲣⲟ
kingdom, kingship; the spelling ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣ̄ⲣⲟ is less frequent
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲥⲁⲃⲉ
wisdom
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲃⲣ̄ⲣⲉ
youth; newness
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ
wisdom, prudence
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϩⲗ̄ⲗⲟ
old age (of a man)
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϩⲗ̄ⲗⲱ
old age (of a woman)
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲛⲟϭ
greatness; seniority
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲙⲟⲛⲁⲭⲟⲥ
monkhood
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ
imperishability; incorruptibility
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧ- is also used to designate languages:
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲣⲙ̄ⲛ̄ⲕⲏⲙⲉ
Egyptian
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϩⲉⲃⲣⲁⲓⲟⲥ
Hebrew
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲩⲉⲉⲓⲉⲛⲓⲛ
Greek
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧϩⲣⲱⲙⲁⲓⲟⲥ
Latin
ϭⲓⲛ- is used to form a feminine noun of action or gerund from any infinitive. The meaning ranges from concrete to abstract, e.g. ϭⲓⲛⲛⲁⲩ sight, vision; ϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲱⲙ food (pl. ϭⲓⲛⲟⲩⲟⲟⲙ). These are so predictable in meaning that they have been systematically excluded from the Glossary unless they have acquired meanings not immediately obvious from that of the base verb.
Les frequent compounding prefixes are ⲁⲛ-, ⲉⲓⲉⲡ- (ⲉⲓⲟⲡⲉ), ⲉⲓⲉϩ- (ⲉⲓⲱϩⲉ), ⲣⲁ- ⲥϯ- (ⲥⲧⲟⲓ), ϣⲟⲩ- (ϣⲁⲩ), ϣⲃⲣ̄- (ϣⲃⲏⲣ), ϣⲛ̄- (ϣⲏⲣⲉ), ϣⲥ̄ⲛ̄- (ⲥⲁϣ), and ϩⲁⲙ-. The reader may check these out in the Glossary.
Nominalized relative clauses are sometimes taken as compound nouns, occurring with an extra article, e.g.
(ⲡ)ⲡⲉⲧ ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ
vanity
(ⲡ)ⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ
evil
ⲟⲩⲡⲉⲧ ⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
a saint
A similar usage is found with ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄, designating origin or affiliation (the def. art. appears as ⲡⲉ-, ⲧⲉ-, ⲛⲉ-):
ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄ ⲧⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲡⲉ.
He is a Syrian.
ⲛⲉⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲏⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲛⲉ.
They are the ones from the house of David.
27.3 There is a form of the verb known as the participium conjunctivum (proclitic participle) used only for forming compounds with a following nominal element:
p. c.
ⲥⲱ
ⲥⲁⲩ-ⲏⲣⲡ̄
wine-drinking, a wine-drinker
ⲟⲩⲱⲙ
ⲟⲩⲁⲙ-ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
man-eating
ϫⲓⲥⲉ
ϫⲁⲥⲓ-ϩⲏⲧ
arrogant
ⲙⲟⲟⲛⲉ
ⲙⲁⲛ-ⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ
shepherd, tender of sheep
It is uniformly vocalized with -ⲁ-. For most verbs the p. c. is rare or non-existent; a few verbs like the above account for most of the examples encountered. Note especially the compounds of ⲙⲉ: ⲙⲁⲓ- (one who loves):
The negative forms are also spelled as ⲉⲛⲛⲁ-, ⲉⲛⲛⲉⲕ- etc. The 1st pers. sing. also occurs as ⲛ̄ⲛⲉⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄.
The Third Future is an emphatic or vivid future with a wide variety of nuances; in an independent clause it describes a future event as necessary, inevitable, or obligatory. The English translation will depend on the context: ⲉϥⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ he shall hear, he is to hear, he is bound to hear, he must inevitably hear, he will surely hear, and similarly for the negative. The 2nd person is often used in commands and prohibitions:
ⲛ̄ⲛⲉⲕⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲡⲉⲕⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ.
You shall not tempt the Lord your God.
ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲓⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ.
You shall keep these commandments.
One of the most frequent uses of the Third Future is to express purpose or result after the conjunctions ϫⲉ and ϫⲉⲕⲁ(ⲁ)ⲥ:
I have written to you so that you may know what has befallen me here.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲟⲟⲩϥ̄ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ̄ ϫⲉ ⲉϥⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲏⲧⲛ̄.
We shall send him to you so that he may speak with you.
The same type of clause may be used as an object clause instead of the Inflected Infinitive after verbs of commanding, exhorting, and the like:
ⲁⲛⲥⲡ̄ⲥⲱⲡϥ̄ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲛ̄ⲛⲉϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲉ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ.
We entreated him not to tell it to anyone.
It may occasionally replace the Inflected Infinitive in other situations:
ⲛ̄ϯⲙ̄ⲡϣⲁ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲓⲉⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
I am not worthy to enter.
The Third Future is tripartite; only the infinitive may be used in the verbal slot. The Second Future is sometimes used instead of the Third Future after ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ and ϫⲉ.
Vocabulary 27
(The adjectival and nominal compounds given in 27.1, 2.)
ϫⲓⲟⲩⲉ vb. tr. to steal (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; from: ϩⲛ̄, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄); as n.m. theft. ⲛ̄ ϫⲓⲟⲩⲉ adv. stealthily, secretly.
The Habitual (or praesens consuetudinis) describes an action or activity as characteristic or habitual. It may usually be translated by the English general present (I write, I work, etc.):
ϣⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ.
They call him John.
ϣⲁⲣⲉ-ⲧⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲟⲩⲱϩ ϩⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲏⲧ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥ.
Wisdom resides in the heart of the righteous.
ⲙⲉϥⲥⲉ-ⲏⲣⲡ̄.
He doesn't drink wine.
The Habitual forms a regular system with the converters:
Neg.
relative:
ⲉϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉⲧⲉ ϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
circumstantial:
ⲉ-ϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲉ-ⲙⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
imperfect:
ⲛⲉ-ϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛⲉ-ⲙⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
second tense:
ⲉϣⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
—
The Habitual is basically tenseless (hence the designation aorist in some grammars) and gains its translation value from the context. The imperfect converter makes a past tense explicit, e.g. ⲛⲉ-ϣⲁϥⲥϩⲁⲓ he used to write. Note that subject resumption is required in the relative form: ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϣⲁϥⲣ̄-ⲡⲁⲓ the man who does thus. The Habitual belongs to the Tripartite Conjugation: only the Infinitive may be used in the verbal slot.
28.2 Emphasis. The typical non-emphatic word order in a verbal clause is
We have seen that the conversion of the verbal prefix to a second tense form places a strong emphasis on the adverbial element, requiring in most cases a cleft sentence in the English translation. The use of the Coptic cleft sentence pattern, with ⲡⲉ, ⲧⲉ, ⲛⲉ + a relative form is a further device for giving special prominence to a subject or object. A somewhat weaker emphasis is achieved by placing a specific element of the clause at the beginning. Such preposed elements are usually resumed pronominally within the clause unless they are simple adverbial phrases. This transformation, known also as fronting or topicalization, is very common in Coptic; examples abound on every page. The element preposed may be completely unmarked as such, but the Greek particle ⲇⲉ is ubiquitous in this function. Fronted personal pronouns are always in the independent form. E.g.
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̄ⲡⲉϥϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ.
Me he did't find.
ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲩⲣⲁϩⲧϥ̄.
His son, however, they killed.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̄ϯⲛⲁϯ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲁⲛ ⲙ̄ ⲡϩⲁⲧ.
I will not give the money to you.
The independent pronouns may be used appositionally to emphasize any suffixed pronoun, e.g. ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲣⲁⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ but when I heard; ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲕ̄ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ for your sake. We have already mentioned the repetition in ⲛ̄ⲧⲕ̄-ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ? Who are you? They may even stand before a relative clause, as in ⲡⲙⲁ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲉϯⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ the place which I am in.
The particles ⲉⲓⲥ and ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ add a certain vividness or immediacy to a following statement. If an element is topicalized, ⲉⲓⲥ generally occurs before nouns and ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ before pronouns.
ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ̄-ⲑⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲙ̄ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
Behold, I am the maidservant of the Lord.
ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲉⲕⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲕⲱ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲕ.
Behold, you shall remain (being) mute. (Cf. §30.11)
ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲧⲉⲛⲁⲱ ⲛ̄ⲧⲉϫⲡⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ.
Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.
The translation"behold" is purely conventional, but it is difficult to find a better English equivalent. The forms ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲡⲉ, ⲉⲓⲥⲧⲉ, ⲉⲓⲥⲡⲉ, and ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ ⲉⲓⲥ also occur. ⲉⲓⲥ has several other functions:
with a following noun, as a complete predication:
ⲉⲓⲥ ⲧⲉⲕⲥⲱⲛⲉ.
Here is your sister.
as a "preposition" before temporal expressions, as in
Behold, Elisabeth your kinsman has also conceived a child in her old age.
The form ϩⲱⲱϥ also serves as an adverb/conjunction "however, on the other hand" without any pronominal force. ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ is used likewise.
ⲙ̄ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, an intensive pronoun, used in apposition to a preceding pronoun, usually possessive or reflexive:
ⲡⲁⲏⲓ ⲙ̄ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲓ
my own house
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϥϯⲙⲉ ⲙ̄ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟϥ
in his own village
28.4 The reciprocal pronoun "each other, one another" is expressed by possessive prefixes on -ⲉⲣⲏⲩ (fellow, companion), e.g.
ⲁⲛⲙⲓϣⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲛⲉⲣⲏⲩ.
We fought with one another.
ⲛⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲣⲏⲩ.
They were talking with each other.
28.5 Further remarks on -ⲕⲉ-. In addition to the use of -ⲕⲉ- as an adjective "other, another" introduced in 4.3,-ⲕⲉ- may have a purely emphasizing function, e.g.
ⲡⲕⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the man too
the man as well
Both uses are frequent, and the correct translation will depend on a careful examination of the context.
There is a related set of pronouns: m.s. ϭⲉ or ⲕⲉⲧ, f.s. ⲕⲉⲧⲉ, c.pl. ⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ. These occur alone mostly in negative expressions, e.g. ⲙ̄ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ϭⲉ I saw no one else. Otherwise the articles are added, as in ⲧⲕⲉⲧⲉ the other one (f.), ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ the others, ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ some others. For the indefinite singular ⲕⲉⲟⲩⲁ and f. ⲕⲉⲟⲩⲉⲓ, another (one), are used.
28.6 Nouns with pronominal suffixes. It was noted earlier that there is a small group of nouns which take pronominal suffixes in a possessive sense. Among the more important of these are
ϫⲱ⸗ head, mostly replaced by ⲁⲡⲉ in normal usage, occurs frequently in compound expressions. The prepositions ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲉϫⲱ⸗ and ϩⲓϫⲛ̄, ϩⲓϫⲱ⸗ have already been introduced. Note also ϩⲁϫⲛ̄, ϩⲁϫⲱ⸗ before, in front of; ϥⲓ-ϫⲱ⸗ to raise one's head; ⲕⲁ-ϫⲱ⸗ to submit (reflex.), to compel (not reflex.); ϯ-ϫⲱ⸗ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ to submit to; ⲟⲩⲉϩ-ϫⲱ⸗ to bow the head. There are other similar verbal compounds.
ⲉⲓⲁ, ⲉⲓⲁⲧ⸗ eye; mainly in compounds, e.g. ⲕⲧⲉ-ⲉⲓⲁⲧ⸗ to look around; ⲙⲉϩ-ⲉⲓⲁⲧ⸗ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ to stare at; ⲧⲟⲩⲛ-ⲉⲓⲁⲧ⸗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to instruct, inform; cf. also ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧ⸗ in the following lesson.
ⲣⲱ⸗ mouth. The unbound form ⲡ.ⲣⲟ appears often in the sense of "door, entrance", but in the sense of "mouth" it is usually replaced by ⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ except in compounds, e.g. the prepositions ⲉⲣⲛ̄, ⲉⲣⲱ⸗ and ϩⲓⲣⲛ̄, ϩⲓⲣⲱ⸗; ⲕⲁ-ⲣⲱ⸗, ⲕⲱ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱ⸗ to become/remain silent (Q ⲕⲁⲣⲁⲉⲓⲧ); ⲧⲙ̄-ⲣⲱ⸗ idem (as imptv.); ϫⲓ-ⲣⲱϥ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ to obstruct, block.
ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ hand, already commented upon in §10.4. The more important verbal compounds include ϯ-ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ (Vocab. 26), ⲕⲁ-ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to cease (doing: Circum.), and ϩⲓ-ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗ to begin (see Vocab. below).
28.7 The nouns underlying the directional adverbs of Lesson 8 are used in several other important adverbial and prepositional expressions. With ⲛ̄, ϩⲓ, and ⲥⲁ they form adverbs of static location: e.g. ⲛ̄ ⲃⲟⲗ outside, ϩⲓ ϩⲟⲩⲛ inside, ⲥⲁ-ⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ underneath, below. Each of these may be converted into a prepositional phrase by adding ⲛ̄, ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗: ϩⲓ ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̄ outside of, beyond; ⲥⲁ-ϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ within, inside of. Nearly all the possible combinations occur: (ⲛ̄, ϩⲓ, ⲥⲁ) + (ⲃⲟⲗ, ϩⲟⲩⲛ, ϩⲣⲁⲓ up, ϩⲣⲁⲓ down, ⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ, ⲧⲡⲉ, ⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ, ⲡϣⲱⲓ) ± ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗ (sometimes also + ⲉ). Their meanings are usually obvious from the context. The noun ⲡ.ⲥⲁ in these expressions means "side, direction". It is the same ⲥⲁ we have in ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ and ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ. Note also the phrase (ⲛ̄) ⲥⲁ ⲥⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ on every side, everywhich way.
Vocabulary 28
(ⲉⲓⲥ, ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ, ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁ⸗, ϩⲱⲱ⸗, ⲙ̄ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗, ⲕⲁ-ⲣⲱ⸗, ⲧⲙ̄-ⲣⲱ⸗, ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ, -ⲉⲣⲏⲩ from the lesson)
ⲥⲱⲟⲩϩ ⲥⲉⲩϩ- ⲥⲟⲟⲩϩ⸗ Q ⲥⲟⲟⲩϩ vb. tr. (± ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ) to gather, collect (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; at: ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϩⲛ̄); intr. idem.
ⲥⲁⲁⲛϣ̄ ⲥⲁⲁⲛϣ̄- ⲥⲁⲛⲟⲩϣ⸗ Q ⲥⲁⲛⲁϣⲧ̄ vb. tr. to nourish, rear, tend to (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); Q to be well-fed.
ⲡ.ⲁⲣⲓⲕⲉ fault, blame. ϭⲛ̄-ⲁⲣⲓⲕⲉ ⲉ to find fault with, blame.
ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ evening. ⲉ/ⲛ̄/ϩⲓ ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ in the evening. ϣⲁ ⲣⲟⲩϩⲉ until evening.
One of our fathers sent his disciple to fetch water. But the well was very far from the cell. He forgot to bring the rope with him. And when he came upon the well, he realized that he had not brought the rope with him. He made a prayer and he called out, saying, "Oh cistern, it is my father who says to me, 'fill the bucket with water.'" And immediately, the water came upward, and the brother filled his jug, and the water settled again to its place.
Negation is with -ⲧⲙ̄-: ⲉϥϣⲁⲛⲧⲙ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛⲧⲙ̄-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄. ϣⲁⲛ may be omitted in the negative: ⲉϥⲧⲙ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, ⲉⲣⲉⲧⲙ̄-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄. The Conditional occurs only in the protasis of conditional sentences. Only the Infinitive may occur in the verbal slot.
Conditional sentences in Coptic fall formally into two clearly defined groups: (1) real, and (2) contrary-to-fact. The protasis of real conditional sentences in present time has a variety of forms:
a clause with the Conditional:
ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ
if you believe this
ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ (if) or ⲉϣϫⲉ (if) followed by the First Present, the Circumstantial, the Conditional, or any type of nonverbal predication:
ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ/ⲉϣϫⲉ
ⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ
"
ⲉⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ
"
ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ
if you believe this
"
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ
if you are his father
"
ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲕ ⲡϩⲁⲧ
if you have the money
"
ⲛ̄ϯⲙ̄ⲡϣⲁ ⲁⲛ
if I am not worthy
the Circumstantial alone often serves as protasis:
ⲉⲛⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ, …
since we are here, …
The apodosis of such conditions may be any variety of verbal clause appropriate for the required sense (e.g. Fut. I, II, III; Habitual; Imperative). The apodosis may optionally be introduced with ⲉⲓⲉ (ⲉⲉⲓⲉ). For examples, see the exercises.
The protasis of contrary-to-fact conditions is in fact an Imperfect circumstantial clause, or, in the case of nonverbal clauses, a circumstantial of the clause with the imperfect converter:
ⲉ-ⲛⲉϥⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
if he were king
ⲉ-ⲛⲉ-ⲛ̄ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
if he were the king
ⲉ-ⲛⲉ-ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛ ⲟⲩⲣ̄ⲣⲟ
if we had a king
ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ
if you were here
In past time ⲉ-ⲛⲉ- is followed by the affirmative Second Perfect or negative First Perfect:
ⲉ-ⲛⲉ-ⲛⲧⲁⲕϯ-ⲡϩⲁⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ
if you had given me the money
ⲉ-ⲛⲉ-ⲙⲡⲉⲕϫⲓ-ⲡϩⲁⲧ
if you had not taken the money
If the clause is nonverbal, ⲉ-ⲛⲉ- alone is used. Thus, ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲕⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ means both "if you were here" and "if you had been here".
The conditional prefix ⲉ-ⲛⲉ- is not to be confused with the particle ⲉⲛⲉ which serves to introduce a question, e.g. ⲉⲛⲉ ⲁⲕⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ? Did you see him?
The apodosis of both tenses is in the imperfect of the Future:
ⲉ-ⲛⲉⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ, ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ.
If you believed, this would not happen.
ⲉ-ⲛⲉ-ⲛⲧⲁⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ, ⲛⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛ.
If you had believed, this would not have hapened.
The Greek conjunctions ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ (εἰ μή τι) and ⲕⲁⲛ (κἄν) are also used to introduce protases of both real and contrary-to-fact conditions.
ⲛ̄ⲥⲁⲃⲏⲗ ϫⲉ (except that, unless, if not) is often used to introduce the protasis of a contrary-to-fact condition; the clause usually contains a Pres. I, Perf. I, or nonverbal predication:
ⲛ̄ⲥⲁⲃⲏⲗ ϫⲉ
ⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ
if you did not believe
"
ⲁⲕⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ
if you had not believed
"
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲕ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ
if you were not my father
29.2 Inflected predicate adjectives. There is a small set of predicate adjectives inflected by means of pronominal suffixes or by proclisis to a nominal subject, e.g.
ⲛⲉⲥⲉ-ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
His wife is beautiful.
ⲛⲉⲥⲱⲥ.
She is beautiful.
The more important of these are ⲛⲁⲁ- ⲛⲁⲁ⸗ great, ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ- ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ⸗ good, ⲛⲉⲥⲉ- ⲛⲉⲥⲱ⸗ beautiful, ⲛⲉⲥⲃⲱⲱ⸗ wise, ⲛⲁϣⲉ- ⲛⲁϣⲱ⸗ numerous, ⲛⲉϭⲱ⸗ ugly. When used in relative clauses, they are treated like the First Present: ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ the good man, ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲥⲉ-ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ the man whose wife is beautiful. They may also be preceded by the imperfect and circumstantial converters: ⲛⲉ-ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ (ⲡⲉ) he was good; ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉ-ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ (ⲡⲉ) a good man. ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧ⸗ (blessed is/are) belongs to this group, but a following nominal subject must be anticipated with a suffix: ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ⲣⲉϥⲣ̄-ⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ blessed are the peacemakers.
29.3 The comparison of both attributive and predicate adjectives is expressed by placing the preposition ⲉ before the item on which the comparison is based: ⲛⲟϭ ⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ greater than this, ⲥⲁⲃⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲏⲩ wiser than his brothers. In addition to simple adjectives, both Coptic and Greek, the predicate adjectives of the preceding paragraph as well as appropriate qualitatives and other verbal constructions may be used in this construction. E.g.
ⲛⲉϥⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲟϭ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲏⲩ.
He was more important than his brothers.
ϥϫⲟⲥⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
He is more exalted than his master.
ⲛⲉϥⲟ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉ ⲡⲣⲏ.
It was brighter than the sun.
ⲛⲉⲥⲱⲥ ⲉ ⲧⲉⲥⲥⲱⲛⲉ.
She is more beautiful than her sister.
A comparison may be strengthened by using ϩⲟⲩⲟ (more) in various combinations: ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉ, ⲉ ϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉ, ⲉ ϩⲟⲩⲉ, all meaning "more than". ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲩⲟ alone may express an absolute comparative: ⲡⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲩⲟ the greater.
The Greek preposition ⲡⲁⲣⲁ (or ⲙ̄ ⲡⲁⲣⲁ) may be used instead of ⲉ. Suffixes may be attached: ⲡⲁⲣⲟⲓ, ⲡⲁⲣⲟⲕ, ⲡⲁⲣⲟ etc.
ⲣⲁⲧ⸗ (foot) was mentioned in §19.2 in connection with ⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗ and ⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ⸗. Other compounds include ϩⲁ ⲣⲁⲧ⸗ prep. under, at the foot of; ⲕⲁ-ⲣⲁⲧ⸗ to set foot (+ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ: to start out); ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲁⲧ⸗ to go on foot.
ϩⲣⲁ⸗ is the presuffixal form of two words: (1) ϩⲟ ϩⲣⲁ⸗ face; (2) ϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲣⲁ⸗ voice. Both of these words are common in their unbound forms. Compounds worth noting are ⲉϩⲣⲛ̄ ⲉϩⲣⲁ⸗ prep. toward (the face of); (ⲛ̄) ⲛⲁϩⲣⲛ̄ (ⲛ̄) ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁ⸗ prep. in the presence of; ϫⲓ-ϩⲣⲁ⸗ (Q ϫⲓ-ϩⲣⲁⲉⲓⲧ) to amuse oneself, be diverted, distracted (suff. is reflex.); ϥⲓ-ϩⲣⲁ⸗ to raise one's voice, utter (± ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ).
ϩⲧⲏ⸗ is the presuffixal form of (1) ϩⲏⲧ heart, mind, and (2) ϩⲏⲧ tip, edge. Compounds using the form include ϯ-ϩⲧⲏ⸗ to observe, pay attention to (ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄); ϣⲛ̄-ϩⲧⲏ⸗ to have pity (on: ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̄); and the prep. ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̄ ϩⲁϩⲧⲏ⸗.
ϩⲏⲧ⸗ is the presuffixal form of (1) ⲧ.ϩⲏ belly, womb, and (2) ⲧ.ϩⲏ front. ϩⲏⲧ⸗ (belly, womb) may be used in its plain sense, as in ϩⲛ̄ ϩⲏⲧⲥ̄ in her womb; otherwise it appears only as part of the prep. ϩⲛ̄ ⲛ̄ϩⲏⲧ⸗. ϩⲏⲧ⸗ (front) is used as a preposition with certain verbs, e.g. ϣⲓⲡⲉ ϩⲏⲧ⸗, ⲣ̄-ϩⲟⲧⲉ ϩⲏⲧ⸗.
ⲧⲟⲩⲱ⸗ (bosom) is found in the prepositions ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛ̄- ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲱ⸗ and ϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲛ̄- ϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱ⸗ near, beside. The latter is frequent in the relative construction ⲡⲉⲧ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱ⸗ neighbor, e.g. ⲡⲉⲧ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱϥ his neighbor.
Other nouns used with pronominal suffixes are ⲁⲣⲏϫ⸗ end, ⲕⲟⲩⲛ̄(ⲧ)⸗ bosom, ⲣⲓⲛ(ⲧ)⸗ name, ⲥⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧ⸗ price, and ϣⲁⲁⲛⲧ⸗ nose. The Glossary may be consulted for these.
Vocabulary 29
(ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ, ⲉϣϫⲉ, ⲛ̄ⲥⲁⲃⲏⲗ ϫⲉ, ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩ-, ⲛⲉⲥⲉ-, ⲛⲁϣⲉ-, ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧ⸗, ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉ, ϥⲓ-ϩⲣⲁ⸗, ϣⲛ̄-ϩⲧⲏ⸗ ⲉϫⲛ̄, ⲡⲉⲧ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲩⲱ⸗ from the lesson)
ⲱⲥⲕ̄, Q ⲟⲥⲕ̄ vb. intr. to delay, tarry; to be prolonged, continue; + Circum.: to continue (doing).
ⲥⲟⲟϩⲉ ⲥⲁϩⲉ- ⲥⲁϩⲱ(ⲱ)⸗ Q ⲥⲁϩⲏⲩ vb. reflex. + ⲉⲃⲟⲗ to withdraw, leave (from: ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲧⲁⲙⲓⲟ ⲧⲁⲙⲓⲉ- ⲧⲁⲙⲓⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁⲙⲓⲏⲩ vb. tr. to create, make; to prepare, make ready (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); as n.m. creation, creature.
ⲑⲃ̄ⲃⲓⲟ ⲑⲃ̄ⲃⲓⲉ- ⲑⲃ̄ⲃⲓⲟ⸗ Q ⲑⲃ̄ⲃⲓⲏⲩ vb. tr. to humble, humiliate; intr. and reflex. to become humble; as n.m. humility (often + ⲛ̄ ϩⲏⲧ).
ⲡⲉ.ϩⲙⲟⲧ grace, gift, favor; gratitude. ϣⲡ̄-ϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛ̄ⲧⲛ̄ to give thanks to (for: ⲉϫⲛ̄, ϩⲓ, ϩⲁ); ϭⲛ̄-ϩⲙⲟⲧ to find favor.
ϣⲟⲣⲡ̄ (f. ϣⲟⲣⲡⲉ) adj. first, before or after n. with ⲛ̄. ⲛ̄ ϣⲟⲣⲡ̄ adv. formerly, at first.
ⲣ̄-ϩⲟⲩⲟ ⲉ (Q ⲟ ⲛ̄) to exceed, be more than; to be in excess, more than enough for.
A monk said, "In every temptation, don't find fault with man, but find fault with yourself alone, saying, 'It is because of my sins that these things are happening to me.'"
One of the monks went up to another monk and said to his disciple, "Prepare us a few lentils." And he prepared it. He said, "Moisten some loaves for us." And he moistened them. And they kept speaking of spiritual matters all day and all night.
The monks said, "Even if an angel truly appears to you, do not receive it (to yourself), but humble yourself and say, 'I am not worthy to see the angel, having lived in sins."
The Injunctive occurs only in the 1st and 3rd persons in standard Sahidic. The 1st person corresponds to the cohortative, the 3rd person to the jussive; theoretically, the Imperative may be said to occupy the 2nd person position. The negative of the Injunctive is expressed by using the negative Imperative prefix ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄- with the corresponding form of the Inflected Infinitive: ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄ⲧⲣⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ don't let him go, ⲙ̄ⲡⲣ̄ⲧⲣⲉⲩⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧϥ̄ don't let them kill him. The Injunctive is tripartite and is used only with the Infinitive. The free form of the 1st person, ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲛ, is used alone in the sense "Let's go."
30.2 The Future Conjunctive of Result (also called the Finalis).
—
ⲧⲁⲣⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲛ̄ may occur optionally before all of these forms. For the 1st person sing. the simple Conjunctive ⲧⲁ- may be used.
The Future Conjunctive is basically a result clause; it is especially frequent after an Imperative, e.g.
ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲣ̄-ⲥⲁⲃⲉ.
Listen to me and you will become wise (or: so as to become wise).
Although the Conjunctive itself may occasionally have the value of a result/purpose clause after an Imperative, the Future Conjunctive always has this meaning. The nuance of the form can best be understood if it is viewed as the transformation of an underlying conditional sentence:
ⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲧⲁⲣⲉⲕⲛⲁⲩ.
←
ⲉⲕϣⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉⲉⲓⲉ ⲕⲛⲁⲛⲁⲩ.
It may also occur after a question, e.g.
ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲧⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ?
Who has seen him so as to be able to describe him?
If the question is rhetorical, as in this example, negation is generally implied: "No one has seen him so as…." If the question is real, the implication is "Tell me the answer so that…," as in
ⲉϥⲧⲱⲛ ⲡⲉⲕⲥⲟⲛ ⲧⲁⲣⲛ̄ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̄ⲙⲁϥ?
Where is your brother that we may speak with him?
30.3 The Clause Conjugations. A distinction is made between sentence conjugations (Bipartite and Tripartite) and clause conjugations. The latter are so named because they correspond to a conjunction plus a clause in normal translation. To this category belong the Temporal, the Conjunctive, the Conditional, the Future Conjunctive of Result, and most uses of the Inflected Infinitive (ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲧⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄, ⲙⲛ̄ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲧⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄). Characteristic of this category is (1) negation with -ⲧⲙ̄-, and (2) the use of the Infinitive only.
A further clause conjugation is ϣⲁⲛⲧϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (until he hears):
ϣⲁⲛϯⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
until I hear
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲕ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
until you hear
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
etc.
ϣⲁⲛⲧϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
until the man hears
Translation is regularly with "until," e.g.
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁϭⲱ ⲙ̄ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ϣⲁⲛⲧϥ̄ⲉⲓ.
We shall remain here until he comes.
Similar in appearance to a clause conjugation is the form ϫⲓⲛ(ⲛ̄)ⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ (from the time that he heard). This consists, however, of the conjunction ϫⲓⲛ followed by the Second Perfect. Even more frequent are the compound expressions with ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ and ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ (as, according as, just as), both of which are followed by relative constructions, e.g.
ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲩ.
They found it just as he had told them.
ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲓⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̄, ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲁⲁⲥ ϩⲱⲧ-ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ̄…
According as I have done to you, you too are to do…
ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲥⲏϩ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧϥ̄
as it is written concerning him
ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲛⲁϣⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲥ
according as they would be able to hear (i.e. understand)
The feminine resumptive -ⲥ in these constructions refers back to ⲑⲉ and should not be translated as a pronominal object. If a real pronominal object is required, the resumptive -ⲥ is omitted, e.g.
Just as my Father sent me, so I too am sending you.
Other constructions with ⲑⲉ are treated similarly, e.g.
ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁ-ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲁⲓ.
Thus has the Lord acted for me.
30.4 When the Inflected Infinitive is used instead of a simple Infinitive after a verbal prefix, it has the value of a causative (hence its alternate name, the Causative Infinitive):
ⲁⲓⲧⲣⲉⲩⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
I caused them to enter.
ϯⲛⲁⲧⲣⲉⲕⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
I shall cause you to weep.
30.5 The form ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ describes an action as expected but not yet done. It is conveniently translated as "he has not yet heard". The form is fully inflected:
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁϯⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲕ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄
It may occur in circumstantial clauses with the circumstantial converter ⲉ-; the resultant form appears ambiguously as ⲉ-ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲉ- or simply ⲙ̄ⲡⲁⲧⲉ-. In this usage it is best translated as an affirmative clause with "before":
ⲧⲛ̄ⲛⲁⲧⲁϩⲟϥ ⲉ-ⲙⲡⲁⲧϥ̄ⲡⲱϩ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ.
We shall overtake him before he reaches the city.
With the imperfect converter ⲛⲉ-ⲙⲡⲁⲧϥ̄ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̄ corresponds to the pluperfect: he had not yet heard.
30.6 An untranslatable dative with ⲛⲁ⸗ or ⲉⲣⲟ⸗ occurs optionally with many verbs, especially in the Imperative. This reflexive dative is called the ethical dative, following standard terminology. E.g.
ⲃⲱⲕ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲏⲓ.
Go home!
ⲥⲱ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̄.
Drink!
Verbs with which this occurs with some frequency are noted in the Glossary.
The tens combine with the forms of the units used in the 'teens (§24.3). The -ⲧ- of -ⲧⲏ (5) is not repeated after another -ⲧ-:
ϫⲟⲩⲧⲟⲩⲉ
21
ⲙⲁⲃⲯⲓⲧⲉ
39
ϫⲟⲩⲧⲏ
25
ϣϥⲉⲧⲏ
75
An intrusive -ⲧ- appears before -ⲁϥⲧⲉ (4) and -ⲁⲥⲉ (6):
ⲙⲁⲃⲧⲁϥⲧⲉ
34
ⲥⲉⲧⲁⲥⲉ
66
The numbers ϣⲉ 100, ϣⲟ 1000, and ⲧⲃⲁ 10,000 are masculine:
ϣⲟ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ
2000
ⲙⲛ̄ⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲛ̄ ⲧⲃⲁ
120000
ϣⲟⲙⲛ̄ⲧ ⲛ̄ ϣⲟ
3000
Proclitic forms of the units are frequent here, e.g.
ϣⲙ̄ⲧ-ϣⲟ
3000
ⲥⲉⲩ-ϣⲟ
6000
Combinations of these higher numbers with tens and units vary in form, e.g.
ϣⲉ ⲙⲁⲁⲃ = ϣⲉ ⲙⲛ̄ ⲙⲁⲁⲃ
130
ⲥⲉⲩ-ϣⲟ ⲁⲩⲱ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲛ̄ ϣⲉ
6800
Ordinal numbers are formed from the cardinals with the prefix ⲙⲉϩ-. The ordinals are treated as adjectives before the noun with linking ⲛ̄. Gender distinctions are maintained:
ⲡⲙⲉϩⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ϩⲟⲟⲩ
the second day
ⲧⲙⲉϩⲥⲛ̄ⲧⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲟⲙⲡⲉ
the second year
For "first" the adjectives ϣⲟⲣⲡ̄ (f. ϣⲟⲣⲡⲉ) and ϩⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ (f. ϩⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧⲉ) are used.
Fractional numbers worth noting are ⲧ.ⲡⲁϣⲉ (half) and ϭⲟⲥ, ϭⲓⲥ- (half). Other fractions are expressed by ⲣⲉ- prefixed to the denominator, as in ⲣⲉ-ⲙⲏⲧ one-tenth, or with ⲟⲩⲱⲛ (ⲟⲩⲛ̄-), as in ⲟⲩⲛ̄-ⲛ̄-ϥⲧⲟⲟⲩ a fourth.
30.8 The remote (or further) demonstrative pronouns (that) are m.s. ⲡⲏ, f.s. ⲧⲏ, and pl. ⲛⲏ. These occur much less frequently than ⲡⲁⲓ, ⲧⲁⲓ, ⲛⲁⲓ because of the preference for using phrases with ⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ, such as ⲡⲉⲧ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ.
The prefixal forms ⲡⲓ-, ϯ-, and ⲛⲓ- are usually described as the reduced forms of ⲡⲏ, ⲧⲏ, and ⲛⲏ, parallel in usage to ⲡⲉⲓ-, ⲧⲉⲓ-, and ⲛⲉⲓ-. While such a formal relationship may exist, the use of ⲡⲓ-, ϯ-, and ⲛⲓ- in standard Sahidic is quite restricted. The form ⲡⲓ- occurs mainly in a few temporal and local adverbial expressions, such as ⲙ̄ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ (at that time) and ⲡⲓⲥⲁ (that side, as opposed to this side). The form ⲛⲓ- occurs most frequently in expressions involving comparison with ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ (like) or ⲣ̄-ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ (to become like); it sometimes corresponds more closely to an English generic noun, e.g. ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ⲛ̄ ⲛⲓϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ like doves, like a dove. It is also found in the expression ϣⲁ ⲛⲓⲉⲛⲉϩ. Elsewhere ⲡⲓ-, ϯ-, and ⲛⲓ- are frequent as scribal variants of ⲡⲉⲓ-, ⲧⲉⲓ-, ⲛⲉⲓ- or have the force of an emphatic article.
30.9 When it is necessary to express a durative or continuous process or state in the future, a periphrastic construction is employed using the Circumstantial. Contrast
ⲕⲛⲁⲟⲩⲟⲡ
you will become holy
ⲕⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
you will be holy
ⲉⲕⲉⲕⲁ-ⲣⲱⲕ
you shall become silent
ⲉⲕⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲕⲕⲱ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲕ
you shall remain silent
The difference is sometimes slight, but not infrequently spelled out. The same construction occasionally appears with other tripartite conjugational forms. A full discussion of the aspectual problem involved here lies beyond the scope of this book.
30.10 Greek conjunctions, adverbs, and prepositions that occur frequently in Coptic (for reference only). The term postpositive means that the word in question must follow immediately after the first element of the sentence, as in ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ.
ⲁⲗⲗⲁἀλλά but, rather.
ⲁⲣⲁἄρα (introduces question).
ⲅⲁⲣγάρ for, because, since (postpositive).
ⲇⲉδέ but, however (postpositive).
ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓεἰ μή τι (1) if not, unless, except that (+ Conj.); (2) elliptically, e.g. ⲙ̄ⲡⲟⲩϫⲉⲩ-ϩⲏⲗⲓⲁⲥ ϣⲁ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ⲉ ⲥⲁⲣⲉⲡⲧⲁ Elias was not sent to any of them except Sarepta. Note the independent pronoun in this usage: ⲙⲛ̄-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̄ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ No one will understand it but me.
ⲉⲓⲧⲉ…ⲉⲓⲧⲉεἴτε…εἴτε either … or.
ⲉⲡⲉⲓἐπεί because, since.
ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏἐπειδή because, since, when.
ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏⲡⲉⲣἐπειδήπερ inasmuch as, since.
ⲉⲧⲓἔτι yet, still, while yet (+ Circum.).
ⲏἤ or.
ⲕⲁⲓ ⲅⲁⲣκαὶ γάρ for truly.
ⲕⲁⲓⲧⲟⲓκαίτοι although, albeit.
ⲕⲁⲛκἄν even if.
ⲕⲁⲧⲁκατά (prep.) in accordance with, according to; also in distributive sense, e.g. ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲁⲃⲃⲁⲧⲟⲛ every sabbath. Note the absence of the article here.
ⲙⲉⲛ…ⲇⲉμέν…δέ balances two statements: on the one hand … but on the other. Both postpositive.
ⲙⲏμή introduces a rhetorical question presuming a simple yes or no answer.
ⲙⲏⲡⲟⲧⲉμήποτε so that not, lest (+ Conj.).
ⲙⲏⲡⲱⲥμήπως so that not, lest (+ Conj.).
ⲙⲏⲧⲓμήτι like ⲙⲏ, but with strong element of surprise.
ⲙⲟⲅⲓⲥμόγις hardly, scarcely.
ⲟⲩⲛοὖν therefore (postpositive).
ⲟⲩⲇⲉοὐδέ and not, nor; the negation is often repeated in Coptic as well.
ⲟⲩⲧⲉ…ⲟⲩⲧⲉοὔτε…οὔτε neither…nor.
ⲡⲣⲟⲥπρός (prep.) used like ⲕⲁⲧⲁ.
ⲡⲱⲥπῶς how? why?
ⲧⲟⲧⲉτότε then, thereupon, next.
ϩⲟⲇⲁⲛὅταν when, whenever, if (+ Cond.).
ϩⲟⲥⲟⲛ, ⲛ̄ϩⲟⲥⲟⲛὅσον as long as (+ Circum.).
ϩⲱⲥὡς (1) as if; (2) although; (3) when, while as (all + Circum.).
ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉὥστε so that (+ Conj. or Infl. Inf.).
ⲭⲱⲣⲓⲥχωρίς (prep.) without; a following noun has no indefinite article.
30.11 Final remarks on Coptic conjunctions and particles.
The main coordinating conjunctions are ⲁⲩⲱ and ⲙⲛ̄. ⲙⲛ̄ is used primarily to join nouns or nominalized expressions; ⲁⲩⲱ is used elsewhere. ⲁⲩⲱ is sometimes used for ⲙⲛ̄, but this poses no particular translation problem. ⲁⲩⲱ often appears redundantly before the Conjunctive or before the apodosis of a conditional sentence. When nouns have no article (for whatever reason), they may be joined with the preposition ϩⲓ instead of ⲙⲛ̄, as in ⲙⲛ̄-ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ϩⲓ ⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲙ̄ⲙⲁⲩ There is neither water nor food. ϩⲓ is also used to form compound nominal expressions of a special type, e.g. ⲥⲁⲣⲝ ϩⲓ ⲥⲛⲟϥ flesh and blood. These expressions function as a unit: any article occurs only with the first word, as in ϩⲉⲛⲥⲁⲣⲝ ϩⲓ ⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲛⲉ They are flesh and blood.
The main uses of the conjunction ϫⲉ have already been introduced: (1) in naming-constructions (see Vocab. 17); (2) to introduce noun clauses (object clauses) after appropriate verbs of speaking, perception, and the like; (3) to introduce purpose/result clauses with the Second or Third Future. ϫⲉ is also frequent in the sense "for, since, because", which is less ambiguously expressed by ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ and ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ϫⲉ. In many instances ϫⲉ is the equivalent of English "namely, i.e." in introducing explanatory appositions, e.g. ⲟⲩⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁ…ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̄ ϭⲣⲙ̄ⲡϣⲁⲛ an offering… namely a pair of turtle-doves. ϫⲉ is also used in some compound conjunctions, such as ⲛ̄ⲥⲁⲃⲏⲗ ϫⲉ (if not, unless) and ⲛ̄ ⲑⲉ ϫⲉ (as if, as though).
ⲉϣϫⲉ and ⲉⲓⲉ, in addition to their role in conditional sentences, may be placed before any statement to mark it as a question.
ϭⲉ is a postpositive particle with very much the same function as Greek ⲇⲉ. It is especially frequent in the phrase ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϭⲉ and now, so now therefore.
ⲛ̄ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲛ: then, thereupon, next, forthwith.
ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ may mean "except" after a negative statement:
ⲙ̄ⲡⲉ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲙ̄ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲧⲃ̄ⲃⲟ ⲛ̄ⲥⲁ ⲛⲁⲓⲙⲁⲛ ⲡⲥⲩⲣⲟⲥ.
None of them became cleansed except Naiman the Syrian.
Certain temporal expressions may occur with a following relative clause without resumptive pronouns. These function virtually as compound conjunctions. E.g.
ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ-ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ
the day when this will happen
ϩⲙ̄ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̄ⲧⲁϥϭⲱϣⲧ̄
on the day when he looked
The Conditional is frequently used in a temporal sense: when, whenever.
Vocabulary 30
ⲧⲉⲗⲏⲗ vb. intr. to rejoice (over: ⲉϫⲛ̄); n.m. joy.
ⲧⲁϣⲟ ⲧⲁϣⲉ- ⲧⲁϣⲟ⸗ vb. tr. to increase (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); often prefixed to another Inf.: to do something more, much. ⲧⲁϣⲉ-ⲟⲉⲓϣ to preach, proclaim (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗).
ⲧⲃ̄ⲃⲟ ⲧⲃ̄ⲃⲉ- ⲧⲃ̄ⲃⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲃ̄ⲃⲏⲩ vb. tr. to purify, cleanse, heal (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗; of, from: ⲉ, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̄, ϩⲁ); as n.m. purity, purification.
ⲧⲁⲩⲟ ⲧⲁⲩⲉ- ⲧⲁⲩⲟ⸗ (± ⲉⲃⲟⲗ) vb. tr. to send forth, cast forth, proclaim, tell (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗). ⲧⲁⲩⲉ-ⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ to produce fruit.
ⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟ ⲧⲁⲉⲓⲉ- ⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁⲉⲓⲏⲩ vb. tr. to honor, respect. value, esteem (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); Q to be honored etc., valuable.
ⲧⲁϫⲣⲟ ⲧⲁϫⲣⲉ- ⲧⲁϫⲣⲟ⸗ Q ⲧⲁϫⲣⲏⲩ vb. tr. to strengthen, confirm (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); intr. to become strengthened, firm, resolute.
ⲡ.ⲥⲟⲡ time, occasion. ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ once. ϩⲓ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ all at once, altogether. ⲛ̄ ⲕⲉⲥⲟⲡ again. ⲥⲟⲡ ⲛⲓⲙ always, on every occasion. ⲛ̄ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̄ ⲥⲟⲡ many times, often. ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲟⲡ ⲛ̄ (+ Inf.) on every occasion of.
ⲡ.ϩⲟⲟⲩⲧ male (of animals or humans); freq. as adj.: male, wild, savage. ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ is used as the corresponding female.
ⲡⲉ.ⲕⲗⲟⲙ crown, wreath. ϯ-ⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲉϫⲛ̄ to crown. ϫⲓ-ⲕⲗⲟⲙ to receive a crown, become a martyr.
ⲑⲁⲉⲓⲃⲥ̄ shade, shadow. ⲣ̄-ϩⲁⲉⲓⲃⲥ̄ to shade, protect (ⲉ, ⲉϫⲛ̄).
ⲡ.ⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ remainder, rest (often in plural sense). A redundant -ⲕⲉ appears frequently: ⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ the rest.
ⲣ̄-ⲭⲣⲓⲁ to need (ⲙ̄ⲙⲟ⸗); to have to (do: ⲉ + Inf.); ⲭⲣⲓⲁ is Gk. ἡ χρεία.
ϭⲙ̄-ⲡϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̄, ϭⲙ̄-ⲡ(⸗)ϣⲓⲛⲉ to search out, visit.
ϩⲣⲁⲓ is often used to reinforce a following preposition, esp. ϩⲛ̄, with no real difference in sense.
Exercises
ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲛ, ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ϩⲏⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ.
He said, "Let's go, the hour is at hand."
ⲁϥⲧⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉϥϩⲙ̄ϩⲁⲗ ⲧⲁⲙⲓⲟ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛ̄ ⲟⲉⲓⲕ.
He caused his slave to prepare him a little bread.
Our father who is in the heavens, may your name be hallowed. May your kingdom come. May your will happen as in heaven and happen also on the earth. Our bread which is coming, give to us today, and forgive us the things which are due from us, just as we ourselves also forgive the ones from whom we have things due, and do not take us into temptation, but save us from evil, for yours is the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The repetition of the verb is apparently an attempt to clarify what was felt as an awkward construction in the Greek.
ⲉⲧ ⲛⲏⲩ renders Gk. ἐπιούσιον "for the coming (day)." Note that the 2nd pers. Conjunctives continue, with the force of Imperatives, the 3rd pers. Injunctive forms at the beginning.
The prep. ⲉ has the special sense of "due from (as indebtedness)". Thus, ⲛⲉⲧ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ "those things which are due from us," ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ̄ⲧⲁⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ "those from whom we have (something) due."