Sketch of Grammar of the Chippeway Languages

The Infinitive simply expresses the signification of the verb; as, Cheezechegang, to do; Chegegedoong, to speak.

TENSE.

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, Ahzehn