Datapoint Michif/Position of tense, aspect, and mood markers in relation to the verb

More than 95% of the verbs in Michif are from Cree. Virtually all of those express tense and aspect with preverbal markers (prefixes, reduplication). However, they are part of the inflected verb, as they are preceded by person agreement markers.

There is one temporal-aspectual suffix -ipan (preterite in Cree) that is very rarely used, and its meaning is unclear.

French verbs are too rare to make firm statements. Some are preceded by auxiliaries meaning 'to be, to have', or a suffix -ii derived from the French infinitive or past participle, without sharing the functions of these French forms.

Values

Immediately preceding the verb Frequency: 81.8%

Example 75-50:
Namo kakiiituhtew wiya.
Namo
neg
kakii-ituhte-w
able-go-3sg
wiya.
3sg
She was not able to go.

Source: Fleury 2007

Example 75-58:
U va aseurii kaapooni li begiit.
U
1pl
va
fut
aseurii
assure
kaa-pooni
comp-quit
li
m.def.art
beg-ii-t.
stutter-inf-3
We will assure him he can get over stuttering.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 28

Example 75-59:
Kiya kamiyitinaan.
Kiya
you
ki-ka-miy-iti-naan.
2sg-fut-give-inv-1pl
I give it to YOU.

Source: Fleury 2007

Example 75-94:
Kiinipaahishin ana ahpo eetikwee.
Kii-nipaah-ishi-n
pst-die-fall-3sg
ana
dem.anim.sg.prox
ahpo
or
eetikwee.
apparently
Maybe he fell dead, I don't know.

Source: Fleury 2007

Confidence:
Very certain

Immediately following the verb Frequency: 9.1%

Example 75-123:
Ralph Ledoux giinagamuhpan.
Ralph
Ralph
Ledoux
Ledoux
gii-nagamu-hpan.
pst-sing-pret
Ralph Ledoux used to be a singer.
Confidence:
Unspecified

In a leftward position Frequency: 9.1%

Example 75-84:
Li shyaen mekwaat aen zoo maamaakwahtem.
Li
def.art.m.sg
shyaen
dog
mekwaat
prog
aen
indf.art.m.sg
zoo
bone
maamaakwaht-em.
chew.inan-3.sbj.3.obj
The dog is chewing on a bone.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 48

Confidence:
Very certain