Editing Manchu language (section)

===Morphology===
While Manchu is a synthetic and agglutinative language typologically similar to the neighbouring Mongolic and Turkic languages, its morphology is nevertheless less complex than theirs and its synthetic character is not so pronounced as theirs.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 125.</ref>

==== Gender ====
Manchu has no grammatical gender, although the distinction between nouns referring to humans and nouns referring to non-humans does play a certain role in its grammar (as explained below). However, as already mentioned, biological gender is expressed by different vowels in a number of word pairs, where a phonologically back vowel is associated with males and a phonologically front one with females: ''ama'' "father" – ''eme'' "mother", ''haha'' "man" – ''hehe'' "woman", ''naca'' "brother-in-law" – ''nece'' "sister-in-law", ''hūwašan'' (Chinese ''héshang'' {{lang|zh-Hani|和尚}}) "monk" – ''huwešen'' "nun", ''amila'' "male animal" – ''emile'' "female animal", ''arsalan'' "lion" – ''erselen'' "lioness", ''garudai'' "male phoenix" – ''gerudei'' "female phoenix"; similarly for words related to genders such as ''habtaha'' "man's belt" – ''hebtehe'' "woman's belt", ''ganggan''  "strong" – ''genggen'' "weak".

====Number====

Only nouns referring to humans decline for number.<ref>Gorelova 2002: 134–140</ref> The plural number is formed by the addition of several suffixes, depending on the specific noun. 
* The suffix ''-sa/se'' has broad usage: it is used, inter alia, with many words expressing occupations (''faksi'' “workman” – ''faksi'''sa''''' “workmen”) and nationalities (''manju'' "Manchu" – ''manju'''sa''''' "Manchus"). 
* The suffix ''-ta/te'' is mostly limited to words denoting persons of a certain age or generation and relatives (''ama'' "father" – ''ama'''ta''''' "fathers"), although there are a few others such as ''ejen'' "lord" – ''eje'''te''''' "lords". However, the suffix ''-sa/se'' can also be used with nouns with the same types of meaning: ''gege'' "elder sister" – ''gege'''se''''' "elder sisters". 
* The less common suffix ''-si'' occurs in a number of nouns mostly with that type of meaning, too, e.g. in ''haha'' “man” — ''haha'''si'''''  “men”. 
* Finally, a few words use the suffix ''-ri'': ''mama'' "grandmother" – ''mama'''ri''''' "grandmothers".

Note that the final consonant ''-n'' is normally lost before the plural suffixes: ''ahū'''n''''' "elder brother" – ''ahū'''ta''''' "elder brothers";<ref>Gorelova (2002: 112)</ref> the final ''-i'' is likewise lost in ''jui'' "son" – ''ju'''se''''' "sons".

In addition, plurality can be expressed by the addition of some words meaning "all" or "many", such as ''geren'' ('''''geren''' niyalma'' “all/many men/persons”), by the addition of words meaning "kind" or "class" (''gurgu '''jergi''''' "various wild animals", ''baita '''hacin''''' "various affairs"), or by reduplication (''jalan'' "generation, world" – ''jalan '''jalan''''' "generations, worlds").<ref name=gorelova/>

====Cases====
Manchu has five [[grammatical case|cases]], which are marked by particles:<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Manchu grammar|last=Gorelova|first=Liliya|publisher=Brill|year=2002|location=Leiden|pages=163–193}}</ref> [[Nominative case|nominative]], [[Accusative case|accusative]], [[Genitive case|genitive]], [[Dative case|dative]]-[[locative case|locative]], and [[Ablative case|ablative]]. The particles can be written with the noun to which they apply or separately. They do not obey the rule of vowel harmony but are also not truly postpositions.

=====Nominative=====
One of the principal syntactic cases, it is used for the subject of a sentence and has no overt marking.<ref name=":2" />

=====Accusative=====
(''be''): one of the principal syntactic cases, it indicates participants/direct object of a sentence. It is written separate from the word that it follows.<ref name=":2" />

{{interlinear|indent=4
|i boo '''be''' weile-mbi
|he house ACC build-IMPERF
|"He builds a house"}}

Certain Manchu verbs govern the accusative in spite of the fact that verbs with similar semantics in other languages do not take a direct object:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|amba-sa saisa doro '''be''' kice-mbi, jemengge '''be''' kice-rakū
|high.official(amban)-PL gentleman way ACC care.about-IMPERF, food ACC care.about-{{gcl|PART(NEG)|negative imperfect participle}}
|"Wise men care about the way, not about the food"}}

Direct objects sometimes also take the nominative. It is commonly felt that the marked accusative has a definite sense, like using a definite article in English.<ref name=":2" /> However, in the negative form, transitive verbs always take the accusative:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|cira '''be''' tuwa-hakū
|face ACC see-{{gcl|PART(NEG)|negative perfect participle}} 
|"(Someone) did not see the face"}}

The direct object expressing an object that is caused to perform an action also stands in the accusative:

{{interlinear|indent=4
|tere '''be''' baita icihiya-bu-me gene
|that/he ACC business do-CAUS-CVB go(IMP)
|"Go and order him to do business"}}

The accusative may also indicate the space in which motion is happening or the means by which it is happening, as in ''jugūn '''be''' yabu-me'' ("going along a road") and ''morin '''be''' yabu-me'' ("riding a horse").<ref name=":2" />

=====Genitive=====
(''i'' or ''ni''): one of the principal syntactic cases, it is used to indicate possession or the means by which something is accomplished. The allomorph ''ni'' is used after words ending in a consonant other than /n/, whereas ''i'' is used in all other cases: ''boo i'' "of the house", but ''gurung ni'' "of the palace".<ref name=":2" />

Its primary function is to indicate the possessor of an entity:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|boo '''i''' ejen
|house GEN master
|"the master of the house"}}

It can also indicate a person's relationships:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|han '''i''' jui
|khan GEN child
|"the khan's child"}}

Sometimes a broader attributive relation (not necessarily a possessive one) is expressed, e.g. ''doro '''i''' yoro'' "a ceremonial arrow".

Verbs and participles can also be modified by a phrase in the genitive, resulting in adverbial meaning:

{{interlinear|indent=4
|niyalma sain mujilen '''i''' mimbe tuwa-mbi 
|people good intention GEN I-ACC look.at-IMPERF
|"people look at me with good intention"}}

Adverbs are regularly formed from nouns by a repetition of the noun followed by a genitive marker: ''giyan'' “order”, “proper” > ''giyan giyan '''i''''' “in proper order”.<ref name=":2" />

=====Dative-locative=====
(''de''): indicates location, time, place, or indirect object.<ref name=":2" />

Its primary function is to indicate the semantic role of the recipient:

{{interlinear|indent=4
|ere niyalma '''de''' bu-mbi
|this man DAT give-IMPERF
|"(Someone) gives to this man"}}

It can also indicate a person who is in possession of something in the construction meaning "A has B", which is expressed literally as "To A (there) is B":

{{interlinear|indent=4
|ahun '''de''' bithe bi
|elder.brother DAT book COP
|"The elder brother has a book"}}

Another function is to indicate the instrument of action, making it play the role of an [[instrumental case]] as well:

{{interlinear|indent=4
|angga '''de''' hūla, mujilen '''de''' eje
|mouth DAT read(IMP) mind DAT memorize(IMP)
|"Use your lips to read and your brain to remember"}}

However, the genitive can often express the same instrumental meaning. It has been claimed that the genitive is used for the instrument of one's own actions as opposed to those of others (e.g. ''mini yasa '''i''' tuwa-ci'' "Seeing with my eyes" vs ''si yasa '''de''' tuwa-ki'' "You see with your eyes") and for non-past actions as opposed to past ones (''beye-i gala-'''i''' gaisu'' "take with your own hand" vs ''beye i gala '''de''' jafa-habi'' “(Someone) caught with his own hand”).

A related function is to express the agent of a verb in the passive voice:

{{interlinear|indent=4
|julergi gurun joo '''de''' wa-bu-fi
|senior ruling.house Zhao DAT kill-PASS-CVB
|"(They) were killed by the Senior Zhao ruling house"}}

The dative can also indicate the source of a statement or quotation, meaning roughly "according to", as in ''mini gūnin '''de''''' "in my opinion" and ''ejen i hese '''de''''' "according to the emperor's edict".

Finally, as already mentioned, it can express location in space or time, thus functioning as a [[locative case]]:<ref name=":2" />

{{interlinear|indent=4
|alin bujan '''de''' tomo-mbi 
|mountain forest DAT live-IMPERF
|“(They) live in mountains and forests.”}}

=====Ablative=====
(''ci''): indicates the origin of an action or the basis for a comparison.<ref name=":2" />

That can be the starting point in space or time:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|boo-'''ci''' tuci-ke
|house-ABL go.away-PAST
|"(Someone) went away from the house"}}

It can also be used to compare objects:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|''ere'' erin '''ci''' oyonggo ningge akū
|this time ABL important NMLZ COP.NEG
|"There is no time more important than the present"}}

In Classical Manchu, there was also a case marker ''deri'', which has been said to have more or less the same ablative uses as ''ci''; in Xibe, however, it differs from ''ci'' by being specialized for the expression of comparison:
{{interlinear|indent=4
|encu hehe-ši {(ma. hehe-si)} '''deri''' fulu tua-mbi {(ma. tuwa-mbi)}
|other woman-PL {} from better consider-IMPERF {}
|"(He) began to consider her better than other women"<ref name=":2" />}}

===== Less-used cases =====
{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
* [[Terminative case|Terminative]]: indicates the ending point of an action by the suffix ''-tala''/''-tele''/''-tolo''.
* Indefinite allative: indicates "to a place, to a situation" when it is unknown whether the action reaches exactly to the place or situation or around or near it by the suffix ''-si''.
* Indefinite locative: indicates "at a place, in a situation" when it is unknown whether the action happens exactly at the place or situation or around or near it by the suffix ''-la''/''-le''/''-lo''.
* Indefinite ablative: indicates "from a place, from a situation" when it is unknown whether the action is really from the exact place or situation or around or near it by the suffix ''-tin''.
* [[Distributive case|Distributive]]: indicates every one of something by the suffix ''-dari''.
* [[Essive-formal case|Essive-formal]]: indicates a simile ("as/like") by the suffix ''-gese''.
* Identical: indicates that something is the same as something else by the suffix ''-ali''/''-eli''/''-oli'' (apparently derived from the word ''adali'', meaning "same").
* [[Orientative case|Orientative]]: indicates "facing/toward" (something/an action) and shows only position and tendency, not movement into by the suffix ''-ru''.
* [[Revertive case|Revertive]]: indicates "backward" or "against (something)" from the root 'ca' (see ''cargi'', ''coro'', ''cashu-n'', etc.) by the suffix ''-ca''/''-ce''/''-co''.
* [[Translative case|Translative]]: indicates change in the quality or form of something by the suffix ''-ri''.
* Indefinite accusative: indicates that the touch of the verb on the object is not surely complete by the suffix ''-a''/''-e''/''-o''/''-ya''/''-ye''/''-yo''.

In addition, there were some suffixes, such as the primarily-adjective-forming suffix ''-ngga''/''-ngge''/''-nggo'', that appear to have originally been case markers (in the case of ''-ngga'', marking the genitive case) but had already lost their productivity to become fossilized in certain lexemes by the time of the earliest written records of the Manchu language: ''agangga'' "pertaining to rain" as in ''agangga sara'' (an umbrella), derived from Manchu ''aga'' (rain).

==== Pronouns ====
Manchu personal pronouns have a [[clusivity]] distinction and mostly use the same case markers as nouns, but with some stem changes.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Manchu Pronoun Cases<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manchu Studies Group lesson 6 – noun cases |url=https://www.manchustudiesgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lesson-6-Noun-Cases.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314155607/https://www.manchustudiesgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lesson-6-Noun-Cases.pdf |archive-date=Mar 14, 2023}}</ref>
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="3" | 1st person
! colspan="2" | 2nd person
! colspan="2" | 3rd person
|-
! rowspan="2" | {{small|singular}} !! colspan="2" | {{small|plural}}
! rowspan="2" | {{small|singular}} !! rowspan="2" | {{small|plural}}
! rowspan="2" | {{small|singular}} !! rowspan="2" | {{small|plural}}
|-
! {{small|exclusive}}
! {{small|inclusive}}
|-
!Nominative
| bi
| be
| muse
| si
| suwe
| i
| ce
|-
!Accusative
| mimbe
| membe
| musebe
| simbe
| suwembe
| imbe
| cembe
|-
!Genitive
| mini
| meni
| musei
| sini
| suweni
| ini
| ceni
|-
!Dative
| minde
| mende
| musede
| sinde
| suwende
| inde
| cende
|-
!Ablative
| minci
| menci
| museci
| sinci
| suwenci
| inci
| cenci
|}
The 3rd person pronouns are used with human referents, but do not refer to non-humans. With non-humans, the demonstrative pronouns ''ere'' "this" and ''tere'' "that" are used instead.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 214f.; Haenisch 1986, 42f.; vgl. Manfred Reichardt, Shuxin Reichardt: ''Grammatik des modernen Chinesisch''. Leipzig: Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1990, {{ISBN|3-324-00332-6}}, S. 26; Gregor Kneussel: ''Grammatik des modernen Chinesisch / Xiàndài Hànyǔ yǔfǎ'' {{lang|zh-Hans|«现代汉语语法»}}. Beijing: Verlag für fremdsprachige Literatur / Wàiwén chūbǎnshè {{lang|zh-Hans|外文出版社}}, 2005, {{ISBN|7-119-04262-9}}, S. 45.</ref> Possession can be expressed with the genitive form of the personal pronouns: ''mini boo'' "my house", ''sini boo''  „your (sing.) house“, ''musei boo'' "our house" etc. Like English, Manchu has special forms for substantively used possessive pronouns; these are formed with the suffix ''-ngge'': ''miningge'' "mine", ''gūwaingge'' "somebody else's".
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|ere uthai we-i jaka – mini'''ngge'''|this then who-GEN thing – mine|"Whose is this thing? – It's mine."
}}
As in other East Asian languages, educated Manchus in the imperial period tended to avoid personal pronouns, especially for the first and second person, and often used paraphrases instead. For example, Manchu officials, when talking to the Emperor, referred to themselves with the word ''aha'' "slave" (instead of the pronoun ''bi'' "I"), and Han Chinese ones used ''amban'' "subject".<ref>Haenisch 1986, 43</ref> The Emperor, when talking to Manchu princes (''amban'' and ''beile''), called himself ''sitahūn niyalma'' "wretched person" or ''emteli beye'' "orphan". In general, [[calque]]s from Chinese were used. Another alternative were combinations of the personal pronouns in genitive and the word ''beye'' "self": ''mini beye'' "I" (lit. "my self"), ''sini beye'' "you (polite)" (lit. "your self").<ref>Gorelova, 227f.</ref>

The [[demonstrative pronouns]] are formed with the stems ''e-'' and ''u-'' for proximal (close) entities and ''te-'' and ''tu-'' for distal (far) entitites: ''ere'' "this", ''enteke'' "such", ''ubaingge'' "local (from here)"; ''tere'' "that", ''tenteke'' "such", ''tubaingge'' "local (from there)".

The demonstrative pronouns ''ere'' "this" and ''tere'' "that" can also be used alone like personal pronouns (and are obligatorily so for non-human referents). They form the plural with ''-se'' and are declined in a way that isn't always entirely regular:
{| class="wikitable"
!—
!this one
!that one
!these (ones)
!those (ones)
|-
!Nominative
|''ere'' 
|''tere''
|''ese''
|''tese''
|-
!Genitive
|''ere(n)i''
|''terei'' 
|''esei'' 
|''tesei'' 
|-
!Dative
|''e(re)de'' 
|''te(re)de'' 
|''esede'' 
|''tesede'' 
|-
!Accusative
|''erebe'' 
|''terebe'' 
|''esebe'' 
|''tesebe'' 
|-
!Ablative
|''ereci'' 
|''tereci'' 
|''eseci'' 
|''teseci'' 
|}
When pronouns function as attributes, the case marker is not placed after the pronoun, but only after the noun:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 218.</ref>
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|enenggi ere ba de ainu ebu-mbi|today this place DAT why stop-IMPERF|"Why have you stopped here today?"
}}
The most important [[Interrogative word|interrogative pronouns]] are ''we'' "who", ''ai'' "what", ''ya'' "what, which" (attributive), ''aika'', ''aimaka'', ''yaka'', ''yamaka'' "what sort of", ''aba'', ''aiba'', ''yaba'' "where", ''eke'' "who is this?", ''udu'' "how much/many?", ''ainu'' "how, why?". The following table exemplifies the case declension of interrogative pronouns:
{| class="wikitable"
!Nominative
!''we'' "who?"
!''ai'' "what?"
!''ya'' "what, which?"
|-
!Genitive
|''wei'' "whose?"
|''aini'' "with/by what?"
| –
|-
!Dative
|''wede'' "to whom?"
|''aide'' "where, why, how?"
|''ya de'' "where?"
|-
!Accusative
|''webe'' "whom?"
|''aibe'' "what?"
|''ya be'' "what, which?"
|-
!Ablative
|''weci'' "from whom?"
|''aici'' "what sort of ...?"
|''yaci'' "from where?"
|}
The pronouns ''ai'', ''ya'' and ''we'' are also used as [[relative pronoun]]s.

The most important [[indefinite pronoun]]s are ''we we'' "whoever"; ''ai ai'', ''ya ya'' "whatever", ''aika'', ''aimaka'', ''yaka'', ''yamaka'' "whatever, whichever (attributive)"; ''ememu'', ''ememungge'' "many", ''gūwa'' "someone (else)"; ''eiten'', ''yaya'', ''beri beri'', ''meni meni'', ''meimeni'', ''geren'' "every", "all".

==== Adjectives ====
[[Adjective]]s in Manchu are not very distinct from nouns as regards their grammatical properties, so many scholars have argued that they are not a separate part of speech; it has been claimed that they are simply a special type of nouns with semantics of quality.<ref>Gorelova (2002: 127, 145)</ref>

An adjective as an attribute stands without case suffixes in front of the noun.
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|sain niyalma|good person|"a good person"
}}
As a predicate it stands at the end of the clause.
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|niyalma sain|person good|"The person is good."
}}
The adjective itself does not have [[Comparison (grammar)|comparison]] as an inflectional category; instead, comparisons are formed just by inflecting the compared noun in the ablative.
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|morin indahūn ci amba|horse dog ABL big|"The horse is bigger than the dog."
}}

==== Final particles ====
Final particles can be used as [[Copula (linguistics)|copulas]]. The most important final particles are ''kai'' (confirming), ''be'' (defining), ''akū'' (negating, "there is not"), ''waka'' (negating, "is not"), ''dere'' (suppositional, "probably"), ''inu'' (also as an adverb: affirmative); ''dabala'' (restricting, "only"), ''semeo'' ([[Mirativity|admirative]] or [[Dubitative mood|dubitative]]), ''unde'' (also a [[Conjunction (grammar)|conjunction]]; "not yet"); ''jiya/jiye'' (exalamatory), ''bai'' (with imperative; "just"), ''na/ne/no'', ''ya'' (interrogative, also exclamatory).<ref>Haenisch 1986, 50f.</ref><ref name=":3">Gorelova (2002: 368–380).</ref> Of the interrogative particles, ''na'' is placed after nouns as well as verbs, whereas ''o'' is placed after verbs only (both in [[Yes–no question|yes/no-questions]]), and ''ni'' is placed in the end of the sentence (and occurs also in [[Question|WH-questions]]): e.g. ''boo de gemu sain-'''na''''' "Is everything well at home?", ''ere ai bi-he '''ni''''' "What is this?", ''gasha be'' ''eigen gai-ci o-mbi-'''o'''?'' "May I take a bird as a husband?", lit. "If taking a bird as a husband, does it become?"<ref name=":3" />

==== Verbs ====
The Manchu verb has no number and person agreement.<ref>Vgl. auch [[Gerhard Doerfer]]: ''Der Numerus im Manschu'' (= ''Abhandlungen der geistes- und sozialwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur in Mainz.'' Jahrgang 1962, Nr. 4).</ref> The pure verb stem functions as the [[Imperative mood|imperative]] of the second person, singular and plural; otherwise the verb takes participial, converbal and verbal suffixes, which also express [[Grammatical mood|mood]] and [[Grammatical aspect|aspect]]. It has been argued that the aspect contrast to some extent has acquired the function of a [[Grammatical tense|tense]] contrast as well, because the perfect and imperfect participles have partly developed a secondary meaning of [[Past tense|past]] and [[Present tense|present]]-[[Future tense|future]] tense, respectively.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 241.</ref>

There are 13 basic verb forms, some of which can be further modified with the verb ''bi'' (is), or the particles ''akū, i, o,'' and ''ni'' (negative, instrumental, and interrogatives). 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Conjugation of the verb ''afa-'' (to attack)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Norman |first=Jerry |title=A grammatical sketch of Manchu |publisher=University of California Library |year=1965 |location=Berkeley}}</ref>
!Form
!Usual Suffix
!Example
|-
|imperative
|''-∅''
|afa
|-
|imperfect participle
|''-ra/re/ro''
|afara
|-
|perfect participle
|''-ha/he/ho''
|afaha
|-
|imperfect converb
|''-me''
|afame 
|-
|perfect converb
|''-fi''
|afafi
|-
|conditional
|''-ci''
|afaci 
|-
|concessive
|''-cibe''
|afacibe 
|-
|terminal converb
|''-tala/tele/tolo''
|afatala 
|-
|prefatory converb
|''-nggala/nggele/nggolo''
|afanggala
|-
|desiderative 1
|''-ki''
|afaki 
|-
|desiderative 2
|''-kini''
|afakini 
|-
|optative
|''-cina''
|afacina 
|-
|temeritive
|''-rahū''
|afarahū
|}

===== Participles =====
Participles play an important role in Manchu grammar, because most [[Finite verb|finite]] forms are derived from them.<ref>Gorelova (2002: 241)</ref> They can have four different functions in the sentence:

# They can be used [[Grammatical modifier|attributively]]. 
# They can receive [[Nominalization|nominalizing]] suffixes – among them case markers – and in that form, they can function like nouns as [[Subject (grammar)|subject]], [[Object (grammar)|object]], etc. 
# They can function as the [[Head (linguistics)|head]] of the [[Predicate (grammar)|predicate]] in the equivalent of a [[dependent clause]].
# They can function as the head of the [[Predicate (grammar)|predicate]] of a sentence, even without a copula.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 233; Haenisch 1986, 53.</ref>

====== Imperfect participle ======
The imperfect participle is formed by adding the variable suffix ''-ra, -re, -ro'' to the stem of the verb. ''Ra'' occurs when the final syllable of the stem contains an ''a''. ''Re'' occurs when the final syllable of the stem contains ''e'', ''i'', ''u'' or ''ū''. ''Ro'' occurs with stems containing all ''o''<nowiki/>'s. An irregular suffix ''-dara, -dere, -doro'' is added to a limited group of irregular verbs (''jon-, wen-, ban-'') with a final ''-n''. (The perfect participle of these verbs is also irregular). Three of the most common verbs in Manchu also have irregular forms for the imperfect participle:

* ''bi-, bisire'' — 'be'
* ''o-, ojoro'' — 'become'
* ''je-, jetere'' — 'eat'

Imperfect participles can be used as objects, attributes, and [[Predicate (grammar)|predicates]]. Using ''ume'' alongside the imperfect participle makes a negative imperative.

As an attribute:{{interlinear|indent=4
|habša-ra niyalma
|complain-IPTC man|"A man who complains"}}When this form is used predicatively it is usually translated as a future tense in English; it often carries an indefinite or conditional overtone when used in this fashion:{{interlinear|indent=4
|bi sinde ala-ra
|1sg 2sg-ACC tell-IPTC|"I'll tell you"}}As an object:{{interlinear|indent=4
|gisure-re be han donji-fi
|speak-IPTC ACC king hear-PCVB|"The king having heard what was being said"}}

====== Perfect participle ======
The perfect participle in ''-ha/-he/-ho'' often expresses an action in the past tense:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 256f, 289f.; Haenisch 1986, 54; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> e.g. ''araha'', while originally meaning "who has written", can also be used in the sense "(I, you, etc.) wrote". Certain verbs take, instead of ''-ha/-he/-ho,'' the ending ''-ka/-ke/-ko'', fewer still take ''-nka/-nke/-nko'', and a few have irregular forms: ''bahambi'' "find" – ''baha'', ''hafumbi'' "penetrate" – ''hafuka''.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 256; Haenisch 1986, 60.</ref>

====== Relative/indefinite participle ======
When the indefinite pronoun ''ele'' "all" is added to a perfective or imperfective participle, the resulting form has a relative/indefinite meaning: ''bisire ele jaka'' "whatever things are present", ''mini alaha ele ba'' "whatever I said", "everything I said". The pronoun can also merge into the preceding word as a suffix ''-le'':<ref>Gorelova 2002, 224f.; Haenisch 1986, 54; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''arahale'', ''ararale'' „whoever writes“, "whatever is written", ''duleke ele ba'' "whatever places he passed by", "all places he passed by". This suffix didn't exhibit vowel-harmony alternations in older Manchu, but it later acquired the back variant ''-la.''

====== Durative participle ======
The durative participle in ''-mbihe'' appears to originate from the imperfect converb in ''-me'' and the perfect participle ''bihe'' of the verb ''bi-'' "to be": thus, almost literally, "(which) was doing (something)".<ref>Gorelova (2002: 292)</ref> It expresses an incomplete or continuing action in the past:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 292; Haenisch 1986, 54; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''arambihe'' "(I was) writing".
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|malaha boo-de weile-mbihe|Hat house-DAT make-{{gcl|PTC.DUR|durative participle}}|"They were making hats at home."
}}

===== Nominalization =====
Both participles and verbs in the perfect or imperfect form can be [[Nominalization|nominalized]] with the suffix ''-ngge.'' These nominalized forms can express either the abstract notion of an action, the object of an action or the subject of an action:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 263; Haenisch 1986, 54; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''arahangge'', ''ararangge'' "writing", "something written", "someone writing".

Negated forms can be nominalized like this as well: ''akdarakūngge'' "distrust", "one who does not trust".

Direct speech and quotes are often introduced with nominalized forms like ''alarangge'' "tell, narrate", ''hendurengge'' "speak", ''serengge'' "say", ''fonjirengge'' "ask" or ''wesimburengge'' "relate, report", for example:
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|yuan fai i sargan jui hendu-re-nge tere ahūn deo nadan niyalma gemu hūsun amba niyalma|Yuan Fai GEN female child speak-IMPERF.PTCP-NOMI that elder.brother younger.brother seven man all power big man|"This is what Yuan Fai’s daughter says: all those seven brothers are
powerful and big men;"
}}
Participles can also be nominalized with ''ba'' "place, circumstance, thing": e.g. ''sere ba'' "what is said", "speech", ''afabu ha ba bi'' "there is an order" (lit."A thing which has been ordered exists").<ref>Gorelova 2002, 266.</ref>

===== Converbs =====
[[Converb]]s (sometimes referred to as [[gerund]]s) have an adverbial function, and constructions with them often correspond to subordinate clauses in English.

====== Imperfect converb ======
The imperfect converb in ''-me'' expresses an action that is simultaneous with that of the finite verb, but it may also denote secondary meanings such as manner, condition, cause and purpose,<ref>Gorelova (2002: 267–268)</ref> and it can often be translated with an [[infinitive]] in English. This is the most frequent type of converb:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 267ff.; Haenisch 1986, 55.</ref> ''arame'' "(while) writing", ''hendume'' "(while) saying", ''fonjime'' "(while) asking", ''necihiyeme toktobumbi'' "conquer", lit. "stabilise, (while) levelling" (a calque of Chinese ''píng-dìng'' {{lang|zh-Hans|平定}}).
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|amba edun da-me deribu-he|high wind blow-IMPERF.CVB begin-PTCP|"A strong wind began to blow."
}}
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|morin be dali-me boo-de ji-he|horse accusative hide-IMPERF.CVB House-DAT come-PERF.PTCP|"He went home to hide the horses."
}}
<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 9">Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref>

====== Durative converb ======
The imperfect converb ending ''-me'' can be added not only to the stem, but also to the finite imperfect form in ''-mbi'' (which, in turn, is originally also a combination of an imperfect converb and the copula verb ''bi'' "is", see below)''.'' The resulting form ending in ''-mbime'' has been described as a separate durative converb'','' which expresses a non-completed or continuing action.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 273; Haenisch 1986, 55; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> An example is ''arambime'' (< ''ara-me bi-me'')<ref>Gorelova 2002, 272.</ref> “while writing”. This form is also used in the following quote by [[Confucius]]:
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|fuzi hendu-me. taci-mbime gūni-r-akū oci, mekele o-mbi. gūni-mbime taci-r-akū oci, jecuhuri o-mbi|master say-IMPERF.CVB. study-DUR.CVB think-IMPERF.PTCP-NEG TOP useless be-IMPERF.IND. think-DUR.CVB study-IMPERF.PTCP-NEG TOP, dangerous be-IMPERF.IND.|The Master said: Studying without thinking is useless. Thinking without studying is dangerous.
}}

====== Perfect converb ======
The perfect converb in ''-fi'' expresses an action that took place before the action of the finite verb; a secondary meaning is one of cause. It is the second most frequent converb:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 276ff.; Haenisch 1986, 55; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''arafi'' "(after) having written", "after I wrote", or, more idiomatically, "I wrote and ...".

{{interlinear
| indent = 4|si boo-de isina-fi majige teye-fi buda je-fi dere obo-fi jai ji-ki|you House-DAT arrive-PERF.CVB a.little rest-PERF.CVB food eat-PERF.CVB, face wash-PERF.CVB then come-OPT|"After you have come home, rested a little, eaten and washed your face, come (to me)."
}}

A frozen form is ''ofi'' "because, since" (from ''ombi'' "be", "become"):
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|si tobsere niyalma o-fi|you trustworthy person be-PERF.CVB|"Since you are a trustworthy person, ..."
}}
Certain verbs have irregular forms: ''juwambi'' "open" – ''juwampi'', ''colgorombi'' "exceed" – ''colgoropi'', ''hafumbi'' "penetrate" – ''hafupi''.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 276; Haenisch 1986, 60</ref>

A similar meaning is expressed by adding the ending not to the stem, but to the finite imperfect form in ''-mbi'', resulting in ''-mbifi'': ''arambifi'' "having written".<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 9"/>

====== Conditional converb ======
The conditional converb in ''-ci'' can express a condition, but also the time when something happened:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 278f.; Haenisch 1986, 55f.; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''ara'''ci''''' "if, when you write"; ''si niyalma de nikene'''ci'''''  "if you rely on people"; ''yamun de tucifi tuwa'''ci''''' "as/when he went out to the hall and checked,...".

Frozen forms are ''oci'' and ''seci'' "if" (from ''ombi'' "be" and ''sembi'' "say").<ref>Gorelova 2002, 284.</ref> They can also serve as topic markers.<ref>Gorelova (2002: 410)</ref>

====== Concessive/adversative converb ======
The concessive or adversative converb in ''-cibe'' forms a construction that can be translated as "even if" or "although":<ref>Gorelova 2002, 280f.; Haenisch 1986, 56; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''aracibe''  "even if I write". It appears to be derived from the conditional.

====== Terminative converb ======
The terminative converb in ''-tala/-tele/-tolo'' can be translated with clauses introduced by "until"; it expresses a subordinate action that is taking place simultaneously with that of the finite verb, and the latter continues until the first one is finished.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 282; Haenisch 1986, 56.</ref> ''hūsun moho-tolo'' "until his power is exhausted".

In Classical Manchu this form is no longer very productive. The most frequent forms are ''isitala'' "until" (from ''isimbi'' "reach") and ''otolo''  "until" (from ''ombi'' "be", "become"):
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|julge-ci te de isitala|ancient.times-ABL now DAT until|"from ancient times until the present"
}}

====== Descriptive converb ======
The converb with the suffixes ''-hai/-hei/-hoi'' or ''-kai/-kei/-koi'', also ''-tai/-tei/-toi'', expresses durative, periodic, frequent or intensive actions or processes:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 281; Haenisch 1986, 56.</ref> ''alahai'' "telling many times", ''jonkoi'' "constantly reminding". It appears to be derived from the perfect participle in ''-ha/he/ho'' (also ''-ka/ke/ko'' in some verbs) and the genitive ending ''-i'' in its adverbial function. Such forms have sometimes turned into adverbs: ''cohotoi'' "especially" from ''cohombi'' "to do especially, regard as the most important aspect". Other examples of this use are the phrases ''beye be waliyatai'' "selflessly", lit. "constantly throwing oneself around", and ''bucetei afambi'' "to fight to the death", lit. "to fight, constantly dying".

====== Converb in -nggala/-nggele/-nggolo ======
The converb in ''-nggala/-nggele/-nggolo'' can be translated with the conjunction "before"; it expresses a subordinate action that has not yet taken place at the time of the main one and will only take place ''after'' it:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 283f.; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''aranggala'' "before writing"; ''dosinggala asuki isibumbi'' "before entering, one makes a noise". A frozen form is ''onggolo'' "before".

===== Finite forms =====
The Manchu finite verbal forms are set apart from others by the fact that they can function ''only'' as heads of the predicate in an independent clause. (As already mentioned, some participles can have the same function, but they are not limited to it.) All Manchu [[Realis mood|indicative]] verbal forms seem to be derived from non-finite ones such as participles and converbs.<ref>(Gorelova 2002: 285–286)</ref>

====== Imperfect indicative ======
The imperfect is formed with the suffix ''-mbi'', which is derived from the imperfect converb ending ''-me'' and the copula verb ''-bi'' "to be". This is the dictionary form of the verb. The meaning of the form is of present or future tense.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 286ff.; Haenisch 1986, 56f.; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> It can express usual, frequent, generic actions, concrete actions in the present, or actions in the future:
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|indahūn dobori tuwahiya-mbi coko erde hūla-mbi|dog night keep.guard-IMPERF chicken early.in.the.morning sing-IMPERF|"A dog keeps guard at night, a rooster crows early in the morning."
}}{{interlinear
| indent = 4|bi hergen be ara-mbi|I character ACC write-IMPERF|"I am writing characters."
}}

{{interlinear
| indent = 4|si aibi-de gene-mbi|you where-DAT go-IMPERF|"Where are you going?"
}}{{interlinear
| indent = 4|i inenggi ji-mbi-o jide-rakū-n|he day come-IMPERF-INTERR come-PTCP.NEG-INTERR|"Will he come today or not?"
}}

====== Perfect indicative ======
The perfect indicative form in ''-habi/-hebi/-hobi'' is derived from the perfect participle in ''-ha/-he/-ho'' and the copula verb ''-bi'' "to be". It expresses an action in the past:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 290; Haenisch 1986, 57; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''arahabi'' "I wrote, I have written."
{{interlinear
| indent = 4|nimanggi i elden de bithe hūla-habi|snow GEN light DAT book read-PERF|"One read books by the light (reflected) in snow."
}}
The second part of the suffix, originating from the copula verb ''bi-'', can also be replaced by ''kai'': ''alahabi'', ''alaha kai'' "narrated".<ref>Gorelova 2002, 291.</ref>

'''Frequentative indicative'''

The form in ''-mbihebi'' is derived from the durative participle and the verb ''bi-'' "to be". It expresses usual and frequent actions in the distant past:

{{interlinear|hūwangheo beye nimala fata-mbihebi|Empress self mulberry.tree pick-{{gcl|FREQ}}|"The Empresses themselves used to pick berries from the mulberry tree"
| indent = 4
}}

===== Imperative =====
The pure stem forms the imperative: ''ala'' "Report!", ''te'' "Sit down!", ''wa'' "Kill!"<ref>Gorelova 2002, 296f.; Haenisch 1986, 57; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref>

There is also a stronger form of command in ''-kini'', which is directed at a person of lower rank and which is used also as an optative or impersonal imperative of the third person: ''arakini'' "Let him write!", ''okini'' "Let it be so!", ''alakini'' "Let it be reported!", "Let him report!", ''genekini'' "Let him go!“. It may be used to command another person to cause a third person to do something.

Another, milder form of command is formed with the ending ''-cina'' or ''-kina'', which is used in a concessive sense as well:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 301f.; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> ''amasi bucina'' "Come on / please, give it back!"; ''alacina'', ''alakina'' "Speak (if you want to)" or "Please speak!"; ''aracina'' "Let him write (if he wants to)". It appears to be derived from the optative form (on which see below) and the interrogative particle ''-na''.

A prohibitative form (corresponding to Chinese ''mò'' {{lang|zh-Hani|莫}}) is constructed from the imperfect converb preceded by ''ume'' : ''ume genere'' "Don't go!“, ''ume fonjire'' "Don't ask!"<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10">Möllendorff 1892, 10.</ref>

Certain verbs have irregular imperative forms: ''baimbi'' "seek", "request" – ''baisu''; ''bimbi'' "be present", "remain" – ''bisu''; ''jembi'' "eat" – ''jefu''; ''-njimbi'' "come in order to ..." – ''-nju''; ''ombi'' "be, become" – ''osu.''<ref>Haenisch 1986, 60; Möllendorff 1892, 10.</ref>

===== Optative =====
The [[Optative mood|optative]] in ''-ki'' expresses an action that the speaker wishes or intends to see performed – either by themselves or by others. Its meaning is sometimes akin to that of Chinese ''yào'' {{lang|zh-Hani|要}}. Thus ''bi geneki'' means "I will go", whereas ''i geneki'' means "Let him go". Other examples are ''araki'' "I will/want to write", ''alaki'' "I will/want to say", ''bi manju gisun be taciki'' "I will/want to learn Manchu", ''fa hūbalaki''  "I will paper over the windows“, ''teki'' "please, sit down".<ref>Gorelova 2002, 293f., 295, 299f.; Haenisch 1986, 58; Möllendorff 1892, 9.</ref> When the optative refers to the second or third person, its meaning is close to that of an imperative. When it refers to an action that hasn't yet taken place, it also has the additional meaning of future.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 295.</ref>

==== Negation ====
According to Gorelova, neither the finite verb forms nor the converbs have special negative forms; only the participle does. If a verb or converb need to be negated, a participle must be used instead of them.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 262; Haenisch 1986, 58f.</ref> The participle is negated by a combination with the word ''akū'' "not be (here)": thus, literally, "I am-not doing-X". Still, Möllendorff (1892) does give an example of the negation of an indicative form with ''akū'' "not (be)": ''bi gisurembi akū'' "I don't speak".<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10"/> The particle may be translated with the Chinese particles ''wú'' {{lang|zh-Hant|無}}, ''bù'' {{lang|zh-Hant|不}}, ''wèi'' {{lang|zh-Hant|未}}, ''méiyǒu'' {{lang|zh-Hant|沒有}}.

===== Negation with ''akū'' =====
The word ''akū'' "is not" is the most universal negator in Manchu. It is a negative copula: ''mangga'' ''akū "''it is not difficult". It can negate existence: ''etuku akū'' "there is no clothing." It may also negate attributes, as in ''dutu akū'' "not deaf", and it may express the meaning "without": ''gūnin akū niyalma<u>,</u>'' lit. "a person without brains", i.e. "a stupid person".<ref>Gorelova (2002: 373)</ref>

The participle suffixes ''-ra/-re/-ro'' merge with ''akū'' into ''-rakū'', ''-ha/-ho'' into ''-hakū'' and ''-he'' into ''-hekū'': ''arahaku'' "not have written", ''genehekū'', ''genehakū'' "not have gone"; ''ararakū'' "not (be going to) write", ''generakū'' "not (be going to) go“.<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10"/>

Accordingly, the negated forms of perfect indicative ''-habi/-hebi/-hobi'', which contain the perfect participle in ''-ha/he/ho,'' end in ''-hakūbi/-hekūbi''. There are certain irregular forms: ''sambi'' "know" – ''sarkū'' "don't know", ''dabahakū'' "has not exceeded“, ''jihekū'' "has not come".

The negated participles are often followed by converb forms of the auxiliary verbs ''bimbi'' "be", ''ombi'' "become" or ''sembi'' "say":<ref>Gorelova 2002, 284</ref>
{{interlinear|te gaija-r-akū o-ci gūwa gai-ka de sini dolo ume ehe gūni-he|now take-PTCP.IMPERF-NEG become-CVB.COND other take-PTCP.PERF DAT you.GEN inside PTCL.PROH bad think-PTCP.PERF|"If you don't take it now and somebody else does, don't hold it against him!“
| indent = 4
}}
The negated form of the conditional converb here is the construction ''gaijirakū oci'' ("if ... doesn't take").

The suffixes ''-ci'', ''-fi'' and ''-ngge'' are placed after ''-akū'' : ''ararakū'''ci'''''  "if he doesn't write", ''ararakū'''fi'''''  "doesn't write and", "not having written", ''ararakū'''ngge'''''  "the one who does not write", ''bisirakū'''ngge'''''  "those who aren't here" (Chinese ''bù zài de'' {{lang|zh-Hant|不在的}}).<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10"/>

The word ''akū'' alone can take other suffixes, too: ''bi akū'''mbi'''''  "I am not". A double negation in ''-akūngge akū'' (Chinese ''wú bù'' {{lang|zh-Hant|無不}}) is also possible: ''serakūngge akū'' "nothing unsaid", "he says everything".<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10"/>

The word ''umai'', which seems to consist of the prohibitative particle ''ume'' and the pronoun ''ai'' "what", may be used before ''akū'' and seems to enhance its negative sense, as seen in the example ''umai niyalma'' ''akū'' "no persons (at all) are there".<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10"/>

===== Negation with ''waka'' =====
The particle ''waka'' is used predominantly as a negative copula. Examples are ''bi waka aniya kai'' "I am not (at fault), it is the (bad) year", ''inu ja baita waka'' "this is not a simple matter".

===== Negation with ''unde'' =====
The word ''unde'' "not yet" is placed after the imperfect participle in ''-ra/-re/-ro'' at the end of the clause: ''jidere unde'' "(he) has not come yet", ''bi sabure unde'' "I have not seen it yet".<ref>Gorelova 2002, 261; Möllendorff 1892, 10.</ref>

===== Apprehension =====
The imperfect participle can be combined with ''-hū'' to produce a form that expresses apprehension/fear (''participium metuendi''; cf. Mongolian ''-ujai''): ''jidera'''hū''''' "If only he doesn't come“. 
{{interlinear|ama eme damu nime-rahū se-me jobo-mbi|father mother only ill-PTCP(NEG) say-CVB.IMPERF worry-IMPERF|"My only worry is that father and mother might get ill."
| indent = 4
}}
Gorelova believes that this form is originally identical to the negation of the imperfect participle in -''ra-(a)kū.''<ref>Gorelova (2002: 274)</ref>

==== Interrogative forms ====
Interrogative forms are derived from declarative ones by the edition of further suffixes.<ref>Gorelova 2002, 322f.; Haenisch 1986, 58f.</ref> The particle ''-o'' can be added to a verbal form in order to convert a statements into a [[Yes–no question|yes/no-question]]. It is added to the copula ''bi-'', the imperfect indicative in ''-mbi'' (which also ends in ''-bi'') and to the imperfect and perfect participles in ''-ra/re-/ro'' and ''-ha/he/ho'', forming respectively the sequences ''-bio'', ''-mbio'', ''-rao/-reo/-roo'', ''-hao/-heo/-hoo''. In these sequences, ''-o'' is pronounced /u/. Some examples are: ''Minde bu'''reo'''?'' "Will you give it to me?"; ''Si terebe tuwa'''hao'''? Tuwaha.''  "Have you seen him? – Yes." S''i cai omi'''hao'''?'' "Have you drunk tea?" The particle ''-o'' can also be added to the negative particle ''waka'': ''Manju bithe hūlambi waka'''o'''?'' "Are you not studying the Manchu language?" (lit. "Are you not reading Manchu books?").

The imperfect interrogative form in ''-rao/-reo/-roo'' can also be used as an imperative to older or socially superior persons: ''tereo?'' "Please sit down!", lit. "Will (you) sit down?"<ref>Gorelova (2002: 302–303)</ref>

The universal interrogative particle is ''-ni''. It can be added to verb forms to produce [[Yes–no question|yes/no-questions]] in the same way as ''-o;'' after negatives, however, it is reduced to ''-n'': ''si sabu-rakū-'''n'''?'' "Have you not seen?", ''suwe sambio sarkūn'' "Do you know this or do you not know it?", ''si sembi akūn?'' "Do you eat it or not?" In addition, the words ''sain'' "good", "well" and ''yargiyan'' "true, real, truth, reality" had the special interrogative forms ''saiyūn'' and ''yargiyūn'': ''si saiyūn?'' "How are you?", ''yargiyūn?'' "Is it true?"<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 10"/>

Furthermore, it can be used in [[wh-questions]] and be added to nouns and adjectives as well (''ere ai turgun ni "''What is the reason for this?").<ref>Gorelova (2002: 322f.)</ref> It generally stands at the end of a sentence: ''ainu urunakū aisi be hendumbi'''ni''''' "Why do we necessarily have to talk about profits?"

The combination ''nio'' can be added to negations to form [[rhetorical question]]s: ''ere sain akū nio'' "is that not beautiful?"

==== Auxiliary verbs ====
Composite verb forms are constructed with the [[auxiliary verb]]s  ''bimbi'', ''bi'' "be, exist, remain", ''ombi'' "be/become (such), be possible",  ''sembi'' "say, tell, consider", ''acambi'' "be suitable", ''mutembi'' "be able to" and ''hamimbi'' "approach, be near".

===== bimbi "to be" =====

* '''Indefinite future''' – imperfect participle with optative: ''genere biki'' "I will go", "I will be there".
* '''Definite perfect''' – Perfect participle with ''bi'': ''wajiha bi'' "is finished" (note that this same construction is the origin of the indicative perfect).
* '''Past perfect''' – the perfect participle in ''-ha/-he/-ho'' forms together with the past form of the copula, ''bihe,'' a [[Pluperfect|past perfect]] tense:<ref>Gorelova 2002, 292; Haenisch 1986, 61.</ref> ''araha bihe''  "I had written", ''tere bade tehe bihe'' "he had sat down there", ''tuwaha bihe'' "he had seen it"
* '''Durative past perfect''' – perfect participle with ''bihebi.''
* '''Hypothesis''' – perfect participle with ''bici'' or with ''bihe bici'': ''arahabici'' "if I had written", ''ehe niyalma de hajilaha bici'' "If you had become involved with bad people".
* '''Preterite''' – The imperfect converb with ''bihe'' expresses a continuous action that has come to an end: ''alame bihe'' "he used to say".
* '''Imperative''' –The [[Synthetic morphology|synthetic]] forms of the imperative can be replaced with analytical forms consisting of a converb and ''bisu'' (the imperative of ''bimbi''): ''ala'' – ''alame bisu.''

===== ombi "to be, become" =====

* '''Imperative''' – The synthetical forms of the imperative can be replaced with analytical forms consisting of a converb and ''osu,'' the imperative of ''ombi'': ''ala'' – ''alame osu.''

===== sembi "to say" =====

* '''Imperative''' – The synthetical forms of the imperative can be replaced with analytical forms consisting of a converb and ''sereo'': ''alarao'' – ''alame sereo.''

==== Voice ====

===== Passive and causative =====
[[Voice (grammar)|Voice]] is a somewhat problematic and controversial category in Manchu. The form for passive voice in Manchu is generally formed with the suffix ''-bu'' :
{{interlinear|baita de uša-bu-ha|matter DAT charge-PASS-PTCP.PERF|"(someone) was charged with the matter."
| indent = 4
}}
In certain verbs, the passive is formed with the suffix ''-mbu'' instead, although it has also been claimed to have a different shade of meaning.

Many verbs in the passive voice have a [[Reflexive verb|reflexive]] meaning:
{{interlinear|gurun dasa-bu-mbi|state correct-PASS-PTCP.PERF|"The state is improving."
| indent = 4
}}
Surprisingly, the suffix ''-bu'' (or, in many cases, ''-mbu'') also expresses the [[causative]]: this, ''ara'''mbu'''mbi'' means "be written", but also "make (someone) write".

{{interlinear|tere-be gene-bu!|this-ACC go-CAUS(IMP)|"Order him to go!"
| indent = 4
}}
The combination of both suffixes ''-mbu'' and ''-bu'' is also possible in order to form a passive causative construction: ''arambubumbi''  "have (something) written", lit. "make (something) be written".<ref name="Möllendorff 1892, 9"/>

===== Reciprocal =====
The reciprocal voice is formed with ''-ndu'': ''aisilambi'' "help" – ''aisilandumbi'' "help each other".

===== Associative =====
The associative voice is formed with ''-ca/-ce/-co'' or with ''-nu'': ''ilimbi'' "stand" – ''ilicambi'' "to stand together in a group“, ''afambi'' "fight" – ''afanumbi'' "fight together with others".

==== Aspect: durative, frequentative and intensive ====
The [[Continuative aspect|durative]] aspect can be expressed by the suffixes ''-ta/-te/-to'', ''-nja/-nje/-njo'' or ''-ša/-še/-šo'', the [[Iterative aspect|iterative]] by ''-ta/-te'' and the [[frequentative]] or [[Intensive word form|intensive]] by ''-ca/-ce/-co'':<ref>Gorelova 2002, 242; Haenisch 1986, 51f.</ref> ''jailambi'' "evade" – ''jailatambi'' "evade everywhere", ''injembi'' "laugh" – ''injecembi'' "laugh persistently in the crowd", ''halambi'' "change" – ''halanjambi'' "alternate", ''ibembi'' "go forward" – ''ibešembi'' "go forward step by step".

==== Direction: ventive, andative and missive ====
In verbs of locomotion in the broadest sense there is a distinction between movement away from the speaker ([[Andative and venitive|andative]]) and towards the speaker ([[Andative and venitive|ventive]]). This is similar to the complement of direction in Chinese (andative ''qù'' {{lang|zh-Hans|去}} "go" vs ventive ''lái'' {{lang|zh-Hant|來}} "come"). The andative is expressed by the suffix ''-na/-ne/-no'' (possibly connected to ''genembi'' "go") and the ventive is expressed by ''-nji'' (possibly connected to ''jimbi'' "come").<ref>Gorelova 2002, 233, 239f.; Haenisch 1986, 53; vgl. Manfred Reichardt, Shuxin Reichardt: ''Grammatik des modernen Chinesisch''. Leipzig: Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1990, {{ISBN|3-324-00332-6}}, S. 76f., „Direktionalverben“; Yuen Ren Chao [Zhào Yuánrèn, {{lang|zh-Hant|趙元任}}]: ''A Grammar of Spoken Chinese''. Berkeley / Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1968, S. 458f., “directional complement”; Gregor Kneussel: ''Grammatik des modernen Chinesisch / Xiàndài Hànyǔ yǔfǎ'' {{lang|zh-Hans|«现代汉语语法»}}. Beijing: Verlag für fremdsprachige Literatur / Wàiwén chūbǎnshè {{lang|zh-Hans|外文出版社}}, 2005, {{ISBN|7-119-04262-9}}, S. 218f., „Komplement der Richtung“</ref> Besides, a missive form is constructed with the suffix ''-nggi'' (possibly connected to ''unggimbi'' "send"): ''alambi'' "report" – ''alanambi'' "go in order to report", ''alanjimbi'' "come with a report", ''alanggimbi''  "send with a report", ''fekumbi'' "jump" – ''fekunembi'' "jump over there" – ''fekunjembi'' "jump over here", ''ebišembi'' "bathe" – ''ebišenembi'' "go bathe".