VTIs conjugate into the conjunct mode exactly like VAIs and VOTIs.
Consonant ending VTIs include a large number of class 1a and class 1b verbs by virtue of the class markers (-am) and (-um) VAIOs with stems which end in consonants conjugate conjunct mode forms exactly like consonant ending VAIs.
The class markers -am and -um add the 3rd person ending -k forming a nasal cluster (amk) and umk. By sound law the nasal component drops and the ending becomes -ak and -uk respectively.
The class markers interact with X subject ending -umuk such that -am-umuk coalesces to -ammuk or more simply: -amuk. The same process with the class marker -um yields -umuk.
VTI Conjunct – Consonant stems
| Form | (—)am | (—)um | (consonant stem) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | (—)am-ah | (—)um-ah | (consonant stem)-ah |
| 2nd sg | (—)am-an | (—)um-an | (consonant stem)-an |
| 3rd sg | (—)ak | (—)uk | (consonant stem)uk |
| 1st pl (exclusive) | (—)am-aak | (—)um-aak | (consonant stem)-aak |
| 12 pl (inclusive) | (—)am-akw | (—)um-akw | (consonant stem)-akw |
| 2nd pl | (—)am-aakw | (—)um-aakw | (consonant stem)-aakw |
| 3rd pl | (—)am-htiit | (—)um-htiit | (consonant stem)-htiit |
| x subj | (—)amuk | (—)umuk | (consonant stem)-umuk |
Example: ąąyąątam vti1a he wants s.t.
aatanih-ąąyąątamah
aatanih-ąąyąątaman
aatanih-ąąyąątak
aatanih-ąąyąątamaak
aatanih-ąąyąątamakw
aatanih-ąąyąątamaakw
aatanih-ąąyąątamhtiit
aatanih-ąąyąątamuk
X Subject Forms
One may use the forms ending in -umuk in which case the final m of the class marker merges with the ending -umuk as explained earlier.
A ‘derived passive’ form conjugated into conjunct mode could be used however. ‘Derived’ refers to the process of using part of one word to construct a new word. This process was described earlier and will be briefly reviewed below:
Derived passive verbs may be constructed by adding (-ąąθii) on the main part on the vti stem:
Aąyąątam.
He wants it
Removal of the class marker (am) gives up the stem.
(ąąyąąt) + (ąąθii) + (w) = derived passive vii
Aąyąątąąθuw.
It is wanted.
(indicative mode vii)
Aatanih-ąąyąątąąθiik.
When it is wanted.
(vii conjunct mode)
Aatanih-ąąyąątamuk
When it is wanted.
(vti conjunct mode)
Vowel Ending Stems
Vowel ending stems include verbs ending in (ii) such as the vaio:
Míichuw.
He eats something.
Also there are the numerous VTI class2 stems which end in (aa). The (aa) class marker formerly used the class marker (aw) in all conjunct forms except before the 3rd personal plural ending (-htiit), and before the conjunct negative suffixes. Older Mahican texts written by John Sergeant used the aw marker but by the time of Aupaumut these verbs were conjugated as if they were stable stems ending in aa
VAIOs with vowel endings behave, for conjugation purposes in conjunct order, like VAIs. The paradigm for all these vowel endings will be reproduced below, and it is identical to the chart from the VAI Conjunct chapter.
Vowel ending stems insert (y) before the non 3rd person conjunct endings which all start with a vowel.
miichii + ah => (miichii)-y-aan => míichuyah
The (y) induces modifications to the stem vowel as follows:
(ii) + (y) => uy (ąą) + (y) => ąąy (aa) + y => ay
All other conjunct endings are added directly to the verb stem
=> (---) - (t)
=> (---) - (htiit)
=> (---) - (muk) for the X subject
VTI/VAIO Conjunct – Vowel stems
The paradigm below illustrates a VTI/VAIO with a stem ending in (aa).
| Basic paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (stem)-ay-ah | I — |
| (stem)-ay-an | You — |
| (stem)-aa-t | He or She — |
| (stem)-ay-aak | We — (inclusive) |
| (stem)-ay-akw | We — (exclusive) |
| (stem)-ay-aakw | You (pl) — |
| (stem)-a-htiit | They — |
| (stem)-aa-muk | There is — |
VTI/VAIO Conjunct – Vowel stems
The paradigm below illustrates a VTI/VAIO with a stem ending in (ąą).
| Basic paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (stem)-ąąy-ah | I — |
| (stem)-ąąy-an | You — |
| (stem)-ąą-t | He or She — |
| (stem)-ąąy-aak | We — (inclusive) |
| (stem)-ąąy-akw | We — (exclusive) |
| (stem)-ąąy-aakw | You (pl) — |
| (stem)-a-htiit | They — |
| (stem)-ąą-muk | There is — |
VTI/VAIO Conjunct – Vowel stems
The paradigm below illustrates a VTI/VAIO with a stem ending in (ii).
| Basic paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (stem)-uy-ah | I — |
| (stem)-uy-an | You — |
| (stem)-ii-t | He or She — |
| (stem)-uy-aak | We — (inclusive) |
| (stem)-uy-akw | We — (exclusive) |
| (stem)-uy-aakw | You (pl) — |
| (stem)-ii-htiit | They — |
| (stem)-ii-muk | There is — |
Examples to illustrate each stem type:
(1) munaaw vaio he drinks something ; (aa) stable
aatan-munáyah
aatan-munáyan
aatan-munaat
aatan-munáyaak
aatan-munáyakw
aatan-munáyaakw
aatan-munahtiit
aatan-munaamukuw: vaio he says it ; (ii) unstable
aatan-úyah *
aatan-úyán
aatan-iit
aatan-úyaakw
aatan-úyakw
aatan-úyaakw
aatan-íhtiit
aatan-iimuk
* or aatan-íiyah etcpumaaw vaio-ąą shoot s.t. or s.o. ; (ąą) unstable
aatan-pumąąyah
aatan-pumąąyan
aatan-pumąąt
aatan-pumąąyaak
aatan-pumąąyakw
aatan-pumąąyaakw
aatan-pumahtiit
aatan-pumąąmuk
Negative VTI Conjunct
Negatives form just like the VAI conjunct negatives:
Consonant ending stems insert (oo) before the negative suffix (w)
Regular conjunct an-endings are added to the (w).
(w) + (k) => (kw) in the 3rd sg negative conjunct
The 3rd person plural also has the shift to (kw) word finally.
VTI Negative Conjunct Mode
| Vowel stem paradigm | Consonant stem paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ustah (vowel stem)-wah | ustah (consonant stem)-oowah | I — not |
| ustah (vowel stem)-wan | ustah (consonant stem)-oowan | You — not |
| ustah (vowel stem)-kw | ustah (consonant stem)-ookw | He or She — not |
| ustah (vowel stem)-waak | ustah (consonant stem)-oowaak | We (exclusive)— not |
| ustah (vowel stem)-wakw | ustah (consonant stem)-oowakw | We (inclusive)– not |
| ustah (vowel stem)-waakw | ustah (consonant stem)-oowaakw | You (pl) — not |
| ustah (vowel stem)-htiikw | ustah wu-(consonant stem)-óhtiikw | They — not |
| ustah —-(vowel stem)-mookw | ustah —-(consonant stem)-umookw | There is not — |
Consonant ending examples for the negative forms:
...aanih-ustah-kwiinamoowah
...because I didn't look for it.
...ustah aanih-kwiinamookw
...because he didn't look for it
...ustah aanih-kwiinamoowakw
...because we didn't look for it
...ustah aanih-kwiinamohtiikw
...because they didn't look for it
Vowel ending examples, negative VTI conjunct:
... ustah aanih-miichíiwah
...because I did not eat it
(unstable-ii stems revert to (ii) before negative endings)
... ustah aanih-waawiitaawah
...because I do not know it
... ustah aanih-munaawah
...because I drink it not
Changed VTI Conjunct Mode
The Changed Conjunct Mode is used when the action of the secondary clause co-occurs simultaneously with the action of the main clause.
This mode is characterized by a shift in the initial vowels for (ą) and (ā) called the ‘’Initial Change’‘. This change affects the preverb vowel if present.
Initial Change:
ā => aa
u => aa
ąh => āhAanih-kwiinak.
While she looked for it.
(aanih- pv while, because + conjunct)
Aanih-waawíitaawaakw.
Because you (pl) knew it.
Naakmah ahwaanŭtam aanih-kwiinamohtiikw.
He was angry because they were not looking for it.
Aatan-musunuk.
When he got it.
aatan- pv when,where + conjunct
Aankwih-chihkuθumah.
You burned it somewhat.
aankwih- pv certain amount, extent + conjunct
Tąąn ąąm aankwih-chihkuθuk?
How much of it did he burn?
Anúmθuw aanih-kwiinamakw.
He left while we were looking for it.
Tąąn anukwiikw nih ąąyąątamhtiit?
How much (strongly) do they want that?
anukwiikw pc extent, volume, amount