Editing Beja language (section)

==Grammar==
===Nouns, articles, and adjectives===
Beja nouns and adjectives have two genders: masculine and feminine, two numbers: singular and plural, two cases: nominative and oblique, and may be definite, indefinite, or in [[construct state]].{{sfn|Appleyard|2007}} Gender, case, and definiteness are not marked on the noun itself, but on clitics and affixes. Singular-plural pairs in Beja are unpredictable.

====Plural forms====
Plurals may be formed by:
* the addition of a suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-a}} to the singular stem: {{lang|bej-Latn|gaw}} 'house', {{lang|bej-Latn|gawaab}} 'houses' (the final -b is an indefinite suffix)
* the shortening of the final syllable of the singular stem (or [[Ablaut]] in this syllable{{sfn|Vanhove|2014|loc=§3.1.5}}): {{lang|bej-Latn|kaam}} 'camel', {{lang|bej-Latn|kam}} 'camels'
* shift of the accent from the ultimate to the penultimate syllable: {{lang|bej-Latn|hadhaab}} {{IPA|/haˈɖaːb/}} 'lion', {{lang|bej-Latn|hadhaab}} {{IPA|/ˈhaɖaːb/}} 'lions' (orthographically identical)
* a combination of these.
A small number of nouns do not distinguish between singular and plural forms. Some nouns are always plural. A few nouns have suppletive plurals.{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|p=43}}

====Case and definiteness====
A noun may be prefixed by a clitic definite article, or have an indefinite suffix. Definite articles indicate gender, number, and case. The indefinite suffix marks gender only, and does not appear in the nominative case.{{sfn|Roper|1928|loc=§43}} For feminine common nouns, the indefinite suffix is {{lang|bej-Latn|-t}}; for masculine nouns and feminine proper nouns, {{lang|bej-Latn|-b}}. The indefinite suffixes only appear after vowels. The definite article is proclitic. It has the following forms with masculine monosyllabic nouns that do not begin with {{IPA|/h/}} or {{IPA|/ʔ/}} (note that an initial glottal stop is usually omitted in writing, and that all words that appear to be vowel-initial actually begin with a glottal stop):

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!| &nbsp;
!| Nominative
!| Oblique
|-
!| Singular
| {{lang|bej-Latn|uu-|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|oo-|italic=no}}
|-
!| Plural
| {{lang|bej-Latn|aa-|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ee-|italic=no}}
|-
|}

The feminine definite articles begin with {{angbr|{{lang|bej-Latn|t}}}} but are otherwise identical ({{lang|bej-Latn|tuu-}}, {{lang|bej-Latn|too-}}, {{lang|bej-Latn|taa-}}, {{lang|bej-Latn|tee-}}). With nouns longer than one syllable and with nouns that begin with {{IPA|/h/}} or {{IPA|/ʔ/}}, reduced forms of the definite article are used which do not distinguish between cases, but maintain gender distinctions. In some dialects (e.g. that described by Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa for Port Sudan) the reduced forms maintain number distinctions; in others (e.g. that described by [[Martine Vanhove|Vanhove]] and Roper for Sinkat) they do not.

====Possession====
Possessive relationships are shown through a genitive suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-ii}} (singular possessed) or {{lang|bej-Latn|-ee}} (plural possessed) which attaches to the possessing noun. If the possessing noun is feminine, the genitive marker will begin with {{lang|bej-Latn|t}}; if the possessed is feminine, the suffix will end with {{lang|bej-Latn|t}}. When the suffix does not end with the feminine marker {{lang|bej-Latn|t}}, it reduces to {{lang|bej-Latn|-(t)i}}, whether singular or plural (that is, the singular/plural distinction is only marked for feminine possessa). Because this suffix adds a syllable to the noun, full forms of articles cannot be used; thus, the article on the noun itself does not indicate case. However, agreeing adjectives will be marked for oblique case. No article or indefinite suffix may be applied to the possessed noun. The possessed noun follows the possessor. Examples:

* {{lang|bej-Latn|utaki raaw}} 'the man's friend (m)'
* {{lang|bej-Latn|utakiit raaw}} 'the man's friend (f)'
* {{lang|bej-Latn|tutakatti raaw}} 'the woman's friend (m)'
* {{lang|bej-Latn|tutakattiit raaw}} 'the woman's friend (f)'
* {{lang|bej-Latn|indaayeet raw}} 'the men's friends (f)'
(The noun {{lang|bej-Latn|tak}} 'man' has the suppletive plural {{lang|bej-Latn|(n)da}} 'men'; {{lang|bej-Latn|raaw}} 'friend' has the shortened plural {{lang|bej-Latn|raw}} 'friends'.)

Postpositions follow nouns in the genitive. Examples:{{sfn|Roper|1928|loc=§§56–57}}

* {{lang|bej-Latn|Whad'aay'''iida''' uutak eeya.}} 'The man came toward the chief/elder.' ({{lang|bej-Latn|-da}}: 'toward')
* {{lang|bej-Latn|W'oor t'aritt'''i geeb''' eefi}} 'The boy is with the girls.' ({{lang|bej-Latn|geeb}}: 'with')

====Adjectives====
Adjectives follow the nominal heads of noun phrases. They agree in gender, number, case, and definiteness, and carry case and definiteness markers of the same form as nouns.

===Copula===
Clauses may be composed of two noun phrases or a noun phrase and a predicative adjective followed by a copular clitic. The copula agrees in person, gender, and number with the copula complement (the second term), but the first- and third-person forms are identical. The copular subject will be in the nominative case, the copular complement in the oblique. Oblique {{lang|bej-Latn|-b}} becomes {{lang|bej-Latn|-w}} before {{lang|bej-Latn|-wa}}. Copular complements that end in a vowel will employ an epenthetic {{lang|bej-Latn|y}} between the final vowel and any vowel-initial copular clitic.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ {{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1p=45|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§3.1.1}}
! colspan="2" | 
! Masculine
! Feminine
|-
! rowspan="2" | 1st<br />person
! singular
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-u|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-tu|italic=no}}
|-
! plural
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-a|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-ta|italic=no}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2nd<br />person
! singular
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-wa|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-tuwi|italic=no}}
|-
! plural
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-aana|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-taana|italic=no}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | 3rd<br />person
! singular
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-u|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-tu|italic=no}}
|-
! plural
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-a|italic=no}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|-ta|italic=no}}
|}

Examples:{{sfn|Roper|1928|loc=§63}}

* {{lang|bej-Latn|Ani akraabu.}} "I am strong."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Baruuk akraawwa.}} "You are strong."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Baruuh hadhaabu.}} "He is a lion."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Tuun ay-girshaytu.}} "This is a five-piastre piece."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Hinin Imeeraaba.}} "We are Amirab."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Baraah imaka.}} "They are the donkeys."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Baraah igwharaaya.}} "They are the thieves."

===Verbs===
Beja verbs have two different types, first noted by Almkvist: "strong verbs," which conjugate with both prefixes and suffixes and have several [[Apophony|principal parts]]; and "weak verbs," which conjugate with suffixes only and which have a fixed root. Verbs conjugate for a number of tense, aspect, modality, and [[Affirmative and negative|polarity]] variations, which have been given different names by different linguists:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Roper !! Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa !! Vanhove
|-
| Conditional || Past Continuous || Aorist
|-
| Past Indicative || Past || Perfective
|-
| Present Indicative || Present || Imperfective
|-
| Future Indicative || Future || Future
|-
| {{n/a}} || Intentional || Desiderative
|-
| Imperative || Imperative || Imperative
|-
| Optative || rowspan=2 | Jussive || Optative
|-
| {{n/a}} || Potential
|}

(Roper analyzes additional subjunctive forms where Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa, and Vanhove see a conditional particle.)

Each of the above forms has a corresponding negative. (Vanhove refers to the imperative negative as the "prohibitive".) The past continuous and past share a past negative. Negative forms are not derived from corresponding positive forms, but are independent conjugations.

Every verb has a corresponding deverbal noun, which Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa refer to as a "noun of action", Vanhove calls an "action noun", and Roper a "nomen actionis". Numerous serial verb constructions exist which connote different aspectual and potential meanings.{{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1pp=150–158|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§3.2.6ff|3a=Roper|3y=1928|3loc=§§270–278}}

====Imperative====
The third person masculine singular positive imperative is the [[Lemma (morphology)|citation form]] of the verb. Weak verbs have a long final suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-aa}} while strong verbs have a short final suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-a}}. For both weak and strong verbs, the negative imperative is formed by an identical set of prefixes {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-}} (for masculine singular and common plural) and {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-}} (for feminine singular). Strong verbs use a negative imperative root which has a lengthened vowel.{{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1pp=97–100|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§3.2.2.2.1}}

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak Verb: giigaa "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aa}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-aa}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ii}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-giig-ii}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aana}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-aana}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong Verb: fidiga "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidig-a}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-fidiig-a}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-fidiig-i}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-fidiig-na}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

====Deverbal and dependent forms====
=====Deverbal noun=====
Every Beja verb has a corresponding deverbal noun (Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa: "noun of action"; Vanhove: "action noun"; Roper: "nomen actionis"). For weak verbs, the deverbal noun is formed by a suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-ti}} attached to the imperative root (see above). For strong verbs, deverbal nouns are not entirely predictable.

Examples:
* Weak verbs: {{lang|bej-Latn|diwaa}} "to sleep" → {{lang|bej-Latn|diwtiib}} "sleeping"; {{lang|bej-Latn|afooyaa}} "to forgive" → {{lang|bej-Latn|afootiib}} "forgiving"
* Strong verbs: {{lang|bej-Latn|adhidha}} "to hobble" → {{lang|bej-Latn|adhuudh}} "hobbling"; {{lang|bej-Latn|nikwiyi}} "to be pregnant" → {{lang|bej-Latn|nakwiit}} "being pregnant"

There are patterns in strong verb deverbal nouns related to the structure of the citation form of the verb. However, these are not consistent.{{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1pp=159–161|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§§3.3.1–3.3.2}}

=====Deverbal adjective=====
A further derived form is a suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-aa}} attached to the citation root, and then followed by {{lang|bej-Latn|-b}} for masculine nouns and {{lang|bej-Latn|-t}} for feminine. Examples:

{| class="wikitable"
! Citation Form || Masculine || Feminine || Meaning
|-
| {{lang|bej-Latn|diwaa}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|diw-aab}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|diw-aat}} || asleep
|-
| {{lang|bej-Latn|afooyaa}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|afooy-aab}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|afooy-aat}} || forgiven
|-
| {{lang|bej-Latn|adhidha}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|adhidh-aab}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|adhidh-aat}} || hobbled
|-
| {{lang|bej-Latn|nikwiyi}} || {{n/a}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|nikwiy-aat}} || pregnant
|}

This form may be used as an adjective, but it is also employed in the construction of multiple conjugated negative forms. Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa analyse this form as a participle.{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|pp=56–57}} [[Martine Vanhove]] analyses it as a manner [[converb]] {{lang|bej-Latn|-a}}.{{sfn|Vanhove|2014|loc=§3.2.4.4}}

====Tense-conjugated forms====
=====Past continuous/aorist=====
The past continuous stem for strong verbs is not derivable from any other verb stem. The negative of the past continuous is identical to that of the past: There is only one past tense negative form. For both weak and strong verbs, the past negative is formed through a deverbal participial or converbal form (see above) followed by the present negative of the irregular verb {{lang|bej-Latn|aka}} "to be".{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|p=101}}

Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa describe the past continuous as being used for "habitual, repeated actions of the (more distant) past."{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|p=155}} It is the verb conjugation used for counterfactual conditionals, which leads to Roper's identifying this tense as the "conditional". It is also frequently used in narratives.{{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1p=183|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§3.2.2.1}}

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak Verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kaaki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-tiya}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kittaa}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-tiyi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aat kittaayi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kiiki}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ti}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aat kitti}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kinki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-tiina}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kitteena}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-iin}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kiikeen}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong Verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kaaki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|t-iifdig-a}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kittaa}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|t-iifdig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aat kittaayi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kiiki}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|t-iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kitti}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|n-iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kinki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|t-iifdig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kitteena}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kiikeen}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

=====Past/perfective=====
The past or perfective stem for strong verbs is identical to the citation form (imperative) stem, with predictable phonetic modifications.{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|p=100}} The negative is identical to that of the past continuous/aorist (above).

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-an}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kaaki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-taa}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kittaa}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-taayi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aat kittaayi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-iya}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kiiki}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ta}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aat kitti}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kinki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-taana}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kitteena}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-iyaan}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aab kiikeen}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|a-fdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kaaki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ti-fdig-a}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kittaa}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ti-fdig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aat kittaayi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|i-fdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kiiki}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ti-fdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kitti}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ni-fdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kinki}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ti-fdig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kitteena}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|i-fdig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-aab kiikeen}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

=====Present/imperfective=====
The present or imperfective has two stems for positive strong verbs, while the negative strong stem is identical to that used for the imperative (and thus also for past/perfective verbs).{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|p=100}} Weak negative verbs add the prefix {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-}} to positive past/perfective forms.

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ani}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-an}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-tiniya}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-taa}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-tinii}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-taayi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-inii}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-iya}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-tini}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-ta}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-nay}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-na}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-teena}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-taana}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-een}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|ka-giig-iyaan}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|a-fandiig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kaa-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fandiig-a}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kit-fidig-a}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fandiig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kit-fidig-i}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fandiig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kii-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fandiig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kit-fidig}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ni-fadig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kin-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ti-fadig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kit-fidig-na}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|i-fadig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|kii-fdig-na}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

=====Future=====
The strong future stem is described differently by Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa and by Vanhove. Both agree that it is a fixed stem followed by a present/imperfective conjugated form of the verb {{lang|bej-Latn|diya}} "to say." Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa's strong stem is similar to the past continuous/aorist stem (next section), and identical for all numbers, genders, and persons, except the first person plural, which has a prefixed {{lang|bej-Latn|n-}}. For Vanhove, there are distinct singular and plural stems which are identical to the past continuous/aorist first person singular and plural, respectively.{{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1p=101|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§3.2.6.2}} Similarly, for weak verbs, Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa have a future stem ending in {{lang|bej-Latn|-i}} with a first person plural {{lang|bej-Latn|-ni}}, followed by a present tense/imperfective conjugation of {{lang|bej-Latn|diya}}. Vanhove sees the {{lang|bej-Latn|-i}} as a singular future, and the {{lang|bej-Latn|-ni}} as a general plural. For negative verbs, the negative present/imperfective of {{lang|bej-Latn|diya}} is used as the conjugated auxiliary.

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak Verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i andi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kaadi}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i tindiya}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kiddiya}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i tindii}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kiddiyi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i indi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kiidi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i tindi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kiddi}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni neeyad}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni kindi}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i teeyadna}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni teeyadna}}) || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kiddiina}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni kiddiina}})
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i eeyadna}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni eeyadna}}) || {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-i kiidiin}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ni kiidiin}})
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong Verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig andi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kaadi}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig tindiya}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kiddiya}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig tindii}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kiddiyi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig indi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kiidi}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig tindi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kiddi}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig neeyad}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig kindi}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig teeyadna}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig teeyadna}}) || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kiddiina}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig kiddiina}})
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig eeyadna}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig eeyadna}}) || {{lang|bej-Latn|iifdig kiidiin}} (Vanhove: {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig kiidiin}})
|}
{{columns-end}}

(NB: Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa see verbs of the form CiCiC as having identical past continuous [aorist] and future stems. Some verbs of other forms have different stems, which would lead to a greater divergence between the forms described by them and those described by Vanhove.) E.M. Roper, describing the same dialect as Vanhove, identifies the stem employed as being identical to the past continuous/aorist (for him, "conditional"—see above), just as Vanhove does. However, he understands the form with {{lang|bej-Latn|n-}} as being used only with the first person plural, as Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa do.{{sfn|Roper|1928|loc=§183}}

======Intentional/desiderative======
In addition to the future, Bidhaawyeet has a similar form expressing desire to undertake an act or intention to do so. The citation root takes a suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-a}} for all persons, genders, and numbers, and is followed by a present tense/imperfective conjugated form of the verb {{lang|bej-Latn|diya}} "to say", as the future is.{{sfnm|1a1=Wedekind|1a2=Wedekind|1a3=Musa|1y=2007|1pp=154–155|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2014|2loc=§3.2.6.3}}

====Jussive, optative, potential====
There is distinct disagreement between the major grammars of the past century on the modal conjugation or conjugations referred to as "jussive," "optative," and "potential."

Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa describe a "jussive"  with the following paradigm. For strong verbs, the first person is based on the past/perfective stem, and the persons are based on the future stem; no negative jussive is given:

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-atay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ata}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-ati}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ba-giig-iiyay}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ba-giig-tiyay}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-niiyay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-aana}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ba-giig-iinay}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-atay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-ata}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-ati}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ba'-iifidig-ay}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|bat-iifidig-ay}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|niifdig-ay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|ba-'iifdig-naay}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

They give various examples of the jussive with translations into English, in order to give a sense of the meaning:
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Araatatay!}} "Let me ask!"
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Naan '''gw'ata'''?}} "What '''would you (m) like to drink'''?"
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Hindeeh '''nihiriway'''!}} "Please '''let us look for it'''!" (Atmaan dialect){{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|pp=162–166}}

Vanhove identifies a complex "potential" form composed of a nominalizing suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-at}} followed by a present/imperfective reduced conjugation of the verb {{lang|bej-Latn|m'a}} 'come' ({{lang|bej-Latn|eeya}} in the non-reduced present/imperfective).

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at-a}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at-i}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at eeyini}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at eetnii}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at eenay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at-na}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|giig-at een}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at-a}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at-i}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at eeyini}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at eetnii}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at eenay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at-na}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|fidg-at een}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

Vanhove describes the potential as expressing "epistemic modalities of inference or near-certainty."{{sfn|Vanhove|2014|loc=§3.2.6.5}} Examples below, with the potential verbs in bold:
* {{lang|bej-Latn|"Deeyaraneek kaakan dabal had '''fiinataay'''," indi een.}} {{" '}}I am really exhausted, so '''I should rest''' a while,' he says."

Additionally, she recognizes an optative with positive and negative polarity. The positive optative is formed from a prefix {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-}} to the past continuous/aorist. The negative construction is more complex. In some dialects, the final {{lang|bej-Latn|-aay}} of most forms of the weak negative is a short {{lang|bej-Latn|-ay}}:

{{columns-start}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Weak verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|giigaa}} "go away"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-aay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-tiya}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-giig-aay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-tiyi}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-giig-aay}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-giig-aay}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-ti}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-giig-aay}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-ni}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bin-giig-aay}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-tiina}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-giig-eena}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-giig-iin}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-giig-eena}}
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Strong verb: {{lang|bej-Latn|fidiga}} "open"
|-
!&nbsp; || Positive || Negative
|-
! {{gcl|1SG}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-'iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-t-iifdig-a}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-fdig-a}}
|-
! {{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-t-iifdig-i}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-fdig-i}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-'iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-t-iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|1PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-n-iifdig}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bin-fdig}}
|-
! {{gcl|2PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-t-iifdig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bit-fdig-na}}
|-
! {{gcl|3PL}}
| {{lang|bej-Latn|baa-'iifdig-na}} || {{lang|bej-Latn|bii-fdig-na}}
|}
{{columns-end}}

Vanhove gives no explanation for the use of the optative positive. The optative negative is used in conditional clauses with meanings of incapacity and necessity:
* {{lang|bej-Latn|"Har'iisii '''bity'aheebaay'''," ani.}} {{" '}}'''Don't let it come''' from behind me!' I told myself."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Naat '''bitkatiim''' mhiin uumeek ingad.}} "The donkey stopped in a place where nothing '''can arrive'''."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Dhaabi '''biidii'''yeeb hiisan.}} "I thought '''he would not be able to run'''."
* {{lang|bej-Latn|Yaa iraanaay, ooyhaam thab'a! '''Baakwinhaay''' akaabuuyit...}} "Oh, man, hit the leopard! '''I don't need to shout''' at you and…"{{sfnm|1a1=Vanhove|1y=2014|1loc=§3.2.2.2.2|2a1=Vanhove|2y=2011}}