Verbs: basic knowledge

Verbs: basic knowledge

First an important piece of knowledge: In dictionaries, Albanian verbs are listed in the first person singular of the present indicative; this is the so-called "forma përfaqësuese," representative form. From now on, whenever a verb is mentioned as an example, assume that it is in the first person singular of the present indicative unless specified otherwise.
Moods

Albanian verbs have 6 'moods'. The Albanian word for 'mood' is 'mënyrë''.
• The indicative mood, mënyra dëftore, is used for simple statements, declarations, etc., such as 'My name is Albi' or 'I was born in Albania'. Mënyra habitore is used to make such statements as well, especially in surprising or unexpected situations.
• Mënyra kushtore (conditional mood) and mënyra lidhore (subjunctive mood) are used to express possibility.
• Mënyra dëshirore and mënyra urdhërore are used to express desire. Mënyra dëshirore is used for wishes or for curses. Mënyra urdhërore is used for orders, commands, or demands.

6 sentences -- one for each mood -- are given as examples below. The verb 'mësoj' is used in the present tense, second person, singular, of each mood.

Mood: Albanian - Translation into English
Dëftore: Ti po mëson shqip. - You are learning Albanian;
Habitore: Ti po mësoke shqip. - Oh, so you are learning Albanian!
Kushtore: Do ia kaloje më mirë po të mësoje shqip. - You would enjoy it more if you were to learn Albanian.
Lidhore: Ti po përpiqesh të mësosh shqip. - You are trying to learn Albanian.
Dëshirore: Mos e mësofsh kurrë! - I hope you never learn it!
Urdhërore: Mësoje shpejt! - Learn it quickly!


Tenses

Each mood has several tenses. Albanian grammar books describe 8 tenses for the indicative mood, 4 tenses for the subjunctive mood, 4 for the 'surprised' moods, 2 tenses for the conditional mood, 2 for the 'desire' mood, and just 1 tense for the imperative mood. The Albanian word for 'tense' is 'kohë'.
The two most important verbs

The verbs jam and kam are two very important verbs and you need to know them well. Please memorize the following 2 tables at this time:

The conjugation of 'jam' in the present indicative:
English - Albanian
I am - unë jam
you are - ti je
he/she is - ai/ajo është
we are - ne jemi
you are - ju jeni
they are - ata/ato janë


The conjugation of 'kam' in the present indicative
English - Albanian
I have - unë kam
you have - ti ke
he/she has ai/ajo ka
we have - ne kemi
you have - ju keni
they have - ata/ato kanë


As you see, the difference between 'to be' and 'to have' is that one has a 'j' and the other has a 'k' instead. ('është' is another difference, but 'është' is probably a loan-word from Latin.)