Editing Coptic language (section)

== Grammar ==
Coptic is primarily a [[Fusional language|fusional (inflectional) language]], though some scholars, such as {{harvp|Loprieno|1995}}, have suggested it has [[Agglutinative language|agglutinative]] or even polysynthetic tendencies. Its morphology relies heavily on prefixation and [[clitic]]s, but these forms frequently encode multiple grammatical functions.{{sfn|Zeldes|Abrams|2018}} Its standard word order is [[subject–verb–object]], though it can shift to [[verb–subject–object]] with the appropriate preposition before the subject. Number, gender, tense, and mood are marked by prefixes and clitics, which evolved from [[Late Egyptian]]. While earlier stages of Egyptian used suffixation for verb conjugation, Coptic largely replaced these with periphrastic constructions and prefix-based inflection, though vestiges of suffix inflection survive in certain verbs and possessive structures. For example, the [[Middle Egyptian]] form ''*satāpafa'' ('he chooses', written ''stp.f'' in hieroglyphs) corresponds to the Coptic (Sahidic) ''f.sotp'' ({{Coptic|ϥⲥⲱⲧⲡ̅}}, 'he chooses'), where the prefix "f-" encodes multiple grammatical functions simultaneously, characteristic of fusional morphology rather than agglutination.{{sfn|Zeldes|Abrams|2018}}

=== Nouns ===
All Coptic nouns carry [[grammatical gender]], either masculine or feminine, usually marked through a definite article as in the [[Romance languages]], the difference is that Coptic articles are prefixes. Masculine nouns are marked with the article {{IPA|/pə, peː/}} and feminine nouns with the article {{IPA|/tə, teː/}}{{sfn|Lambdin|1983|p=2}} in the Sahidic dialect and {{IPA|/pi, əp/}} and {{IPA|/ti, ət/}} in the Bohairic dialect.

: Bohairic: {{Coptic|ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ}} {{IPA|/pəˈɾomə/}} – 'the man' / {{Coptic|ϯϫⲓϫ}} {{IPA|/təˈt͡ʃit͡ʃ/}} – 'the hand'
: Sahidic: {{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲣⲱⲙⲉ}} {{IPA|/pəˈɾomə/}} – 'the man' / {{Coptic|ⲧⲉϫⲓϫ}} {{IPA|/təˈt͡ʃit͡ʃ/}} – 'the hand'

The definite and indefinite articles also indicate [[Grammatical number|number]]; however, only definite articles mark gender. Coptic has a number of [[broken plural]]s, a vestige of Older Egyptian, but in the majority of cases, the article marks number. Generally, nouns [[inflection|inflected]] for plurality end in {{IPA|/wə/}}, but there are some irregularities. The dual was another feature of earlier Egyptian that survives in Coptic in only few words, such as {{Coptic|ⲥⲛⲁⲩ}} (''snau'') 'two'.

Words of Greek origin keep their original grammatical gender, except for neuter nouns, which become masculine in Coptic.

[[Possession (linguistics)|Possession]] of definite nouns is expressed with a series of [[Possessive determiner|possessive articles]] which are prefixed to the noun. These articles agree with the [[Grammatical person|person]], [[Grammatical number|number]], and [[Grammatical gender|gender]] of the possessor and the number and gender of the possessed noun. The forms of the possessive article vary according to dialect.

<div style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; margin-right: 1em;">
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style=text-align:center
|+Coptic possessive articles
!colspan=2|{{small|Person/Number/Gender}}
!colspan=6|Dialect
|-
!{{small|Possessor}}
!{{small|Possessed}}
!{{small|Bohairic}}
!{{small|Fayyumic}}
!{{small|Oxyrhynchite}}
!{{small|Sahidic}}
!{{small|Lycopolitan}}
!{{small|Akhmimic}}
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|1SG}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲕ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|2SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ}}-
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ}}-
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ}}-
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|M}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|3SG}}.{{gcl|F}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲥ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|1PL}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=6|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲛ}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|2PL}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}-
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄}}-
|-
!rowspan=3|{{gcl|3PL}}
!{{gcl|M}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|F}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ}}-
|-
!{{gcl|PL}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ}}-
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲩ}}-
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ}}-
|}
</div>
<div style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; margin-right: 1em;">
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style=text-align:center
|+Examples
!rowspan=2|Translation
!colspan=6|Dialect
|-
!{{small|Bohairic}}
!{{small|Fayyumic}}
!{{small|Oxyrhynchite}}
!{{small|Sahidic}}
!{{small|Lycopolitan}}
!{{small|Akhmimic}}
|-
|"my brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲁ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"my sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲁ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"my siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|M}}) brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲕ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|M}}) sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲕ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|M}}) siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲕ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲕ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|F}}) brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|F}}) sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|SG}}.{{gcl|F}}) siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"his brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉϥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"his sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"his siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"her brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲥ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"her sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲥ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"her siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲥ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"our brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲛ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"our sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"our siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲛ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲛ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|PL}}) brother" 
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|PL}}) sister"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=3|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"your ({{gcl|PL}}) siblings"
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=4|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̄-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|-
|"their brother"
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲩ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲡⲉⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲩ-ⲥⲁⲛ}}
|-
|"their sister"
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲓ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ-ⲥⲟⲛⲉ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲧⲟⲩ-ⲥⲱⲛⲉ}}
|-
|"their siblings"
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|colspan=2|{{Coptic|ⲛⲟⲩ-ⲥⲛⲏⲩ}}
|}
</div>

===Pronouns===
Coptic pronouns are of two kinds, dependent and independent. Independent pronouns are used when the pronoun is acting as the subject of a sentence, as the object of a verb, or with a preposition. Dependent pronouns are a series of prefixes and suffixes that can attach to verbs and other nouns. Coptic verbs can therefore be said to inflect for the person, number and gender of the subject and the object: a pronominal prefix marks the subject, and a pronominal suffix marks the object, e.g. "I I'have'it the ball." When (as in this case) the subject is a pronoun, it normally is not also expressed independently, unless for emphasis.

As in other Afroasiatic languages, gender of pronouns differ only in the second and third person singular.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Pronouns of the Bohairic dialect
! rowspan="2" colspan="3" |
! colspan="2" | Independent
! rowspan="2" | Proclitic
! rowspan="2" | As suffix
|-
! Stressed
! Unstressed
|-
! rowspan="2" | 1st<br />person
! colspan="2" | singular
| {{Coptic|ⲁⲛⲟⲕ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|anok}}
| {{Coptic|ⲁⲛ̀ⲕ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|anək-}}
| {{Coptic|ϯ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|ti-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ⲓ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}i}}
|-
! colspan="2" | plural
| {{Coptic|ⲁⲛⲟⲛ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|anon}}
| {{Coptic|ⲁⲛ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|an-}}
| {{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲛ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|ten-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ⲛ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}n}}
|-
! rowspan="3" | 2nd<br />person
! rowspan="2" | singular
! masc.
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntʰok}}
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲕ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntek-}}
| {{Coptic|ⲕ̀-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|ək-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ⲕ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}k}}
|-
! fem.
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲑⲟ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntʰo}}
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|ənte-}}
| {{Coptic|ⲧⲉ- ⲧⲣ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|te-, tr-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ ⸗ⲉ ⸗ⲣ ⸗ⲣⲉ ⸗ⲧⲉ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}∅, {{=}}e, {{=}}r(e), {{=}}te}}
|-
! colspan="2" | plural
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntʰōten}}
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|ənten-}}
| {{Coptic|ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|teten-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ⲧⲉⲛ ⸗ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}ten, {{=}}teten}}
|-
! rowspan="3" | 3rd<br />person
! rowspan="2" | singular
! masc.
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲑⲟϥ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntʰof}}
| 
| {{Coptic|ϥ̀-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əf-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ϥ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}f}}
|-
! fem.
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲥ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntʰos}}
| 
| {{Coptic|ⲥ̀-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əs-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ⲥ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}s}}
|-
! colspan="2" | plural
| {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲑⲱⲟⲩ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|əntʰōou}}
| 
| {{Coptic|ⲥⲉ-}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|se-}}
| {{Coptic|⸗ⲟⲩ}}<br />{{Transliteration|cop|{{=}}ou}}
|}

=== Adjectives ===
Most Coptic adjectives are actually nouns that have the attributive particle ''n'' to make them adjectival. In all stages of Egyptian, this morpheme is also used to express the [[Genitive case|genitive]]; for example, the Bohairic word for 'Egyptian', {{Coptic|ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ}} {{IPA|/remənkʰeːmə/}}, is a combination of the nominal prefix {{Coptic|ⲣⲉⲙ-}} ''rem-'' (the reduced form of {{Coptic|ⲣⲱⲙⲓ}} ''rōmi'' 'man'), followed by the genitive morpheme {{Coptic|ⲛ̀}} ''ən'' ('of') and finally the word for Egypt, {{Coptic|ⲭⲏⲙⲓ}} ''kʰēmi''.

=== Verbs ===

==== Verbal grade system ====
Coptic, like Ancient Egyptian and Semitic languages, has root-and-pattern or templatic morphology, and the basic meaning of a verb is contained in a root and various derived forms of root are obtained by varying the vowel pattern. For example, the root for 'build' is ''kt''.  It has four derived forms:
# {{Coptic|ⲕⲟⲧ}} {{IPA|kɔt}} (the absolute state grade)
# {{Coptic|ⲕⲉⲧ-}} ket- (the nominal state grade)
# {{Coptic|ⲕⲟⲧ⸗}} kot= (the pronominal state grade)
# {{Coptic|ⲕⲉⲧ}} {{IPA|kɛt}} (the stative grade)
(The nominal state grade is also called the construct state in some grammars of Coptic.)

The absolute, nominal, and pronominal state grades are used in different syntactic contexts. The absolute state grade of a transitive verb is used before a direct object with the accusative preposition {{IPA|/ən, əm/}}, and the nominal state grade is used before a direct object with no case-marking.  The pronominal state grade is used before a pronominal direct object enclitic. In addition, many verbs also have a neutral state grade, used to express a state resulting from the action of the verb. Compare the following forms:{{sfn|Lambdin|1983|p=39}}

<section begin="list-of-glossing-abbreviations"/><div style="display:none;">
ABS:absolute state grade
NOM:nominal state grade
PRONOM:pronominal state grade
</div><section end="list-of-glossing-abbreviations"/>

{{fs interlinear |lang=cop |indent=2 |italics3=yes |glossing4=yes
|top='''Absolute state grade'''
|{{Coptic|ⲁⲓϫⲓⲙⲓ}} {{Coptic|ⲙ̀ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ}}
|Aijimi əmpaiōt
|a-i-jimi əm-p-a-iōt
|PFV-1SG-find.ABS PREP-DEF:MASC:SG-1SG-father
|'I found my father.'}}

{{fs interlinear |lang=cop |indent=2 |italics3=yes |glossing4=yes
|top='''Nominal state grade'''
|{{Coptic|ⲁⲓϫⲉⲙ}} {{Coptic|ⲡⲁⲓⲱⲧ}}
|Aijem paiōt
|a-i-jem p-a-iōt
|PFV-1SG-find.NOM DEF:MASC:SG-1SG-father
|'I found my father.'}}

{{fs interlinear |lang=cop |indent=2 |italics3=yes |glossing4=yes
|top='''Pronominal state grade'''
|{{Coptic|ⲁⲓϭⲉⲛⲧϥ}}
|Aijəntf
|a-i-jənt{{=}}f
|PFV-1SG-find.PRONOM{{=}}3MSG
|'I found him.'}}

For most transitive verbs, both absolute and nominal state grade verbs are available for non-pronominal objects. However, there is one important restriction, known as ''Jernstedt's rule'' (or the ''Stern-Jernstedt rule'') {{Harv|Jernstedt|1927}}: present-tense sentences cannot be used in the nominal state grade. Thus sentences in the present tense always show a pattern like the first example above (absolute state), never the second pattern (nominal state).

In general, the four grades of Coptic verb are not predictable from the root, and are listed in the lexicon for each verb. The following chart shows some typical patterns of correspondence:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Gloss
! colspan="2"| Absolute state
! colspan="2"| Nominal state
! colspan="2"| Pronominal state
! colspan="2"| Neutral state
|-
| Spread || {{Coptic|ⲡⲱⲣϣ̀}} || {{IPA|poːrəʃ}} || {{Coptic|ⲡⲣ̀ϣ}} || {{IPA|pərʃ}} || {{Coptic|ⲡⲱⲣϣ}} || {{IPA|poːrʃ}} || {{Coptic|ⲡⲟⲣϣ̀}} || {{IPA|poʔrəʃ}}
|-
| Dig || {{Coptic|ϣⲓⲕⲉ}} || {{IPA|ʃiːkə}} || {{Coptic|ϣⲉⲕⲧ}} || {{IPA|ʃekt}} || {{Coptic|ϣⲁⲕⲧ}} || {{IPA|ʃakt}} || {{Coptic|ϣⲟⲕⲉ}} || {{IPA|ʃoʔkə}}
|-
| Comfort || {{Coptic|ⲥⲟⲗⲥⲗ̀}} || {{IPA|solsəl}} || {{Coptic|ⲥⲗ̀ⲥⲗ̀}} || {{IPA|səlsəl}} || {{Coptic|ⲥⲗ̀ⲥⲱⲗ}} || {{IPA|səlsoːl}} || {{Coptic|ⲥⲗ̀ⲥⲱⲗ}} || {{IPA|səlsoːl}}
|-
| Roll || {{Coptic|ⲥⲕⲟⲣⲕⲣ̀}} || {{IPA|skorkər}} || {{Coptic|ⲥⲕⲣ̀ⲕⲣ̀}} || {{IPA|skərkər}} || {{Coptic|ⲥⲕⲣ̀ⲕⲱⲣ}} || {{IPA|skərkoːr}} || {{Coptic|ⲥⲕⲣ̀ⲕⲱⲣ}} || {{IPA|skərkoːr}}
|-
| Build || {{Coptic|ⲕⲱⲧ}} || {{IPA|koːt}} || {{Coptic|ⲕⲉⲧ}} || {{IPA|ket}} || {{Coptic|ⲕⲟⲧ}} || {{IPA|kot}} || {{Coptic|ⲕⲏⲧ}} || {{IPA|keːt}}
|}

It is hazardous to make firm generalisations about the relationships between these grade forms, but the nominal state is usually shorter than the corresponding absolute and neutral forms. Absolute and neutral state forms are usually bisyllabic or contain a long vowel; the corresponding nominal state forms are monosyllabic or have short vowels.

==== Tense/aspect/mood inflection ====
Coptic has a very large number of distinct [[tense-aspect-mood]] categories, expressed by particles which are either before the verb or before the subject. The future {{IPA|/na/}} is a preverbal particle and follows the subject:{{sfn|Reintges|2010|p=210}}

{{fs interlinear |lang=cop |indent=2 |italics3=yes |glossing4=yes
|{{Coptic|Ⲡⲉϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ}} {{Coptic|ⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ}} {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲛⲉⲗⲁⲟⲥ}}
|Pecoeis nakrine ənnelaos
|pe-joeis '''na'''-krine ən-ne-laos
|DEF:MASC:SG-lord FUT-judge PREP-DEF:PL-people
|'The lord will judge the nations.'}}

In contrast, the perfective {{IPAslink|a}} is a pre-subject particle:

{{fs interlinear |lang=cop |indent=2 |italics3=yes |glossing4=yes
|{{Coptic|Ⲁ}} {{Coptic|ⲧⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲉ}} {{Coptic|ⲇⲉ}} {{Coptic|ⲟⲗ}} {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲛⲉϥⲕⲏⲥ}}
|A tefsōne de ol ənnefkēs
|'''a''' te-f-sōne de ol ən-ne-f-kēs
|PFV DEF:F:SG-3MSG-sister {{gcl|PART|particle}} carry.ABS PREP-DEF:PL-3MSG-bone
|'His sister carried his bones.'}}

There is some variation in the labels for the tense/aspect/mood categories. The chart below shows the labels from {{harvtxt|Reintges|2004}}, {{harvtxt|Lambdin|1983}}, {{harvtxt|Plumley|1948}}. (Where they agree, only one label is shown.) Each form lists the morphology found with a nonpronominal subject (Marked with an underscore in Coptic) and a third person singular masculine pronominal subject ('he'):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3"| Tense name
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"| Nominal subject
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"| 3rd M. Sg.<br />Pronominal subject
|-
! Reintges !! Lambdin !! Plumley
|-
| First Present || || Present I || {{Coptic|_}} || NP || {{Coptic|ϥ}}- || {{IPA|f}}-
|-
| Second Present<br />Circumstantial || || || {{Coptic|ⲉⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ere}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|ef}}-
|-
| Relative of First Present || || || {{Coptic|ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|etere}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲉⲧϥ̀}}- || {{IPA|etəf}}-
|-
| Preterite Present || Imperfect || Imperfect || {{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|nere}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|nef}}-
|-
| Preterite Past || || || {{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲁ _}} || {{IPA|nea}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲁϥ}}- || {{IPA|neaf}}-
|-
| Future I
| || || {{Coptic|_ ⲛⲁ}}- || NP {{IPA|na}}- || {{Coptic|ϥⲛⲁ}}- || {{IPA|fna}}-
|-
| Future II
| || || {{Coptic|ⲉⲣⲉ _ ⲛⲁ}}- || {{IPA|ere}} NP {{IPA|na}}- || {{Coptic|ⲉϥⲛⲁ}}- || {{IPA|efna}}-
|-
| Future III ||
| || {{Coptic|ⲉⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ere}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲉϥⲉ}}- || {{IPA|efe}}-
|-
| || Negative Future III || Negative Future II || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲛⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ənne}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲛⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|ənnef}}-
|-
| || Imperfect of Future ||Future Imperfect || {{Coptic|ⲛⲉⲣⲉ _ ⲛⲁ}}- || {{IPA|nere}} NP {{IPA|na}}- || {{Coptic|ⲛⲉϥⲛⲁ}}- || {{IPA|nefna}}-
|-
| Perfect I || || || {{Coptic|ⲁ _}} || {{IPA|a}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲁϥ}}- || {{IPA|af}}-
|-
| Negative Perfect I || ||  || {{Coptic|ⲙ̀ⲡⲉ _}} || {{IPA|əmpe}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲙ̀ⲡⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|əmpef}}-
|-
| Perfect II || || || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ənta}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|əntaf}}-
|-
| Habitual  ||
| || {{Coptic|ϣⲁⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ʃare}} NP || {{Coptic|ϣⲁϥ}}- || {{IPA|ʃaf}}-
|-
| Habitual I
| || || {{Coptic|ⲉϣⲁⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|eʃare}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲉϣⲁϥ}}- || {{IPA|eʃaf}}-
|-
| Negative Habitual || || || {{Coptic|ⲙⲉⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|mere}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲙⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|mef}}-
|-
| [[Jussive]] || [[Injunctive mood|Injunctive]] || [[Optative]] || {{Coptic|ⲙⲁⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|mare}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|maref}}-
|-
| Conditional || || || {{Coptic|ⲉⲣϣⲁⲛ _}} || {{IPA|erʃan}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲉϥϣⲁⲛ}}- || {{IPA|efʃan}}-
|-
| Conjunctive || || || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ənte}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲛϥ̀}}- || {{IPA|nəf}}-
|-
| Inferential || Future Conjunctive of Result ||Future I || {{Coptic|ⲧⲁⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|tare}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲧⲁⲣⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|taref}}-
|-
| Temporal || || || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲣⲉ _}} || {{IPA|əntere}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲣⲉϥ}}- || {{IPA|ənteref}}-
|-
| Terminative ||"Until" || "Unfulfilled action || {{Coptic|ϣⲁⲛⲧⲉ _}} || {{IPA|ʃante}} NP || {{Coptic|ϣⲁⲛⲧϥ̀}}- || {{IPA|ʃantəf}}-
|-
| ||"Not yet" ||"Unfulfilled action || {{Coptic|ⲙ̀ⲡⲁⲧⲉ _}} || {{IPA|əmpate}} NP || {{Coptic|ⲙ̀ⲡⲁⲧϥ̀}}- || {{IPA|əmpatəf}}-
|}

An approximate range of use for most of the tense/aspect/mood categories is shown in the following table:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Tense name (Lambdin) !! Approximate range of use
|-
| Present I || Present time in narrative (predicate focus)
|-
| Relative of Present I || Non-subject relative clause in present tense
|-
| Circumstantial || Background clauses; relative clauses with indefinite heads
|-
| Imperfect || Action in progress in the past
|-
|  Future I || Simple future tense (predicate focus)
|-
| Future II || Simple future tense (adverbial focus)
|-
| Future III || Future tense conveyed as necessary, inevitable, or obligatory
|-
| Perfect I || Primary narrative tense (predicate focus)
|-
| Negative Perfect I  || Negative of Perfect I
|-
| Perfect II || Primary narrative tense (adverbial focus); relative clause form of Perfect I
|-
| Habitual || Characteristic or habitual action
|-
| Negative Habitual || Negative of Habitual
|-
| Injunctive || Imperative for first and third persons ('let me', 'let him', etc.)
|-
| Conditional || Protasis (if-clause) of a conditional (if-then) statement
|-
| Conjunctive || Event shares the TAM of a preceding initial verb
|-
| Future Conjunctive of Result || Used in clauses that express a resultant action
|-
| Temporal || Past action in a subordinate temporal clause ("when NP V-ed, ...")
|}

==== Second tenses ====
An unusual feature of Coptic is the extensive use of a set of "second tenses", which are required in certain syntactic contexts.  "Second tenses" are also called "relative tenses" in some work.{{sfn|Reintges|2004}}

=== Prepositions ===
Coptic has prepositions, rather than postpositions:

{{fs interlinear |lang=cop |indent=2 |italics3=yes |glossing4=yes
|{{Coptic|ϩⲓ}} {{Coptic|ⲡ̀ϫⲟⲓ}}
|hi pjoi
|hi p-joi
|on DEF:M:SG-ship
|'on the ship'}}

Pronominal objects of prepositions are indicated with enclitic pronouns:

{{columns-start}}
{{fs interlinear|indent=2|ipa2=yes
|{{Coptic|ⲉⲣⲟⲕ}}
|erok
|on-2MSG
|'to you'}}
{{column}}
{{fs interlinear|indent=2|ipa2=yes
|{{Coptic|ⲛⲁⲛ}}
|nan
|for-1PL
|'for us'}}
{{columns-end}}

Many prepositions have different forms before the enclitic pronouns.{{sfn|Lambdin|1983|pp=30–31}}  Compare:

{{columns-start}}
{{fs interlinear|indent=2|ipa2=yes
|{{Coptic|ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϫⲟⲓ}}
|e-p-joi
|to-DEF:SG:M-ship
|'to the ship'}}
{{column}}
{{fs interlinear|indent=2|ipa2=yes
|{{Coptic|ⲉⲣⲟϥ}}
|erof
|on-3MSG
|'to him'}}
{{columns-end}}