Editing Shilha language (section)

== Grammar ==
{{See also|Berber_languages#Grammar}}

=== Nouns ===
On the basis of their morphology, three types of Shilha nouns can be distinguished, two indigenous types and one type of external origin:
*inflected nouns
*uninflected nouns
*unincorporated loans
The relevant morpho-syntactic categories are gender, number and state.<ref>Galand (1988, 4.9–12).</ref>

==== Inflected nouns ====
Inflected nouns are by far the most numerous type. These nouns can be easily recognised from their outward shape: they begin with a nominal prefix which has the form {{Not a typo|(t)V-}}:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|azal}} "daytime"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|igigil}} "orphan"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|uṣkay}} "hound"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tadgg°at}} "evening"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tibinṣrt}} "marsh mallow (plant)"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tuḍfit}} "ant"
Inflected nouns distinguish two genders, masculine and feminine; two numbers, singular and plural; and two states, conventionally referred to by their French names as {{Lang|fr|état libre}} ("free state") and {{Lang|fr|état d'annexion}} ("annexed state")<ref>Both Galand (1988. 4.11) and Kossmann (2012:67n7) rightly point out that the annexed state in Berber is not to be confused with the construct state of the Semitic languages.</ref> and glossed as '''EL''' and '''EA'''. Gender and number are all explicitly marked, but historical and synchronic sound changes have in some cases resulted in the neutralization of the difference between EL and EA.

The nominal prefix has no semantic content, i.e. it is not a sort of (in)definite article, although it is probably demonstrative in origin. It is made up of one or both of two elements, a gender prefix and a vocalic prefix. Singular feminine nouns may also have a gender suffix. For example, the noun {{Lang|shi-latn|tazdwit}} "bee" has the feminine prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}}, the vocalic prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|a-}} and the feminine singular suffix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}} added to the nominal stem {{Lang|shi-latn|zdwi}}. While feminine inflected nouns always have the feminine prefix, masculine nouns do not have a gender prefix in the free state (EL); for example {{Lang|shi-latn|abaɣuɣ}} "fox" has no gender prefix, but only a vocalic prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|a-}} added to the nominal stem {{Lang|shi-latn|baɣuɣ}}.

Gender is thus marked unambiguously, albeit asymmetrically. In just a handful of nouns, the morphological gender does not conform to the grammatical gender (and number): {{Lang|shi-latn|ulli}} "sheep and goats" is morphologically masculine singular, but takes feminine plural agreement; {{Lang|shi-latn|alln}} "eyes" is morphologically masculine plural, but takes feminine plural agreement; {{Lang|shi-latn|tarwa}} "(someone's) children, offspring" is morphologically feminine singular, but takes masculine plural agreement.

The annexed state (EA) is regularly formed by reducing the vocalic prefix to zero and, with masculine nouns, adding the masculine gender prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|w-}}:<ref name="Galand 1988, 4.11">Galand (1988, 4.11).</ref> 
:EL {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-zdwi-t}} "bee" → EA {{Lang|shi-latn|t-zdwi-t}}
:EL {{Lang|shi-latn|a-baɣuɣ}} "fox" → EA {{Lang|shi-latn|w-baɣuɣ}}
With some nouns, the original vocalic prefix has fused with a stem-initial vowel, to produce an inseparable (and irreducible) vowel:
:EL {{Lang|shi-latn|ayyur}} "moon, month" → EA {{Lang|shi-latn|w-ayyur}} (not *{{Lang|shi-latn|w-yyur}})
:EL {{Lang|shi-latn|t-afuk-t}} "sun" → EA {{Lang|shi-latn|t-afuk-t}} (not *{{Lang|shi-latn|t-fuk-t}})
With feminine nouns that have an inseparable vocalic prefix, the difference between EL and EA is thus neutralized.

While most inflected nouns have a vocalic prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|a-}}, some have {{Lang|shi-latn|i-}} (in some cases inseparable), and a few have {{Lang|shi-latn|u-}} (always inseparable). When a masculine noun has the vocalic prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|i-}} (separable or inseparable), the masculine gender prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|w-}} changes to {{Lang|shi-latn|y-}}. The table below presents an overview (all examples are singular; plurals also distinguish EL and EA):

{| class="wikitable"
| rowspan="2" | 
! colspan="2" | Masculine
| rowspan="2" | 
! colspan="2" | Feminine
|-
!width="100"| EL
!width="100"| EA
!width="100"| EL
!width="100"| EA
|-
|"fox"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|a-baɣuɣ}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|w-baɣuɣ}}
|"bee"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-zdwi-t}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-zdwi-t}}
|-
|"moon"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|ayyur}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|w-ayyur}}
|"sun"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-afuk-t }}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-afuk-t }}
|-
|"cave"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|i-fri}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|y-fri}}
|"meat"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-fiyi}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-fiyi}}
|-
|"ash"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|iɣd}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|y-iɣd}}
|"salt"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-isn-t}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-isn-t}}
|-
|"[[Barbary sheep|moufflon]]"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|udad}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|w-udad}}
|"light"
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-ufaw-t}}
|{{Lang|shi-latn|t-ufaw-t}}
|}

The EA is not predictable from the shape of the noun, compare:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|afus}} "hand" → EA {{Lang|shi-latn|wfus}}
:{{Lang|shi-latn|afud}} "knee" → EA {{Lang|shi-latn|wafud}}
The phonological rules on the realization of /w/ and /j/ apply to the EA as well. For example, the EA of {{Lang|shi-latn|a-mɣar}} "chief" is /w-mɣar/, realized as {{Lang|shi-latn|wmɣar}} after a vowel, {{Lang|shi-latn|umɣar}} after a consonant:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|idda wmɣar s dar lqqaḍi}} "the chief went to see the judge"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|imun umɣar d lqqaḍi}} "the chief accompanied the judge"
Inflected nouns show a great variety of plural formations, applying one or more of the following processes:
*suffixation (masculine {{Lang|shi-latn|-n}}, feminine {{Lang|shi-latn|-in}})
*vowel change (insertion or elision, or [[apophony|ablaut]])
*consonant gemination or degemination
*stem extension (+{{Lang|shi-latn|aw}}, +{{Lang|shi-latn|iw}}, +{{Lang|shi-latn|t}}, +{{Lang|shi-latn|w}}, always in combination with a suffix)
There are also irregular and suppletive plurals. The feminine singular suffix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}} is naturally lost in the plural.

Independent from these processes, the separable vocalic prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|a-}} is always replaced with {{Lang|shi-latn|i-}}. An inseparable vocalic prefix either remains unchanged, or changes as part of vowel change (but if the vocalic prefix is inseparable in the singular, it may be separable in the plural, as with {{Lang|shi-latn|aduz}} "dune", and vice versa, as with {{Lang|shi-latn|aydi}} "dog"; see table below).

Below is a sample of nouns, illustrating various plural formations.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="140"| ||width="140"| Singular|| width="140" | Plural|| width="400" | Process(es)
|-
| "mountain"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|a-drar}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-drar-n}}|| suffixation
|-
| "dune"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|aduz}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-dazz-n}}|| vowel change, gemination, suffixation
|-
| "head"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|a-gayyu}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-guyya}}|| vowel change
|-
| "ear"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|a-mẓẓuɣ}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-mzga-n}}|| (irregular plural)
|-
| "waterhole"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|anu}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|una}}|| vowel change
|-
| "document"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|arra}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|arra+t-n}}|| stem extension, suffixation
|-
| "day"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|ass}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|ussa-n}}|| vowel change, suffixation
|-
| "dog"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|a-ydi}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|iḍa-n}}|| (irregular plural)
|-
| "forehead"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-gnzi}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-gnzi+t-n}}|| stem extension, suffixation
|-
| "forearm"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-ɣil}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-ɣall-n}}|| vowel change, gemination, suffixation
|-
| "scorpion"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|iɣirdm}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|iɣardm+iw-n}}|| vowel change, stem extension, suffixation
|-
| "witness"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-nigi}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-naga-n}}|| vowel change, suffixation
|-
| "slave"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-smg}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|i-smga-n}}|| vowel change, suffixation
|-
| "face"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|udm}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|udm+aw-n}}|| stem extension, suffixation
|-
| "song"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|urar}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|urar-n}}|| suffixation
|-
| "jackal"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|uccn}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|uccan-n}}|| vowel change, suffixation
|-
| "egg"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-glay-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-glay}}|| (irregular plural)
|-
| "thing"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-ɣawsa}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-ɣaws+iw-in}}|| stem extension, suffixation
|-
| "mouse"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-ɣrday-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-ɣrday-in}}|| suffixation
|-
| "churn"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-gccul-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-g°cl-in}}|| vowel change, suffixation, degemination
|-
| "fireplace"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-aka-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-aka+t-in}}|| stem extension, suffixation
|-
| "woman" || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-mɣar-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-u-mɣar-in}}{{efn|In a few feminine nouns, the plural vocalic prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|i}} has become {{Lang|shi-latn|u}} under the influence of a following {{Lang|shi-latn|m}}, as in {{Lang|shi-latn|t-u-mɣar-in}} "women" and {{Lang|shi-latn|t-u-mẓ-in}} "barley" (cf. Central Atlas Tamazight {{Lang|tzm-latn|t-i-mɣar-in, t-i-mẓ-in}}).}} || suffixation
|-
| "porcupine"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-aruc-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-urac}}|| vowel change
|-
| "key"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-saru-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-sura}}|| vowel change
|-
| "house"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-gmmi}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-g°mma}}|| vowel change
|-
| "ewe"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-ili}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-att-n}}|| (suppletive plural)
|-
| "meal"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-irm-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-iram}}|| vowel change
|-
| "eye"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-iṭṭ}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|all-n}}|| (suppletive plural)
|-
| "mountain pass"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-izi}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-izza}}|| vowel change, gemination
|-
| "lioness"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-izm-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-izm+aw-in}}|| suffixation, stem extension
|-
| "light"|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-ifaw-t}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-ifaw-in}}|| suffixation
|}

The plural is generally not predictable from the shape of the singular, compare:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aduku}} "shoe", plural {{Lang|shi-latn|idukan}} (vowel change and suffix)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aruku}} "utensil", plural {{Lang|shi-latn|irukutn}} (stem extension and suffix)
Many nouns have more than one plural, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|a-jnwiy}} "knife", plural {{Lang|shi-latn|i-jnway}} (vowel change) or {{Lang|shi-latn|i-jnwiy-n}} (suffixation).

Many Shilha place-names are morphologically inflected nouns:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|A-nammr}} "Anammeur"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|I-ɣ°rays-n}} " Irhoreïsene"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|T-a-rudan-t}} "Taroudant"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|T-i-zgzaw-in}} "Tizegzaouine"
The same is the case with Shilha ethnic names:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|Amml-n}} "the Ammeln" (singular {{Lang|shi-latn|Imml}})
:{{Lang|shi-latn|Actuk-n}} "the Achtouken" (singular {{Lang|shi-latn|Actuk}})
:{{Lang|shi-latn|I-lall-n}} "the Ilallen" (singular {{Lang|shi-latn|I-lillu}})
:{{Lang|shi-latn|I-sk°ta-n}} "the Isouktan" (singular {{Lang|shi-latn|A-sktu}})
Among the inflected nouns are found many incorporated loans. Examples include:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-kira}} "wax" (from Latin)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|a-ɣanim}} "reeds" (from Punic)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|urti}} "vegetable plot, orchard" (from early Romance)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|a-muslm}} "Muslim" (from Arabic)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-bra-t}} "letter, missive" (from Arabic)

==== Uninflected nouns ====
This is the least common type, which also includes some loans. Examples:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|dikkuk}} "cuckoo"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|fad}} "thirst"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|gmz}} "thumb"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|kḍran}} "tar" (from Arabic)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lagar}} "station" (from French)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|mllɣ}} "index finger"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|sksu}} "couscous"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|wiẓugn}} "cricket"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|xizzu}} "carrots"

It is probable that all uninflected nouns were originally masculine. The few that now take feminine agreement contain elements that have been reanalyzed as marking feminine gender, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|ttjdmnni}} "kind of spider" (initial {{Lang|shi-latn|t}} seen as feminine prefix), {{Lang|shi-latn|hlima}} "bat" (not an Arabic loanword, but final {{Lang|shi-latn|a}} analyzed as the Arabic feminine ending).

Many uninflected nouns are collectives or non-count nouns which do not have a separate plural form. Those that have a plural make it by preposing the pluralizer {{Lang|shi-latn|id}}, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|id lagar}} "stations".

The uninflected noun {{Lang|shi-latn|mddn}} or {{Lang|shi-latn|middn}} "people, humans" is morphologically masculine singular but takes masculine plural agreement.

Names of people and foreign place-names can be seen as a subtype of uninflected nouns, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|Musa}} (man's name), {{Lang|shi-latn|Muna}} (woman's name), {{Lang|shi-latn|Fas}} "Fès", {{Lang|shi-latn|Brdqqiz}} "Portugal". Gender is not transparently marked on these names, but those referring to humans take gender agreement according to the natural sex of the referent (male/masculine, female/feminine).

==== Unincorporated loans ====
These are nouns of Arabic origin (including loans from French and Spanish through Arabic) which have largely retained their Arabic morphology. They distinguish two genders (not always unambiguously marked) and two numbers (explicitly marked). A notable feature of these nouns is that they are borrowed with the Arabic definite article, which is semantically neutralized in Shilha:
:Moroccan Arabic {{Transliteration|ary|l-kabus}} "the pistol" → Shilha {{Lang|shi-latn|lkabus}} "the pistol, a pistol"
:Moroccan Arabic {{Transliteration|ary|t-tabut}} "the coffin" → Shilha {{Lang|shi-latn|ttabut}} "the coffin, a coffin"
The Arabic feminine ending {{Transliteration|ary|-a}} is often replaced with the Shilha feminine singular suffix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}}:
:Moroccan Arabic {{Transliteration|ary|l-faky-a}} → Shilha {{Lang|shi-latn|lfaki-t}} "fruit"
:Moroccan Arabic {{Transliteration|ary|ṛ-ṛuḍ-a}} → Shilha {{Lang|shi-latn|ṛṛuṭ-ṭ}} "tomb of a saint"
Arabic loans usually retain their gender in Shilha. The exception are Arabic masculine nouns which end in {{Transliteration|ary|t}}; these change their gender to feminine in Shilha, with the final {{Lang|shi-latn|t}} reanalyzed as the Shilha feminine singular suffix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}}:
:Moroccan Arabic {{Transliteration|ary|l-ḥadit}} "the prophetic tradition" (masculine) → Shilha {{Lang|shi-latn|lḥadi-t}} (feminine)
:Moroccan Arabic {{Transliteration|ary|l-mut}} "death" (masculine) → Shilha {{Lang|shi-latn|lmu-t}} (feminine)
Arabic plurals are usually borrowed with the singulars. If the borrowed plural is not explicitly marked for gender (according to Arabic morphology) it has the same gender as the singular:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lbhim-t}} "domestic animal" (feminine), plural {{Lang|shi-latn|lbhaym}} (feminine)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lbzim}} "buckle" (masculine), plural {{Lang|shi-latn|lbzaym}} (masculine)
Loanwords whose singular is masculine may have a plural which is feminine, and marked as such (according to Arabic morphology), for example {{Lang|shi-latn|lɛlam}} "flag" (masculine), plural {{Lang|shi-latn|lɛlum-at}} (feminine).

==== Use of the annexed state ====
The annexed state (EA) of an inflected noun is used in a number of clearly defined syntactical contexts:<ref name="Galand 1988, 4.11"/>
*when the noun occurs as subject in postverbal position:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tfulki tmazirt nnun|it.is.beautiful EA-country of.you|"your country is beautiful"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tamazirt nnun tfulki|EL-country of.you it.is.beautiful|"[as for] your country, it is beautiful"}}
{{Col-end}}

*after most prepositions (see also {{section link | |Prepositions}}):

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tiskrt d uẓalim|EL-garlic with EA-onions|"garlic and onions" (EL {{Lang|shi-latn|aẓalim}})}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tangult n uɣrum|EL-loaf of EA-bread|"a loaf of bread" (EL {{Lang|shi-latn|aɣrum}})}}
{{Col-end}}

*after numerals 1 to 10 and after the indefinite numeral (see also {{section link | |Numerals}}):

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|kraṭṭ tmkilin|three EA-dishes|(EL {{Lang|shi-latn|timkilin}})}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|mnnaw wussan|many EA-days|(EL {{Lang|shi-latn|ussan}})}}
{{Col-end}}

*after some elements which require a following noun phrase (see also {{section link| |Possessed nouns}}):
: {{Lang|shi-latn|ayt Ugadir}} "the people of Agadir"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|bu tɣanimt}} "he with EA-reed: flute player" (EL {{Lang|shi-latn|taɣanimt}})
*after {{Lang|shi-latn|wan}} "like, such as" (premodern, obsolete in the modern language)

{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi
|wan uɣu smmiḍn
|like EA-milk which.is.cold
|"like cold milk, such as cold milk"}}

Outside these contexts, the EL is used. Uninflected nouns and unincorporated loans, which do not distinguish state, remain unchanged in these contexts.

==== Semantics of feminine nouns ====
The formation of feminine nouns from masculine nouns is a productive process. A feminine noun is formed by adding both the feminine nominal prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}} (and, if necessary, a vocalic prefix), and the feminine singular suffix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}} to a masculine noun. The semantic value of the feminine derivation is variable.

For many nouns referring to male and female humans or animals (mainly larger mammals), matching masculine and feminine forms exist with the same nominal stem, reflecting the sex of the referent:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|adgal}} "widower" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tadgalt}} "widow"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|amuslm}} "Muslim" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tamuslmt}} "Muslima"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ikni}} "twin boy" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tiknit}} "twin girl"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|afullus}} "cock, rooster" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tafullust}} "hen"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|izm}} "lion" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tizmt}} "lioness"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|udad}} "moufflon" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tudatt}} "female moufflon"
In a few cases there are suppletive forms:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|argaz}} "man, husband" ― {{Lang|shi-latn|tamɣart}} "woman, wife"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ankkur}} "buck" ― {{Lang|shi-latn|taɣaṭṭ}} "goat"
Feminine nouns derived from masculine nouns with inanimate reference have diminutive meaning:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aẓru}} "stone" → {{Lang|shi-latn|taẓrut}} "small stone"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ifri}} "cave" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tifrit}} "hole, lair"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lbit}} "room" → {{Lang|shi-latn|talbitt}} "small room"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ṣṣnduq}} "box" → {{Lang|shi-latn|taṣṣnduqt}} "little box"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|urti}} "garden" → {{Lang|shi-latn|turtit}} "small garden"
Conversely, a masculine noun derived from a feminine noun has augmentative meaning:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tamda}} "lake" → {{Lang|shi-latn|amda}} "large lake"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tigmmi}} "house" → {{Lang|shi-latn|igmmi}} "large house"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tiznirt}} "fan palm" → {{Lang|shi-latn|iznir}} "large fan palm"
Feminine nouns derived from masculine collective nouns have singulative meaning:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|asngar}} "maize" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tasngart}} "a cob"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|iﬁfl}} "peppers" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tiﬁflt}} "a pepper"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|bitljan}} "aubergines" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tabitljant}} "an aubergine"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|luqid}} "matches" → {{Lang|shi-latn|taluqitt}} "a match"
Feminine derivations are also used as names of languages, professions and activities:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|ahulandiy}} "Dutchman" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tahulandiyt}} "the Dutch language"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|fransis}} "the French" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tafransist}} "the French language"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|amzil}} "blacksmith" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tamzilt}} "blacksmith's profession"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|inmmtri}} "beggar" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tinmmtrit}} "begging"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|lmumsik}} "miser" → {{Lang|shi-latn|talmumsikt}} "avarice"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|g°ma}} "(my) brother" → {{Lang|shi-latn|tag°mat}} "brotherhood"
There is an overlap here with feminine nouns denoting females:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|tafransist}} "Frenchwoman" and "the French language"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|tinmmtrit}} "beggarwoman" and "begging"

==== Nominal deictic clitics ====
There are three deictic clitics which can follow a noun: proximal {{Lang|shi-latn|a-d}} "this, these", distal {{Lang|shi-latn|a-nn}} "that, those" (compare {{section link| |Verbal deictic clitics}}) and anaphoric {{Lang|shi-latn|lli}} "the aforementioned":
: {{Lang|shi-latn|tammnt '''ad''' ur tɣ°li}} "[as for] '''this''' honey, it is not expensive"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|yaɣ usmmiḍ taɣaṭṭ '''ann''' bahra}} "the cold has badly afflicted '''that''' goat"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|ifk ṭṭir '''lli''' i tazzanin ar srs ttlɛabn}} "then he gave '''the''' bird to some children to play with"

===Personal pronouns===
There are three basic sets of personal pronouns:
*independent
*direct object clitics
*suffixes
In addition, there are two derived sets which contain the suffixed pronouns (except in 1st singular):
*indirect object clitics
*possessive complements
Gender is consistently marked on 2nd singular, and on 2nd and 3rd plural. Gender is not consistently marked on 3rd singular and 1st plural. Gender is never marked on 1st singular.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" |
! Independent
! Direct object clitics
! Suffixes
! Indirect object clitics
! Possessive complements
|-
! rowspan="3" | 1
! colspan="2" | sg.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|nkki(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|yyi}}||V-{{Lang|shi-latn|Ø}} / C-{{Lang|shi-latn|i}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|yyi}}||V {{Lang|shi-latn|nw}} / C {{Lang|shi-latn|inw}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | pl.
! m.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|nkk°ni(n)}}||rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|a(n)ɣ}}|| rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|-nɣ}}|| rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|a-(n)ɣ}}|| rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|nnɣ}}
|-
! f.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|nkk°nti(n)}}
|-
! rowspan="4" | 2
! rowspan="2" | sg.
! m.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|kyyi(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|k}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|-k}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|a-k}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-k}}
|-
! f.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|kmmi(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|km}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|-m}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|a-m}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-m}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | pl.
! m.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|k°nni(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|k°n}}||V-{{Lang|shi-latn|wn}} / C-{{Lang|shi-latn|un}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|a-wn}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-un}}
|-
! f.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|k°nnimti(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|k°nt}}||V-{{Lang|shi-latn|wnt}} / C-{{Lang|shi-latn|unt}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|a-wnt}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-unt}}
|-
! rowspan="4" | 3
! rowspan="2" | sg.
! m.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ntta(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t}}|| rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|-s}}|| rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|a-s}}|| rowspan="2"|{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-s}}
|-
! f.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|nttat}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|tt}} / {{Lang|shi-latn|stt}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | pl.
! m.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|nttni(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|tn}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|-sn}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|a-sn}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-sn}}
|-
! f.
| {{Lang|shi-latn|nttnti(n)}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|tnt}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|-snt}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|a-snt}}||{{Lang|shi-latn|nn-snt}}
|-
|colspan="8" align="center"| ∅ = zero morpheme
|}

The independent ("overt") pronouns are used to topicalize the subject or the object.

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|'''nkk°ni''' wr a nlssa turẓyin n wagg°ri
|wie not we.wear EL-sandals of EA-alfa
|"as for us, we don't wear sandals [made] of alfa"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|tumɣarin '''nttntin''' a ybnnun andaru n ifullusn
|EL-women they it.is.that who.is.building EL-coop of EA-chickens
|"the women, they're the ones who (usually) build a chicken coop"}}

They are also used with certain pseudo-prepositions such as {{Lang|shi-latn|zund}} "like", {{Lang|shi-latn|abla}} "except":

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|ɛlah, '''nkki''', giɣ aɣyul zund '''kyyi'''?
|why I I.am EL-ass like you
|"why, [as for] me, am I an ass like you?"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|ur iqqadda ay yak°r abla '''k°nni'''
|not it.is.likely that he.steals except you.mpl
|"no one could have stolen [it] except you lot"}}

The direct object clitics are used with transitive verbs:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|yuzn '''tn''' s tmzgida
|he-sent them to EA-Koranic.school
|"he sent them to the Koranic school"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|iɣ '''yyi''' yut ar ttrwalɣ
|when me he.beats I.am.running.away
|"when he beats me I run away"}}

The 3rd singular feminine variant {{Lang|shi-latn|stt}} is used after a dental stop, compare:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|awi '''tt''' id}} "bring her here!" (imperative singular)
:{{Lang|shi-latn|awyat '''stt''' id}} "bring her here!" (imperative plural masculine)
The direct object clitics are also used to indicate the ''subject'' with pseudo-verbs,<ref>Cf. Kossmann (2012:86–7).</ref> and with the [[Presentative (grammar)|presentative]] particle {{Lang|shi-latn|ha}} "here is, {{Lang|fr|voici}}":
:{{Lang|shi-latn|waḥdu yyi}} (alone me) "I alone"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|kullu tn}} (all them) "they all, all of them"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|laḥ t}} (absent him) "he's not there, he's disappeared"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|manza tt}} (where her) "where is she?"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ha yyi}} (here.is me) "here I am"
The pronominal suffixes are used with prepositions to indicate the object (see {{section link| |Prepositions}}), and with a closed set of necessarily possessed kinship terms to indicate possession (see {{section link| |Possessed nouns}}). The plural forms add an infix {{Lang|shi-latn|-t-}} before the suffix with kinship terms, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|baba-t-nɣ}} "our father" (never *{{Lang|shi-latn|baba-nɣ}}); this infix also occurs with some prepositions as a free or dialectal variant of the form without the {{Lang|shi-latn|-t-}}:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|flla-sn}} or {{Lang|shi-latn|flla-t-sn}} "on them"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|dar-sn}} "with them" (never *{{Lang|shi-latn|dar-t-sn}})

The indirect object clitics convey both benefactive and detrimental meaning:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|alliɣ immut babas ifl '''as''' d ayda nns
|when he.died father-her he.left to.her hither EL-possessions of.him
|"when her father died he left her his possessions"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3
|tamurɣi tcca y '''as''' tibḥirt nns
|EL-locust she.ate to.her EL-vegetable.patch of.her
|"the locusts, they've eaten her vegetable patch"}}

The possessive complements follow the noun (see {{section link| |Possession}}).

=== Prepositions ===
Prepositions can have up to three different forms, depending on the context in which they are used:
*before a noun or demonstrative pronoun
*with a pronominal suffix
*independent in relative clause
The form before nouns and demonstrative pronouns and the independent form are identical for most prepositions, the exception being the dative preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|i}} (independent {{Lang|shi-latn|mi}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|mu}}).

{|class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="120"|Before noun or demonstrative pronoun
!width="120"|Independent
!width="120"|With pronominal suffix
!width="120"|Translation equivalents
|-
|ar || —    || —    || [[Terminative case|terminative]]: "until, as far as"
|-
|d  || d    || id-, did-    || [[Comitative case|comitative]]: "with, in the company of; and"
|-
|dar    || dar  || dar- || "at the place of, {{Lang|fr|chez}}"
|-
|ddu    || …    || ddaw-, ddawa-    || "beneath, under"
|-
|f  || f    || flla-    || "on; because of"
|-
|gr || …    || gra- || "between"
|-
|(i)ngr || …    || (i)ngra- || "among"
|-
|ɣ  || ɣ    || gi(g)-   || [[Locative case|locative]]: "in, at"
|-
|i  || mi, mu   || (indirect object clitics)    || [[Dative case|dative]]: "for, to"
|-
|n  || —    || (possessive complements) || [[Possessive case|possessive]]: "of"
|-
|nnig   || …    || nniga-   || "above"
|-
|s  || s    || is-  || [[Instrumental case|instrumental]]: "with, by means of"
|-
|s  || s    || sr-  || [[Allative case|allative]]: "to, toward"
|-
|zɣ || zɣ   || zgi(g)-  || [[Ablative case|ablative]]: "from"
|-
|colspan="4" | — inexistent<br />… unattested, probably inexistent
|}

Most prepositions require a following inflected noun to be in the annexed state (EA) (see {{section link| |Use of the annexed state}}). Exceptions are {{Lang|shi-latn|ar}} "until", {{Lang|shi-latn|s}} "toward" (in some modern dialects, and in premodern texts) and prepositions borrowed from Arabic (not in the table) such as {{Lang|shi-latn|bɛd}} "after" and {{Lang|shi-latn|qbl}} "before".

The instrumental and allative prepositions {{Lang|shi-latn|s}} "by means of" (with EA) and {{Lang|shi-latn|s}} "toward" (with EL) were still consistently kept apart in premodern manuscript texts. In most modern dialects they have been amalgamated, with both now requiring the EA, and with the pre-pronominal forms each occurring with both meanings: {{Lang|shi-latn|sr-s}} "toward it" (now also "with it"), {{Lang|shi-latn|is-s}} "with it" (now also "toward it").

The use of the different forms is illustrated here with the preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣ}} "in":

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|iḍr unẓar izwarn '''ɣ''' ukccum n ktubr |c1=(with noun)
|it.fell EA-rain in EA-beginning of October
|"the first rain fell '''in''' the beginning of October"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ggawrn '''gisnt''' ar ssan lqhwa |c1=(with pronominal suffix)
|the sit in.them the're.drinking coffee
|"they sit '''in them''' [i.e., cafés] drinking coffee"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|urti '''ɣ''' llan lacjar lli stɣllanin ar ittyiswa |c1=(independent)
|EL-orchard in.which they.exist trees that they.are.bearing.fruit it.is.irrigated
|"an orchard '''in which''' there are fruit-bearing trees is usually irrigated"}}

Two prepositions can be combined:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|illa yglgiz lli yttzdaɣn {'''ɣ ddu'''} tsbnit
|it.exists EA-beetle that it.is.living in under EA-dung
|"there is a [kind of] beetle that lives beneath the dung"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ar ttddan {'''s dar'''} uḥjjam ɣ Tfrawt
|they.are.going to at.the.place.of EA-barber in EA-Tafraout
|"they always go to a barber in Tafraout"}}

Spatial relations are also expressed with phrases of the type "on top of":
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ɣ iggi n umdduz}} "on top of the dung heap"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ɣ tama n uɣaras}} "beside the road"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ɣ tuẓẓumt n wasif}} "in the midst of the river"
The preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|gi(g)-}} "in" with pronominal suffixes, with all its free and dialectal variants,<ref>Gathered from published texts.</ref> is presented below. The other prepositions display a much smaller variety of forms.

{|class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="90"| ||width="90"| {{Lang|shi-latn|gig-}} ||width="90"| {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-}} ||width="90"| with {{Lang|shi-latn|-t-}} ||width="180"| irregular
|-
| 1 sg. || {{Lang|shi-latn|gig-i}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-Ø}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-t-i}} ||
|-
| 2 sg.m. || {{Lang|shi-latn|gik-k}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-k}} || 
|-
| 2 sg.f. || {{Lang|shi-latn|gig-m}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-m}} || ||
|-
| 3 sg. || || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-s}} || || {{Lang|shi-latn|giz, gid, git}}
|-
| 1 pl. || {{Lang|shi-latn|gig-nɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-(n)ɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-t-nɣ}} ||
|-
| 2 pl.m. || {{Lang|shi-latn|gig-un}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-wn}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-t-un}} ||
|-
| 2 pl.f. || {{Lang|shi-latn|gig-unt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-wnt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-t-unt}} ||
|-
| 3 pl.m. || || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-sn}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-t-sn}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gizn, gidsn}}
|-
| 3 pl.f. || || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-snt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi-t-snt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|giznt, gidsnt}}
|}

=== Numerals ===
The inherited cardinal numeral system consists of ten numerals (still in active use) and three numeral nouns (now obsolete) for "a tensome", "a hundred" and "a thousand". There is also an indefinite numeral meaning "several, many" or "how many?" which morphologically and syntactically patterns with the numerals 1 to 10. For numbers of 20 and over, Arabic numerals are commonly used.

==== Numerals 1 to 10, indefinite numeral ====
These are listed below.<ref name="Galand 1988, 4.11"/> The formation of feminine "one" and "two" is irregular.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="120"| ||width="120"| Masculine ||width="120"| Feminine
|-
| "one" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ya-n}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|ya-t}}
|-
| "two" || {{Lang|shi-latn|sin}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|sna-t}}
|-
| "three" || {{Lang|shi-latn|kraḍ}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|kraṭ-ṭ}}
|-
| "four" || {{Lang|shi-latn|kkuẓ}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|kkuẓ-t}}
|-
| "five" || {{Lang|shi-latn|smmus}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|smmus-t}}
|-
| "six" || {{Lang|shi-latn|sḍis}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|sḍis-t}}
|-
| "seven" || {{Lang|shi-latn|sa}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|sa-t}}
|-
| "eight" || {{Lang|shi-latn|tam}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|tam-t}}
|-
| "nine" || {{Lang|shi-latn|tẓa}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|tẓa-t}}
|-
| "ten" || {{Lang|shi-latn|mraw}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mraw-t}}
|-
| indefinite|| {{Lang|shi-latn|mnnaw}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mnnaw-t}}
|}

The numerals 1 to 10 are constructed with nouns (inflected nouns in the EA), the gender of the numeral agreeing with that of the noun:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|yan wag°mar|"one EA-horse"|}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|yat tfunast|"one EA-cow"|}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sin wag°marn|"two EA-horses"|}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|snat tfunasin|"two EA-cows"|}}
{{Col-end}}

{{efn|Examples presented here of numerals with horses and cows are extrapolated from attested constructions.}}
The same obtains with the indefinite numeral:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|mnnaw wag°marn}} "several/many EA-horses, how many horses?"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|mnnawt tfunasin}} "several/many EA-cows, how many cows?"
Numerals {{Lang|shi-latn|yan}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|yat}} "one" also serve as indefinite article, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|yan urumiy}} "one Westerner, a Westerner", and they are used independently with the meaning "anyone" ({{Lang|shi-latn|yan}}), "anything" ({{Lang|shi-latn|yat}}):
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ur iẓri ḥtta yan}} "he didn't see anyone"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ur ksuḍɣ yat}} "I'm not afraid of anything"
The final {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} of masculine {{Lang|shi-latn|yan}} "one" and {{Lang|shi-latn|sin}} "two" is often assimilated or fused to a following {{Lang|shi-latn|w}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|y}} or {{Lang|shi-latn|l}}:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|yan w-ass}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|yaw wass}} "one EA-day"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|yan w-sgg°as}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|ya wsgg°as}} "one EA-year"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|yan lmakan}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|yal lmakan}} "a place"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|sin y-sgg°as-n}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|si ysgg°asn}} "two EA-years"
: {{Lang|shi-latn|sin y-ir-n}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|siy yirn}} "two EA-months"

==== Teens ====
The teens are made by connecting the numerals 1 to 9 to the numeral 10 with the preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|d}} "with". In the premodern language, both numerals took the gender of the counted noun, with the following noun in the plural (EA):

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sin d mraw wag°marn|two with ten EA-horses|"twelve horses"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|snat d mrawt tfunasin|two with ten EA-cows|"twelve cows"}}
{{Col-end}}

In the modern language, fused forms have developed in which the first numeral is always masculine,<ref>Examples in Destaing (1920) sub {{Lang|fr|onze, douz}}, etc.</ref> while the following noun is in the singular, and connected with the preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} "of":<ref>Galand (1988, 4.15).</ref>

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sindmraw n wag°mar|twelve of EA-horse|"twelve horses"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sindmrawt n tfunast|twelve of EA-cow|"twelve cows"}}
{{Col-end}}

==== Tens, hundreds, thousands ====
There are three inherited nouns to denote "a tensome", "a hundred" and "a thousand". These now seem to be obsolete, but they are well attested in the premodern manuscripts.<ref>See van den Boogert (1997:286–7).</ref> Morphologically, they are ordinary inflected nouns.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="120"|
!width="240" colspan="2"| Singular
!width="240" colspan="2"| Plural
|-
! ||EL || EA ||EL ||EA
|-
| "a tensome"   || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-a-mraw-t}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-mraw-t}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-mraw-in}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-mraw-in}}
|-
| "a hundred"   || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-miḍi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-miḍi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-i-maḍ}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-maḍ}}
|-
| "a thousand"  || {{Lang|shi-latn|ifḍ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|y-ifḍ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|afḍa-n}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|w-afḍa-n}}
|}

The tens, hundreds and thousand were formed by combining the numerals 1 to 10 with the numeral nouns:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|snat tmrawin|two EA-tensomes|"twenty"}}
{{Col-3}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|snat tmaḍ|two EA-hundreds|"two hundred"}}
{{Col-3}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sin wafḍan|two EA-thousands|"two thousand"}}
{{Col-end}}

The numeral nouns are connected with the preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} "of" to a noun, which is most often in the singular:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|timiḍi n wag°mar|EL-hundred of EA-horse|"a hundred horses"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|snat tmaḍ n wag°mar|two EA-hundreds of EA-horse|"two hundred horses"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|ifḍ n tfunast|EL-thousand of EA-cow|"a thousand cows"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sin wafḍan n tfunast|two EA-thousands of EA-cow|"two thousand cows"}}
{{Col-end}}

In the modern language the Arabic tens are used, which have developed a separate feminine form:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|ɛcrin n wag°mar|twenty of EA-horse|"twenty horses"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|ɛcrint n tfunast|twenty of EA-cow|"twenty cows"}}
{{Col-end}}
The numerals between the tens are most frequently made with the Arabic numerals 1 to 10:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|xmsa w ɛcrin n wag°mar|five and twenty of EA-horse|"twenty-five horses"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|xmsa w ɛcrint n tfunast|five and twenty of EA-cow|"twenty-five cows"}}
{{Col-end}}

The Arabic hundreds and thousands are used in the modern language, taking the places of the original numeral nouns while the original syntax is maintained:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|miya n wag°mar|hundred of EA-horse|"a hundred horses"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|snat id miya n wag°mar|two PL hundred of EA-horse|"two hundred horses"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|alf n tfunast|thousand of EA-cow|"a thousand cows"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sin walfiwn n tfunast|two EA-thousands of EA-cow|"two thousand cows"}}
{{Col-end}}

There is also a vigesimal system built on the Arabic numeral {{Lang|shi-latn|ɛcrin}} "twenty, score",<ref>Aspinion (1953:254).</ref> for example:

{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|sin id ɛcrint n tfunast|two PL score of EA-cow|"forty cows"}}

==== Ordinal numerals ====
''First'' and ''last'' are usually expressed with relative forms of the verbs {{Lang|shi-latn|izwur}} "to be first" and {{Lang|shi-latn|ggru}} "to be last":

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tawriqqt izwarn|page which.is.first|"the first page"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|ussan gg°ranin|days which.are.last|"the last days"}}
{{Col-end}}

There are also agent nouns derived from these verbs which are apposed to a noun or used independently:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|aḍrf amzwaru|furrow the.first.one|"the first furrow"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tucka d tamggarut|she.arrived hither the.last.one|"she arrived last"}}
{{Col-end}}

The other ordinals are formed by prefixing masc. {{Lang|shi-latn|wis-}}, fem. {{Lang|shi-latn|tis-}} to a cardinal numeral,<ref>Galand (1988, 4.18).</ref> which is then constructed with a plural noun in the usual manner:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|wis-kraḍ wussan|ORD-three EA-days|"the third day"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tis-kraṭṭ twal|ORD-three EA-times|"the third time"}}
{{Col-end}}

The ordinal prefixes is also used with Arabic numerals and with the indefinite numeral:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|wis-xmsa w-ɛcrin n dulqqiɛda}} "the 25th [day] of [the month] Dhū al-Qaʿda"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|wis-mnnawt twal}} "the how-manieth time?"

Because four of the numerals 1 to 10 begin with {{Lang|shi-latn|s}}, the geminated {{Lang|shi-latn|ss}} that results from the prefixation of {{Lang|shi-latn|wis-}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|tis-}} (as in {{Lang|shi-latn|wissin}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|wissmmus}}, etc.) is often generalized to the other numerals: {{Lang|shi-latn|wissin}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|wisskraḍ}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|wisskkuẓ}}, etc.

=== Verbs ===
A Shilha verb form is basically a combination of a person-number-gender (PNG) affix and a mood-aspect-negation (MAN) stem.

==== Sample verb ====
The workings of this system are illustrated here with the full conjugation of the verb {{Lang|shi-latn|fk}} "to give". The perfective negative goes with the negation {{Lang|shi-latn|wr}} "not". The imperfective goes with the preverbal particle {{Lang|shi-latn|ar}} (except usually the imperative, and the relative forms).

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
!
! [[Aorist]]
! [[Perfective aspect|Perfective]]
! Perfective<br>negative
! [[Imperfective aspect|Imperfective]]
|-
| || || || ||
|-
| MAN stem→ || {{Lang|shi-latn|fk(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|akka}}
|-
| || || || ||
|-
| 1 sg. || {{Lang|shi-latn|fk-ɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki-ɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur fki-ɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar akka-ɣ}}
|-
| 2 sg. || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fk-t}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fki-t}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur t-fki-t}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar t-akka-t}}
|-
| 3 sg.m. || {{Lang|shi-latn|i-fk}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|i-fka}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur i-fki}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar y-akka}}
|-
| 3 sg.f. || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fk}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fka}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur t-fki}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar t-akka}}
|-
| 1 pl. || {{Lang|shi-latn|n-fk}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|n-fka}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur n-fki}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar n-akka}}
|-
| 2 pl.m. || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fki-m}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fka-m}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur t-fki-m}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar t-akka-m}}
|-
| 2 pl.f. || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fki-mt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|t-fka-mt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur t-fki-mt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar t-akka-mt}}
|-
| 3 pl.m. || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki-n}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fka-n}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur fki-n}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar akka-n}}
|-
| 3 pl.f. || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki-nt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fka-nt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur fki-nt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar akka-nt}}
|-
| || || || ||
|-
| Imperative || || || ||
|-
| 2 sg. || {{Lang|shi-latn|fk}} || || || {{Lang|shi-latn|akka}}
|-
| 2 pl.m. || {{Lang|shi-latn|fk-at}} || || || {{Lang|shi-latn|akka-y-at}}
|-
| 2 pl.f. || {{Lang|shi-latn|fk-amt}} || || || {{Lang|shi-latn|akka-y-amt}}
|-
| || || || ||
|-
| Relative || || || ||
|-
| sg. || || {{Lang|shi-latn|i-fka-n}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur i-fki-n}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|y-akka-n}}
|-
| pl. || || {{Lang|shi-latn|fka-n-in}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur fki-n-in}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|akka-n-in}}
|}

The verb {{Lang|shi-latn|fk}} "give" has the full complement of four different MAN stems:
*Aorist {{Lang|shi-latn|fk(i)}} ― {{Lang|shi-latn|fk}} in 1st, 2nd and 3rd singular, 1st plural, and the imperatives, but {{Lang|shi-latn|fki}} in 2nd and 3rd plural
*Perfective {{Lang|shi-latn|fki/a}} ― {{Lang|shi-latn|fki}} in 1st and 2nd singular, but {{Lang|shi-latn|fka}} with the other forms
*Perfective negative {{Lang|shi-latn|fki}} ― all forms
*Imperfective {{Lang|shi-latn|akka}} (an irregular formation) ― all forms

==== Person-number-gender affixes ====
There are two basic sets of PNG affixes, one set marking the subject of ordinary verb forms, and another set marking the subject of imperatives.

Two suffixes (singular {{Lang|shi-latn|-n}}, plural {{Lang|shi-latn|-in}}) are added to the 3rd singular and masculine 3rd plural masculine verb forms respectively to make relative forms (also known as "participles"), as in {{Lang|shi-latn|i-fka-n}} "who gives", {{Lang|shi-latn|fka-n-in}} "who give".{{efn|Each relative form is now used for both genders. An obsolete feminine singular relative form {{Lang|shi-latn|t-…-t}} is found in some manuscript texts, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|tikki t-ɛḍm-t}} (gift which.is.glorious) "a glorious gift" (modern {{Lang|shi-latn|tikki y-ɛḍm-n}}).}}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|width="130"|1 sg ||width="40"| ||align="center"|… ||width="40"| {{Lang|shi-latn|-ɣ}}
|-
|2 sg. ||align="right"| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}} ||align="center"|… || {{Lang|shi-latn|-t}}
|-
| 3 sg.m. || align="right"| {{Lang|shi-latn|y-}} ||align="center"|… ||
|-
|3 sg.f. || align="right"| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}} ||align="center"|… ||
|-
|1 pl. || align="right"| {{Lang|shi-latn|n-}} ||align="center"|… ||
|-
|2 pl.m. || align="right"| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}} ||align="center"|… || {{Lang|shi-latn|-m}}
|-
|2 pl.f. || align="right"| {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}} ||align="center"|… || {{Lang|shi-latn|-mt}}
|-
|3 pl.m. || ||align="center"|… || {{Lang|shi-latn|-n}}
|-
|3 pl.f. || ||align="center"|… || {{Lang|shi-latn|-nt}}
|-
| || || ||
|-
| Imperative || || ||
|-
|2 sg. || ||align="center"|…||{{Lang|shi-latn|-Ø}}
|-
|2 pl.m. || ||align="center"|… ||{{Lang|shi-latn|-at}}
|-
| 2 pl.f. || ||align="center"|… ||{{Lang|shi-latn|-amt}}
|-
| || || ||
|-
| Relative || || ||
|-
| 3 sg. || align="right"|{{Lang|shi-latn|y-}} ||align="center"|… ||{{Lang|shi-latn|-n}}
|-
| 3 pl. || ||align="center"|… ||{{Lang|shi-latn|-n-in}}
|}

==== Mood-aspect-negation stems ====
A few verbs have just one MAN stem. The majority of verbs have two, three or four different MAN stems.<ref>A fifth MAN stem, the Imperfective negative, is sporadically found in manuscript texts (see Van den Boogert 1997:270).</ref> The Aorist stem serves as the [[Lemma (morphology)|citation form]] of a verb. The list below offers an overview of MAN stem paradigms. Around 15 paradigms of non-derived verbs can be recognized, based on the formation of the Perfective and the Perfective negative. Further subdivisions could be made on the basis of the formations of the Imperfective. All sections in the list contain a selection of verbs, except sections 12, 14, and 15, which contain a full listing.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!
!
! Aorist
! Perfective
! Perfective<br/>negative
! Imperfective

|-
| 1 || "laugh" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍssa}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍssa}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍssa}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍssa}}
|-
| || "bark" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ttaɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ttaɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ttaɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ttaɣ}}
|-
| 2 || "accompany" || {{Lang|shi-latn|mun}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mun}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mun}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-mun}}
|-
| || "sit" || {{Lang|shi-latn|skkiws}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|skkiws}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|skkiws}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|skkiwis, tt-skiwis}}
|-
| || "be crazy" || {{Lang|shi-latn|nufl}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|nufl}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|nufl}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-nuful}}
|-
| 3 || "enter" || {{Lang|shi-latn|kcm}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kcm}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kcim}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kccm}}
|-
| || "graze" || {{Lang|shi-latn|frd}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|frd}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|frid}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ffrd}}
|-
| || "mention" || {{Lang|shi-latn|bdr}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|bdr}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|bdir}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|addr, tt-bdar}}
|-
| || "ascend, climb" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣly}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣly}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣliy}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|aqqlay}}
|-
| || "open, be open" || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓm}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓm}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓim}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-nurẓum}}
|-
| 4 || "fall" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍr}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍr}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ḍir}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ṭṭar}}
|-
| || "hit" || {{Lang|shi-latn|wt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|wt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|wit}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kkat}}
|-
| 5 || "break, be broken" || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓ(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓẓa}}
|-
| || "eat" || {{Lang|shi-latn|cc(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|cci/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|cci}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ctta}}
|-
| || "give" || {{Lang|shi-latn|fk(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fki}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|akka}}
|-
| || "show, explain" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ml(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mli/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mli}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mmal}}
|-
| || "drink" || {{Lang|shi-latn|sw(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|swi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|swi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ssa}}
|-
| || "call" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣr(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣri/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ɣri}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|aqqra}}
|-
| || "be; put" || {{Lang|shi-latn|g(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-gga}}
|-
| 6 || "sew" || {{Lang|shi-latn|gnu}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gni/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gni}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|gnna, gnnu, tt-gnu}}
|-
| || "go" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ftu}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fti/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fti}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|fttu, tt-ftu}}
|-
| || "go" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ddu}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ddi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ddi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-dda, tt-ddu, tt-udu}}
|-
| || "divide" || {{Lang|shi-latn|bḍu}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|bḍi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|bḍi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|aṭṭa}}
|-
| 7 || "be better" || {{Lang|shi-latn|af}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uf}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uf}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-afa}}
|-
| || "fly" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ayll}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uyll}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uyll}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-aylal}}
|-
| || "give back" || {{Lang|shi-latn|rar}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rur}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|rur}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-rara}}
|-
| || "inherit" || {{Lang|shi-latn|kkas}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kkus}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kkus}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-kasa}}
|-
| 8 || "take" || {{Lang|shi-latn|amẓ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|umẓ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|umiẓ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-amẓ}}
|-
| || "steal" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ak°r}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ukr}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ukir}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-ak°r}}
|-
| || "help" || {{Lang|shi-latn|aws}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|iws}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|iwis}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-aws}}
|-
| || "run" || {{Lang|shi-latn|azzl}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uzzl}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uzzil}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-azzal}}
|-
| 9 || "find" || {{Lang|shi-latn|af(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ufi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ufi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-afa}}
|-
| || "come" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ack(i)}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ucki/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ucki}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-acka}}
|-
| 10 || "flay" || {{Lang|shi-latn|azu}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uzi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|uzi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-azu}}
|-
| || "contain" || {{Lang|shi-latn|amu}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|umi/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|umi}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-amu}}
|-
| 11 || "hold, possess" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ṭṭf, ṭṭaf}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ṭṭf, ṭṭaf}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ṭṭif}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-ṭṭf, tt-ṭṭaf}}
|-
| || "take away" || {{Lang|shi-latn|kks, kkis}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kks, kkis}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|kkis}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-kks, tt-kkis}}
|-
| || "go out" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ffɣ, ffuɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ffɣ, ffuɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ffiɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-ffɣ, tt-ffuɣ}}
|-
| 12 || "die" || {{Lang|shi-latn|mmt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mmut}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mmut}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-mttat}}
|-
| 13 || "be afraid" || {{Lang|shi-latn|iksuḍ, ksuḍ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ksaḍ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ksaḍ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-iksuḍ, tt-ksuḍ}}
|-
| || "be first, precede" || {{Lang|shi-latn|izwur, zwur}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|zwar}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|zwar}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-izwur, zgg°ur}}
|-
| 14 || "possess" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ili}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|li/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|li}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-ili}}
|-
| || "want" || {{Lang|shi-latn|iri}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ri/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ri}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-iri}}
|-
| 15 || "exist" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ili}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|lli/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|lli}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-ili}}
|-
| || "say" || {{Lang|shi-latn|ini}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|nni/a}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|nni}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-ini}}
|}

==== Uses of MAN stems ====
The table below is adapted from Kossmann (2012:40, table 2.12 Uses of MAN stems in Figuig Berber).

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! MAN stem
! Main context in which MAN stem is used
! Examples
! Translation
|-
| Aorist || imperative<br />consecutive || {{Lang|shi-latn|amẓ}}<br />{{Lang|shi-latn|y-amẓ}} || "take!"<br />"(and then) he took"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ad}} + Aorist || non-realized || {{Lang|shi-latn|ay y-amẓ}} || "that he take"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|rad}} + Aorist || future || {{Lang|shi-latn|ray y-amẓ}} || "he will take"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ur}} + Aorist || negated consecutive || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur y-amẓ}} || "(and then) he didn't take"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ad}} + {{Lang|shi-latn|ur}} + Aorist || negated imperative || {{Lang|shi-latn|ad ur t-amẓ-t}} || "don't take!"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ur}} + {{Lang|shi|rad}} + Aorist || negated future || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur ray y-amẓ}} || "he will not take"
|-
| Perfective || past action<br />state (including resultant state) || y-umẓ<br />i-rɣa || "he took"<br />"it was hot, it is hot"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ur}} + Perfective Negative || negated past action<br />negated state || {{Lang|shi-latn|ur y-umiẓ}}<br />{{Lang|shi-latn|ur i-rɣi}} || "he did not take"<br />"it was not hot, it is not hot"
|-
| Imperfective || habitual/iterative imperative || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-amẓ}} || "always take!"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ad}} + Imperfective || habitual/iterative imperative || {{Lang|shi-latn|at tt-amẓ-t}}{{efn|Imperfective 2sg. {{Lang|shi-latn|t-tt-amẓ-t}} is usually realized as {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-amẓ-t}}.}} || "you must always take"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ad}} + {{Lang|shi-latn|ur}} + Imperfective || negated habitual/iterative imperative || {{Lang|shi-latn|ad ur tt-amẓ-t}} || "you should never take"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ar}} + Imperfective || simultaneous action (progressive)<br />habitual, iterative, durative || {{Lang|shi-latn|ar i-tt-amẓ}} || "he is taking, he always takes"
|-
| {{Lang|shi-latn|ur}} + {{Lang|shi-latn|ar}} + Imperfective || negated simultaneous action<br />negated habitual, iterative, durative || ur a y-tt-amẓ, ur aɣ i-tt-amẓ{{efn|The imperfective preverbal particle {{Lang|shi-latn|ar}} changes to {{Lang|shi-latn|a}} or {{Lang|shi-latn|aɣ}} (depending on the dialect) after the negation.}} || "he is not taking, he never takes"
|}

==== Stative verbs ====
Shilha has around twenty [[stative verb]]s which are still recognizable as a separate type of verb on the basis of their MAN stem paradigms. In earlier stages of the language, these verbs had their own separate set of PNG markers, which are sporadically found in premodern manuscripts:<ref>See van den Boogert (1997:271–272). There are many other stative verbs  which do not belong to this separate type, such as {{Lang|shi-latn|rɣ}} "to be hot", {{Lang|shi-latn|uggug}} "to be distant", and all stative verbs borrowed from Arabic such as {{Lang|shi-latn|ḥlu}} "to be sweet".</ref>
:{{Lang|shi-latn|iḍ ɣzzif}} "the night, it is long" (cf. modern {{Lang|shi-latn|iḍ i-ɣzzif}})
:{{Lang|shi-latn|rẓag-t isafarn}} "medicines are bitter" (cf. modern {{Lang|shi-latn|rẓag-n isafarn}})
In the modern language, these verbs take the regular PNG markers. Only the original singular relative form without prefix {{Lang|shi-latn|y-}} may still be encountered, for example {{Lang|shi-latn|adrar mqqur-n}} or {{Lang|shi-latn|adrar i-mqqur-n}} (mountain which.is.big) "big mountain". Stative verbs do not have a separate Perfective negative form. The table shows a selection of stative verbs.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!
! Aorist
! Perfective
! Imperfective
|-
| "be few" || {{Lang|shi-latn|idrus}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|drus}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-idrus}}
|-
| "be many" || {{Lang|shi-latn|igut}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|ggut}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-igut}}
|-
| "be small, young" || {{Lang|shi-latn|imẓiy}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mẓẓiy}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-imẓiy}}
|-
| "be big, old" || {{Lang|shi-latn|imɣur}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|mqqur}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-imɣur}}
|-
| "be yellow" || {{Lang|shi-latn|iwriɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|wraɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-iwriɣ}}
|-
| "be red" || {{Lang|shi-latn|izwiɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|zgg°aɣ}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|tt-izwiɣ}}
|}

====Verbal deictic clitics====
There are two deictic clitics which are used with verbs to indicate movement toward or away from the point of reference: centripetal {{Lang|shi-latn|d}} "hither" and centrifugal {{Lang|shi-latn|nn}} "thither":

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ur issin man ass '''d''' wrrin
|not he.knew which EL-day hither they-return
|"he knew not on which day they would return (toward him)"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|nɣiɣ awn babatun luḥɣ '''nn''' ixf nns ɣ wanu
|I.killed father-your I.threw tither EL-head of.him in EA-waterhole
|"I killed your father and threw his head (away from me) into a waterhole"}}

The use of these clitics is compulsory (idiomatic) with certain verbs. For example, the verb {{Lang|shi-latn|ack}} "come" almost always goes with the centripetal particle, and {{Lang|shi-latn|af}} "find" with the centrifugal clitic:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|yucka '''d''' darsn yan urqqas zɣ Ɛli Umḥawc
|he.came hither one EA-messenger from Ali Oumhaouch
|"a messenger came to their place from Ali Oumhaouch"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|igg°z s wanu yaf '''nn''' ixf n izimmr
|he.descended to EA-waterhole he.finds tither EL-head of EA-ram
|"he descended into the waterhole and found the head of a ram"}}

When the verbal deictic clitics occur after an object pronoun, they change to {{Lang|shi-latn|id}} and {{Lang|shi-latn|inn}}:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|iga tn '''id''' ɣ yan uqqrab
|he.put them hither in one EA-pouch
|"he put them in a pouch"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ar tn '''inn''' nttgga ɣ txibit
|them tither we.are.putting in EA-jar
|"we usually put them in a jar"}}

=== Possession ===
==== Within a noun phrase ====
A possessive construction within a noun phrase is most frequently expressed as Possessee {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} Possessor. The preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} "of" requires a following inflected noun to be in the annexed state. This kind of possessive construction covers a wide range of relationships, including both alienable and inalienable possession, and most of them not involving actual ownership:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|anu n Dawd}} "Daoud's waterhole"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|imi n tsraft}} "the entrance of the grain silo"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tarwa n Brahim}} "Brahim's children"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ig°dar n idqqi}} "pots of clay"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|imikk n tisnt}} "a little salt"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|atig n usngar}} "the price of maize"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tiɣ°rdin n imkli}} "after lunch"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lmdint n Ssnbul}} "the city of Istanbul"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aɣllay n tafukt}} "the rising of the sun"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aɣaras n ssk°ila}} "the road to school"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ddin n Wudayn}} "the religion of the Jews"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lqqiṣt n Yusf}} "the story of Joseph"
Many such possessive constructions are compounds, whose meaning cannot be deduced from the ordinary meaning of the nouns:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aɣaras n walim}} "road of straw: the Milky Way"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|imi n wuccn}} "mouth of jackal: a length measure"{{efn|The distance between the outstretched tips of thumb and little finger.}}
:{{Lang|shi-latn|talat n tilkin}} "ravine of lice: nape, back of the neck"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tassmi n ifrgan}} "needle of hedges: kind of bird"
The possessor can itself be a possessee in a following possessive construction:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lmudda n tgldit n Mulay Lḥasan}} "the era of the reign of Moulay Lahcen"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|luqt n warraw n wulli}} "the time of the giving birth of the sheep and goats"
As a rule, the preposition {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} assimilates to, or fuses with, a following {{Lang|shi-latn|w}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|y}}, {{Lang|shi-latn|l}} or {{Lang|shi-latn|m}}:{{efn|For the sake of transparency, the preposition "of" is consistently transcribed as {{Lang|shi-latn|n}} in the examples in this article. Unassimilated realizations occur in deliberate speech.}}
:{{Lang|shi-latn|awal n w-aɛrab-n}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|awal w waɛrabn}} "the language of the Arabs"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|a-ḍbib n y-isa-n}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|aḍbib y yisan}} "horse-doctor"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|luq-t n w-nẓar}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|luqt unẓar}} "the season of rain"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|a-gllid n y-muslm-n}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|agllid imuslmn}} "the king of the Muslims"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|addag n litcin}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|addag l litcin}} "orange tree"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|a-sngar n miṣr}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|asngar m Miṣr}} "maize of Egypt"
The possessor can also be expressed with a pronominal possessive complement. This consists of a pronominal suffix added to the preposition, which then takes the shape {{Lang|shi-latn|nn-}} (see {{section link| |Pronouns}}). The form of the 1st singular possessive complement is anomalous: {{Lang|shi-latn|nw}} after a vowel, and {{Lang|shi-latn|inw}} after a consonant (or, in some dialects, {{Lang|shi-latn|niw}}):
:{{Lang|shi-latn|agayyu nu}} "my head"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ifassn inu}} "my hands"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aḍar niw}} "my leg"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aqqrab nnk}} "your (sg.m.) pouch"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lumur nnm}} "your (sg.f.) affairs"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|timlsa nns}} "his clothes"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|rriy nns}} "her opinion"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|aḍu nns}} "its smell"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|adjarn nnɣ}} "our neighbours"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tawwuri nnun}} "your (pl.m.) occupation"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|timddukkal nnunt}} "your (pl.f.) friends"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|lmɛict nnsn}} "their (m.) livelihood"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|tik°yaḍ nnsnt}} "their (f.) locks of hair"

==== Within a clause ====
There are two ways to express possession within a clause. The most common way is to use the "exist with" construction:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|tlla dars yat txsayt
|she.exists with.him one EA-pumpkin
|"he has a pumpkin"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ur dari ylli wmya ma nn lssaɣ
|not with.me it.exists EA-anything what thither I.wear
|"I've got nothing to wear"}}

The verb {{Lang|shi-latn|ili}} "exist" (perfective {{Lang|shi-latn|lli/a}}) is usually omitted, leaving a [[verbless clause]]:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|darnɣ argan ar inkkr ɣ tagant
|with.us EL-argan it.is.growing in EA-forest
|"we have an argan tree growing in the forest"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|is ur dark kra yaḍnin?
|question not with.you something other
|"don't you have something different?"}}

Alternatively, the verb {{Lang|shi-latn|ṭṭf, ṭṭaf}} "hold, possess" can be used:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|iṭṭaf yan uɣyul immuddu srs
|he.possesses one EA-donkey he.travels with.it
|"he has a donkey which he travels with"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|nkki wr ṭṭifɣ luraqq inu
|I not I.possess papers of.me
|"[as for] me, I haven't got my papers"}}

In addition, there is the verb {{Lang|shi-latn|ili}} "possess" (perfective {{Lang|shi-latn|li/a}}), whose use is restricted to (inalienable) part-whole relationships and kinship relationships:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|liɣ alln ɛdlnin
|I.possess EL-eyes which.are.good
|"I have good eyes"}}

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|lan sḍis tarwa
|they.possess six EA-children
|"they have six children"}}

In al its usages {{Lang|shi-latn|ili}} can be replaced with {{Lang|shi-latn|ṭṭaf}} or the "exist with" construction, but not the other way around:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|azrg ila yan uskti |c1= (or {{Lang|shi-latn|azrg iṭṭaf yan uskti}})
|EL-hand-mill it.possesses one EA-handle
|"a hand-mill has one handle"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ṭṭafɣ snat tg°mma |c1= (not *{{Lang|shi-latn|liɣ snat tg°mma}})
|I.possess two EA-houses
|"I have two houses"}}

==== Possessed nouns ====
These are a subtype of uninflected nouns. As with proper names, gender is not transparently marked on possessed nouns, which take gender agreement according to the natural sex of the referent. Plurals are either suppletive or made with the preposed pluralizer {{Lang|shi-latn|id}}. Most possessed nouns are consanguinal kinship terms which require a possessive suffix (the table contains a selection).

{|class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="350"| ||width="120"| Singular ||width="120"| Plural || Remarks
|-
| "the mother(s) of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|ma-}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|id ma-}}||
|-
| "the father(s) of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|baba-}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|id baba-}}||
|-
| "the daughter(s) of"  || {{Lang|shi-latn|ylli-}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|ysti-}}||
|-
| "the son(s) of"   || {{Lang|shi-latn|yiw-, yu-, ywi-}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|(t-arwa)}}|| the plural is a pl.m. inflected noun "sons, offspring"
|-
| "the sister(s) of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|wlt-ma-}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|yst-ma-}}|| compound, lit. "the daughter(s) of the mother of"
|-
| "the brother(s) of"   || {{Lang|shi-latn|g°-ma-}}|| {{Lang|shi-latn|ayt-ma-}}|| compound, lit. "the son(s) of the mother of"
|-
| "grandmother: the mother of the mother of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|jdda-}}|| || Arabic loan
|-
| "grandfather: the father of the mother of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|ti-ma-}}|| || compound
|-
| "grandmother: the mother of the father of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|tabt-ti-}}|| || compound
|-
| "grandfather: the father of the father of"    || {{Lang|shi-latn|jddi-}}|| || Arabic loan
|}

These kinship terms cannot occur without pronominal suffix. Example:

{|class="wikitable" border="1"
|width="120"|{{Lang|shi-latn|ultma-Ø}}|| width="200"|"my sister"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|ultma-k}} || "your (sg.m.) sister"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|ultma-m}} || "your (sg.f.) sister"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|ultma-s}} || "her sister, his sister"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|istma-t-nɣ}} || "our sisters"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|istma-t-un}} || "your (pl.m.) sisters"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|istma-t-unt}} || "your (pl.f.) sisters"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|istma-t-sn}} || "their (m.) sisters"
|-
|{{Lang|shi-latn|istma-t-snt}} || "their (f.) sisters"
|}

If these nouns are part of an NP-internal possessive construction, possession must be indicated twice:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3|baba-s n tslit|father-her of EA-bride|"the father of the bride"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3|yiwi-s n g°ma-Ø|son-his of brother-my|"my brother's son"}}
{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|indent=3|illi-s n wasif|daughter-its of EA-river|"the daughter of the river: fever" (compound)}}

The suffix must also be added when possession is expressed in a clause:

{{interlinear|lang=shi-latn|number=ex:
|ur iṭṭif abla yat ultma-s
|not he.possesses except one sister.his
|"he only has one sister"}}

Some kinship terms are not possessed nouns but inflected nouns which take possessive complements (see examples above).

Another group of possessed nouns require a following noun phrase, occurring only in an NP-internal possessive phrase. A following inflected noun must be in the EA.

{|class="wikitable" border="1"
!width="240"| ||width="95"| Singular ||width="95"| Plural
|-
| "the son(s) of, native(s) of" || {{Lang|shi-latn|w}}  || {{Lang|shi-latn|ayt}}
|-
| "the female native(s) of" || {{Lang|shi-latn|wlt}} || {{Lang|shi-latn|yst}}
|}

These four possessed nouns occur as first element in compound kinship terms (see above; {{Lang|shi-latn|w}} then becomes {{Lang|shi-latn|g°}} in {{Lang|shi-latn|g°-ma-}} "the brother of"). They also serve to indicate descent, origin and ethnicity:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|Ḥmad u Musa}} "Ahmed son of Moussa" (name of a [[Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa (saint)|famous saint]])<ref>The possessed noun {{Lang|shi-latn|wlt}}, the feminine counterpart of {{Lang|shi-latn|w}}, is not used in genealogies; thus, Fadma the daughter of Moussa is {{Lang|shi-latn|Faḍma Musa}}, not *{{Lang|shi-latn|Faḍma wlt Musa}} (cf. Aspinion 1953:30).</ref>
:{{Lang|shi-latn|u Brayyim}} "member of the Aït Brayyim ethnic group"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|u bṛṛa}} "native of outside: a foreigner"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|u Trudant}} "a native of Taroudant"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ayt Ugrsif}} "the natives of Aguercif"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ult Uglu}} "native woman of Aglou"
:{{Lang|shi-latn|ist Tfrawt}} "the women of Tafraout"
When {{Lang|shi-latn|w}} is followed by another (phonemic) {{Lang|shi-latn|w}} the result is {{Lang|shi-latn|gg°}}:
: {{Lang|shi-latn|w Wijjan}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|Gg°ijjan}} "native of Ouijjane" (also surname: Gouijjane)
: {{Lang|shi-latn|a-rgaz w w-rgaz}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|argaz gg°rgaz}} "a man, son of a man: a man of virtue"
{{Lang|shi-latn|Ayt}} occurs in many Shilha ethnonyms:
:{{Lang|shi-latn|Ayt Bubkr}} "the Sons of Boubker" (Aït Boubker), singular {{Lang|shi-latn|U Bubkr}}
:{{Lang|shi-latn|Ayt Wafqqa}} "the Sons of Ouafka" (Aït Ouafka), singular {{Lang|shi-latn|w Wafqqa}} → {{Lang|shi-latn|Gg°afqqa}}

==== Proprietive and privative elements ====
The proprietive elements masc. {{Lang|shi-latn|bu}} "he with, he of" and fem. {{Lang|shi-latn|mm}} "she with, she of" are borrowed from Arabic (original meaning "father of", "mother of"). They are used as formative elements and require a following inflected noun to be in the annexed state. The plural is formed with the pluralizer {{Lang|shi-latn|id}}:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|bu sa yiwaliwn|{he of} seven EA-words|"a liar"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|bu tagant|{he of} EA-forest|"wild boar"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|bu tbratin|{he with} EA-letters|"postman"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|id bu waga|PL {he with} EA-bucket|"French soldiers (wearing a [[kepi|képi]])"}}
{{Col-end}}

In many cases, {{Lang|shi-latn|bu}} fuses with a following nominal prefix:

{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|bu w-marg → bumarg|{he with} EA-poetry {} {"a poet"}|}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|bu y-g°ra → {Biyg°ra, Big°ra}|{he with} EA-frogs {} {"[[Biougra]]" (place-name)}|}}

The feminine {{Lang|shi-latn|mm}} is encountered less frequently:

{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|mm igrtal|{she with} EA-mats|"prayer room in a mosque"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|mm lɣrur|{she with} delusion|"the world, worldly existence"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|id mm ifalan|PL {she with} EA-threads|"needles"}}

The privative elements masc. {{Lang|shi-latn|war}} "he without" and fem. {{Lang|shi-latn|tar}} "she without" are made up of a gender prefix (masculine {{Lang|shi-latn|w-}}, feminine {{Lang|shi-latn|t-}}) and an element {{Lang|shi-latn|ar}} which is probably related to the negation {{Lang|shi-latn|wr}} "not". They do not require the annexed state, and should probably be translated as "who does not have", with the following noun phrase as object:

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|war acrik|{he without} EL-partner|"God"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|id war tawwuri|PL {he without} EL-job|"the unemployed"}}
{{Col-2}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tar azal|{she without} EL-daylight|"wide-brimmed hat"}}
{{interlinear|indent=2|lang=shi|tar laman|{she without} certainty|"the world, worldly existence"}}
{{Col-end}}