
The Resource for Applied Anishinaabe Languages
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 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.
​
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