Chapter 3 - Transitive Verbs
In a sentence with a subject and an object, the -ch will help you tell which is which:
Hattepaach 'aahmaa wesaaw. A coyote ate a quail.
subject-ch object verb
If we remove the -ch, we can still tell which is the subject and object based on the word order, which is typically Subject-Object-Verb:
Hattepaa 'aahmaa wesaaw. A coyote ate a quail.
'Aahmaa hattepaa wesaaw. A quail ate a coyote.
But with -ch, we can change the word order and still get the same meaning:
'Aahmaa hattepaach wesaaw. A coyote ate a quail.
Wesaaw 'aahmaa hattepaach. A coyote ate a quail.
In the last chapter, you also learned that changing -ch to -vech on the subject of the verb made the noun definite, and was like putting the article "the" in front of it.
Hattepaavech 'aahmaa wesaaw. The coyote ate a quail.
Suffix -vu
The equivalent to "the" for objects of the verb is the suffix -vu, which you can place on nouns the verb is acting upon. This suffix sounds a bit like the French word veux, and the "u" is like in the words "put" and "foot".
Hattepaa 'aahmaavu wesaaw. A coyote ate the quail.
Paataatvech 'ewaavu wechuw. Her father built the house.
'Iipay Aavu 'emirr. I love the Kumeyaay language.
Hekwanyvu aayiw. She brought her son.
As you might notice, Kumeyaay uses -vech and -vu a bit more flexibly than we use "the" in English.
Hattepaach 'aahmaa wesaaw. A coyote ate a quail.
subject-ch object verb
If we remove the -ch, we can still tell which is the subject and object based on the word order, which is typically Subject-Object-Verb:
Hattepaa 'aahmaa wesaaw. A coyote ate a quail.
'Aahmaa hattepaa wesaaw. A quail ate a coyote.
But with -ch, we can change the word order and still get the same meaning:
'Aahmaa hattepaach wesaaw. A coyote ate a quail.
Wesaaw 'aahmaa hattepaach. A coyote ate a quail.
In the last chapter, you also learned that changing -ch to -vech on the subject of the verb made the noun definite, and was like putting the article "the" in front of it.
Hattepaavech 'aahmaa wesaaw. The coyote ate a quail.
Suffix -vu
The equivalent to "the" for objects of the verb is the suffix -vu, which you can place on nouns the verb is acting upon. This suffix sounds a bit like the French word veux, and the "u" is like in the words "put" and "foot".
Hattepaa 'aahmaavu wesaaw. A coyote ate the quail.
Paataatvech 'ewaavu wechuw. Her father built the house.
'Iipay Aavu 'emirr. I love the Kumeyaay language.
Hekwanyvu aayiw. She brought her son.
As you might notice, Kumeyaay uses -vech and -vu a bit more flexibly than we use "the" in English.
Preparing to read
Here are some suffixes you will encounter in the upcoming story:
-s: This suffix can be placed on any verb to add a slight emphasis, definitiveness, or sense of completion. It usually makes no difference to the translation but can contribute to the tone of the speech.
-ch: When added to verbs, -ch basically means "and". Used when the conjoined verbs have the same subject.
-i or -vi: As seen previously, this means "at" or "in" when placed on nouns.
-m or -vem: On nouns, means "to".
-lly or -velly: On nouns, means "into" or "inside".
-k or -vek: On nouns, means "from" or "out of".
The suffixes with "v", including -vech, are seen as -vu (definite article) plus the suffix -i, -m, -k, etc. Thus, the "v" variants tend to be more definite, usually meaning "the" thing in question. However, sometimes either variant can be used without much changed to the meaning, as in: 'emati and 'ematvi, "on the ground". Read more on noun suffixes
-s: This suffix can be placed on any verb to add a slight emphasis, definitiveness, or sense of completion. It usually makes no difference to the translation but can contribute to the tone of the speech.
-ch: When added to verbs, -ch basically means "and". Used when the conjoined verbs have the same subject.
-i or -vi: As seen previously, this means "at" or "in" when placed on nouns.
-m or -vem: On nouns, means "to".
-lly or -velly: On nouns, means "into" or "inside".
-k or -vek: On nouns, means "from" or "out of".
The suffixes with "v", including -vech, are seen as -vu (definite article) plus the suffix -i, -m, -k, etc. Thus, the "v" variants tend to be more definite, usually meaning "the" thing in question. However, sometimes either variant can be used without much changed to the meaning, as in: 'emati and 'ematvi, "on the ground". Read more on noun suffixes
Kulashaash Hemay
Nyuk tenays.
Pablo 'ewaa chemuuyuw nyuk chepak, 'uunyaavi wamp tewaa. Pily nyewaam puwk tewaa. Wamp tewaa, tewaa, tewaa. Wamp tewaa, nyaapum 'uuchuch yip. 'Ily 'ehin um. Puy aawaall 'ehini, 'aashaa 'ehin wenak tewaa. 'Aashaavech hepeshiws. " 'Aashaa puu kulashaashches," Pablo iichaas. Kulashaashvech chuuyaay, nyaapum weman. Wemanch waam 'iitaaylly. "Maayem waam kinemi," Pablo wiis. " 'Akewiih." |
Nyuk = already, tenay = it is/was late
chepak = come out (of) 'uunyaavi = in the road puwk tewaa = was going back, nyewaam = to his house < he walked, and walked, and walked 'uuchuch = something, yip = hears um = looks at something in distance, 'ily 'ehin = a tree aawaall 'ehini = on a branch; aawaall = branch wenak tewaa = was sitting hepeshiw = is blue, -s = optional ending for mild emphasis iichaa = thinks chuuyaay = chirps, sings wemanch waam = flew and went, 'iitaaylly = into the forest/brush kinemi = I wonder, maayem = where to, whither, wii = says akewii = follows, 'akewii = I follow, -h = future (I will) |
Nyaapum Pablo 'uunyaavu chepamch 'iitaayvu wehap. Pablo 'ilyvu um, 'emaayvu um, kulashaashvu hemayh umaaw. Nyaapum 'iitaayvu chepam, 'emtaar wehap. Puy 'emaayem um tewaa, nyaapum 'uuchuch 'emati yip. Ewuuw: hattepaa 'ehin puy tewaa. Hattepaavech 'emtaarvi 'uuchuch wesaaw tewaa. Pablo pam; hattepaavech pehekwiich 'elymaamvu ewuuw. Pablo nyemach pehekwiis. Hattepaavu ewuuw tewaa. Hwally wii tenyeways. Nyaapum Pabloch apekwilp. Apekwilpch wenuw. Wenuw tewaa, tewaa, tewaa. 'Iitaayvek wenuw, 'uunyaavelly wenuw, nyaapum nyewaam pam. 'Ewaavu wehap, 'aapittvu shuupitt, puy 'ematvi wenaks. Pablo paatalych 'ewaavi tewaa. Hekwanyvu ewuuw. "Mu'yuuchu?" paatalyvech akekwii. "Machepayh umaawh," Pablo wiis. |
chepam = go out (of), wehap = enter chepamch... wehap = went out and went in (-ch = and) 'ilyvu = the trees, 'emaayvu = the sky hemay = find, look for 'emtaar = open space, valley 'emaayem um tewaa = was looking up yip = hears, 'emati = on the ground hattepaa = coyote, puy tewaa = was there 'emtaarvi = in the open space pam = arrives, pehekwii = stops, stands nyemach = also hwally wii = is/are quiet, tenyeway = plural of tewaa apekwilp = turn around, do a 180 < he turned around and ran 'iitaayvek = out of the forest, 'uunyaavelly = into the road nyewaam pam = arrived at his home 'ewaavu = the house, 'aapitt = door, shuupitt = closes 'ematvi wenak = he sat on the ground paataly = his mother, 'ewaavi = at home hekwany = her son Mu'yuuchu? What's the matter? What happened? Akekwii = asks achepay = believes, machepay = you believe |
Akekwii - Questions about Kulashaash Hemay
Write your answers on a piece of paper. Valid responses may vary; answers are provided at bottom of page.
1. 'Elymaamvu maapchu?
2. 'Elymaamvu siny matt 'iikwichchu? 3. Maayk weyiw tuuyiwa? 4. Maayem waa tewaa-a? 5. 'Elymaam 'iikwichvech 'aashaa kumyuch yipa? 6. 'Aashaavech maay ewaa? 7. 'Aashaavech 'ilyvi 'uuch ma'wiia? 8. Nyaapum maayem 'aashaavech waa? 9. 'Aashaavech nyawaam, Pabloch 'uuch ma'wii? 10. 'Iitaayvi nyatewaa, 'aashaavu hemaya? 11. 'Emtaarvi nyawehap, 'uuch ewuuwa Pabloch? 12. Hattepaavech 'uuch ma'wiia? 13. Hattepaavu nyaewuuw, 'uuch ma'wii Pablo? 14. 'Ewaavi nyapam, Pablo 'uuch ma'wii? 15. Maapch Pablo ewuuw? 'Uuch Pablo akekwii? |
Notes on the questions:
maayk = where from? weyiw tuuyiw = was coming maayem = where to? kumyuch = which kind, what kind nya- prefix means "when" -ch added to Pablo for clarity |
Leaving Things Out
In English, we are used to the subject and object always being explicitly present in every sentence. In Kumeyaay, however, we can leave these out of the sentence entirely if our listener already knows what they are. Study the following examples:
Hosee 'enyehattvu shuuhuu. Jose stole my dog.
'Enyehattvu shuuhuu. He stole my dog.
Hosee shuuhuu. Jose stole it.
Shuuhuu. He stole it.
As you see, if a verb's subject or object is left out of a sentence, a pronoun like "he" or "it" is implied to fill the gap.
When there is only one verb and one noun in a sentence, the noun's suffix or lack thereof is often the best indicator of whether it is a subject or an object:
'Ehattvu shuuhuu. He stole the dog.
'Ehattvech shuuhuu. The dog stole it.
'Ehatt shuuhuu. He stole a dog. or, less likely: A dog stole it.
In the case there are no suffixes on the nouns, context will help you determine what is going on.
In English, we are used to the subject and object always being explicitly present in every sentence. In Kumeyaay, however, we can leave these out of the sentence entirely if our listener already knows what they are. Study the following examples:
Hosee 'enyehattvu shuuhuu. Jose stole my dog.
'Enyehattvu shuuhuu. He stole my dog.
Hosee shuuhuu. Jose stole it.
Shuuhuu. He stole it.
As you see, if a verb's subject or object is left out of a sentence, a pronoun like "he" or "it" is implied to fill the gap.
When there is only one verb and one noun in a sentence, the noun's suffix or lack thereof is often the best indicator of whether it is a subject or an object:
'Ehattvu shuuhuu. He stole the dog.
'Ehattvech shuuhuu. The dog stole it.
'Ehatt shuuhuu. He stole a dog. or, less likely: A dog stole it.
In the case there are no suffixes on the nouns, context will help you determine what is going on.
Mat Uchewayp
Pablo nyawihch paatalyvech mat uchewayp. Pablo and his mother talk to each other.
Caroliin: Keknaapem 'eyiph, mu'yuuchu?
Pablo: 'Enyaach hattepaa 'ewuuws! C: Hattepaa? Maayvi hattepaa mewuuwa? P: 'Emtaarvi 'ewuuws, 'iitaay helyepay. C: Nyawihch mu'yuum puully temewaa-a? P: 'Enyaach, 'uuch, kulashaash 'ehin 'akewii ta'waas. Caroliin uusay. C: Kulashaash 'emtaarvelly makewiia? P: Umaaw, kulashaashvech 'iitaay wehap, nyaapum 'enyaach 'akewiis. 'Ehemayh 'emaaw, nyaapum 'iitaay 'echepamch 'emtaarvi 'ehaps. Puy hattepaa 'ewuuw. C: Hoo. Hattepaa puuch helyepay tewaa matt 'ekur? P: Helyepay tewaa. 'Iichachvu 'ephar wesaaw tewaa. C: Li'! Hattepaavech 'iikuuchu? P: 'E-en, 'iikuuch apesiiw! C: Muuyullpa? P: Haa, nyewuuw nyaapum 'uuyullps. 'Apekwilp nyaapum 'ewaam 'enuw. C: Hattepaavech maa makewiia? P: 'E-en, 'iichachvu nyakewiis, pes 'echepam. C: 'Uuch kwa'han! |
keknaapem 'eyiph: Tell me, I'll listen
'ewuuw = I saw maayvi = where at? mewuuw = you saw 'iitaay helyepay = near/by the forest mu'yuum = why; puully = there, in there 'uuch = uh.. (filler word); 'akewii = I followed uusay = laughs makewii = you follow(ed) 'ehemay = I find, look for; -h 'emaaw = I didn't 'echepam = I get out; 'ehap = I enter helyepay = is near, close; 'ekur = is far 'iichachvu = I think...; 'ephar = rabbit Li'! Wow! 'Iikuuchu? Is it/was it big? 'Iikuuch apesiiw. It is very big. -ch apesiiw = is very uuyullp = is/gets scared; muuyullp = you got scared nyewuuw = it saw me; 'uuyullp = I was scared 'apekwilp = I turned around, 'ewaam 'enuw = I ran home makewii = it followed/chased you (if subject is 3rd pers.) nyakewii = it followed me; pes = but; 'echepam = I got out/escaped. 'Uuch kwa'han = That's a good thing. |
Verbs and person
The "person" of a verb refers to who is performing the action. In Kumeyaay, the following general rule applies:
'e- or '- means first person or "I"
me- or m- means second person or "you"
w- or no prefix means third person or "he/she/it"
The "default" state of a Kumeyaay verb is in the third person, or "he" form. This is the form listed in the dictionary.
For example, apekwilp = he turns around. From here, we can modify it by adding ' (glottal stop) for "I" and m- for "you":
'Apekwilp. I turn around.
Mapekwilp. You turn around.
For verbs that start with w-, the "w" stands for "he/she/it", and is switched out with '- and m-:
Wenuw. He runs.
'Enuw. I run.
Menuw. You run.
If the verb begins with a consonant in third person, a shwa (e) is inserted after the prefix, making them 'e- and me-:
Chepam. He goes/gets out, he escapes.
'Echepam. I go out.
Mechepam. You go out.
These same prefixes and rules apply if the verb is plural:
Nekemich. They arrive, get there (plural of pam).
'Enekemich. We get there.
Menekemich. You all get there.
There are other verbal prefixes for if the object is first or second person, or if the verb is irregular. We will cover these in a later lesson, but if you want a full explanation now, see the page about Verb Conjugation.
'e- or '- means first person or "I"
me- or m- means second person or "you"
w- or no prefix means third person or "he/she/it"
The "default" state of a Kumeyaay verb is in the third person, or "he" form. This is the form listed in the dictionary.
For example, apekwilp = he turns around. From here, we can modify it by adding ' (glottal stop) for "I" and m- for "you":
'Apekwilp. I turn around.
Mapekwilp. You turn around.
For verbs that start with w-, the "w" stands for "he/she/it", and is switched out with '- and m-:
Wenuw. He runs.
'Enuw. I run.
Menuw. You run.
If the verb begins with a consonant in third person, a shwa (e) is inserted after the prefix, making them 'e- and me-:
Chepam. He goes/gets out, he escapes.
'Echepam. I go out.
Mechepam. You go out.
These same prefixes and rules apply if the verb is plural:
Nekemich. They arrive, get there (plural of pam).
'Enekemich. We get there.
Menekemich. You all get there.
There are other verbal prefixes for if the object is first or second person, or if the verb is irregular. We will cover these in a later lesson, but if you want a full explanation now, see the page about Verb Conjugation.
Ready to Read
You're now ready to read the story Coyote & Rooster from Let's Talk 'Iipay Aa. Use the notes and vocabulary on the page to help you understand the reading. Some useful terms before you begin:
Nesoom!
Congratulations on reaching the end of Chapter 3. In this chapter we covered:
When you can read and understand everything without notes, you are ready to move on!
>>> Proceed to Chapter 4
- -vu, definite article "the" on objects
- -s, "mild emphasis" ending on verbs
- -ch on verbs means "and", indicates the verbs have the same subject
- -i/-vi means "in", -lly/-velly "into/inside", -m/-vem "to", -k/-vek "from"
- nya- on verbs means "when"
- On regular verbs, '-/'e- means "I", m-/me- "you", and w-/no prefix means "he/she/it".
When you can read and understand everything without notes, you are ready to move on!
>>> Proceed to Chapter 4
Answers
1. 'Elymaamvu maapchu? 'Elymaam Pabloches.
Who was the child? The child was Pablo.
2. 'Elymaamvu siny matt 'iikwichchu? 'Elymaam 'iikwiches.
Is it a girl or a boy? He is a boy.
3. Maayk weyiw tuuyiwa? 'Ewaa chemuuyuwvek weyiw tuuyiw.
Where was he coming from? He was coming from school.
4. Maayem waa tewaa-a? Nyewaam waa tewaa.
Where was he going to? He was going home (lit. to his home).
5. 'Elymaam 'iikwichvech 'aashaa kumyuch yipa? Kulashaash yip.
What kind of bird did the boy hear? He heard a bluejay.
6. 'Aashaavech maay ewaa? 'Ilyvi ewaa.
Where was the bird? It was in a tree.
7. 'Aashaavech 'ilyvi 'uuch ma'wiia? Wenak tewaa. Chuuyaay tewaa.
What was the bird doing in the tree? It was sitting (and/or) it was singing.
8. Nyaapum maayem 'aashaavech waa? 'Aashaavech 'iitaayvelly waa.
Then where did the bird go? The bird went into the forest.
9. 'Aashaavech nyawaam, Pabloch 'uuch ma'wii? Nyawaam, Pabloch akewii.
When the bird left, what did Pablo do? When it left, Pablo followed it.
10. 'Iitaayvi nyatewaa, 'aashaavu hemaya? Umaaw, 'aashaavu hemayh umaaw.
When he was in the forest, did he find the bird? No, he did not find the bird.
11. 'Emtaarvi nyawehap, 'uuch ewuuwa Pabloch? Hattepaa 'ehin ewuuw.
When he entered the clearing, what did Pablo see? He saw a coyote.
12. Hattepaavech 'uuch ma'wiia? Hattepaavech 'uuchuch wesaaw tewaa.
What was the coyote doing? The coyote was eating something.
13. Hattepaavu nyaewuuw, 'uuch ma'wii Pablo? Pablo wenuwch nyewaam waam.
When he saw the coyote, what did Pablo do? Pablo ran and went home.
14. 'Ewaavi nyapam, Pablo 'uuch ma'wii? Nyapam, 'aapitt shuupittch 'emati wenak.
When he got home, what did Pablo do? When he arrived, he closed the door and sat on the ground.
15. Maapch Pablo ewuuw? 'Uuch Pablo akekwii? Pablo paatalyvech ewuuwch akekwii, "Mu'yuuchu?"
Who saw Pablo? What did she ask Pablo? Pablo's mother saw him and asked, "What happened?"
Who was the child? The child was Pablo.
2. 'Elymaamvu siny matt 'iikwichchu? 'Elymaam 'iikwiches.
Is it a girl or a boy? He is a boy.
3. Maayk weyiw tuuyiwa? 'Ewaa chemuuyuwvek weyiw tuuyiw.
Where was he coming from? He was coming from school.
4. Maayem waa tewaa-a? Nyewaam waa tewaa.
Where was he going to? He was going home (lit. to his home).
5. 'Elymaam 'iikwichvech 'aashaa kumyuch yipa? Kulashaash yip.
What kind of bird did the boy hear? He heard a bluejay.
6. 'Aashaavech maay ewaa? 'Ilyvi ewaa.
Where was the bird? It was in a tree.
7. 'Aashaavech 'ilyvi 'uuch ma'wiia? Wenak tewaa. Chuuyaay tewaa.
What was the bird doing in the tree? It was sitting (and/or) it was singing.
8. Nyaapum maayem 'aashaavech waa? 'Aashaavech 'iitaayvelly waa.
Then where did the bird go? The bird went into the forest.
9. 'Aashaavech nyawaam, Pabloch 'uuch ma'wii? Nyawaam, Pabloch akewii.
When the bird left, what did Pablo do? When it left, Pablo followed it.
10. 'Iitaayvi nyatewaa, 'aashaavu hemaya? Umaaw, 'aashaavu hemayh umaaw.
When he was in the forest, did he find the bird? No, he did not find the bird.
11. 'Emtaarvi nyawehap, 'uuch ewuuwa Pabloch? Hattepaa 'ehin ewuuw.
When he entered the clearing, what did Pablo see? He saw a coyote.
12. Hattepaavech 'uuch ma'wiia? Hattepaavech 'uuchuch wesaaw tewaa.
What was the coyote doing? The coyote was eating something.
13. Hattepaavu nyaewuuw, 'uuch ma'wii Pablo? Pablo wenuwch nyewaam waam.
When he saw the coyote, what did Pablo do? Pablo ran and went home.
14. 'Ewaavi nyapam, Pablo 'uuch ma'wii? Nyapam, 'aapitt shuupittch 'emati wenak.
When he got home, what did Pablo do? When he arrived, he closed the door and sat on the ground.
15. Maapch Pablo ewuuw? 'Uuch Pablo akekwii? Pablo paatalyvech ewuuwch akekwii, "Mu'yuuchu?"
Who saw Pablo? What did she ask Pablo? Pablo's mother saw him and asked, "What happened?"