View source for Social:Proto-Baltic language

{{Infobox proto-language|name=Proto-Baltic|altname=PB, PBl, Common Baltic|region=[[Place:Central Europe|Central]], [[Place:Eastern Europe|Eastern]] and [[Place:Northern Europe|Northern Europe]]|era=3rd m. BC – {{Circa|5th century BC}}|familycolor=Indo-European|ancestor=[[Social:Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]]|target=Baltic languages|ancestor2=[[Social:Proto-Balto-Slavic language|Proto-Balto-Slavic]]}}{{Indo-European topics}}
'''Proto-Baltic''' ('''PB''', '''PBl''', '''Common Baltic''') is the unattested, reconstructed ancestral [[Social:Proto-language|proto-language]] of all Baltic languages. It is not attested in writing, but has been partly reconstructed through the comparative method by gathering the collected data on attested Baltic and other [[Social:Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] languages. It represents the common Baltic speech that approximately was spoken between the [[History:3rd millennium BC|3rd millennium BC]] and ca. [[History:5th century BC|5th century BC]], after which it began dividing into West and [[Social:East Baltic languages|East Baltic]] languages.<ref>Mažiulis V. J. [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baltic-languages/Relationship-between-Baltic-and-Slavic ''Baltic languages. Development of the individual Baltic languages'']. [[Encyclopædia Britannica|Encyclopedia Britannica]].</ref> Proto-Baltic is thought to have been a [[Social:Fusional language|fusional language]] and is associated with the Corded Ware and Trzciniec cultures.<ref>Gimbutienė, Marija (2004). ''Балты [Baltic people]'' (in Russian). Moscow: Centrpoligraf. pp. 60–74; 223. {{ISBN|5-9524-1359-5}}.</ref> 

Generally, Proto-Baltic had a [[Social:Subject–object–verb word order|SOV word order]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dini|first=P.U.|title=Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija|publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas|location=Vilnius|date=2000|pages=109–110|isbn=5-420-01444-0}}</ref> Proto-Baltic is said to have possessed certain unique traits, such as turning short [[Social:Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] vowels ''*o'', ''*a'' into ''*a'', retaining and further developing the Proto-Indo-European ablaut, retaining ''*m'' before dental consonants, the productivity of the [[Social:Word stem|word stem]] ''ē'' and free accentuation with two pitch accents. Also, the [[Social:Proto-language|proto-language]] is thought to have had its own set of diminutive suffixes, identical endings for [[Social:Grammatical tense|verb tenses]] and moods, past tense by applying thematic vowels ''*-ā-'' and ''*-ē-'', as well as its own [[Social:Lexicon|lexicon]], including [[Social:Onomastics|onomastic]] elements.<ref>Dini, P.U. (2000). ''Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija [Baltic languages. Comparative History]'' (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas [Institute of Science and Encyclopedia Publishing]. p.&nbsp;56. {{ISBN|5-420-01444-0}}.</ref>

== Proto-Baltic area ==
[[File:The prevalence of Baltic hydronyms.png|thumb|319x319px|'''The prevalence of Baltic hydronyms'''<ref>{{cite web |author=Zinkevičius |first=Zigmas |date=2 May 2018 |title=Lietuvių kalbos kilmė [The Origins of Lithuanian language] |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuviu-kalbos-kilme/#gallery1-1 |access-date= |publisher=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija}}</ref>{{legend|#8FB0FF|Area with many Baltic hydronyms}}{{legend|#B8CCFF|Area with few or questionable Baltic hydronyms}}]]
Baltic hydronyms cover a vast area of 860,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> from Vystula River in the west to [[Place:Moscow|Moscow]] in the east and from the [[Place:Baltic Sea|Baltic Sea]] in the north all the way to [[Place:Kyiv|Kyiv]] in the south. The current Lithuanian and Latvian lands combined constitute approximately one-sixth of the former Baltic territory.<ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas. p.&nbsp;151. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref> Some researchers suggest that in the past Baltic lands from Vystula to Daugava were inhabited by Baltic Finnic tribes but they were assimilated by the Baltic newcomers later on.<ref>Smoczyński, W. (1986). ''Języki indoeuropejskie. Języki bałtyckie [Indo-European languages. Baltic languages]'' (in Polish). Warsaw: PWN.</ref><ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas [Science]. pp.&nbsp;154–155. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref><ref>Dini, P.U. (2000). ''Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija [Baltic languages. Comparative History]'' (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas [Institute of Science and Encyclopedia Publishing]. p.&nbsp;155. {{ISBN|5-420-01444-0}}.</ref> There is still an ongoing debate regarding the boundary of hydronyms in the southwest: Lithuanian linguist {{ill|Simas Karaliūnas|lt}} believed that practically all of the basins of Oder and Vystula Rivers belonged to the Baltic hydronym habitat<ref>Karaliūnas S. (2005). ''Baltų praeitis istoriniuose šaltiniuose. 2. [The Past of the Balts in Historical Records. 2.]'' (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas [Institute of Lithuanian language]. pp.&nbsp;404–411. {{ISBN|9986-668-69-7}}.</ref> while German linguist Hermann Schall suggested that Baltic hydronyms could be found much further west all the way to Elbe, Saxony and Rügen island.<ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas [Science]. p.&nbsp;150. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref> During the [[History:2nd millennium BC|2nd]] and [[History:1st millennium BC|1st millennium BC]], the Baltic people inhabited larger territories than Germanic and Slavic people did at the time.<ref name=":0">Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas. p.&nbsp;151. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref> It is estimated that the Proto-Baltic lands had up to 500,000 people.<ref name=":0" />

Inhabitants of the Proto-Baltic area were surrounded by Germanic people in the west, Slavs in the south and Finno-Ugric people in the north and northeast. Russian [[Philology|philologist]] Vladimir Toporov believes that during 1000–800 BC [[Social:Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] people began expanding into the western Baltic territory starting from the Pasłęka River.<ref>{{cite book|last=Toporov |title=Мировые языки. Балтийские языки [World languages. Baltic languages] |publisher=Academia |location=Moscow |date=2006 |page=225 |isbn=5-87444-225-1 |first=Vladimir |language=ru}}</ref> Later on, the Baltic area began shrinking even more due to the migration of the Goths. During the [[History:Migration Period|migration period]] Slavic people began expanding into the northern and eastern territories of the Balts. From 11th to 12th century, Russian scriptures mention ongoing battles near Moscow with Eastern Galindians.<ref>Zinkevičius, Z. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I. [History of Lithuanian Language, 1st edition]'' (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslas. p.&nbsp;248. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref> Since 1225, the conquests of the Teutonic Order in the current Baltic region intensified and later on resulted in the extinction of the Old Prussians in the 18th century.<ref>Mallory, P.; Douglas, Q. Adams (1997). ''Encyclopedia of Indo-European culture''. London: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. pp.&nbsp;497. {{ISBN|978-1-884964-98-5}}.</ref>

== Relationship with other language groups ==
=== Slavic languages ===
[[File:Balto-Slavic theories 2.svg|thumb|right|450px|Various schematic sketches of possible Balto-Slavic language relationships.]]
Linguists are considering the possibility of present-day Baltic and Slavic languages having a common point of linguistic development. Some supporters of the Baltic and Slavic languages unity even claim that Proto-Baltic branch did not exist, suggesting that Proto-Balto-Slavic split into three language groups: [[Social:East Baltic languages|East Baltic]], West Baltic and [[Social:Proto-Slavic language|Proto-Slavic]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dini|first=P.U.|title=Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija|publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas|location=Vilnius|date=2000|pages=55|isbn=5-420-01444-0}}„'''<sup>104</sup>'''Plg. J. Otrębski 1956–1965 I, p. 44; Schmitt-Brandt 1972. Griežtai prieš baltų (ir baltų-slavų) prokalbės hipotezę pasisakė Mayer 1981.“</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Kortlandt|first=Frederik|year=2009|title=Baltica & Balto-Slavica|page=5|quote=Though Prussian is undoubtedly closer to the East Baltic languages than to Slavic, the characteristic features of the Baltic languages seem to be either retentions or results of parallel development and cultural interaction. Thus I assume that Balto-Slavic split into three identifiable branches, each of which followed its own course of development.}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon|first=Rick|last=Derksen|year=2008|page=20|quote=I am not convinced that it is justified to reconstruct a Proto-Baltic stage. The term Proto-Baltic is used for convenience’s sake.}}</ref> However, critics point out that the [[Social:Phonology|phonology]] and [[Social:Morphology (linguistics)|morphology]], which is shared by all known Baltic languages, is much more archaic than that of Proto-Slavic, retaining many features attributed to other attested [[Social:Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] languages roughly 3000 years ago.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=9|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref>

It is also known that some Baltic and Slavic languages have more in common that others: [[Social:Old Prussian language|Old Prussian]] and [[Social:Latvian language|Latvian]] share more commonalities with Slavic languages than [[Social:Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=134|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref> Some similarities between Baltic and Slavic can be found on all levels of linguistic analysis, which led German philologist August Schleicher to believe that there was indeed a common point of development. French linguist Antoine Meillet, however, rejected this idea and claimed that similarities between Baltic and Slavic languages were a result of close contact. Meanwhile, Latvian linguist Jānis Endzelīns suggested that following the split of PIE, Baltic and Slavic languages evolved independently, but later experienced a common period of greater contact. Jan Michał Rozwadowski proposed that the two language groups were indeed a unity after the division of Indo-European, but also suggested that after the two had divided into separate entities (Baltic and Slavic), they had posterior contact.<ref name="FoundationsBook">{{cite book |last1=Dini |first1=Pietro U. |last2=Richardson |first2=Milda B. |last3=Richardson |first3=Robert E. |title=Foundations of Baltic languages |date=2014 |publisher=Eugrimas |location=Vilnius |page=206-208 |isbn=978-609-437-263-6 |url=http://www.esparama.lt/es_parama_pletra/failai/ESFproduktai/2014_Foundations_of_Baltic_Languages.pdf |access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> Russian liguists Vladimir Toporov and Vyacheslav Ivanov believed that Proto-Slavic language formed from the peripheral-type Baltic dialects.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dini |first=P. U. |title=Baltų kalbos: Lyginamoji istorija |date=2000 |publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas |isbn=5-420-01444-0 |location=Vilnius |pages=143|language=lt |trans-title=Baltic Languages: A Comparative History}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Birnbaum |first=H. Х. Бирнбаум |date=1985 |title=O dvukh osnovnykh napravleniyakh v yazykovom razvitii |script-title=ru:О двух основных направлениях в языковом развитии |url=https://vja.ruslang.ru/archive/1985-2.pdf#page=32 |journal=Voprosy yazykoznaniya |language=ru |volume=1985 |issue=2 |page=36 |script-journal=ru:Вопросы языкознания}}</ref>

=== Germanic languages ===
There is some vocabulary (about 60 words) that Baltic and Germanic languages share, excluding [[Social:Loanword|loanword]]s. Common vocabulary mostly includes words relating to work, equipment, [[Earth:Agriculture|agriculture]] etc., such as Proto-Baltic ''*darbas'', meaning 'work' and [[Social:Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] ''*derbaz'', meaning 'bold, determined, strong' < ''*derbaną'' 'to work',<ref>{{cite web|title=Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/derbaz|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/derbaz|publisher=Wiktionary|access-date=2022-01-07}}</ref> Proto-Baltic ''*derṷā'' and [[Social:Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] ''*terwą'', meaning 'tar, resin', Proto-Baltic ''*gāmurii̯as'' and [[Social:Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] ''*gōmô'', meaning 'palate'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/gōmô|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/g%C5%8Dm%C3%B4|publisher=Wiktionary|access-date=2022-01-07}}</ref> Baltic and Germanic languages also share [[Philosophy:Numeral (linguistics)|numeral]] formation for 11 to 19, both partially possess the same formation of verbs in past tense (ablaut), absence of the aorist. According to German linguist {{ill|Wolfgang P. Schmid|de}}, at first Proto-Baltic was a centum language along with Proto-Germanic, but it eventually became satem later on.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=116|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref> Some scholars believe that Baltic and Germanic contacts are older than those with Slavic languages while others claim the opposite.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=114–116|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dini|first=P.U.|title=Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija|publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas|location=Vilnius|date=2000|pages=134|isbn=5-420-01444-0}}</ref> According to Lithuanian linguist {{ill|Saulius Ambrazas|lt}}, Germanic people borrowed certain suffixes from their Baltic neighbours, such as ''*-ing-'', ''*-isko-'', ''*-ō-men-'' (e. g., Old High German: ''arming'' 'poor person', [[Social:Old Norse|Old Icelandic]]: ''bernska'' 'childhood', [[Social:Gothic language|Gothic]]: ''aldōmin'' (DAT) 'senility').<ref>{{cite book|last=Dini|first=P.U.|title=Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija|publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas|location=Vilnius|date=2000|pages=134|isbn=5-420-01444-0}}</ref> Both Baltic and Germanic emotional verbs possess similar semantic development, which is evinced by roots like ''*dhers-'' and ''*dreǵh-''. This semantic group is also noted for having exclusive [[Social:Isogloss|isoglosses]] (e. g., PIE: ''*dreǵh-'', ''*dherbh-'', ''*u̯rengh-'', ''*peḱ-''), though they differ in meaning.<ref>Jurkutaitytė, Rita (2001). ''[https://etalpykla.lituanistika.lt/object/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2001~1367186184610/J.04~2001~1367186184610.pdf Emocijų veiksmažodžiai baltų ir germanų kalbose]'' [''The Emotional Verbs in Baltic and Germanic Languages''] (in Lithuanian, abstract available in English and German). [[Organization:Klaipėda University|Klaipėda University]]. p. 75.</ref> 

{{ill|Simas Karaliūnas|lt}} suggested that in the 3rd millennium BC Germanic and Baltic languages shared a common phase of linguistic convergence and that Baltic dialects were initially closer to the Germanic dialects than Slavic ones.<ref>Karaliūnas, Simas (1968). ''[https://journals.lki.lt/actalinguisticalithuanica/article/view/1860 Kai kurie baltų ir slavų kalbų seniausiųjų santykių klausimai]'' [''Some Questions About the Oldest Relationship of Baltic and Slavic Languages''] (in Lithuanian, abstract available in German and Russian). Acta Linguistica Lithuanica. pp. 93; 97.</ref>

=== Finnic languages ===
The linguistic influences of Baltic Finnic languages, which are associated with the eastern Baltic area, can be observed in certain grammatical innovations, such as the merge of some cases with postpositions, thus forming new additional cases (postpositional locatives): inessive ''*šakāi + en > *šakāi̯en'' 'in the branch', illative ''*šakān + nā > *šakānā'' 'into the branch', adessive ''*šakāi + prei > *šakāip(r)ei'' '(to be) by the branch' and allative ''*šakās + prei > *šakāsp(r)ei'' '(get closer) to the branch'. The impact of the Finnic languages over Baltic languages also explains the widespread use of a non-agreed [[Social:Grammatical modifier|modifier]] expressed by the genitive of a noun ({{lang-lv|latviešu valoda}}, literally 'language of the Latvians') in contrast to other Indo-European languages that usually apply an agreed modifier expressed by an adjective ({{lang-de|die lettische Sprache}} 'Latvian language') as well as the usage of indirect mood when one is retelling an event without knowing whether it actually happened.<ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas. p.&nbsp;228. ISBN 4601000000.</ref>

== Phonetics and phonology ==

=== Vowels and diphthongs ===
The vowels of Proto-Baltic changed little in comparison to PIE: short vowels ''*a'' and ''*o'' coincided into a single ''*a'' while the reduced Indo-European vowel ''schwa primum'' (''*ə'') also turned into ''*a'' as it did in other Indo-European languages of Europe and it ceased to exist in the middle of words.<ref name=":1">Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas [Science]. p.&nbsp;189. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref> According to the proponents of the Laryngeal theory, the ''schwa primum'' appeared by turning laryngeals into vowels, which makes its reconstruction for PIE unnecessary and obsolete.<ref name=":2">Villanueva Svensson, M. (2016). ''Indoeuropiečių kalbotyros pagrindai. Antras pataisytas ir papildytas leidimas [Basics of Indo-European Linguistics. Second Revised and Augmented Edition]'' (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: [[Organization:Vilnius University|Vilnius University]]. p.&nbsp;77. {{ISBN|978-609-459-788-6}}.</ref> There were four short and five long vowels as well as four short and six long diphthongs as presented below:<ref name=":1" /> 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Vowels
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Front
! colspan="2" |Back
|- style="text-align:center;"
!&nbsp;<small>long</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>short</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>long</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>short</small>&nbsp;
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Close
|{{IPA|ī}}
|{{IPA|i}}
|{{IPA|ū}}
|{{IPA|u}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Mid
|ē
|{{IPA|e}}
|ō
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Open
| colspan="2" |
|{{IPA|ā}}
|{{IPA|a}}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Diphthongs
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Front
! colspan="2" |Back
|- style="text-align:center;"
!&nbsp;<small>long</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>short</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>long</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>short</small>&nbsp;
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Close
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Mid
|{{IPA|ēi, ēu}}
|{{IPA|ei, eu}}
|{{IPA|ōi, ōu}}
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Open
| colspan="2" |
|{{IPA|āi, āu}}
|{{IPA|ai, au}}
|}
Vowels ''*a'', ''*e'', ''*i'', ''*u'' together with sonorants ''*r'', ''*l'', ''*m'', ''*n'' of Proto-Baltic were used to form mixed diphthongs as they are being used in the modern Baltic languages today. It is also well known that there were mixed diphthongs with long vowels at the endings. Long diphthongs can be reconstructed when glottaling (e. g., PIE: ''*pl̥h₁nós'' 'full' > Proto-Baltic: ''*pī́ˀlnas'' 'full'), compared to PIE, the position of stress in the example is conditioned by Hirt's law.<ref>Shevelov, G. Y. (1964). ''A Prehistory of Slavic''. Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag. p.&nbsp;50.</ref><ref>Olander, Th. (2009). ''Balto-Slavic Accentual Mobility''. Berlin-New York: Mouton de Gruyter. pp.&nbsp;150. {{ISBN|978-3-11-020397-4}}.</ref> Long mixed diphthongs, which position in the [[Social:Morpheme|morpheme]] is hardly determined or their existence is questionable are presented in ''Italic'':
{| class="wikitable"
|+Mixed diphthongs
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="4" |Sonorants
|- style="text-align:center;"
!&nbsp;<small>{{IPA|-r}}</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>{{IPA|-l}}</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>{{IPA|-m}}</small>&nbsp;
!&nbsp;<small>{{IPA|-n}}</small>&nbsp;
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="5" |Vowels
!a- ''ā-''
|{{IPA|ar ''ār''}}
|{{IPA|al ''āl''}}
|{{IPA|am ''ām''}}
|{{IPA|an ān}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
!e- ''ē-''
|{{IPA|er ''ēr''	}}
|{{IPA|el ''ēl''	}}
|{{IPA|em ''ēm''	}}
|{{IPA|en ēn	}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
!i- ''ī-''
|{{IPA|ir ''īr''}}
|{{IPA|il ''īl''}}
|{{IPA|im ''īm''}}
|{{IPA|in ''īn''}}
|-
!u- ''ū-''
|{{IPA|ur ''ūr''}}
|{{IPA|ul ''ūl''}}
|{{IPA|um ''ūm''}}
|{{IPA|un ''ūn''}}
|-
!''ō-''
|{{IPA|''ōr''}}
|{{IPA|''ōl''}}
|{{IPA|''ōm''}}
|{{IPA| ōn}}
|}

=== Consonants ===
The consonants of Proto-Baltic experienced greater changes than primary vowels when in their primordial condition. PIE aspirated and labialized velar consonants (''*bʰ'', ''*dʰ'', ''*gʰ'', ''*g<sup>u̯</sup>'', ''*g<sup>u̯</sup>ʰ'', ''*k<sup>u̯</sup>'') in Proto-Baltic coincided with plain consonants (''*b'', ''*d'', ''*g'', ''*k'') as they did in some other Indo-European languages. However, at the early stages of development, the differences between plain and aspirated voiced plosives might have been retained. This is because before the plain voiced plosives the vowels were lengthened, which is not the case with the aspirated voiced ones (Winter's law). The Proto-Baltic was a ''satem'' language, PIE ''*ḱ'' turned into ''*š'', PIE ''*ǵ'' and PIE ''*ǵʰ'' turned into ''*ž''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fortson|first1=B.|title=Indo-European language and culture. An Introduction|url=https://archive.org/details/indoeuropeanlang00ivbe|publisher=Blackwell|location=Padstow|date=2004|pages=[https://archive.org/details/indoeuropeanlang00ivbe/page/380 380]|isbn=1-4051-0316-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dini|first=P.U.|title=Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija|publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas|location=Vilnius|date=2000|pages=81|isbn=5-420-01444-0}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Type
!&nbsp;Bilabial&nbsp;
!Dental
!&nbsp;Alveolar&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Palatal&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Velar&nbsp;
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Plosive
!<small>voiceless</small>
|{{IPA|p}}
|{{IPA|t}}
|
|
|{{IPA|k}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
!<small>voiced</small>
|{{IPA|b}}
|{{IPA|d}}
|
|
|{{IPA|ɡ}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |Nasal
|{{IPA|m}}
|{{IPA|n}}
|
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Fricative
!<small>voiceless</small>
|
|{{IPA|s}}
|{{IPA|ʃ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
!<small>voiced</small>
|
|{{IPA|z}}<ref>It is not an independent consonant but an ''*s'' allophone coming before a voiced consonant.</ref>
|{{IPA|ʒ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |Vibrant
|
|
|{{IPA|r}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |Lateral 
|
|
|{{IPA|l}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |Approximant
|{{IPA|ṷ}}<ref>In [[Social:Indo-European studies|Indo-European studies]] it may also be referred to as ''*w.''</ref>
|
|
|{{IPA|i̯}}<ref>In [[Social:Indo-European studies|Indo-European studies]] it may also be referred to as ''*y.''</ref>
|
|}
The sonorants of PIE ''*ṛ'', ''*ḷ'', ''*ṃ'', ''*ṇ'', which were used as vowels and could form a syllable, turned into mixed diphthongs ''*ir'', ''*il'', ''*im'', ''*in'' (in rarer cases—''*ur'', ''*ul'', ''*um'', ''*un'') in Proto-Baltic. These diphthongs alternated (had an ablaut) with ''*er (*ēr)'', ''*el (*ēl)'', ''*em (*ēm)'', ''*en (*ēn)'' and ''*ar (*ōr)'', ''*al (*ōl)'', ''*am (*ōm)'', ''*an (*ōn)''.

One of the unique properties of Baltic languages is the disappearance of the semivowel ''*i̯'' between a consonant and a front vowel (e. g., ''*žemi̯ē'' > ''*žemē'' 'earth').

Another noteworthy trait of Proto-Baltic is the retained intact ''*m'' existing before front dental consonants ''*t'', ''*d'', ''*s'' (e. g., ''*šimtan'' 'hundred', ''*kimdai'' 'gloves', ''*tamsā'' 'darkness'), which in other Indo-European languages turned into ''n''. However, unlike in [[Social:Italic languages|Italic]] or [[Social:Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]] languages, in Proto-Baltic ''*m'' and ''*ṃ'' would become ''*n'' at the very end of a word.<ref name=":2" />

=== Stress and pitch accent ===
In the Proto-Baltic language, the stress could be placed on any syllable, the stress was free, unfixed. According to the movement of stress, three possible variants of accent system are reconstructed: 1) a system with baritone accentuation (stress on the stem) and oxytonic accentuation (stress on the endings), 2) a system with baritone accentuation and mobile accentuation (stress moves from endings to the stem), 3) a system with the baritone, mobile and oxytonic accentuations.<ref name="Zinkevičius193-194"/>

There were two pitch accents, an acute (´) and a circumflex (˜), which were pronounced with pure and mixed diphthongs and long vowels. Pitch accents could be pronounced both in the stems and in the endings. The acute pitch had a rising intonation, while the circumflex pitch had a falling intonation. Some scientists (Zigmas Zinkevičius, {{ill|Vytautas Kardelis|lt}}, {{ill|Vytautas Rinkevičius (1981)|lt}} etc.) believe that pitch accents were pronounced both in stressed and unstressed syllables, for example ''*'rãnkā́'' 'hand' (stress placed on the first syllable, although both syllables had different pitch accents).<ref name="Zinkevičius193-194">{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=193–194|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kardelis|first=V.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorijos pradmenys. Vokalizmas ir prozodija|date=2015|location=Vilnius|publisher=Vilniaus universiteto leidykla|pages=84|isbn=978-609-459-472-4}}</ref>

== Morphology ==

=== Nouns ===
The noun of Proto-Baltic possessed very archaic traits—the endings were not being shortened and were close to the endings of PIE. It had three grammatical categories: gender (masculine, feminine and neuter), number (singular, [[Dual (grammatical number)|dual]] and plural) and seven cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative and vocative with three different dual case forms. In comparison to the PIE reconstruction, Proto-Baltic only failed to retain the ablative and allative cases.<ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas [Science]. p.&nbsp;43. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref> Neuter gender was only retained by [[Social:Old Prussian language|Old Prussian]] while in [[Social:Latvian language|Latvian]] and [[Social:Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] it ceased to exist. That said, other neuter forms of inflected words such as adjectives, participles, pronouns and [[Philosophy:Numeral (linguistics)|numerals]] remained in Lithuanian.<ref>Stang, Chr. (1966). ''Vergleichende Grammatik der Baltischen Sprachen [Comparative Grammar of the Baltic Languages]'' (in German). Oslo-Bergen-Tromsö: Universitetsforlaget.</ref>

''*ā''-stem and ''*ē''-stem nouns were feminine, ''*o''-stem nouns basically were masculine and neuter, ''*s''-stem nouns were neuter, ''*r''-stem nouns―masculine and feminine while other noun stems could refer to all three genders. Unlike feminine and masculine nouns, neuter ones always had the same form for the nominative, accusative, and vocative cases. This form distinguished neuter nouns from masculine and feminine ones belonging to the same stem. Masculine and feminine nouns of the same stem had identical endings, and the grammatical gender was indicated by gender-changing words (pronouns, adjectives, participles, etc.) used with nouns:<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos kilmė. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=195–208|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref> ''*labas anglis'' 'a good coal' (masculine), ''*labā au̯is'' 'a good sheep' (feminine), ''*laban mari'' 'a good sea' (neuter). Because of the disappearance of the semivowel ''*i̯'' between a consonant and a front vowel, neuter ''*i''-stem words had changes ''*mari̯ī'' > ''*marī'' 'two seas', ''*aru̯i̯ī'' > ''*aru̯ī'' 'two suitable ones' in dual.

==== *''o''-stem nouns ====
''*deiṷas'' 'God', ''*butan / *buta'' 'house'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |[[Dual (grammatical number)|Dual]]
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Neuter
|-
!Nominative
|''*deiṷas''
|''*butan / *buta''
|''*deiṷō''
|''*butai''
|''*deiṷai''
|''*butā''
|-
!Genitive
|''*deiṷas(a) / *deiṷā''
|''*butas(a) / *butā''
|''*deiṷōus''
|''*butōus''
|''*deiṷōn''
|''*butōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*deiṷōi''
|''*butōi''
|''*deiṷamā''
|''*butamā''
|''*deiṷamas''
|''*butamas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*deiṷan''
|''*butan / *buta''
|''*deiṷō''
|''*butai''
|''*deiṷōns''
|''*butā''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*deiṷō''
|''*butō''
|''*deiṷamā''
|''*butamā''
|''*deiṷais''
|''*butais''
|-
!Locative
|''*deiṷei''
|''*butei''
|''*deiṷōus''
|''*butōus''
|''*deiṷeisu''
|''*buteisu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*deiṷe!''
|''*butan! / *buta!''
|''*deiṷō!''
|''*butai!''
|''*deiṷai!''
|''*butā!''
|}

==== *''ā''-stem nouns ====
''*rankā'' 'hand'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! Singular
! Dual
!Plural
|-
!colspan = "3"|Feminine
|-
!Nominative
|''*rankā''
|''*rankāi''
|''*rankās''
|-
!Genitive
|''*rankās''
|''*rankāus''
|''*rankōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*rankāi''
|''*rankāmā''
|''*rankāmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*rankān''
|''*rankāi''
|''*rankāns''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*rankān''
|''*rankāmā''
|''*rankāmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*rankāi''
|''*rankāus''
|''*rankāsu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*ranka!''
|''*rankāi!''
|''*rankās!''
|}

==== *''ē''-stem nouns ====
''*žemē'' 'earth'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! Singular
! Dual
!Plural
|-
!colspan = "3"|Feminine
|-
!Nominative
|''*žemē''
|''*žemēi''
|''*žemēs''
|-
!Genitive
|''*žemēs''
|''*žemēus''
|''*žemi̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*žemēi''
|''*žemēmā''
|''*žemēmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*žemēn''
|''*žemēi''
|''*žemēns''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*žemēn''
|''*žemēmā''
|''*žemēmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*žemēi''
|''*žemēus''
|''*žemēsu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*žeme!''
|''*žemēi!''
|''*žemēs!''
|}

==== *''i''-stem nouns ====
''*anglis'' 'coal, charcoal', ''*au̯is'' 'sheep', ''*mari'' 'sea'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="3" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Neuter
|-
!Nominative
|''*anglis''
|''*au̯is''
|''*mari''
|''*anglī''
|''*au̯ī''
|''*marī''
|''*angleis / *anglii̯es''
|''*au̯eis / *au̯ii̯es''
|''*marī''
|-
!Genitive
|''*angleis''
|''*au̯eis''
|''*mareis''
|''*anglii̯aus''
|''*au̯ii̯aus''
|''*marii̯aus''
|''*angli̯ōn''
|''*au̯i̯ōn''
|''*mari̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*anglei''
|''*au̯ei''
|''*marei''
|''*anglimā''
|''*au̯imā''
|''*marimā''
|''*anglimas''
|''*au̯imas''
|''*marimas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*anglin''
|''*au̯in''
|''*mari''
|''*anglī''
|''*au̯ī''
|''*marī''
|''*anglins''
|''*au̯ins''
|''*marī''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*anglimi''
|''*au̯imi''
|''*marimi''
|''*anglimā''
|''*au̯imā''
|''*marimā''
|''*anglimīs''
|''*au̯imīs''
|''*marimīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*anglēi''
|''*au̯ēi''
|''*marēi''
|''*anglii̯aus''
|''*au̯ii̯aus''
|''*marii̯aus''
|''*anglisu''
|''*au̯isu''
|''*marisu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*anglei!''
|''*au̯ei!''
|''*mari!''
|''*anglī!''
|''*au̯ī!''
|''*marī!''
|''*angleis! / *anglii̯es!''
|''*au̯eis! / *au̯ii̯es!''
|''*marī!''
|}

==== *''u''-stem nouns ====
''*sūnus'' 'son', ''*girnus'' 'millstone', ''*medu'' 'honey'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="3" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Neuter
|-
!Nominative
|''*sūnus''
|''*girnus''
|''*medu''
|''*sūnū''
|''*girnū''
|''*medu̯ī''
|''*sūnaus / *sūnaṷes''
|''*girnaus / *girnaṷes''
|''*medū''
|-
!Genitive
|''*sūnaus''
|''*girnaus''
|''*medaus''
|''*sūnau̯aus''
|''*girnau̯aus''
|''*medau̯aus''
|''*sūnṷōn''
|''*girnṷōn''
|''*medṷōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*sūnōi / *sūnau̯ei''
|''*girnōi / *girnau̯ei''
|''*medōi / medau̯ei''
|''*sūnumā''
|''*girnumā''
|''*medumā''
|''*sūnumas''
|''*girnumas''
|''*medumas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*sūnun''
|''*girnun''
|''*medu''
|''*sūnū''
|''*girnū''
|''*medu̯ī''
|''*sūnuns''
|''*girnuns''
|''*medū''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*sūnumi''
|''*girnumi''
|''*medumi''
|''*sūnumā''
|''*girnumā''
|''*medumā''
|''*sūnumīs''
|''*girnumīs''
|''*medumīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*sūnōu''
|''*girnōu''
|''*medōu''
|''*sūnau̯aus''
|''*girnau̯aus''
|''*medau̯aus''
|''*sūnusu''
|''*girnusu''
|''*medusu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*sūnau!''
|''*girnau!''
|''*medu!''
|''*sūnū!''
|''*girnū!''
|''*medu̯ī!''
|''*sūnaus! / *sūnaṷes!''
|''*girnaus! / *girnaṷes!''
|''*medū!''
|}

==== *''r''-stem nouns ====
''*brātē'' 'brother', ''*duktē'' 'daughter'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Dual
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Feminine
|-
!Nominative
|''*brātē''
|''*duktē''
|''*brātere''
|''*duktere''
|''*brāteres''
|''*dukteres''
|-
!Genitive
|''*brāteres''
|''*dukteres''
|''*brāteraus''
|''*dukteraus''
|''*brāterōn''
|''*dukterōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*brāterei''
|''*dukterei''
|''*brātermā''
|''*duktermā''
|''*brātermas''
|''*duktermas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*brāterin''
|''*dukterin''
|''*brātere''
|''*duktere''
|''*brāterins''
|''*dukterins''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*brātermi''
|''*duktermi''
|''*brātermā''
|''*duktermā''
|''*brātermīs''
|''*duktermīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*brāteri''
|''*dukteri''
|''*brāteraus''
|''*dukteraus''
|''*brātersu''
|''*duktersu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*brāter!''
|''*dukter!''
|''*brātere!''
|''*duktere!''
|''*brāteres!''
|''*dukteres!''
|}

==== *''n''-stem nouns ====
''*akmō'' 'stone', ''*sēmen'' 'seed'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Dual
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Neuter
|-
!Nominative
|''*akmō''
|''*sēmen''
|''*akmene''
|''*sēmenī''
|''*akmenes''
|''*sēmenā''
|-
!Genitive
|''*akmenes''
|''*sēmenes''
|''*akmenaus''
|''*sēmenaus''
|''*akmenōn''
|''*sēmenōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*akmenei''
|''*sēmenei''
|''*akmenmā''
|''*sēmenmā ''
|''*akmenmas''
|''*sēmenmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*akmenin''
|''*sēmen''
|''*akmene''
|''*sēmenī''
|''*akmenins''
|''*sēmenā''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*akmenmi''
|''*sēmenmi''
|''*akmenmā''
|''*sēmenmā ''
|''*akmenmīs''
|''*sēmenmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*akmeni''
|''*sēmeni''
|''*akmenaus''
|''*sēmenaus''
|''*akmensu''
|''*sēmensu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*akmen!''
|''*sēmen!''
|''*akmene!''
|''*sēmenī!''
|''*akmenes!''
|''*sēmenā!''
|}

==== *''l''-stem nouns ====
''*ābō'' 'apple-tree'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! Singular
! Dual
!Plural
|-
!colspan = "3"|Feminine
|-
!Nominative
|''*ābō''
|''*ābele''
|''*ābeles''
|-
!Genitive
|''*ābeles''
|''*ābelaus''
|''*ābelōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*ābelei''
|''*ābelmā''
|''*ābelmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*ābelin''
|''*ābele''
|''*ābelins''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*ābelmi''
|''*ābelmā''
|''*ābelmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*ābeli''
|''*ābelaus''
|''*ābelsu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*ābel!''
|''*ābele!''
|''*ābeles!''
|}

==== *''s''-stem nouns ====
''*nebas'' 'cloud'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! Singular
! Dual
!Plural
|-
!colspan ="3"|Neuter
|-
!Nominative
|''*nebas''
|''*nebesī''
|''*nebesā''
|-
!Genitive
|''*nebeses''
|''*nebesaus''
|''*nebesōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*nebesei''
|''*nebesmā''
|''*nebesmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*nebas''
|''*nebesī''
|''*nebesā''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*nebesmi''
|''*nebesmā''
|''*nebesmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*nebesi''
|''*nebesaus''
|''*nebe(s)su''
|-
!Vocative
|''*nebas!''
|''*nebesī!''
|''*nebesā!''
|}

==== Root nouns ====
''*ṷaišpats'' 'lord', ''*šēr'' 'heart'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Dual
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Masculine
!Neuter
|-
!Nominative
|''*ṷaišpats''
|''*šēr''
|''*ṷaišpate''
|''*šerdī''
|''*ṷaišpates''
|''*šerdā''
|-
!Genitive
|''*ṷaišpates''
|''*širdes''
|''*ṷaišpataus''
|''*širdaus''
|''*ṷaišpatōn''
|''*širdōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*ṷaišpatei''
|''*širdei''
|''*ṷaišpatmā''
|''*širdmā''
|''*ṷaišpatmas''
|''*širdmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*ṷaišpatin''
|''*šēr''
|''*ṷaišpate''
|''*šerdī''
|''*ṷaišpatins''
|''*šerdā''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*ṷaišpatmi''
|''*širdmi''
|''*ṷaišpatmā''
|''*širdmā ''
|''*ṷaišpatmīs''
|''*širdmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*ṷaišpati''
|''*širdi''
|''*ṷaišpataus''
|''*širdaus''
|''*ṷaišpatsu''
|''*širdsu''
|-
!Vocative
|''*ṷaišpat!''
|''*šēr!''
|''*ṷaišpate!''
|''*šerdī!''
|''*ṷaišpates!''
|''*šerdā!''
|}

=== Adjectives ===
Unlike the noun, the adjective used to be alternated using a gender (masculine, feminine, and neuter), which was then adapted to the corresponding gender of the noun. Adjectives had three degrees: positive (no suffix: masculine ''*labas'', neuter ''*laban'', feminine ''*labā'' 'good'), comparative (suffix ''*-es-'': masculine ''*labesis'', neuter ''*labesi'', feminine ''*labesē'' 'better') and superlative (suffix ''*-im-'': masculine ''*labimas'', neuter ''*labiman'', feminine ''*labimā'' 'the best'). They had singular, [[Dual (grammatical number)|dual]] and plural numbers as they were applied to adjectives for combining them with nouns. The vocative case usually concurred with the nominative one.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorinė gramatika. II|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1981|pages=26–27|isbn=}}</ref>

As in the case of noun [[Philosophy:Paradigm|paradigm]]s, there were ''*i̯o''- (fem. ''*i̯ā''-) and ''*ii̯o''- (fem. ''*ē''-) stem variants next to the ''*o''-stem adjectives. Feminine gender forms were constructed with the ''*ā''-stem while the feminine forms with the ''*i̯ā''-stem (sing. nom. *''-ī'') were constructed with the ''*u''-stem adjectives. The feminine gender of the masculine and neuter genders for the ''*i''-stem probably resulted with ''*i̯ā''- or ''*ē''-stems. However, the reconstruction of the later is difficult as the ''*i''-stem adjectives in the current Baltic languages were poorly preserved.<ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas [Science]. pp.&nbsp;209–210. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref>

==== *''o''-stem, *''ā''-stem adjectives ====

''*labas'' 'good'

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="3" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
!Nominative <br/> Vocative
|''*labas''
|''*laban / *laba''
|''*labā''
|''*labō''
|''*labai''
|''*labāi''
|''*labai''
|''*labā''
|''*labās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*labas(a) / *labā''
|''*labās''
| colspan="2" |''*labōus''
|''*labāus''
| colspan="3" |''*labōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*labōi''
|''*labāi''
| colspan="2" |''*labamā''
|''*labāmā''
| colspan="2" |''*labamas''
|''*labāmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*laban''
|''*laban / *laba''
|''*labān''
|''*labō''
|''*labai''
|''*labāi''
|''*labōns''
|''*labā''
|''*labāns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*labō''
|''*labān''
| colspan="2" |''*labamā''
|''*labāmā''
| colspan="2" |''*labais''
|''*labāmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*labei''
|''*labāi''
| colspan="2" |''*labōus''
|''*labāus''
| colspan="2" |''*labeisu''
|''*labāsu''
|}

==== ''*u''-stem, ''*i̯ā''-stem adjectives ====
''*platus'' 'wide'
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="3" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
!Nominative <br/> Vocative
|''*platus''
|''*platu''
|''*platī''
|''*platū''
|''*platu̯ī''
|''*plati̯āi''
|''*plataus / *platau̯es''
|''*platū''
|''*plati̯ās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*plataus''
|''*plati̯ās''
| colspan="2" |''*platau̯aus''
|''*plati̯āus''
| colspan="2" |''*platu̯ōn''
|''*plati̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*platōi / *platau̯ei''
|''*plati̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*platumā''
|''*plati̯āmā''
| colspan="2" |''*platumas''
|''*plati̯āmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*platun''
|''*platu''
|''*plati̯ān''
|''*platū''
|''*platu̯ī''
|''*plati̯āi''
|''*platuns''
|''*platū''
|''*plati̯āns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*platumi''
|''*plati̯ān''
| colspan="2" |''*platumā''
|''*plati̯āmā''
| colspan="2" |''*platumīs''
|''*plati̯āmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*platōu''
|''*plati̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*platau̯aus''
|''*plati̯āus''
| colspan="2" |''*platusu''
|''*plati̯āsu''
|}

==== ''*i''-stem, ''*ē''-stem adjectives ====
''*aru̯is'' 'suitable'<ref>V. Mažiulis. <nowiki>''</nowiki>''[http://www.prusistika.flf.vu.lt/paieska/paieska/1?id=102 arwis]''<nowiki>''</nowiki>. Prūsų kalbos paveldo duomenų bazė [Prussian language heritage database]. Retrieved on January 7, 2022.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="3" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
!Nominative <br/> Vocative
|''*aru̯is''
|''*aru̯i''
|''*aru̯ē''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯ī''
|''*aru̯ēi''
|''*aru̯eis / *aru̯ii̯es''
|''*aru̯ī''
|''*aru̯ēs''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯eis''
|''*aru̯ēs''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯ii̯aus''
|''*aru̯ēus''
| colspan="3" |''*aru̯i̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯ei''
|''*aru̯ēi''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯imā''
|''*aru̯ēmā''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯imas''
|''*aru̯ēmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*aru̯in''
|''*aru̯i''
|''*aru̯ēn''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯ī''
|''*aru̯ēi''
|''*aru̯ins''
|''*aru̯ī''
|''*aru̯ēns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯imi''
|''*aru̯ēn''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯imā''
|''*aru̯ēmā''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯imīs''
|''*aru̯ēmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯ēi''
|''*aru̯ēi''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯ii̯aus''
|''*aru̯ēus''
| colspan="2" |''*aru̯isu''
|''*aru̯ēsu''
|}

=== Verbs ===
The reconstruction of the verb of Proto-Baltic is mostly based on the collected data on the Eastern Baltic languages, as the verb system in [[Social:Old Prussian language|Old Prussian]] is poorly attested. The reconstructed verb system is attributed to the later stages of linguistic development. Unlike other parts of speech, the verb of Proto-Baltic experienced a lot of changes—the grammatical mood, tense and voice systems that came from PIE changed. For instance, from the former Proto-Indo-European tenses—the present, the aorist, the perfect—only the present was preserved by Proto-Baltic in addition to the sigmatic future, which by some researchers is considered to be an inheritance from late PIE.<ref>{{cite book|last=Савченко|first=А. Н.|title=Сравнительная грамматика индоевропейских языков|publisher=УРСС|date=2003|location=М.|pages=285–288|isbn=}}</ref>

In PIE there were four moods: indicative, subjunctive, optative and imperative. In Proto-Baltic, indicative remained but subjunctive was changed by the newly formed [[Conditional mood|conditional mood]]. Meanwhile, imperative gained forms from optative. PIE also had two verb voices – active and middle. The latter was changed with reflexive verbs in Proto-Baltic. New types of verb form (the analytical perfect and the pluperfect) and the analytical passive voice were created.<ref>Kvietkauskas, V. (1985). ''Tarptautinių žodžių žodynas [International Word Dictionary]''. Vilnius: The Chief Editorial Office of Encyclopedias.</ref> The most archaic trait of Proto-Baltic is the retained athematic conjugation.<ref>Fortson, B. (2004). ''Indo-European language and culture. An Introduction''. Padstow: Blackwell. pp.&nbsp;380—381. {{ISBN|1-4051-0316-7}}.</ref><ref>Bičovský, J. (2009). ''Vademecum starými indoevropskými jazyky [Pocket Reference in Old Indo-European Languages]'' (in Czech) [[Place:Prague|Prague]]: Charles University Publishing House. p.&nbsp;199. {{ISBN|978-80-7308-287-1}}.</ref> In the first and second person forms, Proto-Baltic had preserved the three numbers from PIE (singular, dual and plural), while in third person, number was not distinguished.<ref>Dini, P.U. (2000). ''Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija [Baltic languages. Comparative History]'' (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas [Institute of Science and Encyclopedia Publishing]. p. 108. {{ISBN|5-420-01444-0}}.</ref>

The verb of the Proto-Baltic had three basic stems, i.e. the stems of the present tense, past tense and the infinitive. All forms of the verb were based on those stems.<ref>{{cite book|last=Дини П.|title=Балтийские языки|publisher=ОГИ|date=2002|pages=114|isbn=5-94282-046-5}}</ref> For example, the stems of the verb 'to carry' were ''*neša-, *nešē-, *neš-''; the stems of the verb 'to sit' were ''*sēdi-, *sēdējā-, *sēdē-''. Compared to Lith. ''nẽša'' 'he carrys', ''nẽšė'' 'he carried', ''nèšti'' 'to carry'; ''sė́di'' 'he sits', ''sėdė́jo'' 'he sat', ''sėdė́ti'' 'to sit'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stang Chr.|title=Vergleichende Grammatik der Baltischen Sprachen|location=Oslo-Bergen-Tromsö|publisher=Universitetsforlaget|date=1966|pages=392–393|isbn=}}</ref>

==== Conjugation ====
CH. Stang identifies the following conjugations of verbs in the present tense: athematic, thematic (''*o''-stem verbs) and semi-thematic (''*i''-stem and ''*ā''-stem verbs).<ref>{{cite book|last=Stang Chr.|title=Vergleichende Grammatik der Baltischen Sprachen|location=Oslo-Bergen-Tromsö|publisher=Universitetsforlaget|date=1966|pages=309|isbn=}}</ref> The future tense was formed using the ''*-s- / -*si-'' suffix attached to the infinitive stem, and because of the ''*-si-'' suffix, all future tense verbs were conjugated with the ''*i''-stem.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorinė gramatika. II|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1981|pages=117–121|isbn=}}</ref> The past tense had ''*ā''- and ''*ē''-stems.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=218–219|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref> With a few exceptions (1st sg. [[Conditional mood|conditional]] ''*rinkti̯ā'' 'I would gather', 2nd sg. imperative ''*renkais'' 'gather!'), all verb endings were borrowed from the present tense.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=217|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Present
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
!Athematic verbs
!''*o''-stem verbs
!''*i''-stem verbs
!''*ā''-stem verbs
|-
!''*būtei'' 'be'
!''*rinktei'' 'gather, collect'
!''*turētei'' 'be'
!''*laikītei'' 'hold'
|-
! rowspan="3" |Singular
!1st {{abbr|sg.|singular}}
|''*esmi''
|''*renkō''
|''*turi̯ō''
|''*laikāu''
|-
!2nd {{abbr|sg.|singular}}
|''*esei''
|''*renkei''
|''*turei''
|''*laikāi''
|-
!3rd {{abbr|sg.|singular}}
|''*esti''
|''*renka''
|''*turi''
|''*laikā''
|-
! rowspan="3" |[[Dual (grammatical number)|Dual]]
!1st {{abbr|du.|dual}}
|''*esu̯ā''
|''*renkau̯ā''
|''*turiu̯ā''
|''*laikāu̯ā''
|-
!2nd {{abbr|du.|dual}}
|''*estā''
|''*renkatā''
|''*turitā''
|''*laikātā''
|-
!3rd {{abbr|du.|dual}}
|''*esti''
|''*renka''
|''*turi''
|''*laikā''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!1st {{abbr|pl.|plural}}
|''*esmē''
|''*renkamē''
|''*turimē''
|''*laikāmē''
|-
!2nd {{abbr|pl.|plural}}
|''*estē''
|''*renkatē''
|''*turitē''
|''*laikātē''
|-
!3rd {{abbr|pl.|plural}}
|''*esti''
|''*renka''
|''*turi''
|''*laikā''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Future
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="4" |''*i''-stem verbs (all the verbs)
|-
!''*būtei'' 'be'
!''*rinktei'' 'gather, collect'
!''*turētei'' 'have'
!''*laikītei'' 'hold'
|-
! rowspan="3" |Singular
!1st sg.
|''*būsi̯ō''
|''*rinksi̯ō''
|''*turēsi̯ō''
|''*laikīsi̯ō''
|-
!2nd sg.
|''*būsei''
|''*rinksei''
|''*turēsei''
|''*laikīsei''
|-
!3rd sg.
|''*būs''
|''*rinks''
|''*turēs''
|''*laikīs''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!1st du.
|''*būsiu̯ā''
|''*rinksiu̯ā''
|''*turēsiu̯ā''
|''*laikīsiu̯ā''
|-
!2nd du.
|''*būsitā''
|''*rinksitā''
|''*turēsitā''
|''*laikīsitā''
|-
!3rd du.
|''*būs''
|''*rinks''
|''*turēs''
|''*laikīs''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Plural
!1st pl.
|''*būsimē''
|''*rinksimē''
|''*turēsimē''
|''*laikīsimē''
|-
!2nd pl.
|''*būsitē''
|''*rinksitē''
|''*turēsitē''
|''*laikīsitē''
|-
!3rd pl.
|''*būs''
|''*rinks''
|''*turēs''
|''*laikīs''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Past
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="3" |''*ā''-stem verbs
!|''*ē''-stem verbs
|-
!''*būtei'' 'be'
!''*rinktei'' 'gather, collect'
!''*turētei'' 'have'
!''*laikītei'' 'hold'
|-
! rowspan="3" |Singular
!1st sg.
|''*bii̯āu''
|''*rinkāu''
|''*turēi̯āu''
|''*laikēu''
|-
!2nd sg.
|''*bii̯āi''
|''*rinkāi''
|''*turēi̯āi''
|''*laikēi''
|-
!3rd sg.
|''*bii̯ā''
|''*rinkā''
|''*turēi̯ā''
|''*laikē''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!1st du.
|''*bii̯āu̯ā''
|''*rinkāu̯ā''
|''*turēi̯āu̯ā''
|''*laikēu̯ā''
|-
!2nd du.
|''*bii̯ātā''
|''*rinkātā''
|''*turēi̯ātā''
|''*laikētā''
|-
!3rd du.
|''*bii̯ā''
|''*rinkā''
|''*turēi̯ā''
|''*laikē''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Plural
!1st pl.
|''*bii̯āmē''
|''*rinkāmē''
|''*turēi̯āmē''
|''*laikēmē''
|-
!2nd pl.
|''*bii̯ātē''
|''*rinkātē''
|''*turēi̯ātē''
|''*laikētē''
|-
!3rd pl.
|''*bii̯ā''
|''*rinkā''
|''*turēi̯ā''
|''*laikē''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+[[Conditional mood|Conditional]]
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="4" |''*i''-stem verbs (all the verbs)
|-
!''*būtei'' 'be'
!''*rinktei'' 'gather, collect'
!''*turētei'' 'have'
!''*laikītei'' 'hold'
|-
! rowspan="3" |Singular
!1st sg.
|''*būti̯ā'' / ''*būtunbi̯ō''
|''*rinkti̯ā'' / ''*rinktunbi̯ō''
|''*turēti̯ā'' / ''*turētunbi̯ō''
|''*laikīti̯ā'' / ''*laikītunbi̯ō''
|-
!2nd sg.
|''*būtunbei''
|''*rinktunbei''
|''*turētunbei''
|''*laikītunbei''
|-
!3rd sg.
|''*būtun(bi)''
|''*rinktun(bi)''
|''*turētun(bi)''
|''*laikītun(bi)''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!1st du
|''*būtunbiu̯ā''
|''*rinktunbiu̯ā''
|''*turētunbiu̯ā''
|''*laikītunbiu̯ā''
|-
!2nd du.
|''*būtunbitā''
|''*rinktunbitā''
|''*turētunbitā''
|''*laikītunbitā''
|-
!3rd du.
|''*būtun(bi)''
|''*rinktun(bi)''
|''*turētun(bi)''
|''*laikītun(bi)''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Plural
!1st pl.
|''*būtunbimē''
|''*rinktunbimē''
|''*turētunbimē''
|''*laikītunbimē''
|-
!2nd pl.
|''*būtunbitē''
|''*rinktunbitē''
|''*turētunbitē''
|''*laikītunbitē''
|-
!3rd pl.
|''*būtun(bi)''
|''*rinktun(bi)''
|''*turētun(bi)''
|''*laikītun(bi)''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Imperative
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
!Athematic verbs
!''*o''-stem verbs
!''*i''-stem verbs
!''*ā''-stem verbs
|-
!''*būtei'' 'be'
!''*rinktei'' 'gather, collect'
!''*turētei'' 'have'
!''*laikītei'' 'hold'
|-
! rowspan="2" |Singular
!2nd sg.
|''*esis''
|''*renkais''
|''*turīs''
|''*laikāis''
|-
!3rd sg.
|''*esi''
|''*renkai''
|''*turī''
|''*laikāi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!1st du.
|''*esiu̯ā''
|''*renkaiu̯ā''
|''*turīu̯ā''
|''*laikāiu̯ā''
|-
!2nd du.
|''*esitā''
|''*renkaitā''
|''*turītā''
|''*laikāitā''
|-
!3rd du.
|''*esi''
|''*renkai''
|''*turī''
|''*laikāi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Plural
!1st pl.
|''*esimē''
|''*renkaimē''
|''*turīmē''
|''*laikāimē''
|-
!2nd pl.
|''*esitē''
|''*renkaitē''
|''*turītē''
|''*laikāitē''
|-
!3rd pl.
|''*esi''
|''*renkai''
|''*turī''
|''*laikāi''
|}

==== Infinitive ====
In Proto-Baltic the infinitive was created with suffixes ''*-tei, *-tēi, *-ti'': ''*eitei, *-tēi, *-ti'' 'go', ''*darītei, *-tēi, *-ti'' 'do'. The infinitive comes from the singular nominal of the word stem ''ti'' in its dative (''*mirtei'' 'for death') and locative (''*mirtēi'' 'in death'; consonant stem —''*darānti'' 'in doing' (active participle, masculine–neuter) form. In Lithuanian, the relationship between the infinitive and dative can sometimes be observed to this day (e. g., ''kėdė yra sėdėti / sėdėjimui'' 'the chair is for sitting', ''ne metas liūdėti / liūdėjimui'' 'no time for sadness').<ref>Zinkevičius, Z. (1981). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorinė gramatika. II. [Historical Grammar of Lithuanian Language. Vol. 2.]'' Vilnius: Mokslas. pp.&nbsp;162–164.</ref>

==== Supine ====
In Proto-Baltic the supine was created with suffixes ''*-tun'' < PIE ''*-tum'': ''*eitun'', ''*darītun''. This verb form is unconjugated and was used together with the verbs of movement to express the adverbials of a purpose or an intention. The supine comes from the singular nominal of the word stem ''tu'' in its accusative form (''*leitun'' 'rain'). The connection can be observed in the existing dialects of the current Baltic languages and is considered to be inherited from PIE as the supine can be found in other Indo-European languages as well.

==== Aspect ====
Aspect (e. g., imperfective aspect {{lang-lt|rinkau}} 'I was gathering' vs. perfective aspect {{lang-lt|surinkau}} 'I had gathered') might have been unusual to Proto-Baltic, as aorist tense, which was used to express a perfective aspect of a process in contrast to the present tense used to express the imperfective aspect, fell out of use.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=216|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref>

==== Participle ====
Proto-Baltic had active and passive voice participles. Traditionally, it is believed that active voice participles already existed in PIE. Participles were [[Social:Declension|declined]] the same way as the nominals. The vocative case probably coincided with the nominative one. The participle had three genders (masculine, feminine and neuter), numbers (singular, [[Dual (grammatical number)|dual]], plural) and tenses (present, future, past). Active participles were used to express a specific trait of an object that arises as a result of their own doing while passive participles were meant to express a specific trait of an object that arises as a result of someone else taking action.

Present participles of the verbs ''*rinktei'' 'gather, collect', ''*turētei'' 'have', ''*laikītei'' 'hold':
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Present active participles
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="3" |''*o''-stem
! colspan="3" |''*i''-stem
! colspan="3" |''*ā''-stem
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan="6" |Singular
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*renkants''
|''*renkant''
|''*renkantī''
|''*turints''
|''*turint''
|''*turintī''
|''*laikānts''
|''*laikānt''
|''*laikāntī''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*renkantes''
|''*renkanti̯ās''
| colspan="2" |''*turintes''
|''*turinti̯ās''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntes''
|''*laikānti̯ās''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*renkantei''
|''*renkanti̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*turintei''
|''*turinti̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntei''
|''*laikānti̯āi''
|-
!Accusative
|''*renkantin''
|''*renkant''
|''*renkanti̯ān''
|''*turintin''
|''*turint''
|''*turinti̯ān''
|''*laikāntin''
|''*laikānt''
|''*laikānti̯ān''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*renkantmi''
|''*renkanti̯ān''
| colspan="2" |''*turintmi''
|''*turinti̯ān''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntmi''
|''*laikānti̯ān''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*renkanti''
|''*renkanti̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*turinti''
|''*turinti̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*laikānti''
|''*laikānti̯āi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!Nominative<br />Accusative<br />Vocative
|''*renkante''
|''*renkantī''
|''*renkanti̯āi''
|''*turinte''
|''*turintī''
|''*turinti̯āi''
|''*laikānte'''
|''*laikāntī''
|''*laikānti̯āi''
|-
!Dative<br />Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*renkantmā''
|''*renkanti̯āmā''
| colspan="2" |''*turintmā''
|''*turinti̯āmā''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntmā''
|''*laikānti̯āmā''
|-
!Genitive<br />Locative
| colspan="2" |''*renkantaus''
|''*renkanti̯āus''
| colspan="2" |''*turintaus''
|''*turinti̯āus''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntaus''
|''*laikānti̯āus''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*renkantes''
|''*renkantā''
|''*renkanti̯ās''
|''*turintes''
|''*turintā''
|''*turinti̯ās''
|''*laikāntes''
|''*laikāntā''
|''*laikānti̯ās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*renkantōn''
|''*renkanti̯ōn''
| colspan="2" |''*turintōn''
|''*turinti̯ōn''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntōn''
|''*laikānti̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*renkantmas''
|''*renkanti̯āmas''
| colspan="2" |''*turintmas''
|''*turinti̯āmas''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntmas''
|''*laikānti̯āmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*renkantins''
|''*renkantā''
|''*renkanti̯āns''
|''*turintins''
|''*turintā''
|''*turinti̯āns''
|''*laikāntins''
|''*laikāntā''
|''*laikānti̯āns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*renkantmīs''
|''*renkanti̯āmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*turintmīs''
|''*turinti̯āmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntmīs''
|''*laikānti̯āmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*renkantsu''
|''*renkanti̯āsu''
| colspan="2" |''*turintsu''
|''*turinti̯āsu''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāntsu''
|''*laikānti̯āsu''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Present passive participles
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="3" |''*o''-stem
! colspan="3" |''*i''-stem
! colspan="3" |''*ā''-stem
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan="6" |Singular
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*renkamas''
|''*renkaman / *renkama''
|''*renkamā''
|''*turimas''
|''*turiman / *turima''
|''*turimā''
|''*laikāmas''
|''*laikāman / *laikāma''
|''*laikāmā''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*renkamas(a) / *renkamā''
|''*renkamās''
| colspan="2" |''*turimas(a) / *turimā''
|''*turimās''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmas(a) / *laikāmā''
|''*laikāmās''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*renkamōi''
|''renkamāi''
| colspan="2" |''*turimōi''
|''*turimāi''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmōi''
|''*laikāmāi''
|-
!Accusative
|''*renkaman''
|''*renkaman / *renkama''
|''*renkamān''
|''*turiman''
|''*turiman /*turima''
|''*turimān''
|''*laikāman''
|''*laikāman / *laikāma''
|''*laikāmān''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*renkamō''
|''*renkamān''
| colspan="2" |''*turimō''
|''*turimān''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmō''
|''*laikāmān''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*renkamei''
|''*renkamāi''
| colspan="2" |''*turimei''
|''*turimāi''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmei''
|''*laikāmāi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!Nominative<br />Accusative<br />Vocative
|''*renkamō''
|''*renkamai''
|''*renkamāi''
|''*turimō''
|''*turimai''
|''*turimāi''
|''*laikāmō''
|''*laikāmai''
|''*laikāmāi''
|-
!Dative<br />Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*renkamamā''
|''*renkamāmā''
| colspan="2" |''*turimamā''
|''*turimāmā''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmamā''
|''*laikāmāmā''
|-
!Genitive<br />Locative
| colspan="2" |''*renkamōus''
|''*renkamāus''
| colspan="2" |''*turimōus''
|''*turimāus''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmōus''
|''*laikāmāus''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*renkamai''
|''*renkamā''
|''*renkamās''
|''*turimai''
|''*turimā''
|''*turimās''
|''*laikāmai''
|''*laikāmā''
|''*laikāmās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="3" |''*renkamōn''
| colspan="3" |''*turimōn''
| colspan="3" |''*laikāmōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*renkamamas''
|''*renkamāmas''
| colspan="2" |''*turimamas''
|''*turimāmas''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmamas''
|''*laikāmāmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*renkamōns''
|''*renkamā''
|''*renkamāns''
|''*turimōns''
|''*turimā''
|''*turimāns''
|''*laikāmōns''
|''*laikāmā''
|''*laikāmāns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*renkamais''
|''*renkamāmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*turimais''
|''*turimāmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmais''
|''*laikāmāmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*renkameisu''
|''*renkamāsu''
| colspan="2" |''*turimeisu''
|''*turimāsu''
| colspan="2" |''*laikāmeisu''
|''*laikāmāsu''
|}
Future participles of the verbs ''*būtei'' 'be', ''*turētei'' 'have':
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Future active participles
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="6" |Infinitive stems (all the verbs)
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan="6" |Singular
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*būsi̯ants''
|''*būsi̯ant''
|''*būsi̯antī''
|''*turēsi̯ants''
|''*turēsi̯ant''
|''*turēsi̯antī''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antes''
|''*būsi̯anti̯ās''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antes''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯ās''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antei''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antei''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āi''
|-
!Accusative
|''*būsi̯antin''
|''*būsi̯ant''
|''*būsi̯anti̯ān''
|''*turēsi̯antin''
|''*turēsi̯ant''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯ān''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antmi''
|''*būsi̯anti̯ān''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antmi''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯ān''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯anti''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯anti''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!Nominative<br />Accusative<br />Vocative
|''*būsi̯ante''
|''*būsi̯antī''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āi''
|''*turēsi̯ante''
|''*turēsi̯antī''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āi''
|-
!Dative<br />Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antmā''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āmā''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antmā''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āmā''
|-
!Genitive<br />Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antaus''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āus''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antaus''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āus''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*būsi̯antes''
|''*būsi̯antā''
|''*būsi̯anti̯ās''
|''*turēsi̯antes''
|''*turēsi̯antā''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯ās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antōn''
|''*būsi̯anti̯ōn''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antōn''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antmas''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āmas''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antmas''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*būi̯antins''
|''*būsi̯antā''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āns''
|''*turēsi̯antins''
|''*turēsi̯antā''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antmīs''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antmīs''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯antsu''
|''*būsi̯anti̯āsu''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯antsu''
|''*turēsi̯anti̯āsu''
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Future passive participles
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="6" |Infinitive stems (all the verbs)
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan="6" |Singular
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*būsi̯amas''
|''*būsi̯aman / *būsi̯ama''
|''*būsi̯amā''
|''*turēsi̯amas''
|''*turēsi̯aman / *turēsi̯ama''
|''*turēsi̯amā''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amas(a) / *būsi̯amā''
|''*būsi̯amās''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amas(a) / *turēsi̯amā''
|''*turēsi̯amās''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amōi''
|*būsi̯amāi
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amōi''
|''*turēsi̯amāi''
|-
!Accusative
|''*būsi̯aman''
|''*būsi̯aman / *būsi̯ama''
|''*būsi̯amān''
|''*turēsi̯aman''
|''*turēsi̯aman / *turēsi̯ama''
|''*turēsi̯amān''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amō''
|''*būsi̯amān''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amō''
|''*turēsi̯amān''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amei''
|''*būsi̯amāi''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amei''
|''*turēsi̯amāi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!Nominative<br />Accusative<br />Vocative
|''*būsi̯amō''
|''*būsi̯amai''
|''*būsi̯amāi''
|''*turēsi̯amō''
|''*turēsi̯amai''
|''*turēsi̯amāi''
|-
!Dative<br />Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amamā''
|''*būsi̯amāmā''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amamā''
|''*turēsi̯amāmā''
|-
!Genitive<br />Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amōus''
|''*būsi̯amāus''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amōus''
|''*turēsi̯amāus''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*būsi̯amai''
|''*būsi̯amā''
|''*būsi̯amās''
|''*turēsi̯amai''
|''*turēsi̯amā''
|''*turēsi̯amās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="3" |''*būsi̯amōn''
| colspan="3" |''*turēsi̯amōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amamas''
|''*būsi̯amāmas''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amamas''
|''*turēsi̯amāmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*būsi̯amōns''
|''*būsi̯amā''
|''*būsi̯amāns''
|''*turēsi̯amōns''
|''*turēsi̯amā''
|''*turēsi̯amāns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯amais''
|''*būsi̯amāmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯amais''
|''*turēsi̯amāmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būsi̯ameisu''
|''*būsi̯amāsu''
| colspan="2" |''*turēsi̯ameisu''
|''*turēsi̯amāsu''
|}
Past participles of the verbs ''*būtei'' 'be', ''*turētei'' 'have', ''*laikītei'' 'hold':
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Past active participles
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="3" |''*ā''-stem
! colspan="3" |''*ē''-stem
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan="6" |Singular
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*turēi̯ents / *turēi̯ēs''
|''*turēi̯ent / *turēi̯us''
|''*turēi̯usī''
|''*laikents / *laiki̯usēs''
|''*laikent / *laiki̯us''
|''*laiki̯usī''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯uses''
|''*turēi̯usi̯ās''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯uses''
|''*laiki̯usi̯ās''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usei''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usei''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āi''
|-
!Accusative
|''*turēi̯usin''
|''*turēi̯ent / *turēi̯us''
|''*turēi̯usi̯ān''
|''*laiki̯usin''
|''*laikent / *laiki̯us''
|''*laiki̯usi̯ān''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usmi''
|*''turēi̯usi̯ān''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usmi''
|''*laiki̯usi̯ān''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usi''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āi''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usi''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!Nominative<br />Accusative<br />Vocative
|''*turēi̯use''
|''*turēi̯usī''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āi''
|''*laiki̯use''
|''*laiki̯usī''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āi''
|-
!Dative<br />Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usmā''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āmā''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usmā''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āmā''
|-
!Genitive<br />Locative
|colspan="2"|''*turēi̯usaus''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āus''
|colspan="2"|''*laiki̯usaus''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āus''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*turēi̯entes / *turēi̯uses''
|''*turēi̯entā / *turēi̯usā''
|''*turēi̯usi̯ās''
|''*laikentes / *laiki̯uses''
|''*laikentā / *laiki̯usā''
|''*laiki̯usi̯ās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usōn''
|''*turēi̯usi̯ōn''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usōn''
|''*laiki̯usi̯ōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usmas''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āmas''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usmas''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*turēi̯usins''
|''*turēi̯entā / *turēi̯usā''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āns''
|''*laiki̯usins''
|''*laikentā / *laiki̯usā''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯usmīs''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯usmīs''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*turēi̯u(s)su''
|''*turēi̯usi̯āsu''
| colspan="2" |''*laiki̯u(s)su''
|''*laiki̯usi̯āsu''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Past passive participles
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="6" |Infinitive stems (all the verbs)
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan="6" |Singular
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*būtas''
|''*būtan / *būta''
|''*būtā''
|''*turētas''
|''*turētan/ *turēta''
|''*turētā''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*būtas(a) / *būtā''
|''*būtās''
| colspan="2" |''*turētas(a) / *turētā''
|''*turētās''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*būtōi''
|''*būtāi''
| colspan="2" |''*turētōi''
|*turētāi
|-
!Accusative
|''*būtan''
|''*būtan / *būta''
|''*būtān''
|''*turētan''
|''*turētan / *turēta''
|''*turētān''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būtō''
|''*būtān''
| colspan="2" |''*turētō''
|''*turētān''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būtei''
|''*būtāi''
| colspan="2" |''*turētei''
|''*turētāi''
|-
! rowspan="3" |Dual
!Nominative<br />Accusative<br />Vocative
|''*būtō''
|''*būtai''
|''*būtāi''
|''*turētō''
|''*turētai''
|''*turētāi''
|-
!Dative<br />Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būtamā''
|''*būtāmā''
| colspan="2" |''*turētamā''
|''*turētāmā''
|-
!Genitive<br />Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būtōus''
|''*būtāus''
| colspan="2" |''*turētōus''
|''*turētāus''
|-
! rowspan="6" |Plural
!Nominative<br />Vocative
|''*būtai''
|''*būtā''
|''*būtās''
|''*turētai''
|''*turētā''
|''*turētās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="3" |''*būtōn''
| colspan="3" |''*turētōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*būtamas''
|''*būtāmas''
| colspan="2" |''*turētamas''
|''*turētāmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*būtōns''
|''*būtā''
|''*būtāns''
|''*turētōns''
|''*turētā''
|''*turētāns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*būtais''
|''*būtāmīs''
| colspan="2" |''*turētais''
|''*turētāmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*būteisu''
|''*būtāsu''
| colspan="2" |''*turēteisu''
|''*turētāsu''
|}

=== Pronouns ===
The inflexions of PIE were already different significantly in comparison to nominals. As in the case of PIE, the demonstrative pronouns of Proto-Baltic could indicate three levels of varying distance from the speaker: close range ''*šis'' and ''*is'', distant range ''*anas'', and unspecified range ''*tas''. The latter demonstrative pronoun, which had three grammatical genders, was the equivalent to the third-person. There were two personal pronouns, they had no grammatical gender — ''*ež (*eš)'' 'I' and ''*tu / *tū'' 'you', which possessed suppletive inflexion forms preserved from PIE. The reflexive pronoun ''*seu̯e'' 'oneself' only had a singular form without the nominative as it does in the current Baltic languages. The singular forms of the pronoun ''*seu̯e'' were also used with dual and plural objects, i.e. the singular also served as dual and plural.<ref>Dini, P.U. (2000). ''Baltų kalbos. Lyginamoji istorija [Baltic Languages. Comparative History]''. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. p.&nbsp;100. {{ISBN|5-420-01444-0}}.</ref>

Dutch Professor Frederik Kortlandt believed that only the oldest and non-renewed pronoun forms should be reconstructed in Proto-Baltic language while Lithuanian linguist-historian Professor Zigmas Zinkevičius believed older pronoun forms only existed at the earliest stages of Proto-Baltic.<ref name="kortlandt7">{{cite journal|last=Kortlandt F|date=2013|title=Balto-Slavic personal pronouns and their accentuation|journal=Baltistica|volume=XLVIII(1), Nr. 1 (5-1)|pages=7–8}}</ref>

==== Personal pronouns ====
;[[Social:First-person narrative|First person]]
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! rowspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Dual
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Older form
!Newer form
!Older form
!Newer form
|-
!Nominative
|''*ež (*eš)''
| colspan="2" |''*ṷe''
| colspan="2" |''*mes''
|-
!Genitive
|''*mene, *mei''<ref name=":3">Unstressed variant.</ref>
|''*nōi̯aus''
|''nūi̯aus''
|''*nōsōn'' 
|''*nūsōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*menei, *mei<ref name=":3" />''
|''*nōmā''
|''*nūmā'' 
|''*nōmas''
|''*nūmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*mēn, *me<ref name=":3" />''
|''*nō''
|''*na''
|''*nōs'' 
|''*nas''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*menimi''
|''*nōmā''
|''*nūmā'' 
|''*nōmīs''
|''*nūmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*meni''
|''*nōi̯aus''
|''nūi̯aus''
|''*nōsu''
|''*nūsu''
|}

;[[Social:Narration|Second person]]
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! rowspan="2" |Singular
! colspan="2" |Dual
! colspan="2" |Plural
|-
!Older form
!Newer form
!Older form
!Newer form
|-
!Nominative
|''*tu / *tū''
| colspan="2" |''*i̯ū''
| colspan="2" |''*i̯ūs''
|-
!Genitive
|''*teṷe, *tei<ref name=":3" />''
|''*ṷōi̯aus''
|''*i̯ūi̯aus''
|''*ṷōsōn'' 
|''*i̯ūsōn''
|-
!Dative
|''*tebei, *tei<ref name=":3" />''
|''*ṷōmā''
|''*i̯ūmā''
|''*ṷōmas''
|''*i̯ūmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*tēn, *te<ref name=":3" />''
|''*ṷō''
|''*ṷa''
|''*ṷōs''
|''*ṷas''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*tebimi''
|''*ṷōmā''
|''*i̯ūmā''
|''*ṷōmīs''
|''*i̯ūmīs''
|-
!Locative
|''*tebi''
|''*ṷōi̯aus''
|''*i̯ūi̯aus''
|''*ṷōsu''
|''*i̯ūsu''
|}

;[[Social:Narration|Third person]]
Demonstrative pronoun ''*tas'' was the equivalent to the third person.
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case
! colspan="3" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
!Nominative
|''*tas''
|''*ta''
|''*tā''
|''*tō''
| colspan="2"| ''*tai / *tei''
|''*tai / *tei''
|''*tā''
|''*tās''
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |''*tasi̯a''
|''*tasi̯ās''
| colspan="3" |''*ta(i)i̯aus''
| colspan="2" |''*teisōn''
|''*tāsōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |''*tasmei''
|''*tasi̯āi''
| colspan="3" |''*teimā''
| colspan="2" |''*teimas''
|''*tāmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*tan''
|''*ta''
|''*tān''
|''*tō''
| colspan="2"| ''*tai / *tei''
|''*tōns''
|''*tā''
|''*tāns''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="2" |''*tō''
|''*tān''
| colspan="3" |''*teimā''
| colspan="2" |''*tais''
|''*tāmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="2" |''*tasmi''
|''*tāi''
| colspan="3" |''*ta(i)i̯aus''
| colspan="2" |''*teisu''
|''*tāsu''
|}

==== Reflexive pronoun ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Case
!Singular
|-
!Genitive
|''*seu̯e, *sei<ref name=":3" />''
|-
!Dative
|''*sebei, *sei<ref name=":3" />''
|-
!Accusative
|''*sēn, *se<ref name=":3" />''
|-
!Instrumental
|''*sebimi''
|-
!Locative
|''*sebi''
|}

==== Interrogrative pronouns ====
There were two interrogative pronouns—masculine ''*kat[a/e]ras'', neuter ''*kat[a/e]ra'', feminine ''*kat[a/e]rā'', all meaning 'which', and masculine–feminine ''*kas'', neuter ''*ka'', meaning 'who, what'. The latter was used as a relative pronoun in compound sentences. According to Zigmas Zinkevičius, relative pronouns had all three genders,<ref name=":4">Zinkevičius, Z. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas. p.&nbsp;212.</ref> and Vytautas Mažiulis believed pronoun ''*kas'' had the feminine form *''kā'' when it was used as a relative pronoun.<ref>Mažiulis 1994b, 94: ''Kas [who]''. Lietuvių kalbos etimologinio žodyno duomenų bazė.</ref> Interrogative and relative pronouns were inflected the same way as the demonstrative pronoun ''*tas.''

==== Indefinite pronouns ====
Indefinite pronouns, such as masculine ''*kitas'', neuter ''*kita'', feminine ''*kitā'' , meaning 'other', or masculine ''*u̯isas'', neuter ''*u̯isa'', feminine ''*u̯isā'', meaning 'all, entire, whole', were also inflected as the pronoun ''*tas''.<ref name=":4" />

==== Possessive pronouns ====
Possessive pronouns indicate divisions between Baltic dialects: the western areal would have forms, such as the masculine ''*mai̯as'', neuter ''*mai̯a'', feminine ''*mai̯ā'' 'mine'; masculine ''*tu̯ai̯as'', neuter ''*tu̯ai̯a'', feminine ''*tu̯ai̯ā'' 'yours'; masculine ''*su̯ai̯as'', neuter ''*su̯ai̯a'',  feminine ''*su̯ai̯ā'' 'oneself'. In comparison, the eastern areal would possess forms like the masculine ''*menas'', neuter ''*mena'', feminine ''*menā''; masculine ''*teu̯as'', neuter ''*teu̯a'', feminine ''*teu̯ā''; masculine ''*seu̯as'', neuter ''*seu̯a'', feminine ''*seu̯ā'', respectively. These pronouns would be inflected as other gendered pronouns, although they could have been used only in their genitive form. The eigenvalue of plural and dual possessive pronouns was possibly expressed in the genitive case of plural personal pronouns (e. g., ''*nōsōn'' (→''*nūsōn'') 'ours', ''*ṷōsōn'' (→''*i̯ūsōn'') 'yours').<ref>{{cite book |last=Zinkevičius |first=Z. |title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I [History of Lithuanian Language] |date=1984 |publisher=Mokslas |isbn=5-420-00102-0 |location=Vilnius |pages=45, 214}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
!colspan="3" | Western Baltic areal
!colspan="3" | Eastern Baltic areal
!rowspan="2" | Meaning
|-
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
!Masculine
!Neuter
!Feminine
|-
! rowspan=3 | Singular
! 1st
| ''*mai̯as''
| ''*mai̯a''
|''*mai̯ā''
|''*menas''
|''*mena''
|''*menā''
|'mine'
|-
! 2nd
| ''*tu̯ai̯as''
| ''*tu̯ai̯a''
|''*tu̯ai̯ā''
|''*teu̯as''
|''*teu̯a''
|''*teu̯ā''
|'yours'
|}
Western Baltic pronouns masculine ''*su̯ai̯as'', neuter ''*su̯ai̯a'',  feminine ''*su̯ai̯ā'' 'oneself', Eastern Baltic ones masculine ''*seu̯as'', neuter ''*seu̯a'', feminine ''*seu̯ā'' 'oneself' could be used with all persons.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorija. I|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1984|pages=45|isbn=5-420-00102-0}}</ref> The equivalent of third person possessive pronoun was the genitive case of the
demonstrative pronoun ''*tas'', which had three numbers and genders.

=== Numerals ===
[[Philosophy:Numeral (linguistics)|Numerals]] in Proto-Baltic, except for 'two', had noun endings: ''*ainas / *einas''<ref>Zinkevičius, Zigmas (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija [History of Lithuanian]'' (in Lithuanian)''. I''. Vilnius: Mokslas. p.&nbsp;214. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Prūsų kalbos istorinė gramatika|url=http://www.prusistika.flf.vu.lt/public/files/Maziulis_PKIG.pdf|author=Mažiulis, V.|date=2004|publisher=Vilniaus universiteto leidykla|location=Vilnius|pages=66|isbn=9986-19-639-6}}</ref> (PIE: ''*oinos'') 'one' was inflected the same way as noun word stems ''o'' (masculine and neuter) and ''ā'' (feminine), this numeral had a singular, dual and plural number; masculine ''*d(u)u̯ō'' (PIE: ''*duu̯ō'') and neuter-feminine ''*d(u)u̯ai'' (PIE: ''*duu̯oi'') 'two' was inflected as a demonstrative pronoun dual; ''*trii̯es'' (masc. PIE: ''*trei̯es'') 'three' was inflected as a plural noun with the word stem ''i'' and was common for all genders; meanwhile ''*ketures'' (masc. PIE: ''*k<sup>u̯</sup>etu̯ores'') 'four' was inflected as a plural noun with the consonant word stem ''r'' and was also the same for all three genders.<ref>Zinkevičius, Z. (1984). ''Lietuvių kalbos istorija'' [History of Lithuanian]. I. Vilnius: Mokslas. pp.&nbsp;214–215. {{ISBN|5-420-00102-0}}.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:100px" |
! colspan="3" |''*d(u)u̯ō'' 'two'
! rowspan="2" |''*trii̯es'' 'three'
! rowspan="2" |''*ketures'' 'four'
|-
! style="width:100px" |Masculine
! style="width:100px" |Neuter
! style="width:100px" |Feminine
|-
!Nominative
|''*d(u)u̯ō''<ref>{{cite book|last=Zinkevičius|first=Z.|title=Lietuvių kalbos istorinė gramatika. II|publisher=„Mokslas“|location=Vilnius|date=1981|pages=57|isbn=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=V. Mažiulis |title=dwai |url=http://www.prusistika.flf.vu.lt/zodynas/paieska/1?id=421 |access-date=2022-01-07 |publisher=Prūsų kalbos paveldo duomenų bazė [Prussian language heritage database]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=du|url=https://etimologija.baltnexus.lt/?w=du|publisher=Lietuvių kalbos etimologinio žodyno duomenų bazė|access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref>
|colspan="2"|''*d(u)u̯ai''
|''*trii̯es''
|''*ketures''
|-
! Genitive
| colspan="3" |''*d(u)u̯a(i)i̯aus''
|''*trii̯ōn''
|''*keturōn''
|-
!Dative
| colspan="3" |''*d(u)u̯eimā''
|''*trimas''
|''*keturmas''
|-
!Accusative
|''*d(u)u̯ō''
| colspan="2"|''*d(u)u̯ai''
|''*trins''
|''*keturins''
|-
!Instrumental
| colspan="3" |''*d(u)u̯eimā''
|''*trimīs''
|''*keturmīs''
|-
!Locative
| colspan="3" |''*d(u)u̯a(i)i̯aus''
|''*trisu''
|''*ketursu''
|}
Proto-Baltic people applied the principles for ''*ketures'' (PIE: ''*k<sup>u̯</sup>etu̯ores'') 'four' inflexion to numerals ''*penkes'' (PIE: ''*penk<sup>u̯</sup>e'') 'five', ''*ušes / *sešes'' (PIE:''*u̯eḱs / *su̯eḱs'') 'six', ''*septines'' (PIE:''*septṃ'') 'seven', ''*aštōnes'' (PIE: ''*oḱtō'') 'eight' and ''*neu̯ines'' (PIE: ''*neu̯ṇ'') 'nine'. In PIE, numerals from five to nine were not inflected. The early Proto-Baltic might have retained the uninflected numeral forms of ''*septin'' 'seven', ''*aštō'' 'eight', ''*neu̯in'' 'nine' as well.<ref>''Zinkevičius, Z. (1981). Lietuvių kalbos istorinė gramatika [The Historical Grammar of Lithuanian]. II. Vilnius: Mokslas. pp.&nbsp;59–60.''</ref> The reconstruction of Latvian language indicates that ''*septines'' 'seven' and ''*neu̯ines'' 'nine' with the short ''*i'' is plausible.

==== Ordinal numbers ====
The masculine and neuter [[Ordinal number|ordinal number]]s were inflected as nouns possessing word stem ''o'' while feminine ones were inflected as nouns with word stem ''ā''. Ordinal numbers from first to tenth in Proto-Baltic were as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! Proto-Baltic !! Proto-Indo-European !! Meaning 
|-
|''*pirmas'' || ''*pṛmos'' || first
|-
| ''*antaras'' || ''*ontoros / *onteros'' || second
|-
| ''*treti̯as / *tirt(i̯)as'' || ''*tri-t-'' || third
|-
| ''*ketu̯irtas'' || ''*k<sup>u̯</sup>etu̯ṛtos'' || fourth
|-
| ''*penktas'' || ''*penk<sup>u̯</sup>tos'' || fifth
|-
| ''*uštas / *seštas'' || ''*u̯eḱstos / *su̯eḱstos'' || sixth 
|-
| ''*septmas'' || ''*septṃos'' || seventh
|-
|''*aštmas'' (''*-mas'' from ''*septmas'') || ''*oḱtuu̯os / *oḱtōu̯os'' || eight
|-
|''*neu̯intas'' (''*-tas'' from other numerals) || ''*neuṇos'' || ninth
|-
| ''*dešimtas'' || ''*deḱṃtos'' || tenth
|}

== References ==
<references />

== Further reading ==
* Hill, Eugen. "Phonological evidence for a Proto-Baltic stage in the evolution of East and West Baltic". In: ''International journal of diachronic linguistics and linguistic reconstruction [IJDL]''. 2016, 13, p.&nbsp;205-232. {{ISSN|1614-5291}}.
* Kortland, Frederic. "[https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/79930 Proto-Baltic?]". In: ''Baltistica''. 2018, t. 53, Nr. 2, pp.&nbsp;175–185. DOI: 	10.15388/Baltistica.53.2.2338
* Svensson, Miguel Villanueva. "On the relationship between West Baltic and East Baltic". In: ''Baltai ir slavai: dvasinių kultūrų sankirtos''. Vilnius: Versmė, 2014. pp.&nbsp;162–176. {{ISBN|978-9955-589-99-0}}.

== External links ==
* [http://etimologija.baltnexus.lt/ Lithuanian Etymological Dictionary Database] ''(in Lithuanian)''
* [http://www.prusistika.flf.vu.lt/paieska/paieska/ Old Prussian Language Heritage Database] ''(in Lithuanian)''
* [http://www.esparama.lt/es_parama_pletra/failai/ESFproduktai/2014_Foundations_of_Baltic_Languages.pdf Foundations of Baltic Languages, Pietro U. Dini] ''(in English)''

{{Baltic languages}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baltic}}
[[Category:Proto-languages]]

{{Sourceattribution|Proto-Baltic language}}