Verbs & Tenses
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5.1 Verbs do not change for the subject
Čago verbs keep the same form regardless of who performs the action.
The verb does not need separate endings for “I”, “you”, “she” or “they”.
This makes verb forms easier to learn.
5.2 Present tense
The present tense has no tense particle.
The ordinary verb is used for present actions. Ongoing actions also use the ordinary present tense, rather than requiring a separate progressive form.
5.3 Past tense
The past tense uses a particle before the verb.
The same ordinary past form covers completed actions and past situations such as “was eating” or “used to eat”. Čago will not have a separate imperfect tense.
5.4 Future tense
The future tense also uses a particle before the verb.
The past and future particles themselves still need to be officially chosen.
5.5 Negation
Negation means making a statement negative, such as changing “I eat” to “I do not eat”.
Čago places the word meaning “not” before the verb. Its precise position relative to tense particles should be fixed as part of the final verb rules.
5.6 Modal verbs
Meanings such as these use separate words before the main verb:
Can: ability or possibility.
Must: necessity or obligation.
Should: advice or recommendation.
5.7 Commands and politeness
Commands use the bare verb, without a special command ending.
“Please” is a separate politeness word. Negative commands use the ordinary negation rule rather than a unique negative-command form.
“Never” is also expressed using a separate word.