Mahican VTI Subordinative

Subordinative mode or tense is used for polite commands or requests in narratives and in secondary clauses, when a verb is refers back to something said earlier. A verb in the subordinative has the property of providing additional narrative to what was said in the main clause.

VTI subordinative mode uses the “n endings”, i.e. the same prefix and suffix patterns of combination that are used in indicative mode objective verb constructs.

Strictly speaking verbs in subordinative mode omit plural endings for plural objects but it is fine to use them anyway.

Since there is no difference in conjugation patterns between indicative independent forms and subordinative forms, the discussion here will focus on the ways the subordinative mode is used. Awareness of patterns of use is useful because the subordinative does require special endings in other verb types and because one needs to know which types of subordinate or secondary clauses in phrases and dialogue require use of the subordinative mode versus one of the conjunct modes.

Subordinative verbal clause following another verb clause

wiikatam vti1a like s.t. + verbal complement in the subordinative

Nuwiikatamun numíichiin wuyaaθ.  
I like to eat meat.  
(I like it, me eating meat)  

Storytelling mode:

The subordinative is used to tell us the next part of the story.

Yahah anuθiin. Then he left. 

The subordinative may be useful to shift the focus or emphasis of a phrase :

Nih puyoon ndąąyąątamun.  
This is the violin I wanted.   

Examples using (nun)

Nun wsoowhiikan ndáhtaan.  
That's where I put the book.  
[ahtaaw  vti2 put s.t. down]  

Nun wsoowhiikanan ndáhtaan.  
That's where I put the books.  
[no plural verb ending]  

Preverb mediated subordinative clauses:

Preverbs set the stage for many subordinative constructs.


Kaakway kóochih-iin?  
Why did you say that?  

Maawih thah ndúnih-kwíinamun.  
I looked everywhere for it.  
kwíinam vti1a he looks for s.t.  

Nun=kah ndayúnih-naakhamúnaanah hununíixθuwąąkan.  
Well this is the way we write the language.  
naakham vti1a write s.t. down  
nih- here,there,thus, so     ayunih- 

 

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