There are a number of ways to find out which category a noun is in. One way is by finding out how one says “this” or “that” for the new word.

In the West:

IPV-West Demonstratives

Inanimate		Animate
o’o	this	wa’aw
i’iw	that	a’aw
onow	these	ongow
iniw	those	ingiw

In the East:

IPV-East Demonstratives

Inanimate		Animate
maanda	this	maaba
wi	that	wa
nindan	these	gondag
neyan	those	geyeg

Another way to find out which category is most common for a noun is ask how to say “more than one” of the item. In Anishinaabemowin nouns become plural in a very consistent manner:

• ianimate words take “an” at the end
• animate words take “ag” or “oog” at the end

For example:

IPV-This-That Examples

o’o makizin – this shoe	wa’aw mishiimin – this apple
onow miinan – these berries	ongow daabaanag – these cars