VAI (Verb Animate Intransitive)

Observation
ᒥᓯᓈᓲ ᓅᔑᔑᒥᔥ Click here to hear this word misinaasuu nuushishimish My grandchild’s name is on the list
ᐅᐧᐋᔨᑳᐴ ᑌᐃᓰ ᒑ ᓃᒥᑦ Click here to hear this word uwaayikaapuu Daisy chaa niimit Daisy stands ready to dance
ᐅᑖᒥᑭᒋᔖᔑᓐ ᐧᒑᓐ Click here to hear this word utaamikichishaashin John John falls on his behind

Animate intransitive verbs are verbs with usually one role (intransitive) filled by an animate subject.

Some VAI verbs have a VII partner that is spelled and pronounced the same. Most of these end in -piyiu.

ᐧᐋᒋᐱᔨᐤ ᓃᐱᓰ Click here to hear this word waachipiyiu niipisii VII The willow (inanimate) is bent
ᐧᐋᒋᐱᔨᐤ ᒥᔥᑎᒄ Click here to hear this word waachipiyiu mishtikw VAI The tree (animate) is bent
ᐧᐋᒋᐱᔨᐤ ᒥᔥᑎᒄ Click here to hear this word waachipiyiu mishtikw VII The stick (inanimate) is bent

Link to Conjugation Tables

VAI with explicit goals
VAI with implicit goals