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:
| 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. |
IMPERATIVE MOOD.