Participles are verbs in conjunct mode that function as a noun or expand the meaning of a noun.
English uses participles also:
A 'boiled' egg
A 'smiling' face
Mahican participles can vary in meaning depending on which part of the verb gets the main focus. One could say that participles may be based on one of verb participants, referred to as the ‘head’ of the phrase.
This point is mostly relevant to other verb types that have more than one participant, however preverbs may sometimes become the head or focal point of a participle.
Where it was. When it happened. VIIs are simple verbs, so participles are straightforward.
They are formed using initial change and normal conjunct endings.
VII participles may be translated using the gloss ‘it which’ where ‘it’ represents the inanimate noun that the verb would use as its subject.
For example, the verb máxkāāyuw = it is red.
Its participle is formed by using initial change (a => āā) and use of the conjunct ending (k) on the verb stem (maxkāāy).
Māāxkāāyuk. 'It which is red' or more simply put, 'the red one.'
Ahtāāw māāxkāāyuk.
It is still there, the red one.
Wāānihk.
That which is good, the good one.
Nah ahtāāw wāānihk.
The nice one is there.
Āānihk.
The rotted one.
Māāxuwāāyuk.
The old one. (from the verb mxuwāāyuw)
Wąąpakah.
When its dawn. Tomorrow.
from the verb wąąpan vii be dawn
Kāāsxuk.
The wind.
The verb is (ksaxun)
Participles may take the plural conjunct ending -kih
Ahtāān māāxkāāyukih.
They are still there, the red ones.
Wāānihkih.
Those which are good, the good ones.
Āānihkih.
The rotted ones.
Māāxuwāāyukih.
The old ones. (from the verb mxuwāāyuw)
Participles may take preverbs:
Chkiiwiisih-māāxkāāyuk.
The little red one.
Aātan-tāāhāāyuk.
Where its cold. The cold place.
thāāyuw vii be cold