averbs

Averbs are a proposed grammatical category in linguistic theory describing words that exhibit mixed properties of verbs and adjectives. In analyses that introduce the term, averbs can function as predicates in sentence structure, as verbs do, while also appearing in attributive or predicative positions like adjectives. The concept is primarily discussed in speculative or typological literature aimed at accounting for cross-linguistic variation where certain items do not fit neatly into standard word classes.

As proposed, averbs may display features associated with verbs—such as compatibility with tense, aspect, or mood markers—while also behaving like adjectives by modifying nouns or functioning in attributive positions. Some accounts allow limited verbal morphology when used predicatively, contrasted with more standard adjectival morphology in modifier positions. The precise boundaries between averbs and established classes, such as verbs, adjectives, participles, or stative forms, are a focus of ongoing debate.

Attestation and status: The idea of averbs remains theoretical and controversial. There is no broad consensus that averbs constitute a universal or widely attested class, and many researchers treat the category as a descriptive shorthand for cross-linguistic data that resist simple classification. Critics warn that the concept can mask historical or semantic processes and that robust criteria for distinguishing averbs from existing classes are not universally agreed upon.

See also: word class, adjective, verb, predicative expression, cross-linguistic typology.