SUMERIAN

The prefixes of Slots 2–6
(232) NG 138 obv. 5 (Umma, 21st c.) (P200731)
na-ba ba-uš₂
naba=ø S5 ba- S12 uš- S14 ø
PN=abs MID-die-3.SG.S
“Naba died.”
(233) E-ana-tum 6 4:18–19 (RIME 1.9.3.6) (Lagash, 25th c.) (Q001058)
ensi₂-be₂,
mu-uš₂
ensik=be=ø
S4 mu- S11 n- S12 uš- S14 ø
ruler=3.SG.NH.POSS=ABS VEN-3.SG.H.A-die-3.SG.P
“He killed its ruler”
(234) Amar-Suena 9 32–33 (RIME 3/2.1.3.9) (Ur, 21st c.) (Q000984)
lu 2 e 2 a-ba-sumun, u 3 -un-du 3
lu e=ø S1u- S5 ba- S12 sumun- S14 ø S1 u- S11 n- S12 du- S14 ø
man house=ABS ANT-MID-old-3.SG.S ANT-3.SG.H.A-build-3.SG.P
“The man, who, after the temple has become dilapidated, rebuilds it, ….”
(235) Gilgamesh and Huwawa A 113 (ETCSL 1.8.1.5)
ud ŋeš ma₂ ma₂-gan ki ba-su-a-ba
ud ma magan=ø S5 ba- S12 su- S14 ø- S15ʾa=be=ʾa
day boat GN=ABS MID-sink-3.SG.S-SUB=3.SG.NH.POSS=L1
“When the Magan boat sank, ….”
(236) OIP 115, 126 rev. 5 (Drehem, 21st c.) (P123715)
iti-ta ud 8 ba-ra-zal
itid=ta ud 8=ø S5 ba- S9 ta- S12 zal- S14 ø
month=ABL day 8=ABS MID-ABL-pass-3.SG.S
“8 days elapsed from the month.”
Verbs of grooming, exx. (237), (238), and (239b), and verbs of motion without
a change in the location, ex. (239a), (240), and (241), also belong to the
inherently middle verbs.
(237) Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the Netherworld 206 (ETCSL 1.8.1.4)
tug₂ dan₂-dan₂-na-ne₂ im-ma-an-mu₄
tug dan~dan-ʾa=ane=ø S2 i- S4 m- S5 ba- S11 n- S12 mu- S14 ø
cloth clean~PL-PT=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS FIN-VEN-MID-3.SG.H.A-dress-3.SG.P
“He put on his cleanest garments.”
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