ᲖმნებიB1
Version Vowels i-/u-: For Myself, For You (Recognition)
Recognizing version vowels: i- (for self), u- (for another), and the g+i merge (for you) in high-frequency verbs.
Learning Goal
I can recognize who benefits from an action by reading the verb's version vowel.
Exam Skills:NAEC Georgian B1: ListeningNAEC Georgian B1: Reading
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ახალ ტელეფონს ვიყიდი.
I will buy myself a new phone.
დედას ყვავილებს ვუყიდი.
I will buy flowers for my mother.
კარს გიღებ - მოდი!
I am opening the door for you - come!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
One vowel says for whom
A single vowel inside the verb marks the beneficiary: ვიყიდი (I'll buy FOR MYSELF), ვუყიდი (I'll buy FOR HIM/HER), გიყიდი (I'll buy FOR YOU). This is the famous Georgian 'version' (ქცევა). At B1, learn to RECOGNIZE the pattern in frequent verbs; full production comes at C1.
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice Exercises
Reading viqidi and vuqidi as the same verb and adding a redundant 'for him' phrase when u- already says it.
Common Error Patterns
Misreading i-/u- version vowels (for-self vs for-other)
Recognition drills: who benefits? viqidi/vuqidi/giqidi sorting.
ახალ ტელეფონს ვიყიდი.
I will buy myself a new phone.
The i- vowel = for myself; Georgian builds 'sebe/si' into the verb.
დედას ყვავილებს ვუყიდი.
I will buy flowers for my mother.
The u- vowel = for someone else; the beneficiary dedas stands in the dative.
კარს გიღებ - მოდი!
I am opening the door for you - come!
g- (you) + i- version merge: gigheb 'I open for you'.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Frequently asked questions
- When is ქცევის ხმოვნები: ი- და უ- (გაცნობა) used?
- ერთი ხმოვანი ზმნის შიგნით ამბობს, ვისთვის კეთდება მოქმედება.
- What are common mistakes with ქცევის ხმოვნები: ი- და უ- (გაცნობა)?
- Reading viqidi and vuqidi as the same verb and adding a redundant 'for him' phrase when u- already says it.