IMPERSONAL VERBS
Impersonal Verbs are unique to Chippewa. They realy aren't Verbs as we know them. But they are wonderfully expressive and descriptive. They say so much in one word! There is nothing like them in English.
Here are some examples:
- ABA.WA it is warm
- MINO.MA.GWAD it smells good
- KISSI.NA it is cold
- KIJI.PO it snowed enough
- O.NIJI.SHIN it is good
- MINO.TA it sounds good
- A.GASSA it is small
- WABAN it is dawning
- (more to come!)
The impersonal Verb is great for pithy statements. And they serve as adjectives
They can express a complete thought; a complete sentence; conversations can thrive on them.
But the Impersonal Verb is always impersonal; it expresses only "it is";"there is", never "he/she is".
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