Much of the Anishinaabe language is verbs. Once a verb is used, a person can change it to a question or command, and then change the tense and direct it to a single person or more than one person. The verb changes every time it is used in the context of first person, second person or third person. The verbs have a definite pattern in the different tenses, and question and answer forms, as you can see in the examples that I have provided.
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Commands to eat |
You singular |
You plural |
Let’s eat |
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Giin |
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Giinwa |
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Giinwe |
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Wiisinin |
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Wiisinik |
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Wiisinidaa |
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| He/she has eaten |
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Wiin giiwiisini |
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| He/she is eating |
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Wiin wiisini |
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| He/she will eat |
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Wiin wiiwiisini |
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| Did he/she eat? |
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Giiwiisini naa? |
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| Is he/she eating? |
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Wiisini naa? |
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| Will he/she eat? |
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Wiiwiisini naa? |
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When you mention what you eating, the verb changes. |
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Eating |
Animate |
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| Wegnesh gaamiijyin? |
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Baashkiminsigebiitoojiishkweginigan gwa ngiimawaa |
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| What did you (S) eat? |
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Mnijiiminak gwa ngiimawaak |
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| Wegnesh maajyin? |
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Mishiimin gwa nmawaa |
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| What are you (S) eating? |
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Mskwadiisminak gwa nmawaak |
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| Wegnesh waamiijyin? |
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Pin gwa nwiimawaa |
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| What are you (S) going to eat? |
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Mnijiiminak gwa nwiimawaak |
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Eating |
Inanimate |
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Wegnesh gaamiijyin? |
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Bijiizagan gwa ngiimiijin |
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What did you (S) eat? |
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Jiisenhan gwa ngiimiijinan |
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Wegnesh maajyin? |
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Kwasmaan gwa nmiijin |
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What are you (S) eating? |
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Ademinan gwa nmiijinan |
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Wegnesh waamiijyin? |
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Miin gwa nwiimiijin |
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What are you (S) going to eat? |
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Zhoominan gwa nwiimijinan |
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