Exercise 4: -i verbs
These are also very easy verbs to use, and they don’t do much changing.
Maji To leave
Mikjéwi To work
Tadi To gamble/play cards
Kwédasi To climb
Migadi To fight
Nim’edi To dance
Gogi To dive
Ngi maji N + gi + maji I left.
Ggi maji G + gi + maji You left.
Gi maji Gi + maji He or she left.
Ngi majimen N + gi + maji + men We- left.
Ggi majimen G + gi + maji + men We+ left.
Ggi majim G + gi + maji + m Y’all left.
Gi majik Gi + maji + k They left.
Nwi nim’edi N + wi + nim’edi I will dance
Gwi nim’edi G + wi + nim’edi You will dance
Wi nim’edi Wi + nim’edi He/she will dance
Nwi nim’edimen N + wi + nim’edi + men We- will dance
Gwi nim’edimen G + wi + nim’edi + men We+ will dance
Gwi nim’edim G + wi + nim’edi + m Y’all will dance
Wi nim’edik Wi + nim’edi + k They will dance
Nge tadi N + ge + tadi I’m about to gamble
Gge tadi G + ge + tadi You are about to gamble
Ge tadi ge + tadiwak He/she is about to gamble
Nge tadimen N + ge + tadi + men We- are about to gamble
Ge tadimen g + Ge + tadi + men We+ are about to gamble
Gge tadim G + ge + tadi + m Y’all are about to gamble
Ge tadik Ge + tadi + k They are about to gamble
Command Forms:
Majin leave Gégo majiken Don’t leave
Mikjéwin work Gégo mikjéwiken Don’t work
Tadin play cards Gégo tadiken Don’t gamble
Kwédasin climb Gégo kwédasiken Don’t climb
Migadin fight Gégo migadiken Don’t fight
Nim’edin dance Gégo nim’ediken Don’t dance
Gogin dive Gégo gogiken Don’t dive
Cho nwi majisi Cho + n + wi + maji + si I won’t leave
Cho gwi mikjéwisi Cho + g + wi + mikjéwi + si You won’t work
Cho wi tadisi Cho + wi + tadi + si He/she won’t gamble
Cho nwi kwédasesimen Cho + n + wi + kwédasi + si + men
We- won’t climb
Cho gwi migadisimen Cho + g + wi + migadi + si + men
We+ won’t fight
Cho gwi nim’edisim Cho + g + wi + nim’edi + si + m
Y’all won’t dance
Cho wi gogisik Cho + wi + gogi + si + k
They won’t dive
Practice with negatives, questions, and commands.
- Gégpi ne ggi giwé
- Cho ne ggi gapikési
- Gwi gtegankém ne ode niben
- Kwédakik ne gwi kwédasim
- Mégwa ne gwi nim’edi
- Chomamda nwi wankésimen
- Chomshe ne ggi zhechkésim
- Nangodgen gminkémen
- Gégo tadiken shote
- Gégo gogikék shote
- Cho ne mbishkik gi giwsési
- Gégo mnekwéken ode mbish
- Abdek gwi biskonyém
- Cho ne gda majisi
- Jak ngoji ngi pamsé
- Gégo wébiwéken
- Gégo giskonyéken shote!
- Ézhi tkemsén
- Nomye gi bmisé o bnéshi
- Gégo migadikék bidek
- Ggi gish dé’menkém ne
- Mégwa ne ggikitsé
- Nda gapiké ne
- Nétem nwi maji
- Gawa ngi mikchéwimen
- Namsek gwi tadimen
- O biskonyén
- Abdek ne gwi biskonyési
- Ge migadimen
- Chomamda nwi nim’edisi ngom
- Nsheké ngi tkemsé
- Gégpi ne ggi biskonyé
- Gwi giwémen wabek
- Bama nagech gwi tadimen
- Gégo kwédasiken o mteg
- Ngi gish tiké
- Abdek nwi zisbaktokémen
- Mégwa ne gwi mnekwé
- Nagech nwi mikchéwimen
- Nda bmosé ngoji
- Nomye nge maji
- Cho nde nim’edisimen
- Cho nde migadisimen
- Kiwédnon ge giwsémen
- Chomamda gwi gapikésimen
- Chomshe ne ggi minkésimen
- Nsheké ngi minké wnago
- Cho ngoji ngi gogisi
- Cho gégo ngi zhechkési
- Gégpi ne ggi giwé Did you finally go home?
- Cho ne ggi gapikési Didn’t you make coffee?
- Gwi gtegankém ne ode niben Will y’all do a garden this summer?
- Kwédakik ne gwi kwédasim Will y’all climb the hill?
- Mégwa ne gwi nim’edi Will you still dance?/Will you dance more?
- Chomamda nwi wankésimen It’s impossible for us- to dig a hole
- Chomshe ne ggi zhechkésim Haven’t y’all done it yet?
- Nangodgen gminkémen Sometimes we+ pick berries
- Gégo tadiken shote Don’t gamble here
- Gégo gogikék shote Don’t dive here, y’all
- Cho ne mbishkik gi giwsési Didn’t he/she hunt at the marsh?
- Gégo mnekwéken ode mbish Don’t drink this water
- Abdek gwi biskonyém Y’all need to get dressed.
- Cho ne gda majisi Shouldn’t you leave?
- Jak ngoji ngi pamsé I walked everywhere
- Gégo wébiwéken Don’t run away
- Gégo giskonyéken shote! Don’t get undressed here!
- Ézhi tkemsén Walk across over there
- Nomye gi bmisé o bnéshi That bird flew a little while ago
- Gégo migadikék bidek Don’t fight inside, y’all
- Ggi gish dé’menkém ne Did y’all already pick strawberries?
Have y’all finished picking strawberries?
- Mégwa ne ggikitsé Are you still limping?
- Nda gapiké ne Should I make coffee?
- Nétem nwi maji I will leave first
- Gawa ngi mikchéwimen We- hardly worked
- Namsek gwi tadimen We+ will gamble downstairs
- O biskonyén Go get dressed
- Abdek ne gwi biskonyési Don’t you have to get dressed
- Ge migadimen Let’s fight
- Chomamda nwi nim’edisi ngom It’s impossible for me to dance today
- Nsheké ngi tkemsé I walked across alone
- Gégpi ne ggi biskonyé Did you finally get dressed
- Gwi giwémen wabek We+ will go home tomorrow
- Bama nagech gwi tadimen We+ will gamble later
- Gégo kwédasiken o mteg Don’t climb that tree
- Ngi gish tiké I already made tea/I finished making tea
- Abdek nwi zisbaktokémen We- must make maple sugar
- Mégwa ne gwi mnekwé Will you drink more?
- Nagech nwi mikchéwimen We- will work later
- Nda bmosé ngoji I should walk somewhere
- Nomye nge maji I’m about to leave in a little while
- Cho nde nim’edisimen We- are not dancing
- Cho nde migadisimen We- are not fighting
- Kiwédnon ge giwsémen Let’s go hunting up north
- Chomamda gwi gapikésimen It’s impossible for us+ to make coffee
- Chomshe ne ggi minkésimen Didn’t we pick berries yet?
- Nsheké ngi minké wnago I picked berries alone yesterday
- Cho ngoji ngi gogisi I didn’t dive anywhere
- Cho gégo ngi zhechkési I didn’t do anything
Exercise 5: – o verbs that don’t drop
Kigdo to talk
Madmo to pray
Bmepto to run **irregular like bmosé
Yajmo to speak
Najdo to ask
Najmo to say
Nbémbeto N + bmepto becomes N + bémbeto
Gbémbeto G + bmepto becomes G + bémbeto
Bmeptowak Bmepto + wak
Nbémbetomen N + bmepto + men becomes N + bémbeto + men
Gbémbetomen G + bmepto + men becomes G + bémbeto + men
Gbémbetom G + bmepto + m becomes G + bémbeto + m
Bmeptok Bmepto + k
Ngi bmepto N + gi + bmepto I ran
Ggi bmepto G + gi + bmepto You ran
Gi bmepto Gi + bmepto He/she ran
Ngi bmeptomen N + gi + bmepto + men We- ran
Ggi bmeptomen G + gi + bmepto + men We+ ran
Ggi bmeptom G + gi + bmepto + m Y’all ran
Gi bmeptok Gi + bmepto + k They ran
Nwi madmo N + wi + madmo I will pray
Gwi madmo G + wi + madmo You will pray
Wi madmo Wi + madmo He/she will pray
Nwi madmomen N + wi + madmo + men We- will pray
Gwi madmomen G + wi + madmo + men We+ will pray
Gwi madmom G + wi + madmo + m Y’all will pray
Wi madmok Wi + madmo + k They prayed
Cho ngi najdosi Cho + n + gi + najdo + si I didn’t ask
Cho ggi najdosi Cho + g + gi + najdo + si You didn’t ask
Cho gi najdosi Cho + gi + najdo + si He/she didn’t ask
Cho ngi najdosimen Cho + n + gi + najdo + si + men We- didn’t ask
Cho ggi najdosimen Cho + g + gi + najdo + si + men We+ didn’t ask
Cho ggi najdosim Cho + g + gi + najdo + si + m Y’all didn’t ask
Cho gi najdosik Cho + gi + najdo + si + k They didn’t ask
Nda kigdo ne? Should I talk?
Gwi kigdo ne? Will you talk?
Gi kigdo ne o? Did he/she talk?
Nge kigdomen ne? Are we- about to talk?
Gde kigdomen ne? Are we+ talking?
Abdek ne gkigdom? Do y’all need to talk?
Gégpi ne gi kigdok? Did they finally talk?
Nda kigdosi ne?
Gwi kigdosi ne?
Gi kigdosi ne o?
Nge kigdosimen ne?
Gde kigdosimen ne?
Abdek ne gkigdosim?
Gégpi ne gi kigdosik?
Gégo kigdoken
Gégo madmoken
Gégo bmeptoken
Gégo yajmoken
Gégo najdoken
Gégo najmoken
Plural commands: Use the Context of the situation to determine if you are talking about multiple persons doing something (winwa), or commanding multiple persons to do something (ginwa)
Kigdon! Kigdok!
Madmon! Madmok!
Bmepton! Bmeptok!
Yajmon! Yajmok!
Najdon! Najdok!
Najmon! Najmok!
Answers
Nda kigdosi ne? Shouldn’t I talk?
Gwi kigdosi ne? Won’t you talk?
Gi kigdosi ne o? Didn’t he/she talk?
Nge kigdosimen ne? Aren’t we- about to talk?
Gde kigdosimen ne? Aren’t we+ talking?
Abdek ne gkigdosim? Don’t y’all need to talk?
Gégpi ne gi kigdosik? Didn’t they finally talk?
Gégo kigdoken Don’t talk
Gégo madmoken Don’t pray
Gégo bmeptoken Don’t run
Gégo yajmoken Don’t speak
Gégo najdoken Don’t ask
Gégo najmoken Don’t say
Kigdon! Talk! Kigdok! Talk!
Madmon! Pray! Madmok! Pray!
Bmepton! Run! Bmeptok! Run!
Yajmon! Speak! Yajmok! Speak!
Najdon! Ask! Najdok! Ask!
Najmon! Say! Najmok! Say!
Intro to Conjuncts using -yan, -yen, and -yék
There are many reasons to use conjuncts, in songs, stories, questions, and explanations. We will spread this out over several lessons to help you absorb.
The key to learning the conjunct endings is the VOWEL SOUND. Go back over the “vowel pronunciation chart” and really pay attention to vowel sounds that you hear and speak.
To make a conjunct that refers back to I/me, use a -yan ending
To make a conjunct that refers back to you singular, use a -yen ending.
Those 2 vowel sounds are key: for -yan, use the vowel Ah
and for -yen…… think of that -yen ending as the sound in the word Onion. Un-yen.
Égiwéyan I go home Égiwéyen you go home
Émnekwéyan I drink Émnekwéyen you drink
Ébmoséyan I walk Ébmoséyen you walk
Étkemséyan I walk across Étkemséyen you walk across
Ézhechkéyan I do Ézhechkéyen you do
Éminkéyan I pick berries Éminkéyen you pick berries
Égtegankéyan I garden Égtegankéyen you garden
Éwankéyan I dig a hole Éwankéyen you dig a hole
Émajiyan I leave Émajiyen you leave
Émikchéwiyan I work Émikchéwiyen you work
Ébmeptoyan I run Ébmeptoyen you run
Ékigdoyan I talk Ékigdoyen you talk
Émadmoyan I pray Émadmoyen you pray
Énajdoyan I ask Énajdoyen you ask
The “É” is a factive, and it comes in the front of many conjuncts. Sometimes it can take a tense, like égi or éwi. It connects the conjunct to something else, either in the same sentence or in the same conversation.
You use conjuncts when you are seeking information in a question, so let’s use them in context and practice questions.
Ni je = What Ni pi je = Where Ni je pi = When
Ni je égi zhechkéyen? Ni pi je égi zhechkéyen Ni je pi égi zhechkéyen
What did you do where did you do it when did you do it
Ni je éwi kigdoyen Ni pi je éwi kigdoyen Ni je pi éwi kigdoyen
What will you talk about where will you talk when will you talk
Ni je émnekwéyen Ni pi je émnekwéyen Ni je pi émnekwéyen
What are you drinking where are you drinking when are you drinking
Of course not every verb makes sense with each question. When asked a question in conjunct, you may answer in conjunct, or not, it’s up to the speaker’s preference.
Here are some examples of conjunct answers:
Ode se égi zhechkéyan Shote égi zhechkéyan Nomye égi zhechkéyan
This is what I did I did it here I did it a little while ago
Ode se éwi kigdoyan Ézhi éwi kigdoyan Wabek éwi kigdoyan
This is what I will talk about I will talk over there I will talk tomorrow
Mbish émnekwéyan Zagech émnekwéyan Nagech émnekwéyan
I am drinking water I am drinking outside I am drinking later
You can also use conjuncts to connect 2 or more verbs in a sentence.
Nwi giwé éwi tikéyan I will go home and make tea
Kwédakik nwi pamsé éminkéyan I will walk up the hill and pick berries
As we learn more verbs we will put more phrases together like this.
One more ending…. Ginwa, Plural You, there is a different ending to use.
Égiwéyen you go home Égiwéyék y’all go home
Émnekwéyen you are drinking Émnekwéyék y’all are drinking
Ébmoséyen you are walking Ébmoséyék y’all are walking
Étkemséyen you walk across Étkemséyék y’all are walking across
Ézhechkéyen you are doing Ézhechkéyék y’all are doing
Éminkéyen you pick berries Éminkéyék y’all pick berries
Égtegankéyen you garden Égtegankéyék y’all garden
Éwankéyen you dig a hole Éwankéyék y’all are digging a hole
Émajiyen you are leaving Émajiyék y’all are leaving
Émikchéwiyen you are working Émikchéwiyék y’all are working
Ébmeptoyen you are running Ébmeptoyék y’all are running
Ékigdoyen you are talking Ékigdoyék y’all are talking
Émadmoyen you are praying Émadmoyék y’all are praying
Énajdoyen you are asking Énajdoyék y’all are asking
Again, pay close attention to the vowel sounds on the end!
Ni je énajdoyen? What are you asking
Ni pi je éwankéyék? where did y’all dig that hole
Ni je pi éwi majiyen? when are you leaving
Ni je ézhechkéyék? what are y’all doing
Ni pi je ébmeptoyék? where are you running
Ni je émnekwéyen? what are you drinking
Exercise 6: -o verbs that drop.
Chikaso – to play
Zhenkaso – to be called
Gédaso – to count
Yayéno – to laugh
Jechamo – to sneeze
Neshnabémo – to speak Indian
Kedo – to say something
Nde chikas N + de + chikaso – o I am playing
Gde chikas G + de + chikaso – o you are playing
Chikasowak Chikaso + wak he/she is playing
Nde chikasmen N + de + chikaso – o + men we- are playing
Gde chikasmen G + de + chikaso – o + men we+ are playing
Gde chikasom G + de + chikaso + m y’all are playing
Chikaswik Chikaso – o + wik They are playing
Ngi jecham N + gi + jechamo – o I sneezed
Ggi jecham G + gi + jechamo – o you sneezed
Gi jechamo Gi + jechamo he/she sneezed
Ngi jechamen N + gi + jechamo – o + men we- sneezed
Ggi jechamen G + gi + jechamo – o + men we+ sneezed
Ggi jechamom G + gi + jechamo + m y’all sneezed
Gi jechamwik Gi + jechamo – o + wik they sneezed
Ndezhnekas N + de + zhenkaso – o I am called
Gdezhnekas G + de + zhenkaso – o you are called
Zhenkaso Zhenkaso he/she is called
Ndezhnekasmen N + de + zhenkaso – o + men we- are called
Gdezhnekasmen G + de + zhenkaso – o + men we+ are called
Gdezhnekasom G + de + zhenkaso + m y’all are called
Zhenkaswik Zhenkaso – o + wik they are called
Ngi ked N + gi + ked – o I said
Ggi ked G + gi + ked – o you said
Kedo Kedo he/she said
Ngi kedmen N + gi + kedo – o + men we- said
Ggi kedmen G + gi + kedo – o + men we+ said
Ggi kedom G + gi + kedo + m y’all said
Gi kedwik Gi kedo – o + wik they said
Cho ngi yayénsi Cho + n + gi + yayéno – o + si I didn’t laugh
Cho ggi yayénsi Cho + g + gi + yayéno – o + si you didn’t laugh
Cho gi yayénosi Cho + gi + yayéno + si he/she didn’t laugh
Cho ngi yayénsimen Cho + n + gi + yayéno – o + si + men
we- didn’t laugh
Cho ggi yayénsimen Cho + g + gi + yayéno – o + si + men
we+ didn’t laugh
Cho ggi yayénosim Cho + g + gi + yayéno + si + m y’all didn’t laugh
Cho gi yayénosik Cho + gi + yayéno + si + k they didn’t laugh
Ni je da kedyan?
Ni je ga kedyen?
Ni je ezhnekasyen?
Ni je ezhnekasyék?
Ni pi je ga chikasyan?
Ni pi je ga chikasyen?
Ni pi je ga chikasyék?
Neshnabémo Bodéwadmimo
Gneshnabém ne? Gbodéwadmim ne?
Abdek nneshnabémmen Abdek nbodéwadmimen
Gégpi ne gneshnabémom? Gégpi ne gbodéwadmimom?
Cho nneshnabémsi Cho nbodéwadmimsi
Nangodgen gwi neshnabémmen Nangodgen gwi bodéwadmimmen
Answers
Ni je da kedyan? What should I say?
Ni je ga kedyen? What did you say?
Ni je ezhnekasyen? What are you called?
Ni je ezhnekasyék? What are y’all called?
Ni pi je ga chikasyan? Where did I play?
Ni pi je ga chikasyen? Where did you play?
Ni pi je ga chikasyék? Where did y’all play?
Neshnabémon Speak Indian
Bodéwadmimon Speak Potawatomi
Gneshnabém ne? Do you speak Indian?
Gbodéwadmim ne? Do you speak Potawatomi?
Abdek nneshnabémmen We must speak Indian
Abdek nbodéwadmimen We must speak Potawatomi
Gégpi ne gneshnabémom? Do y’all finally speak Indian
Gégpi ne gbodéwadmimom? Do y’all finally speak Potawatomi
Cho nneshnabémsi I don’t speak Indian
Cho nbodéwadmimsi I don’t speak Potawatomi
Nangodgen gwi neshnabémmen Sometimes we+ will speak Indian
Nangodgen gwi bodéwadmimmen Once in a while we+ will speak Potawatomi
Neaseno 