The moods are the indicative, imperative, conditional, and infinitive. The verb stem and a contraction of the necessary pronouns are incorporated, and the words thus formed are used in the conjugation. These are, however, modifications of the affixed particles in the past and future tenses to express differences in time.
In the following conjugation of the verb “to beat” the present tense is given in full. In the past and future tenses, one example in the first person singular is thought sufficient, because any required person and number in each tense can be obtained by following the directions given in the text.
Indicative Mood—Present Tense.
Singular 1st Person I beat Bumurradhu.
2nd „ Thou beatest Bumurrandu.
3rd „ He beats Bumurragwa.
Dual 1st Person We, incl., beat Bumurrali.
We, excl., beat Bumurraliguna.
2nd „ You beat Bumurrandubla.
3rd „ They beat Bumurragwainbula.
Plural 1st „ We, incl., beat Bumurrani.
We, excl., beat Bumurraniguna.
2nd „ You beat Bumurrandugir.
3rd „ They beat Bumurragwainguler.
Past Tense.
1st Person I beat just now Bumulbêndhu.
Singular, I beat this morning Bumulngurrindhu.
I beat yesterday Bumulgwandhu.
I beat, indefinite Bumêdhu.
I beat long ago Bumulgridyu.
Dhu, softened to dyu in some cases, is a contraction of ngadhu.
Future Tense.
1st Person I will beat, indefinite Bumulgiridyu.
Singular, I will beat, soon Bumulyawagiridyu.
I will beat in the morning Bumulngurrigiridu.
Owing to the several inflections of the verb in the past and future tneses, for immediate, proximate, and more or less remote times of the performance of the action,[8] it is often found convenient, especially when speaking in the dual or plural, to prefix a complete pronoun from the table of pronouns. Thus, instead of saying, Bumulbênli, a native frequently expresses it, Ngulli bumulbên. Again, instead of saying, Bumulgiriniguna, he would use, Ngeaniguna bumulgiri. This leaves the termination of the verb freer for the numerous inflexions.