Verbs
Lets take a closer look at verbs!!
It is impossible to talk about food without talking about a few verbs too! Verbs are action words like eat, wash, cut and pour. In English, verbs and the person doing the action are independent but in Michif the doer of the action is indicated by a prefix and or a suffix. Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a word, for example: rewrite, undo, exwife. Suffixes are attached the ending of words, for example: quickly, smartest, taller. In Michif different prefixes and suffixes are used to show who is doing the action. Lets take a look at an example below and listen to the difference in pronunciation.
Present Tense
to make (dinner)
I am making dinner He/she is making dinner We are making dinner | They are making dinner You are making dinner (sing) |
In Michif there are sometimes slight differences with these prefixes but in general this is the pattern. Once you get used to using these prefixes and suffixes the system becomes quite easy to follow.
Past and Future
Not only are prefixes used to talk about who is doing the action they are used to show Past Tense and Future Tense as well. In English we have many ways to talk about an event that took place in the past, for example:
I made dinner.
She has made dinner.
In Michif it is simple to express past time. We believe that all we need to do is add kee-/gee to the beginning of the verb and it indicates the past tense. Lets look at an example of this. Listen to the example below and notice the pattern.
Past Tense
To Make(dinner)
I made dinner He/she made dinner They made dinner | We made dinner You made dinner (plur) li dinner kee-oshtaan |
To express future tense we believe is very similar to the past tense. However when expressing the future tense the prefix added to the beginning of the word is kaa-/gaa. Look again at the example below and listen for the differences.
Future Tense
To Make (dinner)
I will make dinner He/she will make dinner They will make dinner | We will make dinner You will make dinner (plural) li dinner ka=oshtaan |
For more information and examples of verbs check out the verb center!!
