To Have - Past Tense

Let's Take a Closer Look at the Verb "to have".
Most verbs in Michif use a prefix and a suffix for conjugation.
 
A prefix is something that we add to the beginning of a word:

For example: ex-wife

A suffix is something that we add to the end of a word :

For example: enjoy -ment

The prefix and the suffix give us information on who is doing the action.

In English we use prefixes and suffixes to change the meaning of a word. We also use prefixes and suffixes to change the word into a different form.

For example (prefix): Do can change to re-do or un-do

For example (suffix): Quick can change to quick-ly or quick-er

In Michif , we use prefixes to show who is doing an action. The prefix tells us if it is him, us, them or 'I' doing the action.

Pay attention when studying verbs and looking at adjectives how the root of the word often stays the same while the prefixes and suffixes change.

This is how we conjugate verbs and adjectives in Michif!

We will go into greater detail about this in later units.

Past Tense

The past tense of this verb is formed quite easily and we will just mention it quickly. In Michif the past tense is formed by adding the prefix kee/gee to the beginning of the verb. So here is what the past tense forms of have sounds like in Michif.

English: I had
Michif: Geeaayaan
Category: Past Tense

English: He/ She had
Michif: keeyaayow
Category: Past Tense

English: They had
Michif: Keeyaawuk
Category: Past Tense

English: You had
Michif: Keeyaayaan
Category: Past Tense

English: You had (plural)
Michif: Keeyaayaanawow
Category: Past Tense

English: We had
Michif: Geeaayaanan
Category: Past Tense