To Be, or Not To Be?
To Be
In nimipuutímt, the verb wée (VS) can either mean "to be" or "to have." This lesson will cover the verb "to be," or "is." It has an irregular conjugation, but it is one of the most important verbs to know. It is an s-class verb.
In nimipuutímt, the verb wée (VS) can either mean "to be" or "to have." This lesson will cover the verb "to be," or "is." It has an irregular conjugation, but it is one of the most important verbs to know. It is an s-class verb.
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'íin wées : I am
('íim) 'ée wées : You are
'ipí híiwes : He/She is
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núun wisíix : We are
('imé) 'éetx wisíix : You (pl) are 'imé hiwsíix : They (pl) are
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When a singular person is performing the action, an "s" is added instead of the usual suffix "-se."
When more than one person is performing the action, the suffix "-síix" is added, because wée ends in a stressed long vowel. In the 1st and 2nd person plural forms, the long vowel ée is also replaced with an "i." In the 3rd person plural form, the long vowel ée is dropped altogether.
When a singular 3rd person is the subject, the prefix "híi-" is added, instead of the usual "hi-."
When more than one person is performing the action, the suffix "-síix" is added, because wée ends in a stressed long vowel. In the 1st and 2nd person plural forms, the long vowel ée is also replaced with an "i." In the 3rd person plural form, the long vowel ée is dropped altogether.
When a singular 3rd person is the subject, the prefix "híi-" is added, instead of the usual "hi-."
Negative Form
The word wéet'u means "not." When using the negative form of a verb, wéet'u does not necessarily have a set place. That doesn't mean that it can be placed anywhere in a sentence, but there can be multiple ways to say something.
The word wéet'u means "not." When using the negative form of a verb, wéet'u does not necessarily have a set place. That doesn't mean that it can be placed anywhere in a sentence, but there can be multiple ways to say something.
Example:
'ipí híiwes wéet'u kuhét. – He/She is not tall.
wéet'u 'ipí híiwes kuhét. – (No) He/she is not tall.
'ipí híiwes wéet'u kuhét. – He/She is not tall.
wéet'u 'ipí híiwes kuhét. – (No) He/she is not tall.
When used on its own, wéet'u can also mean "no." When speaking, it is important not to unintentionally add a pause when wéet'u is at the beginning of a sentence. This could give your sentence the opposite meaning of what is intended.
Example:
wéet'u 'ipí híiwes kuhét. – (No) He/she is not tall.
wéet'u. 'ipí híiwes kuhét. – No. He/she is tall.
wéet'u 'ipí híiwes kuhét. – (No) He/she is not tall.
wéet'u. 'ipí híiwes kuhét. – No. He/she is tall.
Sentence Structure
It is important to know that nimipuutímt sentence structure is more flexible than English. This doesn't mean that you can place words in any random order and build an understandable sentence. Throughout the following lessons, you will see that one sentence in English can be phrased in nimipuutímt multiple ways.
It is important to know that nimipuutímt sentence structure is more flexible than English. This doesn't mean that you can place words in any random order and build an understandable sentence. Throughout the following lessons, you will see that one sentence in English can be phrased in nimipuutímt multiple ways.