Study the following pairs of sentences.
|
- A- Nem' 'u ch 'umshasum'?
|
Are you going to go for a walk? |
- B- Hee'. Nem' tsun ('umshasum').
|
Yes. I am going (for a walk). | | Are you coming to work? | - B- Hee'. M'i tsun (yaays).
| Yes. I am coming (to work). | - A- Hwts'e'nutsum 'u ch tse'?
| Will you sit down? | - B- Hee'. Hwts'e'nutsum tsun tse'.
| Yes. I will sit down. |
|
The words nem' "go" and m'i* "come" (also pronounced hum'i ) can be placed in front of the verb.
- The auxiliary nem' indicates motion away from the speaker.
Nem' hwts'e'nutsum. | "Go sit down." |
Nem' xwchenum. | "Go run." |
Nem' 'ulhtun / Nem' xlhas. | "Go eat." |
- The auxiliary m'i* indicates motion toward the speaker.
M'i 'ewu. | "Come here." |
M'i 'ulhtun / M'i xlhas. | "Come eat." |
M'i yaays. | "Come work." |
*Note: The Cowichan Tribes write mi. However, we will spell this word m'i throughout these lessons.