SumerianGrammar

THE VERB 135
There are, however, at least in NS and OB, bases with suffixed
[ede], [eda], and [ada] which are rendered by Akkadian infinitive
constructions in (OB) bilingual texts, e.g.,
bàd-Zimbir ki rú-ù-da § sa∞g-bi íl-i-da = dùr Z. epè“am rè“ì“u ullâm “(he
definitely ordered me) to build the wall of Sippar (and) to raise its
head” RIME 4, 335 Hammu-ràpi 2:22–23 // 23–25.
The three Sumerian forms, B-[ede], B-[eda], and B-[ada] are
treated together here because of their similar syntactic behaviour,
although the proposed morphological analysis would not favour a
parallel arangement of the respective forms.
12.14.3.1. B-[ede]
B is always represented by the marû base of the verb. A morphological
analysis B-ed-e is obvious. This would, formally, constitute a
marû participle B-[ed] with the addition of the directive particle [e].
sa 10 -sa 10 -dè [sasa-(e)d-e] “in order to buy” would, then, literally mean
“at being buying”, “at being a buyer”.
The reading of -NE as -dè is substantiated by spellings -te (e.g.,
Sjöberg 1975, 190:120) or -de 1 (e.g., NATN 1, 702:2).
lú-Umma ki -a... a-“à a“a 5 tùmu-dè an-ta bala-e-da ... d En-líl-le héha-lam-me
“may Enlil destroy (any) person of Umma ... who would
cross over here from up there in order to (carry away =) seize fields”
Ent. 28–29 A vi 9–20.
l ma-na kù-luh-ha igi-nu-du 8 -a sa 10 -sa 10 -dè U. dam-gàr- ...-ke 4 bade
6 “U., the ...merchant, took with him one mina of refined silver
in order to buy (blind men =) garden workers” Nik. 293 i 1–5.
∞
10 ì-nun : sìla ge“ gigir-e AG-dè “10 pounds of butter to (make =)
use for (lubricating) (at) the chariot (PN received)” BIN 8, 320:7–9.
d
E 4 -nun-na ù di-dè im-ma-“u 4 -“u 4 -ge-é“ “the Enùna stopped here
to gaze in awe” Gudea Cyl. A xx 23; see Cyl. B i 11 (var. u 6 ).
u 4 “u-bala AG-dè ∞ge“-hur ha-lam-e-dè ...An d En-líl d En-ki d Ninmah-bi
nam-bi ha-ba-an-tar-re-e“ “An, Enlil, Enki, and Ninmah have
definitely decreed ... that they would overturn the (appointed) time,
forsake the (preordained) plans” Lament Sumer and Ur 1–55.
Note: There are in this passage 51 more B-[ede] forms which depend on nambi
ha-ba-an-tar-re-e“, and there is no B-[eda] variant.
In all these examples and others, the subject implied in B-[ede] and
the subject of the finite verb following B-[ede] are identical. Moreover,
the subjects implied are all in the ergative. Identity of subject of