To tell stories and ask questions you need to do more than make simple, direct statements. You can certainly use Verb Type 1 to describe the setting and you can state what is happening, but to show that a verb is somehow connected to other thoughts you need to know the second ending for Verb Type 2. The second ending is always used after an “A” question, a connecting word (“giishpin izhaayaan” – if I go) or following another verb (“nimbakademin mii wiisiniyaang” – just us are hungry so we are eating). Sometimes while telling a story a person will use all second endings.
When to use First Endings:
- It is the first verb in the sentence, and it is not an “A” Question.
When to use Second Endings:
- It is the first verb in an “A” Question/
- It is the Second, Third, Fourth… verb in the sentence.
In English these are the “who, what, why” questions. These are also known as “A” Questions.
Awenen (w), Wegonesh / Wenesh (e) – Who | Aaniin ezhi – How | |
Aaniin (w) / Wenesh (e) – What | Aaniin dash / Aaniin wenji – Why | |
Aaniindi (w) / Aapiish (e) – Where | Aaniin apii (w) / Weneshpii (e) – When |
Other words that connect your thoughts include:
gaye, miinawaa – also, and, again | mii dash / dash – then | jibwaa – before |
aanawi, misawaa – although | mii – so | ishkwaa – after |
megwaa, epiichi – while | giishpin – if | noonde- – before the usual time |
gemaa, ganabaj – maybe | azhigwa – already | wenji- / onji- because, for, in |
When reviewing the chart below you will notice you do not use any prefixes when using a Second Ending.
Pronoun In Ojibwe | Pronoun In English | First Endings Single Statements or “ina” Questions |
Second Endings Connected Thoughts or “A” Questions |
niin | I |
See Lesson Verb Type II – How to Say Someone Does Something for When and How to Use First Endings |
|
giin | you | ||
wiin | he / she | verb + d | |
niinawind | just us | verb + yaang | |
giinawind | all of us | ||
giinawaa | you all | verb + yeg | |
wiinawaa | them | verb + waad |
Note: There are both western (w) and eastern (e) dialect examples in the examples below.
“Aanakanootan!
Translate the Following Sentences!”
- 1. Aaniin ezhi-bimaadiziyan?
1. How are you living?
- 2. Niniimimin mii dash wii-wiisiniyaang.
2. Just us dance then just us will eat.
- 3. Wiisiniwag miinawaa minawaanigoziwaad.
3. They eat and they are happy.
- 4. Wiisiniwag epiichi minawaanigoziwaad.
4. They eat while they are happy
- 5. Aaniindi bimibatood (w) Aapiish e-paatood (e)?
5. Where is s/he running?
- 6. Aaniin dash onji-ayekoziyeg?
6. Why are you all in a state of tiredness?
- 7. Aaniin dash onji-Anishinaabemoyang?
7. Why do all of us speak in Anishinaabemowin?
Listen to the conversation below. Do you recognize any verbs or verb parts? Do you notice when a speaker begins to use all second endings? Do you notice when one speaker says “we” and excludes the person listening?
- A. Aaniin ezhi-bimaadiziyan?
A: How are you living?
- B: Niminobimaadiz. Aaniin apii waa-izhaayan wiisiniwigamigong?
B: I am living good. When are you going to be in the restaurant?
- A: Ingodwaaso-diba’igane. Aaniin ezhichigeyan naagaj?
A: 6:00. What are you doing later?
- B: Niwii-giiwe, mii dash jiibaakweyaan, mii dash giziibiiginaaganeyaan ishkwaa wiisiniyaang.
B: I am going home, then I will cook, then I will do the dishes after we (just us) eat. Where is the restaurant?
- B (continued): Aaniindi ateg wiisiniwigamigong?
B: Where is the restaurant?
- A: Minowaakiing, ezhinikaade Gichi-Gwiiwizens.
A: In Milwaukee. It’s called Big Boys.
Now that you have practiced using second endings, use this full chart to reference for an easier way to create sentences and stories. Practice writing your own!
Pronoun In Ojibwe | Pronoun In English | First Endings Single Statements or “ina” Questions |
Second Endings Connected Thoughts or “A” Questions |
niin | I | ||
giin | you | ||
wiin | he / she | o + verb *the “o” is optional | verb + d |
niinawind | just us |
ni + verb + min |
verb + yaang |
giinawind | all of us |
gi + verb + min |
|
giinawaa | you all |
gi + verb + m |
verb + yeg |
wiinawaa | them |
o + verb + wag (final vowel) *”o” is optional |
verb + waad |