Class I Verbs

Class I verbs are thematic, meaning the thematic -अ- is inserted between the stem and the endings. It also means that the stem does not change for strong versus weak endings, as is the case for athematic verbs. For Class I verbs, the root vowel is guṇated before adding the endings. Thus, भू (to be) → भवति and नी (to lead) → नयति.

Present Tense

Present Active

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	भवामि	भवावः	भवामः
Second	भवसि	भवथः	भवथ
Third	भवति	भवतः	भवन्ति

Present Middle

Example Root: लभ् = acquire, obtain

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	लभे	लभावहे	लभामहे
Second	लभसे	लभेथे	लभध्वे
Third	लभते	लभेते	लभन्ते

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Imperfect

Imperfect Active

Prefix अ- is always added just before the root after any other prefixes, employing saṃdhi rules. (Hart, p.24) The augment अ- added to the initial vowels इ-, उ-, and ऋ- coalesces to make the vṛddhi (not the guṇa) of the second element, that is, ऐ-, ऊ-, आर-. (Hart, p.78)

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	अभवम्	अभवाव	अभवाम
Second	अभवः	अभवतम्	अभवत
Third	अभवत्	अभवताम्	अभवन्

Imperfect Middle

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	अलभे	अलभावहि	अलभामहि
Second	अलभथा:	अलभेथाम्	अलभध्वम्
Third	अलभत	अलभेताम्	अलभन्त

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Optative

Optative expresses wish (“may he…”), request (“would you?”), what is desirable or proper (“they should”), and what may occur (“it might…”). (Hart, p. 51).

Optative Active

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	भवेयम्	भवेव	भवेम
Second	भवेः	भवेतम्	भवेत
Third	भवेत्	भवेताम्	भवेयुः

Optative Middle

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	लभेय	लभेवहि	लभेमहि
Second	लभेथाः	लभेयाथाम्	लभेध्वम्
Third	लभेत	लभेयाताम्	लभेरन्

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Imperative

The imperative is the command tense. In English, it is only found in the 2nd person: “Go home!”, “Do your homework”, and “Beat them!” However, Sanskrit uses it for all persons and numbers. In the 1st and 3rd person it can be translated as “may” and “let” respectively, such as “May I always be kind!” and “Let them always find happiness!”

Imperative Active

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	भवानि	भवाव	भवाम
Second	भव	भवतम्	भवत
Third	भवतु	भवताम्	भवन्तु

Imperative Middle

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
First	लभै	लभावहै	लभामहै
Second	लभस्व	लभेथाम्	लभध्वम्
Third	लभताम्	लभेताम्	लभन्ताम्

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