This mode expands on the concept of the X subject forms, where the subject is a “indefinite subject”, non-specific as to gender and number. There is no word in English to represent such a subject. The subject is vague to the point that one cannot translate using someone, because the subject could just as well be some people or something or some things.
The English passive comes closest to translating this concept.
For example:
"Indefinite Subject" hurt me.
Someone, something, some people or some objects hurt me.
“I was hurt” (English passive form)A logical step by step approach starting with the direct mode form of a verb will help one understand indefinite subject forms:
(1) Direct: I hurt him
(2) Inverse: He hurt me
(3) Passive: Indefinite subject hurt me
(4) Translation: I was hurtSome verbs like wiiniiheew vta make s.o. angry make more sense using this step by step approach:
Direct: I made him angry.
Inverse: He made me angry.
Passive: Indefinite subject made me angry.
Translation: I was made angry or I was angered.Another example, using the 2nd person singular: sakweelumeew worry about s.o.
Direct: You worried about him
Inverse: He worried about you.
Passive Indefinite subject worried about you.
Translation: You were being worried about.These forms use the direction marker (ukee) followed by m endings.
Third person forms use the X subject forms we already know from the study of the direct mode.
Negative forms, subordinative mode forms and conjunct forms of this mode may also be inflected.
VTA Indefinite Subject Inverse Indicative Mode (Passives)
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| nu-(stem)-ukee(m) | I was —- |
| ku-(stem)-ukee(m) | you were —- |
| —-(stem)-aaw* | He / She was —- |
| nu-(stem)-ukéhna | we were —- (excl) |
| ku-(stem)-ukéhna | we were —– (incl) |
| ku-(stem)-ukéhmwa | ye were —– |
| —-(stem)-aawak* | They were —– |
*3rd person objects with an indefinite subject use the X subject (indefinite subject) forms of the indicative mode X—him, X—they-animate (stem)-aaw and (stem)-aawak
Néewkeem or néewke
I was seen
Kŭnéewke.
You were seen.
Éewachu-néewaaw.
He was often seen
éewachu- PV often
Míhka ndalóoluke.
I was hired relunctantly
alóoleew hire s.o.
mihka pc do relunctantly
Nihláawak.
They were killed.
Ahwáalaaw.
He is loved.
Go to VTA Indefinite Subject Practicum I
VTA Negative Indefinite Subject Inverse Indicative Mode (Passives)
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-ukeewi | I was not —- |
| mah ku-(stem)-ukeewi | you were not —- |
| mah —-(stem)-aawi* | He / She was not —- |
| mah nu-(stem)-ukeewíhna | we were not —- (excl) |
| mah ku-(stem)-ukeewíhna | we were not —– (incl) |
| mah ku-(stem)-ukeewíhmwa | ye were not —– |
| mah —-(stem)-aawiiwak* | They were not —– |
Mah ngataalkéewi.
I'm not wanted.
Mah neewkéewi.
I was not seen.
Mah kuneewkéewi.
You were not seen.
Mah neewaawi.
He was not seen.
Mah ndaloolukéewi
I was not hired
alóoleew hire s.o.
Mah nihlaawíiwak.
They were not killed.
Mah ahwaaláawi.
He is not loved.
Go to VTA Indefinite Subject Practicum II
Special stems :
(stem-aw)-ukee = (stem)-aakee
(stem-uw)-ukee = (stem)-ookee
(stem-ahw)-ukee = (stem-ah)-ookee
(stem-ushw)-ukee = (stem-ush)-ookee
(stem-usw)-ukee = (stem-us)-ookee
Njunŭstáake.
I was misunderstood
aw+ukee=aakee
chunustáweew misunderstand s.o.
Mah njunŭstaakéewi.
I was not misunderstood.
Ktumshóoke.
You were cut.
(tumushw)ee+w
Ndayookéhna.
We were kept.
ayuweew
Wéenaa nuloosookéhna.
We were almost burned
wéenaa pc almost, nearly
Mah nuloosookeewíhna.
We were not burned
VTA Stems Ending in (aw) or (uw)
| Structure | Inflection Result | Example | Inflected | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (stem-aw)-ukee | (stem)aakee | kulústaweew | ngulsutáake | I was listened to |
| (stem-uw)-ukee | (stem)ookee | péeshuweew | mbéeshooke | I was brought |
| (stem-x)-ukee | (stem)xookee | kxweew | ngaxooke | I was feared |
VTA Stems with ”hidden” (hw) or (sw)
| Medial | Meaning | Stem | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ahw | tool | (stem-ahw)-ukee | (stem-ah)ookee | páhtheew |
| ushw | cutting | (stem-ushw)-ukee | (stem-ush)ookee | tumúsheew |
| usw | heat | (stem-usw)-ukee | (stem-us)ookee | lóoseew |
VTA Irregular Verb leew say to s.o.
| Direct objective | Inverse objective | Inanimate Subj | Inanimate Subj absolute | Indefinite Subj |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ndulaaw | ndukw | ndukwun | ndukw +noun | nduke |
| ktulaaw | ktukw | ktukwun | ktukw +noun | ktuke |
| wtulaawal | wtukool | wtukwun | lukw +obv-noun | laaw |
| ndulaawuna | ndukoona | ndukwuneen | ndukóhna +noun | ndukéhna |
| ktulaawuna | ktukoona | ktukwuneen | ktukóhna +noun | ktukéhna |
| ktulaawa | ktukoowa | ktukwuneewa | ktulóhmwa +noun | ktukéhmwa |
| wtulaawaawal | wtukoowaawal | wtukwuneewa | lukook +obv-noun | laawak |
The (l) drops before ukw in forms with a prefix on the stem.
When a preverb takes the prefix, the (l) does not drop.
Ngáta-lukw. He intends to say to me.
VTA Irregular Verb mhwéew eat s.o.
| Direct objective | Inverse objective | Inanimate Subj | Inanimate Subj absolute | Indefinite Subj |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nŭmwuhaaw | nŭmwuhookw | nŭmwuhookwun | nŭmwuhookw +noun | nŭmwuhooke |
| kŭmwuhaaw | kŭmwuhookw | kŭmwuhookwun | kŭmwuhookw +noun | kŭmwuhooke |
| mwuhaawal | mwuhookool | mwuhookwun | mhwukw +obv-noun | mhwaaw |
| numwuhaawuna | numwuhookoona | numwuhookwuneen | numwuhookóhna +noun | numwuhookéhna |
| kumwuhaawuna | kumwuhookoona | kumwuhookwuneen | kumwuhookóhna +noun | kumwuhookéhna |
| kumwuhaawa | kumwuhookoowa | kumwuhookwuneewa | kumwuhookóhmwa +noun | kumwuhookéhmwa |
| mwuhaawaawal | mwuhookoowaawal | mwuhookwuneewa | mhwukwak +obv-noun | mhwaawak |
The stem (mwuhw) collapses to (mhw) if not stressed.
If stressed, (mwuh) drops the final (w)
(nu)(mwúhw)(aa)(w) => nŭmwúhaaw
Ngata-mhwaaw
mwu is pronounced “mo”
(ref Goddard, Historical Phonology)