580 GRAMMAR OP THE KLAMATH LANGUAGE. 



what extent the category of tense permeates other modes than the declara- 

 tive, to which the present chapter chiefly refers, will be seen in the chapter 

 of "The Modes of the Verb." 



THE FORMS OF THE PRESENT TENSE. 



Klamath distinguishes three varieties of the ^rresent tense by separate 

 forms in the declarative mode. The other modes are represented by a con- 

 ditional, two imperatives, a participle, and some verbals. 



A. — The pure present tense, as contained in sentences like tve are walking, 

 it is raining, is expressed by the nude form of the verb. This form is, in the 

 northern dialect, usually preceded or followed by the declarative particle a, 

 which here serves also to indicate the tense. Modocs generally omit this 

 particle, but in both dialects other particles can supplant it to point to the 

 present tense. Connected with hit if, ivhen, this tense also forms conditional 

 sentences, and often stands where European languages use their conjunctive 

 mode. Examples: 



ke a shudsha Anku he is burning wood. 



k^lpka a ambu the water is hot. 



tdm nush t 161a? do you believe me? 



at wawapka we they are still sitting (there). 



at a p4n pala-ash ye are eating bread. 



B. — The usitative form of the present tense, describing habit, custom, or 

 practice, constantly observed, expresses it in a presential form by appending 

 to the verb -nk (-ank, -ink etc.) in Kl., -n (-an, -in etc.) in Modoc. Tii form 

 it coincides with the participle of the present, but being connected with the 

 personal pronouns, it serves the purpose and has the function of a finite 

 verb. It occurs when liabits and customs of individuals and tribes are 

 sketched, though the naked verb appears in this function just as frequently: 

 ilx6ta, flktcha, 87, 4, 6; shudsha, 90, 9. On the origin of the suffix -nk, -n, 

 see Participles. 



maklaks kiukayunk flags the people stick out flags obliquely, 134, 3. 4. 

 pt4.pkashti shu'tank box they make a coffin of lumber, 87, 2. 

 sha shipiit^iikank they were repeatedly eclipsing each other, 105, 2. 

 lushnank sha shne'lakslitat they roast if in the fire-place, 150, 7. 



