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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