perusverbin

Perusverbin is a term used in some linguistic traditions to refer to the base form of a verb, the form that is used as the lemma in dictionaries and in grammar instruction. It denotes the canonical, non-finite form from which all other inflected forms are derived. The term is formed from Finnish perus- meaning base or fundamental, and verbi meaning verb.

In the Finnish tradition, the perusverbi typically corresponds to the infinitive form of the verb, which in Finnish ends in -a or -ä (for example, puhua “to speak”; kirjoittaa “to write”). The perusverbi serves as the dictionary form for the verb and is the form listed in most reference works. It is not a tense or mood; it is a base form used for conjugation.

The concept of a perusverbi is similar to what linguists elsewhere call the lemma or citation form. Its precise realization can vary by language: in some languages the lemma is identical to an infinitive, while in others it may be a present tense stem or another canonical form. The perusverbi is essential for arranging verb conjugation tables and for linking derived forms back to a single lexeme.

Examples readily illustrate its use: Finnish perusverbi include puhua “to speak,” kirjoittaa “to write,” and juosta “to run.” English speakers might approximate this as the base or infinitive form, for example “to speak” or the verb lemma “speak.” Some grammarians prefer the term “lemma” rather than perusverbi, especially in non-Finnish contexts.