There are ten different types of roots in Sanskrit language. The difference is caused by variations in the middle part of verbal conjugational forms. Sanskrit verbs are of two types called as Parasmaipada and Atmanepada. The active voice is called Parasmaipada and they are mostly transitive in character. Atmanepada is used in the case of reflexive or the middle voice. Passive too usually takes the terminations of the Atmanepada.
It is important to know that the ten classes of roots are divided into two groups of conjugation. The first group of conjugation comprises of the first, fourth, sixth and the tenth types of roots. The second group of conjugation comprises of the remaining classes, namely, second, third, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth classes of roots. In the second group of conjugation the terminations are added directly to the final of the root without the addition of a vowel or an element to the final letter of the root. Each of the types of roots is characterized by difference in the manner in which the formative elements combine in conjugation. Formative elements are such of those elements that assist in the formation of the process of conjugation. They include the main root the final of the root, added vowel or element and the verbal termination. The added vowel of the final of the root changes according to the type of the class. It is important to know that the verbal termination changes according to the person it represents. Sanskrit too like any other Indo-European language has three persons, namely I person, II person and III person. Let us see a few examples how the verbal conjugations are formed in the case of the ten different classes of roots. Although there are 6 types of tenses and 4 types of moods, we shall see how the combinations of formative elements take place in the present tense only. Similarly we shall take only the Parasmaipada type of verbs as examples.
First Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + added vowel + verbal termination
Example: Bhu (bhav) to become
Singular Dual Plural
I person bhavaami bhavaavah bhavaamah
II person bhavasi bhavathah bhavatha
III person bhavati bhavatah bhavanti
Some of the other examples of the roots that belong to the first conjugation are aT = to worship, arh = to deserve, av = to protect, khan = to dig, khaad = to eat, garj = to roar and car = to walk
Fourth Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + added vowel (semi vowel) + verbal termination.
Example: as = to throw
Singular Dual Plural
I person asyaami asyaavah asyaamah
II person asyasi asyathah asyatha
III person asyati asyatah asyanti
Some of the other examples of the roots that come under fourth conjugation are iS = to move, kRs = to become lean, kSham = to bear, kup = to be angry and kSubh = to tremble
Sixth Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + added vowel +verbal termination.
Example: kSip = to throw
Singular Dual Plural
I person kSipaami kSipaavah kSipaamah
II person kShipasi kSipathah kSipathah
III person kSipati kSiptah kSipanti
Some of the other examples of roots that come under the sixth class are tuT = to tear, mil = to join, vis = top enter, spRs = to touch and likh = to write.
Tenth Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + added element (ay)+ verbal termination.
Example: kath = to tell
Singular Dual Plural
I person kathayaami kathayaavah kathayaamah
II person kathayasi kathayathah kathayatha
III person kathayati kathayatah kathayanti
The other examples of the roots that come under the tenth class are sHap = to spend, gaN = to count, guN = to multiply, cur = to steal and daND = to punish.
Second Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + verbal termination.
Example: as = to be
Singular Dual Plural
I person asmi svah smah
II person asi sthah sthah
III person asti stah santi
Some other examples of roots coming under second class are ad = to eat, aas = to sit, paa = to protect, yaa = to go and snaa = to bathe.
Third Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + verbal termination
Example: hu = to offer ( in sacrifice)
Singular Dual Plural
I person juhomi juhuvah juhumah
II person juhoSi juhuthah juhutha
III person juhoti juhutah juhvati
Some other examples of this class are bhI = to fear, daa = to give and haa = to abandon
Fifth Conjugation
The formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + verbal termination.
Example: saadh = to accomplish
Singular Dual Plural
I person saadhnomi saadhnuvah saadhnumah
II person saadhnoSi saadhnuthah saadhnutha
III person saadhnoti saadhnutah saadhnuvanti
Some other examples of roots coming under this class are akS = to reach, dhu = to shake and du = to give pain
Seventh Conjugation
Formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + verbal termination
Example: kSud = to pound
Singular Dual Plural
I person kSunadmi kSudvah kSundmah
II person kSunatsi kSunthah kSuntha
III person kSunatti kSuntah kSundanti
Other examples of roots coming under this class include chid = to cut, bhid = to split and bhuj = to rule
Eighth Conjugation
Formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + verbal termination
Example: tan = to stretch or to extend
Singular Dual Plural
I person tanomi tanuvah tanumah
II person tanoSi tanuthah tanutha
III person tanoti tanutah tanvanti
Other examples of roots that come under this class are kR = to do, kSaN = to hunt and man = to consider
Ninth Conjugation
Formative elements combine in conjugation as Main root + verbal termination
Example: krI = to buy
Singular Dual Plural
I person krINaami krINIvah krINImah
II person krINaasi krINIthah krINItha
III person krINaati krINItah krINanti
Other examples of roots that come under this class include as = to eat, gR = to call out and kSi = to destroy.