diff --git a/src/lib/src/misc-helpers.ts b/src/lib/src/misc-helpers.ts
index 0577642..7e473b4 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/misc-helpers.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/misc-helpers.ts
@@ -189,6 +189,16 @@ export function getEnglishGenNumInfo(gender: T.Gender, number: T.NounNumber): st
     return `${gender === "masc" ? "masc" : "fem"} ${number === "plural" ? "plur." : "sing."}`;
 }
 
+export function personToGenNum(p: T.Person): {
+    gender: T.Gender,
+    number: T.NounNumber,
+} {
+    return {
+        gender: personGender(p),
+        number: personNumber(p),
+    };
+}
+
 export function getEnglishParticipleInflection(person: T.Person, version?: "short" | "long"): string {
     const number = personIsPlural(person) ? "plural" : "singular";
     const n = version === "short"
diff --git a/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.test.ts b/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.test.ts
index e49538d..c07109e 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { renderVerb } from "./render-verb";
 import { vEntry } from "./rs-helpers";
 import * as T from "../../../types";
 import { negate } from "rambda";
+import { personToGenNum } from "../misc-helpers";
 
 const wahul = vEntry({"ts":1527815399,"i":15049,"p":"وهل","f":"wahul","g":"wahul","e":"to hit","r":4,"c":"v. trans.","tppp":"واهه","tppf":"waahu","ec":"hit,hits,hitting,hit,hit"});
 const raawrul = vEntry({"ts":1527815214,"i":6954,"p":"راوړل","f":"raawRúl","g":"raawRul","e":"to bring, deliver (inanimate objects)","r":4,"c":"v. trans.","tppp":"راووړ","tppf":"raawoR","noOo":true,"separationAtP":2,"separationAtF":3,"ec":"bring,brings,bringing,brought,brought"});
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ test("basic tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "presentVerb",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ test("basic tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "subjunctiveVerb",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ test("basic tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "habitualPerfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ test("basic tenses with inflecting roots/stems", () => {
         verb: bandawul,
         tense: "subjunctiveVerb",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -524,7 +525,7 @@ test("special endings", () => {
             verb: x.verb,
             tense: x.tense,
             person: T.Person.ThirdSingMale,
-            complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingMale,
+            complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingMale),
             voice: "active",
             negative: false,
         })).toEqual({ hasBa: false, vbs: x.result });
@@ -534,7 +535,7 @@ test("special endings", () => {
         verb: kedulStat,
         tense: "perfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.FirstPlurMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstPlurMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstPlurMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -557,7 +558,7 @@ test("special endings", () => {
         verb: tlul,
         tense: "imperfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -581,7 +582,7 @@ test("special endings", () => {
         verb: tlul,
         tense: "imperfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -606,7 +607,7 @@ test("special endings", () => {
         verb: khorul,
         tense: "imperfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.ThirdPlurMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdPlurMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdPlurMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -629,7 +630,7 @@ test("special endings", () => {
         verb: khorul,
         tense: "perfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.ThirdPlurMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdPlurMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdPlurMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -655,7 +656,7 @@ test("imperative tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "imperfectiveImperative",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -671,7 +672,7 @@ test("imperative tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "perfectiveImperative",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -687,7 +688,7 @@ test("imperative tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "imperfectiveImperative",
         person: T.Person.SecondPlurMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondPlurMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondPlurMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -703,7 +704,7 @@ test("imperative tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "perfectiveImperative",
         person: T.Person.SecondPlurFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondPlurFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondPlurFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -722,7 +723,7 @@ test("ability tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "presentVerbModal",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -758,7 +759,7 @@ test("basic tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "presentVerb",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -775,7 +776,7 @@ test("basic tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "subjunctiveVerb",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -791,7 +792,7 @@ test("basic tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "habitualPerfectivePast",
         person: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -817,7 +818,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "presentPerfect",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -834,7 +835,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "subjunctivePerfect",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -851,7 +852,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "habitualPerfect",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -868,7 +869,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "habitualPerfect",
         person: T.Person.ThirdPlurMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdPlurMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdPlurMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -885,7 +886,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "futurePerfect",
         person: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.FirstSingMale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.FirstSingMale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -902,7 +903,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "pastPerfect",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -926,7 +927,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "wouldBePerfect",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -950,7 +951,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "pastSubjunctivePerfect",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -971,7 +972,7 @@ test("perfect tenses", () => {
         verb: wahul,
         tense: "wouldHaveBeenPerfect",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
-        complementPerson: T.Person.SecondSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.SecondSingFemale),
         voice: "active",
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
@@ -996,7 +997,7 @@ test("ending on complex verbs", () => {
         tense: "presentVerbModal",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
         voice: "active",
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingFemale),
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
         hasBa: false,
@@ -1041,7 +1042,7 @@ test("ending on complex verbs", () => {
         tense: "presentVerb",
         person: T.Person.SecondSingMale,
         voice: "active",
-        complementPerson: T.Person.ThirdSingFemale,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(T.Person.ThirdSingFemale),
         negative: false,
     })).toEqual({
         hasBa: false,
diff --git a/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.ts b/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.ts
index 4dd8ecc..815c7c3 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/new-verb-engine/render-verb.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
     isSecondPerson,
     personGender,
     personNumber,
+    personToGenNum,
 } from "../misc-helpers";
 import {
     fmapSingleOrLengthOpts,
@@ -19,20 +20,90 @@ import {
     imperativeEndings,
 } from "../grammar-units";
 import { isKawulVerb, isAbilityTense, isPerfectTense, isTlulVerb, isImperativeTense } from "../type-predicates";
-import { tenseHasBa } from "../phrase-building/vp-tools";
-import { isPastTense } from "../phrase-building/vp-tools"; 
+import { perfectTenseHasBa } from "../phrase-building/vp-tools";
 import { makePsString, removeFVarients } from "../accent-and-ps-utils";
 import { getPastParticiple, getRootStem } from "./roots-and-stems";
-import { getAspect, isKedul, perfectTenseToEquative, verbEndingConcat } from "./rs-helpers";
+import { isKedul, perfectTenseToEquative, verbEndingConcat } from "./rs-helpers";
 import { accentOnNFromEnd, accentPsSyllable, removeAccents } from "../accent-helpers";
 
+const formulas: Record<T.VerbTense | T.ImperativeTense, {
+    aspect: T.Aspect,
+    tenseC: "past" | "present" | "imperative",
+    hasBa: boolean,
+}> = {
+    "presentVerb": {
+        aspect: "imperfective",
+        tenseC: "present",
+        hasBa: false,
+    },
+    "subjunctiveVerb": {
+        aspect: "imperfective",
+        tenseC: "present",
+        hasBa: false,
+    },
+    "perfectiveFuture": {
+        aspect: "perfective",
+        tenseC: "present",
+        hasBa: true,
+    },
+    "imperfectiveFuture": {
+        aspect: "imperfective",
+        tenseC: "present",
+        hasBa: true,
+    },
+    "perfectivePast": {
+        aspect: "perfective",
+        tenseC: "past",
+        hasBa: false,
+    },
+    "imperfectivePast": {
+        aspect: "imperfective",
+        tenseC: "past",
+        hasBa: false,
+    },
+    "habitualImperfectivePast": {
+        aspect: "imperfective",
+        tenseC: "past",
+        hasBa: true,
+    },
+    "habitualPerfectivePast": {
+        aspect: "perfective",
+        tenseC: "past",
+        hasBa: true,
+    },
+    "perfectiveImperative": {
+        aspect: "perfective",
+        tenseC: "imperative",
+        hasBa: false,
+    },
+    "imperfectiveImperative": {
+        aspect: "imperfective",
+        tenseC: "imperative",
+        hasBa: false,
+    },
+}
+
+// to get the chart of conjugations:
+//  1. get the conjugation for all persons
+//  2. if transitive present tense, check (or do all the conjugation) the conjugation with all different complement person stuff
+//     if necessary pull out the object option
+//
+
+// to make the verbs displayable for the charts
+// - take the output of renderVerb { hasBa, VerbRenderedOutput }
+// - filter out a long and short version etc if necessary
+// - pass it into combineIntoText
+
+// PROBLEM: how to handle when to specify the object
+// present tense 
+
 // TODO: problem with laaR - no perfective split
-export function renderVerb({ verb, tense, person, voice, negative, complementPerson }: {
+export function renderVerb({ verb, tense: tense, person, voice, negative, complementGenNum }: {
     verb: T.VerbEntry,
     negative: boolean,
     tense: T.VerbTense | T.PerfectTense | T.AbilityTense | T.ImperativeTense, // TODO: make T.Tense
     person: T.Person,
-    complementPerson: T.Person,
+    complementGenNum: { gender: T.Gender, number: T.NounNumber },
     voice: T.Voice,
 }): {
     hasBa: boolean,
@@ -41,10 +112,8 @@ export function renderVerb({ verb, tense, person, voice, negative, complementPer
     if (isPerfectTense(tense)) {
         return renderPerfectVerb({ verb, tense, voice, person });
     }
-    const isPast = isPastTense(tense);
-    const hasBa = tenseHasBa(tense);
-    const aspect = getAspect(tense, negative);
-    const isImperative = isImperativeTense(tense);
+    const { aspect, tenseC, hasBa } = formulas[removeAbility(tense)];
+    const isPast = tenseC === "past";
     const type = isAbilityTense(tense) ? "ability" : "basic";
 
     // #1 get the appropriate root / stem
@@ -54,13 +123,10 @@ export function renderVerb({ verb, tense, person, voice, negative, complementPer
         aspect,
         voice,
         type,
-        genderNumber: {
-            gender: personGender(complementPerson),
-            number: personNumber(complementPerson),
-        },
+        genderNumber: complementGenNum,
     });
     // #2 add the verb ending to it
-    const ending = getEnding(person, isPast, isImperative, aspect);
+    const ending = getEnding(person, tenseC, aspect);
     return {
         hasBa,
         vbs: [
@@ -85,13 +151,9 @@ function renderPerfectVerb({ tense, verb, voice, person }: {
     person: T.Person,
     // TODO: Tighter typing on the output for T.VB (enforce genderNumber?)
 }): { hasBa: boolean, vbs: [[], [T.VB, T.VBE]] } {
-    const hasBa = tenseHasBa(tense);
-    const genderNumber = {
-        gender: personGender(person),
-        number: personNumber(person),
-    };
+    const hasBa = perfectTenseHasBa(tense);
     // #1 get the past participle
-    const pp = getPastParticiple(verb, voice, genderNumber);
+    const pp = getPastParticiple(verb, voice, personToGenNum(person));
     // #2 get the right equative
     const equative = equativeEndings[perfectTenseToEquative(tense)];
     const [row, col] = getVerbBlockPosFromPerson(person);
@@ -141,7 +203,7 @@ function addEnding({ verb, rs, ending, person, pastThird, aspect, basicForm }: {
             }
             const endLong = getLength(end, "long");
             const endShort = getLength(end, "short");
-            // TODO: this is hackyۉ
+            // TODO: this is hacky
             return {
                 ...vb,
                 ps: {
@@ -166,8 +228,8 @@ function addEnding({ verb, rs, ending, person, pastThird, aspect, basicForm }: {
     }
 }
 
-function getEnding(person: T.Person, isPast: boolean, isImperative: boolean, aspect: T.Aspect) {
-    if (isImperative) {
+function getEnding(person: T.Person, tenseC: "present" | "past" | "imperative", aspect: T.Aspect) {
+    if (tenseC === "imperative") {
         if (!isSecondPerson(person)) {
             throw new Error("imperative forms must be second person");
         }
@@ -178,7 +240,7 @@ function getEnding(person: T.Person, isPast: boolean, isImperative: boolean, asp
             : ends;
     }
     const [row, col] = getVerbBlockPosFromPerson(person);
-    return isPast ? {
+    return tenseC === "past" ? {
         long: pastEndings.long[row][col],
         short: pastEndings.short[row][col],
     } : presentEndings[row][col];
@@ -242,3 +304,7 @@ function ensure3rdPast(rs: T.PsString[], ending: T.PsString[], verb: T.VerbEntry
     const ends = endsInDental ? [{ p: "", f: "" }, ...ending] : ending;
     return verbEndingConcat(rs, ends);
 }
+
+function removeAbility(tense: T.VerbTense | T.AbilityTense | T.ImperativeTense): T.VerbTense | T.ImperativeTense {
+    return tense.replace("Modal", "") as T.VerbTense | T.ImperativeTense; 
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lib/src/phrase-building/render-vp.ts b/src/lib/src/phrase-building/render-vp.ts
index be879e8..397dc1b 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/phrase-building/render-vp.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/phrase-building/render-vp.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { getObjectSelection, getSubjectSelection, makeBlock, makeKid } from "./b
 import { renderAPSelection } from "./render-ap";
 import { findPossesivesToShrink, orderKids, getMiniPronounPs } from "./render-common";
 import { renderComplementSelection } from "./render-complement";
+import { personToGenNum } from "../misc-helpers";
 
 export function renderVP(VP: T.VPSelectionComplete): T.VPRendered {
     const subject = getSubjectSelection(VP.blocks).selection;
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ export function renderVP(VP: T.VPSelectionComplete): T.VPRendered {
         verb: VP.verb.verb,
         tense: VP.verb.tense,
         person: kingPerson,
-        complementPerson: objectPerson || kingPerson,
+        complementGenNum: personToGenNum(objectPerson || kingPerson),
         voice: VP.verb.voice,
         negative: VP.verb.negative,
     });
diff --git a/src/lib/src/phrase-building/vp-tools.ts b/src/lib/src/phrase-building/vp-tools.ts
index 7dc87aa..4930055 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/phrase-building/vp-tools.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/phrase-building/vp-tools.ts
@@ -198,16 +198,8 @@ export function isPastTense(tense: T.Tense): boolean {
     return tense.toLowerCase().includes("past");
 }
 
-export function tenseHasBa(tense: T.VerbTense | T.PerfectTense | T.AbilityTense | T.ImperativeTense): boolean {
-    const withBa: Parameters<typeof tenseHasBa>[0][] = [
-        "imperfectiveFuture",
-        "perfectiveFuture",
-        "habitualPerfectivePast",
-        "habitualImperfectivePast",
-        "imperfectiveFutureModal",
-        "perfectiveFutureModal",
-        "habitualPerfectivePastModal",
-        "habitualImperfectivePastModal",
+export function perfectTenseHasBa(tense: T.PerfectTense): boolean {
+    const withBa: Parameters<typeof perfectTenseHasBa>[0][] = [
         "futurePerfect",
         "wouldBePerfect",
         "wouldHaveBeenPerfect",