Introduction to Action & Verbs
Four Ways to Think About Everything
As you learn to speak Anishinaabemowin, it is essential to understand action is the focus of most statements, so verbs are very important. Verbs are used to represent the complexity of the world around us and are the center of the sentences we make. A good way to begin speaking is to think about what is happening and then modify or add to that word to create a longer word or phrase.
To start, you will need to learn the four verb types which give speakers four ways to describe what is happening:
Type 1 – something that happens independently in the universe
Type 2 – something a living being does (we use pronouns here, more about them later)
Type 3 – something a living being does with an inanimate or “o’o/maanda” noun
Type 4 – something a living being does with an animate “a’aw/maaba” noun (more about nouns later)
Type 1 (Intransitive Inanimate) – Something happens with no pronoun involved.
This includes things such as weather, truth, time, and measurement. These are things humans do not control.
- Gimiwan – Rain
- Waabanjigaade – It is seen
- Giizhaanamad – Hot wind
- Awan – Fog
Type 2 – (Intransitive Animate) One of the seven pronouns does something without anyone else or any objects involved.
- Niwaab – I see
- Nimbimose – I walk
- Nindizhinikaaz – I am named
- Ningiiwe – I am going home
Type 3 – (Transitive Inanimate) – One of the seven pronouns is doing something with a noun in the o’o category.
- Makizin niwaabandaan. – The shoe I see.
- O’o adoopwin nindozhitoon – I am making this table.
- Gidaapnaan ozhibiiganatig. – You are taking a pen.
- Miinan omiijinaawaan. – The blueberries they are eating.
Type 4 – (Transitive Animate) – One of the seven pronouns is doing something with a direct object in the animate (a’aw) category. This means there are actually two pronouns involved.
- Niwaabamaa a’aw ikwe. – I see that woman.
- Giwaabamaa. – You see him or her.
- Owaabamaawaan. – They see them.
- Mishiiminag nindamwaanaanig – We (just us) are eating apples.
- Gimiigwechwigo – We (just us) all thank just you.
Please note: As you learn more about Anishinaabemowin, you will realize that some things in the world fall into unexpected categories. They don’t always align with the english viewpoint of what is animate and inanimate.