Editing Preverb (section)

==Georgian==
In [[Georgian language|Georgian]], a Kartvelian language, the main function of a preverb is to distinguish the present tenses and the future tenses. To turn a present tense verb into a future tense, a preverb is added to the verb compound. In addition, preverbs also have directional meanings in Georgian.

Preverbs are directly attached to the beginning of the verb compound:

:{{lang|ka|აკეთებს}} {{Transliteration|ka|ak'etebs}} {{gloss|he does it}} and {{lang|ka|'''გა'''აკეთებს}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''ga'''ak'etebs}} {{gloss|he will do it}}
:{{lang|ka|ვწერ}} {{Transliteration|ka|vts'er}} {{gloss|I am writing}} and {{lang|ka|'''და'''ვწერ}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''da'''vts'er}} {{gloss|I will write}}

Note in those two examples that the meaning of the future tense is achieved only by adding the preverb; no other grammatical change occurs. In these examples, preverbs have directional meanings:

:{{lang|ka|'''მო'''დის}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''mo'''dis}} {{gloss|he/she is coming}}
:{{lang|ka|'''მი'''დის}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''mi'''dis}} {{gloss|he/she is going}}
:{{lang|ka|'''ა'''დის}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''a'''dis}} {{gloss|he/she is going up (the stairs), he/she is getting on (a bus)}}
:{{lang|ka|'''ჩამო'''დის}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''chamo'''dis}} {{gloss|he/she is arriving}}
:{{lang|ka|'''შემო'''დის}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''shemo'''dis}} {{gloss|he/she is entering}}

Again, note that only the preverbs are changed to convey the meaning of various directional meanings.

Preverbs add directional meanings not only to the verbs of motion but also to any other kind of verbs. Compare the examples of the verb {{Transliteration|ka|-ts'er-}} {{gloss|write}}:

:{{lang|ka|'''და'''ვწერე}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''da'''vts'ere}} {{gloss|I wrote it}}
:{{lang|ka|'''მო'''გწერე}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''mo'''gts'ere}} {{gloss|I wrote it ''to'' you}}
:{{lang|ka|'''მი'''ვწერე}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''mi'''vts'ere}} {{gloss|I wrote it ''to'' him/them}}
:{{lang|ka|'''გადა'''გიწერე}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''gada'''gits'ere}} {{gloss|I wrote to you (''from a place'')}}

As can be seen from the examples, the preverb changes according to the indirect object (the person for (to) whom the verb is being done).

Many verbs have a common root. For example, "end" and "stay" have the same verb root, {{Transliteration|ka|-rch-}}. The meanings of the verbs are distinguished by their preverbs and other elements of the verb compound:

:{{lang|ka|რჩება}} {{Transliteration|ka|rcheba}} {{gloss|he is staying}}, {{lang|ka|'''და'''რჩება}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''da'''rcheba}} {{gloss|he will stay}}
:{{lang|ka|რჩება}} {{Transliteration|ka|rcheba}} {{gloss|it is ending}}, {{lang|ka|'''მო'''რჩება}} {{Transliteration|ka|'''mo'''rcheba}} {{gloss|it will end}}

As is clear, the verbs are identical in the present tense but differ in the future tense by their preverbs.