Adverbial and Argument-Doubling Clauses in Cree - MSpace

suffix called the 'stem final'. The four classes are laid out in (22) with examples of each
verb in (23)'
AI - animate intransitive (animate actor)
II - inanimate intransitive (inanimate actor)
TA - transitive animate (animate goal)
TI - transitive inanimate (inanimate goal)
mihkosiw asiniy.
be. red. AI-3 stone-3
'The stone is red.'
mihkwâw maskisin.
be. red. 11-0 shoe-0
'The shoe is red.'
niwâpamâw asiniy .
1 -see.TA-( 1 -3) stone -3
'1 see a stone. '
niwâpahtén cimàn.
1 -see.TE( 1 -inan) boat-NI
'1 sec a boat. '
There are three orders of verbal inflection: independent, conjunct and imperative.
Each order has different attixes for the verb. For our purposes we are only interested in
the independent and conjunct orders. The independent order is restricted to matrix verbs.
The conjunct order rnay be found in either matrix or subordinate clauses. However, a
subordinate clause can only occur with a verb in the conjunct.
These verb classifications are essentially prototype aiegories based upon morphologic.1 properties. A
large number of 41 verbs an intransitive, and there are Ti verbs which an actually intransitive. This
ovewiew of Cree verhl morphology is intended to provide some basic background information, and niIl
not discuss the many exceptions, except to note that they esîst