Definition of Thematic Vocal

Verb conjugations depend on the role of vowels and in this sense we speak of thematic vowels. The vowel a designates the verbs of the first conjugation (those that end in “ar”, such as dance or think), the "e" to those of the second (how to have or return) and the "" to those of the third (how to go or leave). In other words, the conjugation to which the verb belongs determines the vowel thematic. Therefore, the thematic vowel is a phonological feature that allows us to know each formal verbal.

Thematic vowels act as a morpheme, specifically as an inflectional morpheme when it comes to non-derived verbs (for example, to love or sing) and as an inflectional and derivative morpheme in derived or parasynthetic verbs (for example, rummage or go mad).

Illustrative examples

If we take the verb form "possess" as a reference, we find the following structure: the lexeme pose, plus a thematic vowel (the lyrics e) and an ending, n. In this way, it is a third person verb form of the plural (they or they possess) and the present indicative of the verb possess.

In the compound verb form "would have followed", it is the third person plural of the preterite pluperfect indicative, formed by the auxiliary verb have plus the participle of the verb to follow. If we analyze the participle "followed", we find the following structure: the lexeme Segu, plus "i" as the thematic vowel and "gone" as the ending of the participle that acts as an inflectional morpheme.

The verb and its different morphemes

Verbs are words that inform about actions, events or states that affect a person, at a certain time and in a way or manner. This is the grammatical information that any verb form provides. If we take the verb form "we sang" as a reference, its structure is the following: "cant" as root, as thematic vowel, "bá" as a morpheme of time, mood and aspect and, finally, "mos" as a morpheme of number and person.

Thematic vowels in a verb form serve as a connector between the stem of a verb and its endings

In a strict sense these vowels do not have a meaning, but they announce what theme it is about (what conjugation it is about) and for this reason they are called thematic vowels.

Remember that in the verbs of the first conjugation the thematic vowel is always the letter “A”, in the verbs of the second the thematic vowel is “e” and in those of the third conjugation it is "I". This is the rule In general, but logically there are exceptions to this rule (for example, in the present subjunctive of the verb cantar, cantes, the “a” does not appear).

Photos: Fotolia - Giordano Aita / Petunyia