Verb Type II – A Second Way to Say Someone is Doing Something

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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.

Verb Types 2 2nd End-1

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:

Verb Types 2 2nd End-2

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

See Lesson Verb Type II – How to Say Someone Does Something for When and How to Use First Endings

verb +	yaan (western)
	yaanh (eastern)

giin

you

verb +	yan (western)
	yin (eastern)

wiin

he / she

verb + d

niinawind

just us

verb + yaang

giinawind

all of us

verb +	yang (western)
	ying (eastern)

giinawaa

you all

verb + yeg

wiinawaa

them

verb + waad

Note: There are both western (w) and eastern (e) dialect examples in the examples below.

Verb Types 2 2nd End-3

“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?

Verb Types 2 2nd End-4

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!