Transitive animate verbs are verbs that talk about people doing stuff with people. They are complex because of all the different participants involved, having an animate subject that could be any of the eight persons (I, you, he, we, we, ye, they and X) and an animate object that could be any of the seven possibilities (me, you, him, us, us, ye, them)
VTA Stems
The VTA verb stem is easily deduced from the dictionary listing. These verbs are listed in the 3rd person singular ‘absolute’ form which has the form:
(vta stem)-(eew)
Simply drop the (eew) and you have the functional stem in most instances.
VTA Stem Types
Knowing the VTA stem types is useful because some stem types interact with conjugation endings which start with a (u) to form a contraction to either (aa) or (oo). The table below lists the stem types and the type of contraction for illustration and reference purposes. The contraction will be explained when it is encountered and will be easier to understand with examples.
VTA or Transitive Animate Verb Stems
| Example | Stem Ending | Stem | Contraction | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kulukíiheew | Consonant | (kulukiih) | None | make s.o. laugh |
| páhtheew | Hidden (w) | (pahtahw) | w+ukw=>ookw | hit s.o. by accident |
| móxkaweew | (aw) | (moxkaw) | aw+ukw=>aakw | find s.o. |
| péeshuweew | (uw) | (peeshuw) | uw+ukw=>ookw | bring s.o. |
| wtáxeew | (x) | (wutax) | x+ukw=>xookw | visit s.o. |
| néeweew | (eew) | (neew) | None | sees s.o. |
| muláaweew | (aaw) | (mulaaw) | None | smell s.o.invountarily |
Stems with hidden (w) have a (w) on the stem that only appears in certain conjugated forms as a contraction, where the (w) interacts with (u) to form (oo) This will be discussed in the inverse mode chapter.
Overview of VTA modes of construction
(1) Direct Independent Indicative Mode
Used when a person or animate noun talks of a third person.
Objective and absolute forms exist.
Néewaaw lúnuw. I see him the man
Néeweew lúnuw. I see a man
Inverse Independent Indicative Mode
Reverses the order, i.e a third person talking of a person
(me, you, him, her, we, ye, they)
Nii néewukw.
He sees me. (me-he sees)
“You-me and me-you Local Independent Indicative Modes”
Used when the verb involves non 3rd person subjects and objects.
The prefix (ku) with the direction marker (ul) expresses ‘’me-you’’
Kunéewul.
I saw you.
Kunéewi.
You saw me.
Inanimate subject Indicative mode
Níhlkwun.
It killed me.
Indefinite Subject (Passive) Independent Indicative Mode
I was seen.
(2) Independent Subordinative mode
Has forms for direct, inverse, passives, you-me and me-you constructions.
(3) Conjunct mode
Has forms for direct, inverse, passives, you-me and me-you constructions.
(4) Imperative mode.
Includes commands directed to a 3rd person object such as ‘Show him,’ and commands directed toward a first person object such as ‘Show me.’
The rest of this chapter will be devoted to objective and absolute construction for the VTA direct independent indicative mode.
Objective or Noun Optional Construction
Objective construction is used when one refers to a specific, definite object and may be used with or without a noun in the phrase. (Noun optional construction) The verb in this mode points to a very specific animate object translated as ‘he.’ This ‘he’ might be ‘he’ or ‘she’ or a non-person animate noun such as (pámbiil or book). If a noun is used, the verb is understood as referring to that noun object specifically and in definite way, thus the English translation will use the definite article ‘’the’‘.
Néewaaw.
I saw him
Néewaaw pámbiil.
I saw him, the book.
Neewáawak.
I saw them.
Absolute or Noun Required Construction
Absolute forms are used when one refers to non-specific, indefinite object. In this mode the verb cannot stand alone, in other words a noun or word representing the object must be added. This noun or word added does not refer to any one specific object however, it simply tells one what kind of object one is talking about, in generic terms. Thus the translation in English will use the indefinite articles ‘a’ (or ‘some’). The same verb form is used for a singular or a plural absolute object. This underscores how lacking this mode is in terms of definiteness.
Néewa awéen.
I saw someone.
Néewa pámbiil.
I saw a book.
Néewa pambíilak.
I saw some books.
Neewéewak lúnuwal.
They saw a man.
Conjugation Paradigm for the Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms
Uses prefixes and endings known as the ‘’w endings’‘ (or affixes more properly said…) which are added to (aa) which is the ‘direct’ direction marker for VTAs.
VERB STEM + DIRECTION MARKER + ENDINGS
The (aa) direction marker indicates ‘direct’ speech, in contrast to the (ukw) inverse speech direction marker, to be discussed later.
‘He’ or ‘him’ in the translations provided are used to mean an animate singular entity which could refer to a ‘she’ or ‘her’ or to an animate noun.
VTA Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms (Sg Object)
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| nu-(stem)-aaw* | I — him |
| ku-(stem)-aaw* | You — him |
| wu-(stem)-aawal | He — him (obviative) |
| nu-(stem)-aawuna | We — him (exclusive) |
| ku-(stem)-aawuna | We — him (inclusive) |
| ku-(stem)-aawa | Ye — him |
| wu-(stem)-aawaawal** | They — him (obviative) |
| —-(stem)-aaw | He was — |
*The full (aaw) ending may be used or may be shortened to (a) at the speaker’s discretion
**optionally some speakers may use the sg ending for plural subjects:
wu-(stem)-aawal
Example using the verb kataaleew vta want s.o.
Ngatáalaaw
I want him
Katáalaaw
You want him
Kwataaláawal
S/he wants him
Ngataaláawuna
We want him
Kataaláawuna
We want him
Kataaláawa
Ye want him
Kwataalaawáawal
They want him
Katáalaaw
He is wanted
Go to VTA Practicum I Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms
Negative Forms
These are formed by adding the negative suffix to the direction marker (aa) followed by the w endings.
The final (w) of the 1st and 2nd person singular drops off after the negative suffix, final vowel shortening also applies.
Final (i) optionally may be pronounced or written as (u).
VTA Negative Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms Sg Object
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-aawi | I — him not |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawi | You — him not |
| mah wu-(stem)-aawiiwal | He — him not (obviative) |
| mah nu-(stem)-aawiiwuna | We — him not (exclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawiiwuna | We — him not (inclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawiiwa | Ye — him not |
| mah wu-(stem)-aawiiwaawal | They — him not (obviative) |
| mah —-(stem)-aawi | He was not — |
Example using the verb neeweew vta see s.o.
Mah neewáawu
I saw him not
Mah kuneewáawu
You saw him not
Mah wuneewaawíiwal
S/he saw him not
Mah neewaawíiwuna
We saw him not
Mah kneewaawíiwuna
We saw him not
Mah kuneewaawíiwa
Ye saw him not
Mah wuneewaawíiwal
They saw him not
Mah neewáawu
S/he was not seen
Go to VTA Practicum II Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms 2
Plural objects forms use the animate plural ending (ak). Obviative forms are the same whether sg or pl . Like animate possessed nouns, the forms for ‘we’ and ‘ye’ (1st and 2nd pl subject forms) are the same whether the object is singular or plural.
VTA Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms (Pl Object)
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| nu-(stem)-aawak | I — them |
| ku-(stem)-aawak | You — them |
| wu-(stem)-aawal* | He — them (obviative) |
| nu-(stem)-aawuna* | We — them (exclusive) |
| ku-(stem)-aawuna* | We — them (inclusive) |
| ku-(stem)-aawa* | Ye — them |
| wu-(stem)-aawaawal* | They — them (obviative) |
| —-(stem)-aawak | They were — |
* These forms are the same as the sg object forms
Example using the verb neeweew vta see s.o.
Neewáawak
I saw them
Kuneewáawak
You saw them
Wuneewáawal
S/he saw him, her or them
Neewáawuna
We (excl.) saw saw him or them
Kuneewáawuna
We (incl.) saw him or them
Kuneewàawa
Ye saw him or them
Wuneewaawáawal
They saw him or them
Neewáawak
They were seen
Go to VTA Practicum III Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms Pl Object 3
Negatives for the objective forms with plural object follow the same pattern as the non-negative forms.
VTA Negative Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms Plural Object
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-aawiiwak | I — them not |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawiiwak | You — them not |
| mah wu-(stem)-aawiiwal* | He — them not (obviative) |
| mah nu-(stem)-aawiiwuna* | We — them not (exclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawiiwuna* | We — them not (inclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawiiwa* | Ye — them not |
| mah wu-(stem)-aawiiwaawal* | They — them not (obviative) |
| mah —-(stem)-aawiiwak | They were not — |
*identical to sg object forms
Example using the verb neeweew vta see s.o.
Mah neewaawíiwak
I did not see them
Mah kuneewaawíiwak
You did not see them
Mah wuneewaawíiwal
S/he did not see him, her or them
Mah neewaawíiwuna
We did not see him, her or them
Mah kuneewaawíiwuna
We did not see him, her or them
Mah kuneewaawíiwa
Ye did not see him, her or them
Mah wuneewaawiiwaawal
They did not see him, her or them
Mah neewaawíiwak
They were not seen
Go to VTA Practicum IV Negative Direct Indicative Mode Objective Forms Pl Object 4
Conjugation Paradigm for Absolute VTA Construction
These forms use the m ending set, added to the (aa) direction marker tells us that the mode is direct or non inverse. Like the VTI absolute forms, a noun is required and the verb form does not vary for object plurality. The animate plural ending (ak) references a 3rd person plural subject. There are no plural endings for plural objects because in this mode the object is vague and indefinite.
1st and 2nd sg forms may use the full m ending (-aam) or a truncated ending (-a).
Note the absence of the (wu) prefix in 3rd person sg and pl forms.
Footnote: VTIs and VTAs using m endings conjugate like VAIs almost as if the verb has no object. The noun adds the object but in a non specific form.
VTA Direct Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
Noun Required Construction
| Paradigm | Variant | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nu-(stem)-aam | nu-(stem)-a | I — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) |
| ku-(stem)-aam | ku-(stem)-a | You — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) |
| —-(stem)-eew | He or She — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate obviative noun(s) | |
| nu-(stem)-áhna | We — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) (excl) | |
| ku-(stem)-áhna | We — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) (incl) | |
| ku-(stem)-áhmwa | Ye — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) | |
| —-(stem)-eewak | They — ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate obviative noun(s) |
animate noun = 3rd person animate noun sg or pl; him, her, they, aween, aweeniik, etc
Example using the verb kataaleew vta want s.o.
Ngatáala(am) óhpun
I want a potato
Katáala(am) óhpun
You want a potato
Katáaleew óhpunal
S/he wants a potato
Ngataaláhna óhpun
We want a potato
Kataaláhna óhpun
We want a potato
Kataaláhmwa óhpun
Ye want a potato
Kataaléewak óhpunal
They want a potato
VTIs compared to VTAs
Ngatáatam apwáan.
I want some bread.
(Absolute inanimate transitive)
Ngatáala óhpunak.
I want some potatoes.
(Absolute animate transitive)
Ngatáatamun apwáan.
I want the bread.
(Objective inanimate transitive)
Ngataaláawak óhpunak.
I want the potatoes.
(Objective animate transitive)
Go to VTA Practicum 5 Direct Indicative Mode Absolute Forms 1
Negative absolute forms use (aa) then the negative suffix (w) followed by the m endings with the usual pattern of ending truncation.
Note the (aa) shift to (ee) in the 3rd person forms.
VTA Negative Direct Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
Noun Required Construction
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-aawi | I — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawi | You — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) |
| mah —-(stem)-eewi | He or She — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate obviative noun(s) |
| mah nu-(stem)-aawíhna | We — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) (excl) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawíhna | We — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) (incl) |
| mah ku-(stem)-aawíhmwa | Ye — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate noun(s) |
| mah —-(stem)-eewíiwak | They — not ‘a’ or ‘some’ animate obviative noun(s) |
animate noun = 3rd person animate noun sg or pl; him, her, they, aween, aweeniik, etc
Example using the verb kataaleew vta want s.o.
Mah ngataaláawi óhpun.
I want a potato not
Mah kataaláawi óhpun.
You want a potato not
Mah kataaléewi óhpunal.
S/he wants a potato not
Mah ngataalaawíhna óhpun.
We want a potato not
Mah kataalaawíhna óhpun.
We want a potato not
Mah kataalaawíhmwa óhpun.
Ye want a potato not
Mah kataaleewíiwak óhpunal.
They want a potato not
Mah kataaláawi óhpun.
A potato is not wanted.
No plural object forms exist for these absolute negative constructs;however the required noun can be sg or pl .
(Verb Paradigms: Reference Ives Goddard Delaware Verbal Morphology)
Go to VTA Practicum 6 Negative Direct Indicative Mode Absolute Forms 2