BASIC MALTESE GRAMMAR
By
Grazio Falzon
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ALPHABET
- ARTICLE
- PRONOUN
- ADVERB
- GENDER
- COMPARISON
- NUMBER
- VERB
- SUFFIX
- NEGATIVE
- CONDITIONAL
- FUTURE
LETTER APPROXIMATE PRONUNCIATION SYMBOL EXAMPLES
------ ------------------------- ------ --------
A short, like 'u' in 'shut' a raba
long, like 'a' in 'far' a: sala
B like Eng. b b blu
C like ch in 'church' ch coff
D like Eng. d d demm
E short, as e in 'shed' e dell
long, as ai in 'hair' e: gelu
F like Eng. f f frott
G like j in 'join' j gbejna
G like g in 'great' g gardell
H silent within a word; fehem
pronounced like h in hen
when at the end of a word h fih
H like h in 'house' h hamsa
I short, as i in 'fit' i fitt
long, as ee in 'jeep' i: ilu
J like y in 'yes' y jannar
K like k in 'kit' k kelma
L like l in 'life' l landa
M as in Eng. m mans
N as in Eng. n nisel
O short, like o in got o bott
long, like aw in law o: sod
GH mostly silent (*) boghod
P as in Eng. p patata
Q glottal plosive sound ' dqiq
produced by the closure of
the vocal chords followed
by their sudden separation
R trilled like Scottish r r marsus
S like s in 'sea' s sinjur
T like t in French 'tante' t tfajla
U short, like u in 'full' u pulptu
long, like oo in 'fool' u: hut
V as in Eng. v iva
W like w in 'war' w werwer
X like sh in 'sheep' sh xadina
Z voiced, like z in 'fuzz' z zunzan
Z unvoiced, like ts in 'hats' ts pinzell
(*) 'GH' is regarded as a single letter in Maltese. When it precedes or
follows any one of the vowels 'a', 'e', 'o' it prolongs the sound of the
vowel. In my phonetic transcription this is shown by : after the
vowel concerned.
When 'GH' is followed by the vowel 'i' it takes the sound of 'ay' in the
English word 'bay'. When 'GH' is followed by the vowel 'u' it takes the
sound of 'ou' in the English word 'soul'.
When 'GH' is the final letter in a word, it is pronounced as a soft
aspirate sound like 'h' in the English word 'hair'.
The phonetic transcription will show the correct variation in
pronunciation.
N.B.(1) General rules governing the length of vowels:
-- All vowels at the end of a word are short and unstressed.
-- All vowels are long when they are stressed and are followed
by one consonant. They are short when followed by more than
one consonant.
-- A long vowel becomes shorter when the word in which it occurs
is followed by a word beginning with a consonant and carrying
the main stress. E.g. dar sabiha.
N.B.(2) My phonetic transcription will also show the differences in
pronunciation of 'g' in 'gobon' and 'g' in 'gidba', 'z' in 'zija' and 'z'
in 'zarbun', and between silent and pronounced 'h'.
N.B.(3) Doubled consonants are to be lengthened phonetically at the
beginning of a word or inside it. Thus ll in 'falla' must be pronounced
not with one l as in English 'fuller' but with the first l closing
the first syllable and with the second l opening the second syllable.
Approximate phonetic analogy in English would be the pronunciation of
"full life".
The definite article "the", in Maltese is "l", linked by a
hyphen to the following noun or adjective. E.g. l-orizzont (the horizon),
l-isbah (the most beautiful).
The article becomes "il-" if the following word begins with a
consonant. E.g.
il-mera (the mirror), il-quddiesa (the Mass), il-qamar (the moon),
il-lapis (the pencil), il-habs (the prison), il-ghasfur or l-ghasfur (the
bird), il-herra or l-herra (the rudenss).
The definite article changes to match the following word in
certain instances when the initial consonant is c, d, n, r, s, t, x, z
(voiced), or z
E.g. ic-cirku (the circle), id-duhhan (the smoke), in-nemel (the ants),
ir-rahal
(the village), is-suwed (the blacks), it-tagen (the frying pan), ix-xitan
(the devil), iz-zalza (the sauce), iz-zunzan (the bee).
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Personal pronouns in Maltese can also function as verbs. Thus:
Singular:
Jien (or Jiena) = I; I am
Int (or Inti) = You; You are
Hu (or Huwa) = He; He is
Hi (or Hija) = She; She is
Plural:
Ahna = We; We are
Intom = You; You are
Huma = They; They are
The negative of the verbal mode of the pronoun is made by surrounding the
pronoun with "ma" before the pronoun and "x" appended to it. Thus:
ma jiniex (or miniex) I am not
mintix You are not
mhuwiex (or mhux) He is not
mhijiex (or mhix) She is not
mahniex We are not
mintomx You are not
mhumiex They are not
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES / PRONOUNS
singular plural
masculine dan (this) dawn (these)
dak (that) dawk (those)
feminine din (this) dawn (these)
dik (that) dawk (those)
E.g. Dan il-hanut (this store)(adj)
Dan hu l-hanut (this is the store)(pron)
Dik is-sinjura (that lady)(adj)
Dik hija s-sinjura (that is the lady)(pron)
RELATIVE PRONOUN
The relative pronouns who, whom, that, which are rendered in Maltese by
the particle "li".
L-ittra li bghattli. (The letter you sent me).
Ma rajtx il-programmi li semmejtli. (I didn't see the programs you
mentioned to me).
Dan hu l-frigg li jmissna nixtru. (This is the fridge we should
buy).
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
Min (Who)
Liema (Which one)
Xi (What)
X (What) before words beginning with a vowel, a single consonant,
a silent h or gh.
Min hi l-mara tieghu? (Who is his wife?).
Liema kompjuter se tixtri? (Which computer are you buying?).
Xi trid? (What do you want?).
X'tip ta' persuna hu? (What type of person is he?).
X'ghamlet? (What did she do?).
PRONOMINAL SUFFIXES
The pronominal suffixes appended to nouns, verbs and prepositions are:
Singular Plural
-i, -ja (my) -na (our)
-ek, -ok, -k (your) -kom (your)
-u, -h (his) -hom (their)
-ha (hers) -hom (their)
E.g. mieghek (with you); tajthom (I gave them); gismi (my body);
ommok (your mother); taghha (hers).
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
Singular Plural
1st person: tieghi (my, mine) taghna (our, ours)
2nd person: tieghek (your, yours) taghkom (your, yours)
3rd person: tieghu (his, its) taghhom (their,
theirs)
taghha (her, hers, its) taghhom (their, theirs)
fejn (where) Fejn hi l-librerija? (Where's the library?)
hawn (here) Hawn ahna! (Here we are!)
hemm (there) Meta sejjer hemm? (When are you going there?)
kullimkien (everywhere) Kullimkien hekk. (It's like this everywhere.)
meta (when) Meta se titilqu? (When are you leaving?)
illum (today) Illum temp bnazzi. (Fine weather today.)
ghada (tomorrow) Tluq ghal ghada. (Departure set for tomorrow.)
ilbierah (yesterday) Wasalna 'lbierah. (We arrived yesterday.)
xhin (when) Xhin hi c-cena? (What time is supper?)
qatt (never) Qatt ma kellu xorti. (He was never lucky.)
kif (how) Kif issajjru l-bebbux? (How do you cook snails?)
biss (only) Rajtha darba biss. (I saw her only one time.)
wisq (too much) Tlablab wisq. (She chatters too much.)
bizzejjed (enough) Ma jiekolx bizzejjed. (He doesn't eat enough.)
hadd (no one) Hadd ma gie. (No one showed up.)
xejn (nothing) Xejn ma jiskantani. (Nothing surprises me.)
tassew (really) Tassew ma toghgobnix. (Really I don't like it.)
ghaliex (why) Ghaliex ma cempiltx? (Why didn't you call?)
(1) Nouns and adjectives ending in a consonant or in "u" are
masculine.
glekk (coat) seklu (century)
ktieb (book) gustuz (cute)
A few exceptions: triq (street), dar (house), ruh (soul), qalb
(heart), belt (city), id (hand).
(2) Nouns and adjectives ending in "a" are feminine.
mejda (table hobza (loaf)
helwa (sweet) sabiha (beautiful)
A few exceptions: ilma (water), papa (pope), alla (god).
(3) Nouns ending in "i" are feminine.
arti (art) xorti (luck)
fidi (faith) vuci (voice)
FORMATION OF FEMININE ADJECTIVES
Generally, the feminine gender is formed by adding "a" to the masculine
or "ja" if the masculine ends in "i".
In Maltese, the adjective follows the noun it qualifies.
mara xiha (an old woman)
tfajla franciza (a French girl)
The adjective takes the definite article when it qualifies a noun which
is preceded by a definite article.
it-tifel il-marid (the sick boy)
il-kamra n-nadifa (the clean room)
When a noun is in the singular, the qualifying ajective agrees with the
noun in gender and number. In the plural form of the adjective is the
same for both masculine and feminine genders.
N.B. The formation of the plural number in Maltese for both adjectives
and nouns does not follow uniform patterns. The reader is encouraged to
learn the plural forms as he or she encounters them.
The comparative degree of adjectives is formed by prefixing "a, e, i" or
"o" to the positive form of the adjective. Following are examples of the
main patterns:
qawwi (strong) aqwa (stronger)
ohxon (fat) ehxen (fatter)
fqir (poor) ifqar (poorer)
ghali (costly) oghla (costlier)
The conjunction "minn" (than) introduces the following item of
comparison.
Din id-dghajsa hi akbar minn l-ohra.
(This boat is larger than the other one).
The superlative precedes the noun it qualifies and is expressed by
prefixing the article "l-" to the comparative form of the adjective.
l-ikbar kamra (the largest room)
l-iqsar triq (the shortest road)
Some adjectives take "aktar" (more) or "izjed" (more) and "anqas"
(less) to express the comparative degree. The superlative is formed by
prefixing the definite article "l-" to "aktar', "izjed", and "anqas".
Ghawdex hu iktar awtentiku minn Malta.
(Gozo is more authentic than Malta).
Dak il-kostum hu anqas accettat fMalta.
(That custom is less accepted in Malta).
Hi l-ahjar fil-kors.
(She is the best in the course).
Dawn huma l-anqas artistici.
(These are the least artistic).
Maltese has two plural numbers:
a) the DUAL indicating two items or things in pairs.
b) the PLURAL expressing more than two items.
The DUAL number is formed by adding the suffix "-ejn" or "-ajn" to the
singular form of the noun.
darba = darbtejn (twice) gimgha = gimaghtejn (twoweeks)
jum = jumejn (two days) id = idejn (pair of hands)
The general PLURAL is formed by the suffixes: "-i", "-iet", "-ijiet",
and "-ien".
ajruplan = ajruplani (airplanes) ahbar = ahbarijiet (news)
taqsima = taqsimiet (sections) wied = widien (valleys)
Some nouns have a determinate plural (preceded by a number) and also a
collective plural form.
kelma (a word), erba kelmiet (four words), kliem (words)
tuffieha (an apple), sitt tuffihiet (six apples), tuffieh (apples)
Maltese has two categories of formations of the plural for nouns and
adjectives;
a) the external plural by suffixes
b) the internal plural formed by breaking the word internally
N.B. The student is encouraged to memorize the plural formations of the
more frequently used words. Following is a sampler of the variety of
plural patterns encountered in Maltese.
a) EXTERNAL PLURAL
Malti = Maltin (Maltese)
omm = ommijiet (mothers)
bieb = bibien (doors)
xugaman = xugamani (towels)
siggu = siggijiet (chairs)
xufier = xufiera (drivers)
cekk = cekkijiet (checks)
b) INTERNAL PLURAL
dar = djar (houses)
but = bwiet (pockets)
ragel = rgiel (men)
rahal = rhula (villages)
ktieb = kotba (books)
targa = tarag (stairs)
sodda = sodod (beds)
gzira = gzejjer (islands
In Maltese, verbs do not have an infinitive form. Verb moods and tenses
are constructed from a root form which consists of the third person
singular, masculine, Perfect Tense.
There are five categories of conjugations:
1) STRONG: Verbs having three or four root consonants.
KiTeB (he wrote); HaRBaT (he ruined)
2) DEFECTIVE: Verbs having a silent third radical "gh".
TaFa for TaFaGH (he threw)
3) WEAK: Verbs having a third radical semi vowel "j". QaRa for
QaRaJ (he read)
4) HOLLOW: Verbs having long "a" or "ie" (for original
etymological "awa" and "aja") between initial and final stem
consonants. DaM for DaWaM (he delayed); SaB for SaJaB (he found)
5) DOUBLED: Verbs having double third radical.
GaRR (he transported)
THE MALTESE VERB HAS THE FOLLOWING TENSES AND FUNCTIONS:
1) The PERFECT TENSE
Jien ktibt (I wrote) Ahna ktibna (we wrote)
Inti ktibt (you wrote) Intom ktibtu (you wrote)
Hija kitbet (she wrote) Huma kitbu (they wrote)
Huwa kiteb (he wrote) Huma kitbu (they wrote)
2) The IMPERFECT (PRESENT - FUTURE TENSE)
Jien nikteb (I write) Ahna niktbu (we write)
Inti tikteb (you write) Intom tiktbu (you write)
Hija tikteb (she writes) Huma jiktbu (they write)
Huwa jikteb (he writes) Huma jiktbu (they write)
3) The IMPERATIVE MOOD
ikteb (write)(sing / you) iktbu (write)(plur / you)
4) The PRESENT PARTICIPLE
Intransitive verbs have this form. Ex: hiere[ (going out); rieqed
(sleeping); sieket (quiet).
5) The PAST PARTICIPLE
miktub (written); misruq (stolen); miksur (broken).
6) The VERBAL NOUN
kitba (writing or script); serqa (stealing or theft); telfa
(losing or loss).
DERIVED VERBS
Derived verbal stems are categorized into nine groups according to
formation and meaning of verbs.
PATTERN 1
Verbs doubling a middle radical. The meaning is generally intensive,
causative or transitive.
Ex: kisser (he smashed); raqqad (he put to sleep); kabbar (he enlarged).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) kissirt, (int) kissirt, (hu) kisser, (hi)
kissret
(ahna) kissirna, (intom) kssirtu, (huma) kissru
Present (jien) inkisser, (int) tkisser, (hu) ikisser, (hi) tkisser
(ahna) inkissru, (intom) tkissru, (huma) ikissru
Imperative kisser (sing.), kissru (plur.)
Past Part. imkisser (m.) imkissra (f.) imkissrin (pl.)
Verb. Noun tkissir (breaking in pieces)
PATTERN 2
This is formed by lengthening the first vowel which gives a causal
function to the verb.
Ex: bierek (he blessed); qieghed (he placed).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) berikt, (int) berikt, (hu) bierek, (hi) bierket
(ahna) berikna, (intom) beriktu, (huma) bierku
Present (jien) inbierek, (int) tbierek, (hu) ibierek, (hi) tbierek
(ahna) inbierku, (intom) tbierku, (huma) ibierku
Imperative bierek (sing), bierku (plur.)
Past Part mbierek (m.) mbierka (f.) imberkin (plur.)
Verb. Noun tberik (blessing)
PATTERN 3
This group is now obsolete. It used to have a causative function. A rare
example is wera (he showed).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) urejt, (int) urejt, (hu) wera, (hi) uriet
(ahna) wrejna, (intom) urejtu, (huma) wrew
Present (jien) nuri, (int) turi, (hu) juri, (hi) turi
(ahna) nuru, (intom) turu, (huma) juru
Imperative uri (sing.), uru (plur.)
Past Part. muri (m.) murija (f.) murijin (plur.)
Verb. Noun wirja (show); turija (demonstration)
PATTERN 4
This group is formed by prefixing "t" to Pattern 1 verbs. Resultant
meaning is reflexive, reciprocal, or passive. This "t" assimilates with
the initial letters: c, d, g (soft), n, s, x, z (voiced), or z.
Ex: tkabbar (he grew proud); (i)ccahhad (he denied himself); (i)ssellef
(he borrowed); tghallaq (he hanged himself).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) tkabbart, (int) tkabbart, (hu) tkabbar, (hi)
tkabbret
(ahna) tkabbarna, (intom) tkabbartu, (huma)
tkabbru
Present (jien) nitkabbar, (int) titkabbar, (hu) jitkabbar
(hi) titkabbar
(ahna) nitkabbru, (intom) titkabbru, (huma)
jitkabbru
Imperative tkabbar (sing.), tkabbru (plur.)
Past Part. mkabbar (m.) mkabbra (f.) mkabbrin (plur.)
Verb.Noun tkabbir (self-importance)
PATTERN 5
Pattern 2 verbs which take a prefix "t" (with the assimilation of "t"
before: c, d, g (soft), s, z (voiced), or z.). They have a reflexive,
passive, or reciprocal function.
Ex: tqabad (he struggled); tmieghek (he wallowed); tbierek (he was
blessed); (i)ggieled (he quarrelled).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) tqabadt, (int) tqabadt, (hu) tqabad, (hi) tqabdet
(ahna) tqabadna, (intom) tqabadtu, (huma) tqabdu
Present (jien) nitqabad, (int) titqabad, (hu) jitqabad, (hi)
titqabad
(ahna) nitqabdu, (intom) titqabdu, (huma) jitqabdu
Imperative tqabad (sing.), tqabdu (plur.)
Past Part. mqabad
Verb. Noun tqabid (struggling)
PATTERN 6
Formed by prefixing "n" or "nt" to verbs of the first form. Verbs take a
reflexive or passive meaning.
Ex: (I)ndahal (he interfered); (i)nfirex (it was spread); (i)nqatel (he
killed himself); (i)nqabad (he was caught; (i)nstab (he was found).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) indhalt, (int) inthaldt, (hu) indahal, (hi)
indahlet
(ahna) indhalna, (intom) intdhaltu, (huma) indahlu
Present (jien) nindahal, (int) tindahal, (hu) jindahal, (hi)
tindahal
(ahna) nindahlu, (intom) tindahlu, (huma) jindahlu
Imperative indahal (sing.), indahlu (plur.)
Past Part. none
Verb. Noun ndhiel (interfering)
PATTERN 7
Formed by inserting "t" after the first radical of the first form. Verbs
take a reflexive or passive role.
Ex: ftaqar (he became poor); (i)ntesa (he was forgotten).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) ftaqart, (int) ftaqart, (hu) ftaqar, (hi) ftaqret
(ahna) ftaqarna, (intom) ftaqartu, (huma) ftaqru
Present (jien) niftaqar, (int) tiftaqar, (hu) jiftaqar, (hi)
tiftaqar
(ahna) niftaqru, (intom) tiftaqru, (huma) jiftaqru
Imperative ftaqar (sing.), ftaqru (plur.)
Past Part. none
Verb. Noun none
PATTERN 8
Formed by inserting a long "a" or "ie" between the second and third
radical. These verbs express change of color or quality.
Ex: sfar (he grew yellow/pale); swied (it/he grew black); blieh (he grew
foolish).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) sfart, (int) sfart, (hu) sfar, (hi) sfaret
(ahna) sfarna, (intom) sfartu, (huma) sfaru
Present (jien) nisfar, (int) tisfar, (hu) jisfar, (hi) tisfar
(ahna) nisfaru, (intom) tisfaru, (huma) jisfaru
Imperative isfar (sing.), isfaru (plur.)
Past Part. musfar (m.) musfara (f.) musfarin (plur.)
Verb. Noun sfurija (yellowness/paleness)
PATTERN 9
This form is derived by prefixing "st" to the initial vowel of the root
word. These verbs express a negative effect.
Ex: stkerra] (he detested); staghgeb (he was amazed).
Conjugation:
Perfect (jien) stkerraht (int) stkerraht, (hu) stkerrah, (hi)
stkerrhet
(ahna) stkerrahna (intom) stkerrahtu, (huma)
stkerrhu
Present (jien) nistkerrah, (int) tistkerrah, (hu) jistkerrah,
(hi) tistkerrah
(ahna) nistkerrhu, (intom) tistkerrhu, (huma)jistkerrhu
Imperative stkerrah (sing.), stkerrhu (plur.)
Past Part. mistkerrah (m.) mistkerrha (f.) mistkerrhin
(plur.)
Verb. Noun skerrih (loathing)
FOLLOWING ARE PARADIGMS OF THE FIVE MAIN GROUPS OF VERBS:
STRONG VERBS
Root Verb: HADEM (he worked)
Imperative: ahdem (work) (sing.)
ahdmu (work) (plur.)
Present-Future: (jien) nahdem (I work; I shall work)
(int) tahdem (you work; you will work)
(hu) jahdem (he works; he will work)
(hi) tahdem (she works; she will work)
(ahna) nahdmu (we work; we shall work)
(intom) tahdmu (you work; you will work)
(huma) jahdmu (they work; they will work)
Perfect: (jien) hdimt (I worked)
(int) hdimt (you worked)
(hu) hadem (he worked)
(hi) hadmet (she worked)
(ahna) hdimna (we worked
(intom) hdimtu (you worked)
(huma) hadmu (they worked)
Past Participle: mahdum (m) (worked) mahduma (f) mahdumin(pl)
(worked)
Verbal Noun: hidma (work)
Root Verb: WASAL (he arrived)
Imperative: asal (arrive) (sing)
aslu (arrive) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) nasal (I arrive; I shall arrive)
(int) tasal (you arrive; you will arrive)
(hu) jasal (he arrives; he will arrive)
(hi) tasal (she arrives; she will arrive)
(ahna) naslu (we arrive; we shall arrive)
(intom) taslu (you arrive; you will
arrive)
(huma) jaslu (they arrive; they will
arrive)
Perfect: (jien) wasalt (I arrived)
(int) wasalt (you arrived)
(hu) wasal (he arrived)
(hi) waslet (she arrived)
(ahna) wasalna (we arrived)
(intom) wasaltu (you arrived)
(huma) waslu (they arrived)
Past Participle: none
Verbal Noun: wasla (arrival)
DEFECTIVE VERBS
Root Verb: QALA (he earned)
Imperative: aqla (earn) (sing)
aqilghu (earn) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) naqla (I earn; I shall earn)
(int) taqla (you earn; you will earn)
(hu) jaqla (he earns; he will earn)
(hi) taqla (she earns; she will earn)
(ahna) naqilghu (we earn; we shall earn)
(intom) taqilghu (you earn; you will earn)
(huma) jaqilghu (they earn; they will
earn)
Perfect: (jien) qlajt (I earned)
(int) qlajt (you earned)
(hu) qala (he earned)
(hi) qalghet (she earned)
(ahna) qlajna (we earned)
(intom) qlajtu (you earned)
(huma) qalghu (they earned)
Past Participle: maqlugh (m) maqlugha (f) maqlughin (pl)
(earned)
Verbal Noun: qligh (earning); qalgha (profit)
HOLLOW VERBS
Root Verb: SAR(he became; it ripened; it was
cooked)
Imperative: sir (become) (sing)
siru (become) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) insir (I become)
(int) issir (you become)
(hu) isir (he becomes)
(hi) issir (she becomes)
(ahna) insiru (we become)
(intom) issiru (you become)
(huma) isiru (they become)
Perfect: (jien) sirt (I became)
(int) sirt (you became)
(hu) sar (he became)
(hi) saret (she became)
(ahna) sirna (we became)
(intom) sirtu (you became)
(huma) saru (they became)
Past Participle: misjur (m) misjura (f) misjurin (pl)
(ripe)
Verbal Noun: sajran (ripening)
WEAK VERBS
Root Verb: QARA (he read)
Imperative: aqra (read) (sing)
aqraw (read) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) naqra (I read)
(int) taqra (you read)
(hu) jaqra (he reads)
(hi) taqra (she reads)
(ahna) naqraw (we read)
(intom) taqraw (you read)
(huma) jaqraw (they read)
Perfect: (jien) qrajt (I read)
(int) qrajt (you read)
(hu) qara (he read)
(hi) qrat (she read)
(ahna) qrajna (we read)
(intom) qrajtu (you read)
(huma) qraw (they read)
Past Participle: moqri (m) moqrija (f) moqrijin (pl) (read)
Verbal Noun: qari (reading)
DOUBLED VERBS
Root Verb: MESS (he touched)
Imperative: miss (touch) (sing)
missu (touch) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) immiss (I touch)
(int) tmiss (you touch)
(hu) imiss (he touches)
(hi) tmiss (she touches)
(ahna) immissu (we touch)
(intom) tmissu (you touch)
(huma) imissu (they touch)
Perfect: (jien) messejt (I touched)
(int) messejt (you touched)
(hu) mess (he touched)
(hi) messet (she touched)
(ahna) messejna (we touched)
(intom) messejtu (you touched)
(huma) messew (they touched)
Past Participle: mimsus (m) mimsusa (f) mimsusin (pl)
(touched)
Verbal Noun: mess (touching)
THE QUADRILITERAL VERB
Another group of verbs consists of four consonants in the root form . Ex:
KaZBaR (he reviled); QaRMeC (he crunched); TeMTeM (he stuttered); WeRZaQ
(he screamed); FiXKeL (he obstructed).
Root Verb: FIXKEL (he obstructed)
Imperative: fixkel (obstruct) (sing)
fixklu (obstruct) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) infixkel (I obstruct)
(int) tfixkel (you obstruct)
(hu) ifixkel (he obstructs)
(hi) tfixkel (she obstructs)
(ahna) infixklu (we obstruct)
(intom) tfixklu (you obstruct)
(huma) ifixklu (they obstruct)
Perfect: (jien) fixkilt (I obstructed)
(int) fixkilt (you obstructed)
(hu) fixkel (he obstructed)
(hi) fixklet (she obstructed)
(ahna) fixkilna (we obstructed)
(intom) fixkiltu (you obstructed)
(huma) fixklu (they obstructed)
Past Particple: imfixkel (m) imfixkla (f) imfixklin (pl)
(obstructed)
Verbal Noun: tfixkil (obstruction)
IRREGULAR VERBS
Root Verb: HA (he took)
Imperative: hu (take) (sing)
hudu (take) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) niehu (I take)
(inti) tiehu (you take)
(hu) jiehu (he takes)
(hi) tiehu (she takes)
(ahna) niehdu (we take)
(intom) tiehdu (you take)
(huma) jiehdu (they take)
Perfect: (jien) hadt (I took)
(int) hadt (you took)
(hu) ha (he took)
(hi) hadet (she took)
(ahna) hadna (we took)
(intom) hadtu (you took)
(huma) hadu (they took)
Past Participle: mehud (m) mehuda (f) mehudin (pl) (taken)
Verbal Noun: uhid (act of taking)
-------------------
Root Verb: RA (he saw)
Imperative: ara (see) (sing)
araw (see) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) nara (I see)
(int) tara (you see)
(hu) jara (he sees)
(hi) tara (she sees)
(ahna) naraw (we see)
(intom) taraw (you see)
(huma) jaraw (they see)
Perfect: (jien) rajt (I saw)
(int) rajt (you saw)
(hu) ra (he saw)
(hi) rat (she saw)
(ahna) rajna (we saw)
(intom) rajtu (you saw)
(huma) raw (they saw)
Past Participle: muri (m) murija (f) murijin (pl) (seen)
Verbal Noun: raj (way of seeing)
-------------------
Root Verb: TA (he gave)
Imperative: aghti (give) (sing)
aghtu (give) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) naghti (I give)
(int) taghti (you give)
(hu) jaghti (he gives)
(hi) taghti (she gives)
(ahna) naghtu (we give)
(intom) taghtu (you give)
(huma) jaghtu (they give)
Perfect: (jien) tajt (I gave)
(int) tajt (you gave)
(hu) ta (he gave)
(hi) tat (she gave)
(ahna) tajna (we gave)
(intom) tajtu (you gave)
(huma) taw (they gave)
Past Participle: moghti (m) moghtija (f) moghtijin (pl) (given)
Verbal Noun: ghati (act of giving), ghatja (donation)
------------------
Root Verb: GIE (he came)
Imperative: ejja (come) (sing)
ejjew (come) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) nigi (I come)
(int) tigi (you come)
(hu) jigi (he comes)
(hi) tigi (she comes)
(ahna) nigu (we come)
(intom) tigu (you come)
(huma) jigu (they come)
Perfect: (jien) gejt (I came)
(int) gejt (you came)
(hu) gie (he came)
(hi) giet (she came)
(ahna) gejna (we came)
(intom) gejtu (you came)
(huma) gew (they came)
Past Participle: none
Verbal Noun: migja (arrival)
-------------------
Root Verb: QAL (he said)
Imperative: ghid (say) (sing)
ghidu (say) (plur)
Present-Future: (jien) nghid
(int) tghid
(hu) jghid
(hi) tghid
(ahna) nghidu
(intom) tghidu
(huma) jghidu
Perfect: (jien) ghidt
(int) ghidt
(hu) qal
(hi) qalet
(ahna) ghidna
(intom) ghidtu
(huma) qalu
Past Participle: none
Verbal Noun: ghajdut (act of saying)
DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS
Singular Plural
-ni (me) -na (us)
-k, -ok, -ek (you) -kom (you)
-h, -u (him) -hom (them)
-ha (her)
habbni (he loved me) ittajpjahom (type them)
talabha (he begged her) insietkom (she forgot you)
uriha (show her) urina (show us)
ibierkek (he blesses you) nammirakom (I admire you)
hallieha (he left her) geghilhom (he compelled them)
halliha (leave her) hallina (leave us)
nsewh (they forgot him) bazzaghna (he frightened us)
toboghdu (she hates him) hadhom (he took them)
INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS
Singular Plural
-li (to me) -lna (to us)
-lek (to you) -lkom (to you)
-lu (to him) -lhom (to them)
-lha (to her)
kitbitli (she wrote to me) imlielna (he filled for us)
bghattlek (I sent to you) qalilhom (he said to them)
gabilha (he brought to her) bghattilkom (I sent to you)
cempillu (call him) iktbulna (write to us)
itfaghlha (throw to her) aqralhom (read to them)
ghidtlek (I told you) ibaghtulna (send to us)
geddidli (renew for me) garrejnilkom (we carried for you)
iktbilha (write to her) ncemplilhom (I shall call them)
COMBINED DIRECT AND INDIRECT PRONOUN OBJECTS
Note that direct pronoun object "-ha" changes to "-hie" when an
indirect pronoun object is appended to it. Similarly, the direct pronoun
object "-u" changes to "-hu" when it is followed by an indirect pronoun
object.
gabhulhom (he brought it/him to them)
kitbuhielna (they wrote it to/for us)
ibghatuhuli (send it/him to me)
urihielu (show it/her to hm)
aghmluhielna (do it for us)
tibghathomlna (you will send them to us)
hallihielhom (leave it for them)
islifhomli (lend them to me)
iktbuhulhom (write it to/for them)
kissruhomlkom (they smashed them for you)
The negative "not" in a statement is translated in Maltese by the
particle "ma" ("m" before a vowel, "h" or "gh") used before a verb
in the present or perfect, to which is appended the particle "x" (short
for xejn = nothing).
A verb ending in "a" changes the vowel to "iex" in the negative.
Affirmative Negative
kiel ma kielx (he didnt eat)
hija mhijiex (she isnt)
ghandi mghandix (I dont have)
dhalt ma dhaltx (I didnt go in)
kitbitlu ma kitbitlux (she didnt write to him)
gabhuli ma gabhulix (he didnt bring it to me)
hedded mheddidx (he didnt threaten)
Following is the conjugation of the verbs to be and to have in the
affirmative and negative forms in the Present tense.
Singular: jiena I am miniex I am not
inti you are mintix you are not
huwa he is mhuwiex he is not
hija she is mhijiex she is not
Plural: ahna we are mahniex we are not
intom you are mintomx you are not
huma they are mhumiex they are not
Singular: ghandi I have mghandix I dont have
ghandek you have mghandekx you dont have
ghandu he has mghandux he doesnt have
ghandha she has mghandhiex she doesnt have
Plural: ghandna we have mghandniex we dont have
ghandkom you have mghandkomx you dont have
ghandhom they have mghandhomx they dont have
In Maltese the conditional (expressed in English by would / should +
verb) is conveyed by "kieku" (if) or "jekk" (if) followed by the Perfect
or Present forms of the verb.
The conditional is used to express:
a) what would occur under certain present or future conditions.
Jekk titbissmilha, tkellmek.
(If you smile at her, she would speak to you).
Kieku nirbah il-lotterija, nixtri villa.
(If I win the lottery, I would buy a villa).
b) what would have occurred if certain conditions had taken place.
Kieku stidintna, konna nigu.
(If you had invited us, we would have come).
Il-partit ma kienx jirbah kieku ma kellux lider qawwi.
(The party wouldnt have won had it not a strong leader).
The conjugation of the verbs "to be" and "to have" is as follows:
(jien) inkun (I shall be) (jien) ikolli (I shall have)
(int) tkun (you will be) (int) ikollok (you will have)
(hu) jkun (he will be) (hu) jkollu (he will have)
(hi) tkun (she will be) (hi) jkollha (she will have)
(ahna) nkunu (we shall be) (ahna) jkollna (we shall have)
(intom) tkunu (you will be) (intom) ikollkom (you will have)
(huma) jkunu (they will be) (huma) jkollhom (they will have)
In Maltese, the Present tense conveys also the future. There are various
particles and verbs which can combine with the Present Tense to express
different nuances to a future idea.
a) "Ser", abbreviated for "sejjer" (m), "sejra" (f), "sejrin"
(pl) going, expresses an action that is going to take place.
Il-gimgha d-diehla sejrin niccelebraw l-anniversarju
taghna.
(Next week we are going to celebrate our anniversary.)
Xser taghmel il-lejla?
(What will you be doing this evening?)
b) "Ghad" expresses a future action, event or situation which
may take place.
Ghad jigi zmien meta jiddispjacik.
(A time will come when you will be sorry.)
Ma niskantax jekk ghad taghmel il-borra.
(I wont be surprised if it may still snow.)
c) "Ha" indicates a deliberate future action.
Iddecidew li ha jahdmu flimkien.
(They decided they will be working together.)
Ghada ha nara t-tabib tieghi.
(Tomorrow Im going to see my doctor.)
d) The verb "ikollu" etc. followed by a conjugated verb in the
Present expresses an idea of obligation.
Ikollna nirrisolvu din il-krizi.
(We will have to resolve this crisis.)
Ser ikolli nixtri karozza ohra.
(Im going to have to buy another car.)
e) The verb "ikun" etc. followed by a conjugated verb in the
Present expresses an action expected to take place
concurrently with an another action.
Meta tigi nkun nahdem fuq il-kompjuter.
(I'll be working on the computer when you come.)
Liema belt se tkunu zzuru meta ahna nkunu Parigi?
(Which city will you be visiting when we're in Paris?)
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(BASIC MALTESE GRAMMAR, Copyright © Grazio Falzon, South Bend,
Indiana, USA, 1997)
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