Lesson 18
Converting Particles II

We've already learned about three converting particles that switch between nouns, adjectives, and adverbs: –(e)T, –(e)S, and – ex. There are two left to learn which resemble each other in both form and function: –tav and –tan.

Both of these particles convert verbs into nouns. –tav produces common nouns which express a completed realization or result of the action of the verb. These nouns can be abstract or concrete; some are easier to translate than others. marntav, the completion of the act of creating, is a creation, the same way that manSUtav, the result of dying, is death. But what is bareltav, the completed act or result of making? This would best be rendered as a made thing in English, which has no word of its own to designate this concept. Common English suffixes which may be associated with –tav are: -ance, -ment, -tion, and -sion.

Examples:	Krotav	movement
	seltav	writing
	mEstav	speech
	bAktav	link

–tan, on the other hand, produces what we call solidary nouns. Solidary nouns denote a class or group of people (think solidarity). In other words, –tan changes the verb into the person who does that verb, who performs its action. You may notice that we've been using some of these words for a while now: cUrtan (student), seltan (writer), tEgtan (worker), etc. Corresponding English suffixes include: -er/-or and -ant/-ent.

Examples:	mEstan	speaker, orator
	SokUtan	instructor
	bareltan	Maker (another name for Yahvo, the D'ni deity)
	lontan	discoverer