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VTI Verbs

Interaction between an animate being and inanimate object:

Mii o'ow akeyaa ji-aabajitooyan Ojibwemowin
ge-ni-dazhindaman ezhi-dazhiikang gegoo.
 
Verb Transitive Inanimate (VTI) verbs describe the interaction between an animate being and an inanimate object.

Examples: place it, use it, get it, eat it

VTI CHARTS

VTI Preterit (+) (s/he had been it...)
VTI Preterit (-) (I had not been using it...)
VTI Dubitative (+) (I must be using it.)
VTI Dubitative (-) (I must not be using it.)
VTI Preterit Dubitative (+) (I must be hungry.)
VTI Preterit Dubitative (-) (I must not been hungry.)

VTI Grammar Patterns

O-__-mini

Odaabajitoomini

S/he use it. (4th person)

A-form

Ni-__-min

Nindaabajitoomin

We use it. (not you)

A-form

O-__

Odaabajitoon

S/he use it

A-form

Gi-__-min

Gidaabajitoomin

We use it. (with you)

A-form

A-form

Direct Expression

You see that a person marker is added and they take different forms like Ni- and Nim- for Niin & Gi- and Gid- for Giin. It will depend on whether or not the Verb starts with a Vowel or a Consonant.

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Niwaabandaan = I see it.

Giwaabandaan = You see it.

Owaabandaan = The living being sees it.

​

Nindaabajitoon= I am using it. 

Gidaabajitoon= You are using it. 

Odaabajitoon= The living being is using it. 

​

Ninaadin = I am getting it.

Ginaadin = You are getting it. 

Onaadin = The living being is getting it. 

B-form

Indirect/Supportive Expression

You see that a person marker is added to the end of the verb.  1st person -yaan, 2nd person -yan, and the 3rd person -d.  You will notice with verbs ending with "m" it changes to an "n" with and added "-g" for the 3rd person. B-form are for contributing statements such as; When, If, That, So....

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Waabandamaan = When/if/that I see it.

Waabandaman = When/if/that you see it.

Waabandang = When/if/that the living being sees it.

​

Aabajitooyaan = When/if/that I am using it. 

Aabajitooyan = When/if/that you are using it. 

Aabajitood = When/if/that the living being is using it. 

​

Naadiyaan = When/if/that I am getting it.

Naadiyan = When/if/that you are getting it. 

Naadid = When/if/that the living being is getting it. 

C-form

Action to Noun

You see there is Initial Vowel Change (IVC) and a Bform person marker is added to the verb. This type of verb use expresses the Noun version of a Verb.

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Bekadeyaan= I am the one that is hungry 

Bekadeyan= you are the one that is hungry

Bekaded= the living being is the one that is hungry

​

Ayaakoziyaan= I am the one that is sick

Ayaakoziyan= you are the one that is sick

Ayaakoziyan= the living being is the one that is sick

​

Menwendamaan= I am the one that is happy

Menwendaman= you are one that is happy

Menwendang= the living being is the one that is happy

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