Verbs have six tenses, the present, the imperfect, the perfect, the
pluperfect, the first and second future tenses.
The present tense represents a present action as taking place at the
time in which it is mentioned; as, Nebop, I laugh; Newob, I see;
Nedenadum, I think.
The imperfect tense denotes past action or event however distant,
finished, but without defining the exact time of its completion;
as, Oodanongezahbahneeg ahpe naquaskahwod, they were travelling to
the town when he met them.
The perfect tense refers not only to what is past but also conveys
an allusion to the present time; as, Ahzheh negegezhetoon
nemahzhenahegun, I have finished my letter.
The pluperfect tense represents a thing, not only as past, but also
as prior to some other point of time specified in the sentence;
as, Ahzehnegegezhetonahbun letter chebwabedahgweshing, I had finished
my letter before he arrived.
The first future tense represents the action as yet to come, either
with or without respect to the precise time when; as, Owh kezis
tahbemookahum wahbung, the sun will rise to-morrow.
The second future tense represents a future action that will be
accomplished before another future action; as, Negahwesenenahbun
nahwahquaig, I shall have dined at twelve o'clock.
A Verb is conjugated in the following manner:
TO LOVE.--Indicative Mood.
_Present Tense._
_Sing._ 1. Nezhahwanega, I love.
2. Kezhahwanega, Thou lovest.
3. Zhahwanega, He loves.
_Plur._ 1. Nezhahwanegamin, We love.
2. Kezhahwanegaim, Ye or you love.
3. Zhahwanegawug, They love.
_Imperfect._
_Sing._ 1. Negezhahwanega, I loved.
2. Kegezhahwanega, Thou lovedst.
3. Kezhahwanega, He loved.
_Plur._ 1. Negezhahwanegamin, We loved.
2. Kegezhahwanegaim, Ye or you loved.
3. Kezhawanegawug, They loved.
_Perfect._
_Sing._ 1. Ahzehnegezhahwanega, I have loved.
2. Ahzehkegezhahwanega, Thou hast loved.
3. Ahzehkezhahwanega, He has loved.
_Plur._ 1. Ahzehnegezhahwanegamin, We have loved.
2. Ahzehkegezhahwanegaim, Ye or you have loved.
3. Ahzehkezhahwanegawug, They have loved.
_Pluperfect._
_Sing._ 1. Ahzehnegezhahwaneganahbun, I had loved.
2. Ahzehkegezhahwaneganahbun, Thou hadst loved.
3. Ahzehkezhahwanegabun, He had loved.
_Plur._ 1. Ahzehnegezhawanegaminahbun, We had loved.
2. Ahzehkegezhahwanegamwahbun, You had loved.
3. Ahzehkezhahwanegabahneeg, They had loved.
_First Future._
_Sing._ 1. Negahzhahwanega, I shall or will love.
2. Kegahzhahwanega, Thou shalt or wilt love.
3. Tahzhahwanega, He shall or will love.
_Plur._ 1. Negahzhahwanegamin, We shall or will love.
2. Kegahzhahwanegaim, You shall or will love.
3. Tahzhahwanegawug, They shall or will love.
_Second Future._
_Sing._ 1. Negahzhahwaneganahbun, I shall have loved.
2. Kegahzhahwaneganahbun, Thou wilt have loved.
3. Tahzhahwanegabun, He will have loved.
_Plur._ 1. Negahzhahwanegaminahbun, We shall have loved.
2. Kegahzhahwanegamwahbun, You will have loved.
3. Tahzhahwanegabahneeg, They will have loved.