VTI Summary

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

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 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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)

Conjunct Order Overview

Conjunct Mode Schema
Changed (initial change)-(conjunct endings)
Changed Subjunctive (initial change)-(conjunct endings)-(e)
Subjunctive (no initial change)-(conjunct endings)-(e)
Participles (initial change)-(conjunct endings)

VTI Conjunct – Consonant stems

Basic paradigm Meaning
(consonant stem)-aan I —
(consonant stem)-an You —
(consonant stem)-uk He or She —
(consonant stem)-eengw We — (exclusive)
(consonant stem)-eengw We — (inclusive)
(consonant stem)-eekw Ye —
(consonant stem)-óhtiit They —
Not attested There is —

VTI Conjunct – Consonant stems – Special cases

Forms (stem-m) (stem-n) (consonant stem)
1st sg (stem-m)-aan (stem-n)-aan (consonant stem)-aw-aan
2nd sg (stem-m)-an (stem-n)-an (consonant stem)-aw-an
3rd sg (stem)-ng (stem)-ng (consonant stem)-uk
1st pl (stem-m)-eengw (stem-n)-eengw (consonant stem)-aw-eengw
2nd pl (stem-m)-eekw (stem-n)-eekw (consonant stem)-aw-eekw
3rd pl (stem)-óhtiit (stem)-óhtiit (consonant stem)-óhtiit

Forms relevant to the discussion above are in bold type.

The paradigm below illustrates a stem ending in (ee).

VTI / VAIO Conjunct – Vowel stems (ee)

Basic paradigm Meaning
(stem)-ay-aan I —
(stem)-ay-an You —
(stem)-ee-t He or She —
(stem)-ay-eengw We — (exclusive)
(stem)-ay-eengw We — (inclusive)
(stem)-ay-eekw Ye —
(stem)-ee-htiit They —
(stem)-ee-ng There is —

The paradigm below illustrates a stem ending in (aa).

VTI / VAIO Conjunct – Vowel stems (aa)

Basic paradigm Meaning
(stem)-ay-aan I —
(stem)-ay-an You —
(stem)-aa-t He or She —
(stem)-ay-eengw We — (exclusive)
(stem)-ay-eengw We — (inclusive)
(stem)-ay-eekw Ye —
(stem)-aa-htiit They —
(stem)-aa-ng There is —

The paradigm below illustrates a stem ending in (ii).

VTI / VAIO Conjunct – Vowel stems (ii)

Basic paradigm Meaning
(stem)-uy-aan I —
(stem)-uy-an You —
(stem)-ii-t He or She —
(stem)-uy-eengw We — (exclusive)
(stem)-uy-eengw We — (inclusive)
(stem)-uy-eekw Ye —
(stem)-ii-htiit They —
(stem)-ii-ng There is —

VTI2 Conjunct

Basic paradigm Meaning
(stem)-aw-aan I —
(stem)-aw-an You —
(stem)-aakw He or She —
(stem)-aw-eengw We — (exclusive)
(stem)-aw-eengw We — (inclusive)
(stem)-aw-eekw Ye —
(stem)-oo-htiit They —
(stem)-aw-ung There is —

Class 2 VTI and VOTI stems ending in (oo) shift the (oo) to (aw) in the conjunct
except for 3rd p plural and all conjunct negative forms

VTI Negative Conjunct Mode

Vowel stem paradigm Consonant stem paradigm Meaning
mah (vowel stem)-waan mah (consonant stem)-oowaan I — not
mah (vowel stem)-wan mah (consonant stem)-oowan You — not
mah (vowel stem)-kw mah (consonant stem)-ookw He or She — not
mah (vowel stem)-weengw mah (consonant stem)-ooweengw We — not (exclusive)
mah (vowel stem)-weengw mah (consonant stem)-ooweengw We — not (inclusive)
mah (vowel stem)-weekw mah (consonant stem)-ooweekw Ye — not
mah (vowel stem)-htiikw mah wu-(consonant stem)-óhtiikw They — not
mah —-(vowel stem)-wung** mah —-(consonant stem)-oowung** There is not —

** ref goddard variations
VOTI2 stems ending in (oo) do not shift to (aw) before negative endings

VTI / VAIO Imperative

Stem Type 2nd sg (you) 2nd pl (ye) 1+2 pl (Let’s)
(VTI1a)-am (stem)-ah (stem)-am-ookw (stem)-am-ootookw
(VTI1b)-um (stem)-ih (stem)-um-ookw (stem)-um-ootookw
(VTI2)-oo (stem)-ool (stem)-ookw (stem)-ootookw
(vowel stem) (stem)-l (stem)-kw (stem)-tookw
(consonant stem) (stem)-ih (stem)-ookw (stem)-ootookw

VTI / VAIO Prohibitive Mode

Subject Vowel stem paradigm Consonant stem paradigm
2nd sg (You) chii (vowel stem)-wi chii (consonant stem)-oowi
2nd pl (Ye) chii (vowel stem)-weekw chii (consonant stem)-ooweekw

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