NIIWIN

There are only 2 more that we need to cover, after that we can start adding tense marker to the sentences. 

Giinawaa (You all), and Wiinawaa (They, Them) are last two that we will be covering.  With Giinawaa,

you will use this if you talking to a group of people.  In the next exercise, VAI2 will be used again. 

Make sure you recognize a VAI2 because there are some minor inflections that take place. 

VAI2’s end with the letter “M”, example Gashkendam- s/he is sad.   

Giinawaa (you all) rules

If the verb is a VAI, add GI before the verb and put the letter “M” at the end of the verb.  If the verb is

a VAI2 add GI before the verb and add an extra “A” to the last vowel in the word, for example

gashkendam- s/he is sad, when changed to, you all are sad, becomes, GIgashkendaAm.  If the verb ends

with the letter “N”, add GI before the word and use IM as your suffix.  Again, these types of VAI’s are rare.

PUT THE FOLLOWING VAI’S INTO YOU ALL (GIINAWAA) FORM.  PAGE DOWN TO SEE THE CORRECT ANSWERS.

Bagizo- s/he is swimming, Dewizi-s/he is aching, Giigido-s/he is speaking, Jiibaakwe-s/he is cooking, Zagaswaa-s/he is smoking, Anokii-s/he is working, Ezhishin-s/he leaves a mark, Inaabi-peeking/looking, Odamino-s/he is playing, Manise- s/he is getting firewood, Naadasabii-s/he is checking a net, Wiisini- s/he is eating, Dagoshin-s/he arrives, Minwendam- s/he is happy, Gashkendam- s/he is sad.

You all are swimming-GIbagizoM

You all are aching- GIdewiziM

You all are speaking- GIgiigidoM

You all are cooking- GIjiibaakweM

You all are smoking- GIzagaswaaM

You all are working- GIDanokiiM

You all are leaving a mark- GIDezhishinIM

You all are arriving- GIdagoshinIM

You all are peeking/looking- GIDinaabiM

You all are playing- GIDOodaminoM

You all are getting firewood- GImaniseM

You all are checking the net- GInaadasabiiM

You all are eating- GIwiisiniM

You all are happy- GIminwendaAM

You all are sad- GIgashkendaAM

The last person we are talking about is Wiinawaa (they,them).  This is seems to be very basic, you only need to add a suffix to the verb. Be aware of the VAI or VAI2, because the suffix changes with the two. 

Wiinawaa (they/them) rules.

If the verb ends in a vowel, use “WAG” as your suffix. 

If the verb ends in a consonant, use “OOG” as your suffix.

PUT THE FOLLOWING VERBS INTO WIINAWAA (THEY/THEM) FORM. 

Bagizo- s/he is swimming, Dewizi-s/he is aching, Giigido-s/he is speaking

Jiibaakwe-s/he is cooking, Zagaswaa-s/he is smoking, Anokii-s/he is working, Ezhishin-s/he leaves a mark, Inaabi-peeking/looking, Odamino-s/he is playing, Manise- s/he is getting firewood, Naadasabii-s/he is checking a net, Wiisini- s/he is eating, Dagoshin-s/he arrives, Minwendam- s/he is happy, Gashkendam- s/he is sad.

They are swimming-bagizoWAG

They are aching- dewiziWAG

They are speaking- giigidoWAG

They are cooking- jiibaakweWAG

They are smoking- zagaswaaWAG

They are working- anokiiWAG

They are leaving a mark- ezhishinOOG

They are arriving- dagoshinOOG

They are peeking/looking- inaabiWAG

They are playing- odaminoWAG

They are getting firewood- maniseWAG

They are checking the net- naadasabiiWAG

They are eating- wiisiniWAG

They are happy- minwendamOOG

They are sad- gashkendamOOG

When using the grammar tools that I have provided, some words don’t sound right in English, but with the rules, you know how to inflect them properly now.  Translate the word first, before using the grammar, if sounds right in English it will sound right in Ojibwe.  Next part of the lessons, we will add tense markers to the words.  As we go along, your sentences will become longer, so are we’ve only used simple “A” form sentences (independent sentences).  B from sentences will happen later, they are dependant sentences that are not complete sentences.  Example- if it I am sick… I will not work today.  The first part of the sentence depends on the second part, to make it complete.