How to Conjugate Regular VerbsIf you like watching videos and have a lot of time on your hands, see the one to the right. Otherwise, keep reading.
Marking regular verbs for person is as simple as adding the correct prefix to match the subject. "Regular" refers to three types of Kumeyaay verbs: Those that start with a vowel, those that start with "w", and those that start with a consonant. All verbs can be conjugated as described below except for:
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1. Verbs that start with a vowel
If the 3rd person form of the verb starts with a vowel, simply add the prefix ' (glottal stop) for 1st person and m for 2nd person. The third person needs no prefix. Remember to use the plural form (found in parentheses) for plural subjects like "we", "you all", and "they". Below, the pronouns are given along with each conjugation, but remember that they are not obligatory and are often best left out.
Dictionary form: ewuuw (ewup): sees, looks at
1st person singular: 'enyaach 'ewuuw "I see"
2nd person singular: maach mewuuw "you see"
3rd person singular: puuch ewuuw "he/she/it sees"
1st person plural: 'enyaawapch 'ewup "we see"
2nd person plural: menyaawapch mewup "you guys see"
3rd person plural: pupch ewup "they see"
Dictionary form: ewuuw (ewup): sees, looks at
1st person singular: 'enyaach 'ewuuw "I see"
2nd person singular: maach mewuuw "you see"
3rd person singular: puuch ewuuw "he/she/it sees"
1st person plural: 'enyaawapch 'ewup "we see"
2nd person plural: menyaawapch mewup "you guys see"
3rd person plural: pupch ewup "they see"
2. Verbs that start with "w"
Verbs that begin with the letter "w" are numerous. With these verbs, the "w" actually signifies 3rd person (he, she, or it), and it is replaced by other prefixes when conjugated for the 1st and 2nd person, as you can see below:
Dictionary form: wechuw (wechaawch): makes, builds, prepares
1st p. sg. 'enyaach 'echuw "I make"
2nd p. sg. maach mechuw "you make"
3rd p. sg. puuch wechuw "he/she/it makes"
1st p. pl. 'enyaawapch 'echaawch "we make"
2nd p. pl. menyaawapch mechaawch "you guys make"
3rd p. pl. pupch wechaawch "they make"
Dictionary form: wechuw (wechaawch): makes, builds, prepares
1st p. sg. 'enyaach 'echuw "I make"
2nd p. sg. maach mechuw "you make"
3rd p. sg. puuch wechuw "he/she/it makes"
1st p. pl. 'enyaawapch 'echaawch "we make"
2nd p. pl. menyaawapch mechaawch "you guys make"
3rd p. pl. pupch wechaawch "they make"
3. Verbs that start with a consonant
To add the prefixes '- and m- to verbs that start with a consonant, you need to add a shwa (e), making these prefixes 'e- and me-. This is necessary to make those prefixes audible. The same process of shwa-insertion is also used with other grammatical prefixes and even suffixes, so it's a good thing to get familiar with!
Dictionary entry: paa (nekemich): gets there, is here, arrives, has come
1st p. sg. 'enyaach 'epaa "I have arrived"
2nd p. sg. maach mepaa "you have arrived"
3rd p. sg. puuch paa "he/she/it has arrived"
1st p. sg. 'enyaawapch 'enekemich "we have arrived"
2nd p. sg. menyaawapch menekemich "you guys have arrived"
3rd p. sg. pupch nekemich "they have arrived"
Dictionary entry: paa (nekemich): gets there, is here, arrives, has come
1st p. sg. 'enyaach 'epaa "I have arrived"
2nd p. sg. maach mepaa "you have arrived"
3rd p. sg. puuch paa "he/she/it has arrived"
1st p. sg. 'enyaawapch 'enekemich "we have arrived"
2nd p. sg. menyaawapch menekemich "you guys have arrived"
3rd p. sg. pupch nekemich "they have arrived"
Important Note
The above method of 'e- for first person, me- for second person, and w- or no prefix for third person works when the verb has no object or has a third-person object. If the object of the verb is first-person (me) or second-person (you), the verb may take different prefixes. These are detailed near the bottom of the Verb Conjugation page.
Practice
Can you complete these sentences with the correct verb form?
Verb: nyewaayp (nyechewayp): lives
Scroll down for the answers.
Wondering about tense? In 'Iipay Aa, the bare form or reference form of the verb (third-person singular) can mean many things, from past completed action (he did it) to ongoing habitual action (he does it). That's why many of the English translations were in past tense. Helping verbs like tewaa (tenyeway) put the verb into the present progressive & imperfect tense (he is doing it, was doing it).
Refer to Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 for further details.
The source of the dictionary entries is Couro & Hutcheson (1973): Dictionary of Mesa Grande Diegueño.
Answers
Verb: nyewaayp (nyechewayp): lives
- I live here. Peyii _________.
- Where do you live? Maayvi _________a?
- They live way out there. Puully ________.
- We ate meat. Kukwaayp _________.
- She's eating. _________ tewaa.
- You guys ate everything! Nyaamat _________!
- I did it! ______!
- You didn't do it. ______h memaaw.
- They are doing it. _______ tenyeway.
Scroll down for the answers.
Wondering about tense? In 'Iipay Aa, the bare form or reference form of the verb (third-person singular) can mean many things, from past completed action (he did it) to ongoing habitual action (he does it). That's why many of the English translations were in past tense. Helping verbs like tewaa (tenyeway) put the verb into the present progressive & imperfect tense (he is doing it, was doing it).
Refer to Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 for further details.
The source of the dictionary entries is Couro & Hutcheson (1973): Dictionary of Mesa Grande Diegueño.
Answers
- Peyii 'enyewaayp.
- Maayvi menyewaaypa?
- Puully nyechewayp.
- Kukwaayp 'esuw.
- Wesaaw tewaa.
- Nyaamat mesuw!
- 'Ewii!
- Mewiih memaaw.
- Ewip tenyeway.