VAI (Verb Animate Intransitive)
ᒥᓯᓈᓲ ᓅᔑᔑᒥᔥ | misinaasuu nuushishimish | My grandchild’s name is on the list | |
ᐅᐧᐋᔨᑳᐴ ᑌᐃᓰ ᒑ ᓃᒥᑦ | uwaayikaapuu Daisy chaa niimit | Daisy stands ready to dance | |
ᐅᑖᒥᑭᒋᔖᔑᓐ ᐧᒑᓐ | 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 | waachipiyiu niipisii | VII | The willow (inanimate) is bent | |
ᐧᐋᒋᐱᔨᐤ ᒥᔥᑎᒄ | waachipiyiu mishtikw | VAI | The tree (animate) is bent | |
ᐧᐋᒋᐱᔨᐤ ᒥᔥᑎᒄ | waachipiyiu mishtikw | VII | The stick (inanimate) is bent |
Link to Conjugation Tables