Transitive inanimate verbs (VTIs), like VAIs, have an animate subject (I, you, him or her or animate noun, we, ye, they or plural animate noun or two or more animate nouns).
VTIs, being transitive, have an object (it, them) which is obligatorily inanimate in gender.
VTIs talk about ‘people doing stuff with stuff’ and take the form :
subject - verb - object
nŭmíichiin I - eat - it
kŭmiichíinal You - eat - them (inanimate plural)
VAIOs are verbs which conjugate like VTIs but are related to another type of verb (VAIs). VAIO stands for verb animate intransitive +object. These verbs will be integrated into the chapters pertaining to VTIs because they conjugate like VTIs. VAIOs however differ in one key way from VTIs in that the object of a VAIO can be either animate or inanimate.
VTIs may be conjugated into Indicative mode (objective construction or absolute construction), Subordinative mode, all four Conjunct Modes, and Imperative Mode.
VTIs are listed under their 3p sg indicative mode, absolute form in the dictionary.
To conjugate a verb one must learn the typical ways the prefixes interact with the verb stem (beginnings patterns) and the ways the endings interact with the verb stem (endings patterns)
Classes of VTI
VTI stems come in 3 classes, based on a stem ending phoneme called a class marker.
Class 1a VTIs always end in (am).
Class 1b VTIs use the (um) class marker.
Class 2 uses the (oo) marker which changes to (aw) in the conjunct.
Class 3 VTIs are few in number and have no class marker. Stems endings in (ii), (nd) and (m).
pŭmutáachiind he drags s.t. along
longwaam vti3 he dreams about s.t.
peettaachiind vti3 he drags s.t. to here
mŭláam he smells s.t.
wund he gets it from somewhere
piind he puts s.t. on (clothing)
ktaam he eats all of it
neem he sees it
miichuw he eats it (why not a vaio?) (because only takes inanimate object)
VTI or Transitive Inanimate Verb Stems
| Verb ending | Stem | Stem type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| –am | (stem-am) | vti1a | katáatam | he wants s.t |
| –um | (stem-um) | vti1b | lúnum | he does it |
| –oow | (stem-oo) | vti2 | péetoow | he brings it |
| –uw | (stem-ii) | vti3 | míichuw | he eats it |
| –m | (stem-m) | vti3 | neem | he sees it |
| –nd | (stem-nd) | vti3 | piind | he puts it on |
VAIOs have diverse stem endings similar to the VAIs and these are listed below for reference. Note that some VAIOs have unstable stems and shift the stem vowel according to characteristic patterns in the 3rd person forms whereas stable verbs do not undergo this shift.
VAIO or Animate Intransitive + Object Verb Stems
| Verb ending | Stem | Stem type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| –iiw | (stem-ii) | vaio stable | lóowiiw | pass by s.t. |
| –eew | (stem-ee) | vaio stable | munéew | drink s.t. |
| –uw | (stem-ii) | vaio unstable | uw | say s.t |
| –puw | (stem-pwii) | vaio unstable | ndúpuw | cook s.t. |
| –kuw | (stem-kwii) | vaio unstable | akúw | wear s.t. |
| –eew | (stem-aa) | vaio unstable | wihkwíhleew | run out of s.t. |
| –iin | (stem-iin) | vaio consonant | makwíisiin | have s.t. swell up |
| –k | (stem-k) | vaio consonant | meek | give s.t. away |
| –kw | (stem-kw) | vaio consonant | nhíinaakw | be lucky for s.t. |
| –l | (stem-l) | vaio consonant | paaláakchehl | jump over s.t. |
VTI Indicative Mode Overview
The VTI Independent Indicative supports two types of construction:
Objective Object Mode with Noun Optional Construction
Néemun.
I saw it.
Néemun ahpapoon.
I saw it, the chair.
Néemunal niil ahpapoonal.
I saw them - those chairs.
This mode refers to specific, definite objects. The verb (neemun) needs no noun, because the verb itself includes a subject, and a definite specific inanimate object translated as ‘it’. Both the speaker and listener should know exactly what is the identity of ‘it’ when this type of construction is used. A noun may be used, in which case the ‘’it’‘ included in the verb is understood as referring to that noun object specifically. The English translation therefore will use the definite article ’‘the’‘ to address the object “it”.
Absolute or Noun Required Construction
Neem kweek.
I saw s.t.
Neem ahpapoon.
I saw a chair.
Neem ahpapoonal.
I saw some chairs.
Néemook túndeew.
They saw a fire.
This is the mode one uses when speaking of an object in a non-specific way. In this mode, the verb (neem) only contains information about the subject and that an object of some type and of some quantity will follow. Therefore a verb in this mode cannot stand alone, a noun must be added. The noun then tells us what kind of object is being talking about, in generic terms and number. The translation in English uses one of the indefinite articles ‘a’ or ‘some’. The verb form is the same regardless of whether the object is singular or plural. This underscores how lacking this mode is in terms of definiteness.
Go to VTI Practicum 1 Basics
Conjugation Paradigms
Objective VTI constructs use prefixes and endings known as the ‘’n endings’’
Singular Object Forms:
These forms are used when the object is singular and will be referred to as ‘it.’
VTI Indicative Mode Objective Forms (with singular object)
| Vowel stem paradigm | Consonant stem paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nu-(vowel stem)-n | nu-(consonant stem)-un | I — it |
| ku-(vowel stem)-n | ku-(consonant stem)-un | You — it |
| wu-(vowel stem)-n | wu-(consonant stem)-un | He or She — it |
| nu-(vowel stem)-neen | nu-(consonant stem)-uneen | We — it (exclusive) |
| ku-(vowel stem)-neen | ku-(consonant stem)-uneen | We — it (inclusive) |
| ku-(vowel stem)-neewa | ku-(consonant stem)-uneewa | Ye — it |
| wu-(vowel stem)-neewa | wu-(consonant stem)-uneewa | They — it |
Note the (wu) prefix in the 3rd person forms of the n ending set.
Consonant ending stems insert (u) before the n endings, whereas vowel ending stems do not.
Examples for each stem type:
VTI class 1a example
ngatáatamun I want it
katáatamun
kwatáatamun
ngataatamúneen
kataatamúneen
kataatamunéewa
kwataatamunéewa
VTI class 1b example
ndulŭnúmun I did it
ktulŭnúmun
wtulŭnúmun
ndulŭnumúneen
ktulŭnumúneen
ktulŭnumunéewa
wtulŭnumunéewa
VTI class 2 example
mbéetoon I brought it
kupéetoon
péetoon
mbeetóoneen
kŭpeetóoneen
kŭpeetoonéewa
peetoonéewa
VTI Class 3 example
numíichiin I ate it
kumíichiin
míichiin
numiichíineen
kumiichíineen
kumiichiinéewa
miichiinéewa
VAIOs conjugate indicative objective forms like (miichuw) and do not shift the stem ending vowel for any forms in this set.
Munéew vaio he drinks it.
Numúneen. I drank it.
Kumúneen
Wumúneen
Numunéeneen
Kumunéeneen
Kumuneenéewa
Wumuneenéewa
Examples
Word List:
mshaatam vti1a think about s.t.. remember s.t.
naatum get s.t., go after s.t.
wuláhtoow vti2 put s.t. away
wund vti3 get it from somewhere
kang- kangu- pv can do s.t. that was impossible
kíimii- pv secretly
ngúmee pc always (pronounced like “gó mæ”)
Nii numusháatamun. (nu(mshaatam)un)
I remember it.
Yéelak ngíimii-wúndun asún.
Shukw ngúmee kunáatumun.
I secretly got the rock from over there. But you always were going after it.
Kii ha kumusháatamun kweek éeyan?
Do you remember what you said?
Kángu- aa ha nu -kiish-lúnumun? Kwángu- aa ha nu -kiish-lúnumun?
Can you do it? Can he do it?
(Reference John O'Meara Munsee Delaware Dictionary)
Néeka teet musháatamun.
He might remember it.
Niilóona noolahtóoneen apwáan.
We put the bread away.
Kiilóona kŭchanu-lunumúneen.
We did it in error.
Kiilóowa aa kangu-naatamunéewa apwáan.
Ye can get the bread.
Kway neekáawa kwata-miichiinéewa apwáan.
They want to eat the bread now.
Go to VTI Indicative Mode Practicum 2 Objective 1
Plural Object Forms:
These forms are used when the object is plural and will be referred to as ‘them.’ Only some of these forms add the plural ending (-al) to the regular verb ending.
VTI Indicative Mode Objective Forms (with plural object)
| Vowel stem paradigm | Consonant stem paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nu-(vowel stem)-n-al | nu-(consonant stem)-un-al | I — them* |
| ku-(vowel stem)-n-al | ku-(consonant stem)-un-al | You — them |
| wu-(vowel stem)-n-al | wu-(consonant stem)-un-al | He or She — them |
| nu-(vowel stem)-neen** | nu-(consonant stem)-uneen** | We — them (exclusive) |
| ku-(vowel stem)-neen** | ku-(consonant stem)-uneen** | We — them (inclusive) |
| ku-(vowel stem)-neewa** | ku-(consonant stem)-uneewa** | Ye — them |
| wu-(vowel stem)-neewa** | wu-(consonant stem)-uneewa** | They — them |
* them refers to more than one of s.t. inanimate
** identical to forms with sg object
The verb katáatam vti1a he wants it
ngataatamúnal I want them
kataatamúnal
kwataatamúnal
ngataatamúneen
kataatamúneen
kataatamunéewa
kwataatamunéewa
Examples:
Nii numushaatamúnal.
(nu(mshaatam)un-al)
I remember the things.
Yéelak ngíimii-wúndunal asúnal.
Shukw ngúmee kunaatumúnal.
I secretly got them, the rocks, from over there. But you always were going after them.
Kii ha kumushaatamúnal kweekwiil éeyan?
Do you remember the things you said?
Kwángu- aa ha nu -kiish-lunumúnal?
Can he do those things?
Néeka teet musháatamunal kwiishooxkw-wuskiinjkwahíikanal.
He might remember them, his sunglasses.
Niilóona noolahtóoneen shookulapwáanshal.
We put the cookies away.
Kiilóona kŭchanu-lunumúneen.
We did it, them in error.
Kiilóowa aa kangu-naatamunéewa shookulapwáanshal.
Ye can get the cookies.
Kway neekáawa kwata-miichiinéewa shookulapwáanshal.
They want to eat them, the cookies now.
Note that sg and plural object forms are the same for we, ye and they subjects:
Niilóona neemuneen máhksun.
Niilóona neemuneen mahksúnal.
Notes on VAIOs
VAIOs handle objects differently. The 3rd person object of a VAIO can be animate or inanimate.
(VAIOs are animate intransitive verbs + object, also called pseudo-intransitive verbs)
For more information, see: O’Meara, John. 1992. “Intransitive Verbs with Secondary Objects in Munsee Delaware.” W. Cowan, ed., Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Algonquian Conference, pp. 322–333. Ottawa: Carleton University.
VAIOs with an animate object
If the animate object of a VAIO is obviative, then an obviative ending is added. This can occur if both the subject and the object are animate 3rd persons or animate nouns.
If the animate object of a VAIO is plural and non-obviative, then the animate plural ending (ak) is added, but only to those forms which use an ending of this type, i.e. the sg 1st and 2nd person subject forms.
VAIOs with an inanimate object
If the inanimate object of a VAIO is singular, no additional endings are required. Inanimate objects are never obviative.
If the inanimate object of a VAIO is plural, then it uses the inanimate plural ending (-al) after the ‘n endings’ but only for forms with 1st, 2nd and 3rd person singular subjects (I, you, he)
VAIO Forms with Plural or Obviative Object
| Sg Animate Object | Pl Animate Object | Form | Sg Inanimate Object | Pl Inanimate Object |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nu-(stem)-un | nu-(stem)-un-ak | 1st sg | nu-(stem)-un | nu-(stem)-un-al |
| ku-(stem)-un | ku-(stem)-un-ak | 2nd sg | ku-(stem)-un | ku-(stem)-un-al |
| wu-(stem)-un-al | wu-(stem)-un-al | 3rd sg | wu-(stem)-un | wu-(stem)-un-al |
| nu-(stem)-uneen | nu-(stem)-uneen | 1st pl | nu-(stem)-uneen | nu-(stem)-uneen |
| ku-(stem)-uneen | ku-(stem)-uneen | 2+1pl | ku-(stem)-uneen | ku-(stem)-uneen |
| ku-(stem)-uneewa | ku-(stem)-uneewa | 2nd pl | ku-(stem)-uneewa | ku-(stem)-uneewa |
| Not attested* | Not attested* | 3rd pl | wu-(stem)-uneewa | wu-(stem)-uneewa |
* I found no examples of 3rd plural subject forms with obviative object in the dictionary or in the Delaware Verbal Morphology book or in John O’Meara’s article ‘Intransitive Verbs with Secondary Objects in Munsee Delaware’. There is a way to use a plural subject “they” with an animate object by using absolute state construction. Such forms will be discussed shortly.
Examples with animate and obviative objects.
Niik ha ndohpunúmak. Nii uch ndupwíinak.
Those are my potatoes. I will cook them.
Niil ha wtohpunúmal. Néeka uch wunutpwíinal.
Those are his potatoes. He will cook them.
Example with an inanimate object
Niil ha numalaaxwsíital. Nii uch ndupwíinal.
Go to VTI Indicative Mode Practicum 3 Objective Construction 2
Negative Indicative Mode Objective Forms
Negatives are formed in the following manner:
First add (wu) to the stem then the appropriate n ending and prefix.
Stems ending in consonants insert (-oo-) before (wu)
VTI Negative Indicative Mode Objective Forms with singular object
| Vowel stem paradigm | Consonant stem paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-wun | mah nu-(stem)-oowun | I — it not |
| mah ku-(stem)-wun | mah ku-(stem)-oowun | You — it not |
| mah wu-(stem)-wun | mah wu-(stem)-oowun | He or She — it not |
| mah nu-(stem)-wuneen | mah nu-(stem)-oowuneen | We — it not (exclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-wuneen | mah ku-(stem)-oowuneen | We — it not (inclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-wuneewa | mah ku-(stem)-oowuneewa | Ye — it not |
| mah wu-(stem)-wuneewa | mah wu-(stem)-oowuneewa | They — it not |
VTI Negative Indicative Mode Objective Forms with plural object
| Vowel stem paradigm | Consonant stem paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-wunal | mah nu-(stem)-oowunal | I — them* not |
| mah ku-(stem)-wunal | mah ku-(stem)-oowunal | You — them not |
| mah wu-(stem)-wunal | mah wu-(stem)-oowunal | He or She — them not |
| mah nu-(stem)-wuneen** | mah nu-(stem)-oowuneen** | We — them not (exclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-wuneen** | mah ku-(stem)-oowuneen** | We — them not (inclusive) |
| mah ku-(stem)-wuneewa** | mah ku-(stem)-oowuneewa** | Ye — them not |
| mah wu-(stem)-wuneewa** | mah wu-(stem)-oowuneewa** | They — them not |
* them refers to more than one of s.t. inanimate
** identical to sg object forms
Examples
mah ndulŭnumóowun I did it not
mah ktulŭnumoowun
mah wtulunumóowun
mah ndulŭnumóowŭneen
mah ktulŭnumóowŭneen
mah ktulŭnumoowunéewa
mah wtulŭnumoowunéewa
mah mbeetóowŭnal I brought them not
mah kŭpeetóowŭnal
mah peetóowŭnal
mah mbeetóowuneen
mah kŭpeetóowuneen
mah kŭpeetoowunéewa
mah peetoowunéewa
Mah nii neemóowun áhpapoon.
I don’t see it, the chair.
Mah nii neemóowunal ahpapóonal.
I don’t see them, the chairs.
Mah kii kpundamóowun.
You didn’t hear it.
Mah nii nuweewihtóowun.
Nii nuweewíhtoon.
[weewíhtoow know s.t.]
Mah ngataatamóowun apwáan.
I do not want the bread.
Mah ngataatamóowunal mahksúnal.
I do not want the shoes.
Kii mah koolahtóowun apwáan.
You didn't put away the bread.
Máhta néeka kwata-peetóowun kshulpúlum.
You didn't want to bring your money.
Mah niilóona ngataatamóowuneen apíinay.
We did not want the bed.
Mah niilóona ngataatamóowuneen apíinayal.
We did not want the beds.
Mah kiilóona neemoowuneen apíinay.
We didn't see it, the bed.
Mah kumunoowunéewa mbuy.
Ye didn't drink the water.
Mah oolahtoowunéewa waapasáanayal.
They didn't put away the blankets.
Go to VTI Indicative Mode Practicum 4 Objective Negatives
VTI Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
Absolute Forms
These are used to indicate indefiniteness of the verb object. A noun is almost always supplied with these forms.
If the required noun is plural, it uses the plural inanimate ending (-al), but the verb form does not change endings for a singular versus a plural object.
No obviative endings are used in conjunction with these forms because the object is always inanimate.
VTI indicative mode absolute forms use ’m endings’ just like the VAIs in indicative mode. Note the absence of (wu) prefixes on 3rd person forms.
Unstable stems (VTI and VAIO) shift vowels in the 3rd person absolute forms, using the same patterns of shifting as VAIs :
(ii) + (w) => (uw)
(aa) + (w) => (ee)VTI/VAIO Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
Noun Required Construction
| vowel stem | consonant stem | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nu-(vowel stem)-m* | nu-(consonant stem) | I — a noun; some nouns |
| ku-(vowel stem)-m* | ku-(consonant stem) | You — a noun; some nouns |
| —-(vowel stem)-w | —-(consonant stem) | He or She — a noun; some nouns |
| nu-(vowel stem)-hna | nu-(consonant stem)-óhna | We — a noun; some nouns (excl) |
| ku-(vowel stem)-hna | ku-(consonant stem)-óhna | We — a noun; some nouns (incl) |
| ku-(vowel stem)-hmwa | ku-(consonant stem)-óhmwa | Ye — a noun; some nouns |
| —-(vowel stem)-wak | —-(consonant stem)-ook | They — a noun; some nouns |
*(m) optionally drops
Verb roots ending in consonants add (oo) before the plural subject endings
(oo) + (wak) morphs to (-ook)
Examples for each VTI stem type
VTI1a
Ngatáatam asún I want a rock.
Katáatam asún.
Katáatam asún.
Ngataatamóhna asún.
Kataatamóhna asún.
Kataatamóhmwa asún.
Katáatamook asún.
VTI1b
Ndáyum asún I got a rock.
Ktáyum asún.
Ayúm asún
Ndayumóhna asún
Ktayumóhna asún
Ktayumóhmwa asún
Ayúmook asún
VTI2
Mbéeto asún I brought a rock.
Kŭpéeto asún.
Péetoow asún.
Mbeetóhna asún.
Kpeetóhna asún.
Kpeetóhmwa asún.
Peetóowak asún.
VTI3
Nŭmíichi wahw* I ate an egg.
Kŭmíichi wahw.
Míichuw wahw.
Nŭmiichíhna wahw.
Kŭmiichíhna wahw.
Kŭmiichíhmwa wahw.
Míichuwak wahw.
*Some say wáhwal for ‘an egg’ and wáhwalal for ‘eggs’
(Reference Ives Goddard; Linguistic Variation in a Small Speech Community: The Personal Dialects of Moraviantown Delaware; Anthropological Linguistics;Volume 52, Number 1, Spring 2010;pp. 1-48)
Example showing how the same form is used for singular and plural objects in this construction mode :
Ngatáatam asún.
I want a rock.
Ngatáatam asúnal.
I want some rocks.
Examples showing use of the optional (m) ending, relevant only for vowel ending stems in the 1st and 2nd sg, just like VAIs:
Mbéeto asún.
I brought a rock.
Mbéetoom asún.
I brought a rock.
Kpéeto asún
You brought a rock.
Kpéetoom asúnal.
You brought some rocks.
VAIOs with animate noun objects in this mode use the obviative suffix on the obviative noun, however the verb does not itself take an obviative ending.
kxanuw vaio have s.t., have s.t. animate.
Ngaxani pambíil.
I have a book.
Ngaxani pambíilak.
I have some books.
Nxanuw pambíilal.
He has a book (or some books.)
(obviative construct)
Obviative plural subject forms
VAIOs in this mode have do have attested forms for a plural 3rd person subject, and these may be used as a workaround for situations where one may have wished to use an objective plural 3rd person subject form, which are unattested.
Nxanuwak pambíilal.
They have some books.
VAIOs with unstable stems
VAIOs with unstable stems follow the same patterns here as the VAIs with unstable stems:
(Unstable stem-aa) shifts to (stem)-ee before m endings (w) and (wak)
and before 3rd person negative endings (wi) and (wiiwak)
Nuwihkwíhla pépul.
I ran put of pepper.
Wihkwíhleew pépul.
He ran out of pepper.
Mah wihkwihléewi pépul.
He ran out of pepper not.
Unstable VAIO stem-ii) shifts to (u) before (w) and (wak) only, and not before negative endings.
Nzi kweekw.
I said something.
Uw kweekw.
He said something.
Mah iiwu kweekw.
He didn't say a thing
Examples:
Ngatáatam maaláxkwsíit.
I want a bean.
Ngatáatam maalaxkwsíital.
I want some beans.
Kii móxa katáatam wuskii-apíinay.
You very much want a new bed.
Néeka katáatam wtéehim.
She wants a strawberry.
Ngataatamóhna wteehíimal.
We want some strawberries.
Kiilóona kataatamóhna áhpapoon.
We want a chair.
Kiilóowa ha kataatamóhmwa wuskii-apíinay?
Do ye want a new bed?
Neekáawa katáatamook wiiskíimal.
They want some grapes.
Go to VTI Indicative Mode Practicum 5 Absolute Constructs
VTI and VAIO Negative Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
These are formed the regular way, with the negative suffix inserted between the stem and the m endings. Consonant ending stems insert (oo) before the negative suffix (w) and like always the final (m) or (w) of the singular m endings drop after the negative suffix.
VTI Negative Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
| Paradigm | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mah nu-(stem)-(oo)-wi | I — not a noun; some nouns |
| mah ku-(stem)-(oo)-wi | You — not a noun; some nouns |
| mah —-(stem)-(oo)-wi | He or She — not a noun; some nouns |
| mah nu-(stem)-(oo)-wíhna | We — not a noun; some nouns (excl) |
| mah ku-(stem)-(oo)-wíhna | We — not a noun; some nouns (incl) |
| mah ku-(stem)-(oo)-wíhmwa | Ye — not a noun; some nouns |
| mah —-(stem)-(oo)-wíiwak | They — not a noun; some nouns |
(Consonant stems insert (oo) before negative endings)
Examples per verb type:
VTI1a kataatam
ngataatamóowi
kataatamóowi
kataatamóowi
ngataatamoowíhna
kataatamoowíhna
kataatamoowíhmwa
kataatamoowíiwakVTI1b lunum
ndulŭnumóowi
ktulŭnumóowi
lunumóowi
ndulŭnumoowíhna
ktulŭnumoowíhna
ktulŭnumoowíhmwa
lunumunoowíiwak
VTI2 peetoow
mbeetóowi
kpeetóowi
peetóowi
mbeetoowíhna
kpeetoowíhna
kpeetoowíhmwa
peetoowíiwakVTI3 miichuw
numiichiiwi
kumiichíiwi
miichíiwi
numiichiiwíhna
kumiichiiwíhna
kumiichiiwíhmwa
miichiiwíiwakExamples
Mah ngataatamóowi maalaxkwsíital.
I dont want any beans.
Mah kii kataatamóowi wuskii-apíinay.
Néeka mah kataatamóowi wtéehim.
Mah ngataatamoowíhna wteehíimal.
Mah kataatamoowíhna áhpapoon.
Mah kataatamoowíhmwa wuskii-apíinay.
Máhta kataatamoowíiwak wiiskíimal.
Unstable stems and negative absolute forms
(This applies to VAIOs and class 3 VTIs such as miichuw)
Verbs listed as ending in (uw) revert to their true stem vowel (ii) before all negative endings.
Verbs with unstable vaio stems ending in (aa) are listed as ending in (eew) and like the corresponding VAIs, they use (ee) for 3rd person negatives in absolute forms, otherwise they inflect using (aa)
VTI and VAIO Unstable Stems Indicative Mode Absolute Forms
| Stem ending vowel type | 3rd sg | 3rd pl | Negative 3rd sg | Negative 3rd pl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (stem-aa) | (stem-eew) | (stem-eewak) | mah (stem-eewi) | mah (stem-eewiiwak) |
| (stem-ii) | (stem-uw) | (stem-uwak) | mah (stem-iiwi) | mah (stem-iiwiiwak) |
| (stem-pwii) | (stem-puw) | (stem-puwak) | mah (stem-pwiiwi) | mah (stem-pwiiwiiwak) |
(míichuw) is a Class3 VTI with an unstable stem ending in (ii)
Míichuw wtéehiim.
He ate a strawberry.
Numíichi wteehíimal.
I ate some strawberries.
Mah miichíiwi wtéehiim.
He did not eat a strawberry.
Mah numiichíiwi wteehíimal.
I did not eat any strawberries.
VAIO verbs which end in (uw) congugate like míichuw.
Example: uw vaio he says it (he says something)
stem = (ii) irregular beginning pattern should be noted
Objective forms:
nziin I said it.
ksiin
wsiin
nsiineen
ksiineen
ksiineewa
wsiineewa
Absolute forms, with noun supplied as a pronoun kweekw:
nzi kweekw I said something.
ksi kweekw
uw kweekw
nzihna kweekw
ksihna kweekw
ksimwa kweekw
uwak
Negative Objective
mah nziiwun I said it not
mah ksiiwun
mah wsiiwun
etc
Negative Absolute
mah nziiwi kweekw I did not say something
mah ksiiwi kweekw
mah iiwi kweekw
etc
uw may also conjugate as a vai: he says stem = (ii)
VAI Indicative Mode
nzi I said
ksi
uw
nzihna
ksihna
ksihmwa
uwak
VAI Indicative Mode Negatives
mah nziiwi I didn't say
mah ksiiwi
mah iiwi
etc
Example of a VAIO with an unstable stem ending in (aa)
wihkwihleew vaio he runs out of s.t.
Mah wihkwihléewi wúyoos.
He did not run out of meat.
Mah nuwihkwihláawi wúyoos.
I did not run out of meat.
Go to VTI Indicative Mode Practicum 6 Absolute Negatives
VTI Indefinite subject forms
The expected X subject form (using the verb kataatam ‘he wants s.t.’ as an example) translated to ‘it is wanted’ is not included in the paradigms we have discussed. A ‘derived’ verb is instead used to say ‘it is wanted’ The verb is called derived because it is formed from the VTI and then it conjugates as a VII.
How to form a derived passive verb:
Remove the vti class marker (am) or (um) or (oo)
Add (aasuw) to the stem
Conjugate using VII paradigms
Example with katáatam
(kataat)
(kataat) + (aasuw)
Kataatáasuw.
It is wanted.
Kataataasuwal.
They are wanted.
Eenda-kataatáasiik.
When it is wanted.
Keetaatáasiik.
The wanted one.
Katáatam wuskii-apíinay.
He wants a new bed.
Kwatáatamun wuskii-apíinay.
He wants the new bed.
Wuskii-apíinay kataatáasuw.
The new bed was wanted.áhtoow vti2 put s.t. down
ahtáasuw be put down, it is put downlóosum vti1b burn s.t.
loosáasuw vii be burntshóoham vti1a paint s.t.; rub s.t. on, rub s.t.
shooháasuw vii be paintedGo to VTI Indicative Mode Practicum VII
VTI Examples per stem type:
VTI 1a Verb root + (am)
pundam hear s.t.
Mbundam puyool.
I heard a violin.
Kpundamun puyool.
I heard it,the violin.
Mah mbundamoowi puyool.
Mah kpandamoowun puyool.VTI1b Verb root + (um)
naatum get s.t., go after s.t.
Naatumóhna kweekwiil.
We got some stuff.
Naatumuneen wiiskiimal.
We got them, the grapes.
Mah kunaatumoowu mah kweekw,
You didn’t get anything.
Mah naatumoowuneen wiiskiimal.
We didn’t get the grapes.VTI2 Verb root + (oo)
peetoo-w bring s.t.
Mbeetoonal mahksunal.
I brought them, the shoes.
Mbeeto mahksunal.
I brought some shoes. VTI3 all other verb roots
miichii-w = miichuw = he eat s.t.
Nii numiichiin mayaat wteehiim.
I ate one strawberry.
Nii numiichi wteehiimal.
I ate some strawberies
Go to VTI Practicum 7 Derived Passives