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Grammar Lesson:Applicative Suffix

 Applicative Suffix: A suffix attached to a verb that creates the meaning

that the action of the verb is being done BY  a

 person(s) TO or FOR another person(s). It makes

“persons” as both the verb subject and object. 

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Applicative

Example Verb: Winking

/haktasdiha/ ‘You’re winking’ 

• PRESENT -eha

/higatastaneha/ ‘You’re winking at her’ 

• IMMEDIATE -si / -eli

/higatastasi/ ‘Wink at her!’ 

/higatastaneli/ ‘You (just) winked at her’ 

• INCOMPLETIVE -eh-/higatastaneho’i/ ‘You wink at her’ 

• COMPLETIVE -el-

/higatastanelv’i/ ‘You winked at her’ 

•

INFINITIVE -ehd-/higatastanehdi jaduli/ ‘You want to wink at her’ 

On the IMMEDIATE aspect stem, /-si/ is used on

Command Forms while /-eli/ is used on

Immediate Past Forms.

Suffix attached to verbs that creates the

presence of a person-object affected bythe verb. Two meanings can be derived

from this process depending on the verb

type to which it is applied.

On intransitive verbs, it makes the verb

transitive with the object being a person.

On transitive verbs, it makes the verbditransitive with the new person-object

serving as the primary direct object.

When used, the applicative requires the

use of the “Person Pronominal Prefix” set. 

The applicative uses the Completive

Aspect Verb Stem for all of its forms, butthe applicative itself varies dependent

upon which aspect it is attached to.

On the examples shown to the right, the

intransitive verb “wink” is made transitive

by the addition of the applicative.

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Applicative

Verb Examples:

• /Sgwakdastaneha/ ‘You’re winking at me’ 

• /Da’igiluhcheli/ ‘He came up to us’ (dagiluhcheli)

• /Dagintlecheli/ ‘He’ll take revenge on us’ 

• /Akiwaselv’i/ ‘He bought it for me’ 

• /Nuna disginegvlvsi/ ‘Peel the potatoes for me!’ 

• /Widajinoseli/ ‘I’m going to tell him’ 

• /Deskiyvstanelv’i/ ‘Pick it up for me (later)!’ 

• /Jaji wichayani’a/ ‘Your mother is calling you’ 

• /Gago dejahnogiseho’i?/ ‘Who sings to you?’ 

•/Sgwatlesdi wigajidinelv’i/ ‘I threm them the ball’ 

• /Kilagwu agihvsi/ ‘She (just) gave it to me’ 

• /Gvyali’elichisi/ ‘I’m grateful to you’ 

• /Jiloselv’i/ ‘I passed him’ 

Sound Rules apply when the suffix is

used on certain forms.

When the applicative comes after the

consonant /j/, it changes /j/ to /ch/. This

pattern is seen in the verb examples to

the right on the forms /dagiluhcheli/ and

/dagintlecheli/.

The distinction on the IMMEDIATEaspect stem that determines whether

the form will be /-si/ or /-eli/ is based

upon whether the form is a COMMAND

or a PAST TENSE. Command Tenses will

use /-si/ while the Past uses /-eli/.

On the example verb /akiwaselv’i/, theverb is a transitive verb that becomes

ditransitive with the applicative.

Some verbs use the applicative as a

base part of the verb and have become

established forms such as “give.” 

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ApplicativeAspect and Tense

• PRESENT ASPECT STEM

 – Present Tense

• IMMEDIATE ASPECT STEM

 – Immediate Command Tense

 – Immediate Past Tense

• INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM

 – Habitual Tense

 – Progressive Past Tense

 – Progressive Future Tense

• COMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM

 – Completive Past Tense

 –

Completive Future Command Tense – Completive Future Tense

• INFINITIVE ASPECT STEM

 – Infinitive Tense

 – Obligatory Infinitive Tense

VERB TENSE

Tenses in Cherokee are built off of the various

aspect stems – Specific tenses are associated

with specific Aspect Stems. The Five Aspect

Stems and their associated tenses are given in

the box to the right.

On the next page is an example of this

relationship between aspect and tense.

ASPECT STEM

All forms that use the Applicative Suffix arebased off of the COMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM.

This is important to note because the five

Aspect Stems that verbs have are often

different from one another. By using the

Applicative, though, all verbs will only use the

Completive Aspect Stem.While the aspect stem remains the same, the

exact form for the Applicative varies based on

the specific TENSE of the verb being used.

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Aspect and Tense : Verb Example “Open” (Applicative Not Used)

• PRESENT ASPECT STEM

 – Present Tense

• -sdu’i-

a-sdu’i-ha ‘He is opening it’ 

• IMMEDIATE ASPECT STEM

 – Immediate Command Tense

 – Immediate Past Tense

• -sdu’i 

w-a-sdu’i  ‘Let him open it!’ 

a-sdu’i  ‘He just opened it’ 

• INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM

 –

Habitual Tense – Progressive Past Tense

 – Progressive Future Tense

• -sdu’ih-

a-sdu’ih-o’i  ‘He opens it’ a-sdu’ih-v’i  ‘He was opening it’ 

a-sdu’ih-esdi ‘He will be opening it’ 

• INFINITIVE ASPECT STEM

 – Infinitive Tense

 – Obligatory Infinitive Tense

• -sdu’isdi 

u-sdu’isdi  uduli ‘He wants to open it’ 

u-sdu’isdi  ‘He has to open it’ 

• COMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM

 – Completive Past Tense

 – Completive Future Command Tense – Completive Future Tense

• -sdu’is-

u-sdu’is-v’i  ‘He opened it’ 

a-sdu’is-v’i  ‘He will open it’ d-v-sdu’is-i ‘He will open it’ 

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Applicative: “Open for Him” 

PRESENT ASPECT STEM /-eha/

 – Present Tense /-eha/

• -sdu’is-

a-sdu’is-eha  ‘He is opening it for him’ 

IMMEDIATE ASPECT STEM

 – Immediate Command Tense /-si/

 – Immediate Past Tense /-eli/

• -sdu’is-

hi-sdu’i(s)-si  ‘Open it for him!’ 

gv-sdu’is-eli  ‘I just opened it for you’ 

INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM /-eh-/

 – Habitual Tense /-eho’i/ – Progressive Past Tense /-ehv’i/

 – Progressive Future Tense /-ehesdi/

• -sdu’is-

ji-sdu’is-eho’i  ‘I open it for him’ ji-sdu’is-ehv’i  ‘I was opening it for him’ 

ji-sdu’is-ehesdi ‘I’ll be opening it for him’ 

INFINITIVE ASPECT STEM /-ehd-/

 – Infinitive Tense /-ehdi/

 – Obligatory Infinitive Tense /-ehdi/

• -sdu’is-

ak-sdu’is-ehdi uduli ‘He wants to open it for me’ 

ji-sdu’is-ehdi  ‘You have to open it for him’ 

COMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM /-el-/

 – Past Tense /-elv’i/

 – Future Command Tense /-elv’i/ – Future Tense /-eli/

• -sdu’is-

ak-sdu’is-elv’i  ‘He opened it for me’ 

gv-sdu’is-elv’i  ‘I will open it for you’ da-ga-ji-sdu’is-eli  ‘I will open it for them’ 

/-sdu’is-/ Completive Aspect Stem

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Applicative

IMMEDIATE COMMAND TENSE /-si/  /Sdudi hisdu’isi/ ‘Open the door for her!’ 

Pronominal /hi-/ on /-sdu’is-/ with immediate command tense applicative suffix /-si/.

/esdi-sdu’i(s)-si/ ‘You two open it for her’  /sgi-sdu’i(s)-si/ ‘Open it for me’ 

PRESENT TENSE /-eha/  /Sdudi gvsdu’iseha/ ‘I am opening the door for you’ 

Person Pronominal /gv-/ on aspect stem /-sdu’is-/ with present tense applicative suffix /-eha/.

/ji-sdu’is-eha/ ‘I am opening it for him’  /hi-sdu’is-eha/ ‘You are opening it for him’ 

/sdv-sdu’is-eha/ ‘I am opening it for you two’  /eni-sdu’is-eha/ ‘You & I are opening it for him’ 

IMMEDIATE PAST TENSE /-eli/  /Sdudis hisdu’iseli?/ ‘Did you open the door for her?’ 

Pronominal /hi-/ on /-sdu’is-/ with immediate past tense applicative suffix /-eli/.

/eji-sdu’is-eli/ ‘You all opened it for her’  /ijv-sdu’is-eli/ ‘I opened it for you all’ 

‘Open for Him’  /-sdu’is-/ Completive Aspect Stem

INCOMPLETIVE TENSE FORMS /-eh-/  /Sdudi gvsdu’iseho’i/ ‘I open the door for you’ 

/gv-/ on /-sdu’is-/ with incompletive applicative suffix /-eh-/ and habitual tense suffix /-o’i/.

/ak-sdu’is-eh-o’i/ ‘He opens it for me’  /geji-sdu’is-eh-o’i/ ‘They open it for you’ 

/ak-sdu’is-eh-v’i/ ‘He was opening it for me’  /gv-sdu’is-eh-v’i/ ‘I was opening it for you’ 

/ji-sdu’is-eh-esdi/ ‘I will be opening it for her’  /ak-sdu’is-eh-esdi/ ‘He will be opening it for me’ 

Habitual Tense /-eh-o’i/ Progressive Past Tense /-eh-v’i/ Progressive Future Tense /-eh-esdi/

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Applicative

INFINITIVE TENSE /-ehd-/  /Sdudi usdu’isehdi  agwaduli/ ‘I want him to open the door for her’ 

Pronominal /u-/ on aspect stem /-sdu’is-/ with infinitive tense applicative suffix /-ehd-i/.

/Nogwu ga-hi-sdu’is-ehd-i unaduli/ ‘They want you to open it for them now’ 

/Nogwu ga-hi-sdu’is-ehd-i/ ‘You have to open it for them now’ 

/Tla si sdv-sdu’is-ehd-i yigi/ ‘I don’t have to open it for you two yet’ 

/Ts-sdu’is-ehd-i-s jaduli?/ ‘Do you want him to open it for you?’ 

‘Open for Him’  /-sdu’is-/ Completive Aspect Stem

COMPLETIVE TENSE FORMS /-el-/ 

Completive Past Tense /-el-v’i/ /Svhi  jigesv’i  gvsdu’iselv’i/ ‘I opened it for you yesterday’ 

/gvgi-sdu’is-el-v’i/ ‘They opened it for me’  /sdv-sdu’is-el-v’i/ ‘I opened it for you two’ 

Completive Future Command Tense /-el-v’i/ /Kohi’iyv  hisdu’iselv’i/ ‘Open it for her later’ 

/Ko’usv  esdi-sdu’is-el-v’i/ ‘You two open it for him tonight’ 

/Sinaleyv gehesdi eji-sdu’is-el-v’i/ ‘You all open it for her tomorow’ 

Completive Future Tense /-el-i/ /Iji’luhjv’i  dagvsdu’iseli/ ‘I will open it for you when I return’ 

/Digalvhiwsdanhdis ti-sdu’is-eli?/ ‘Will you open the office for him later?’ 

/Digalvhwisdandi day-osdi-sdu’is-el-i/ ‘You & I will open the office for him’ 

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Applicative

COMPLETIVE TENSES /-el-/

COMPLETIVE PAST TENSE /-el-v’i/

Gv-wonis-elv’i  ‘I spoke for you’ 

De-gvy-ohwelan-elv’i  ‘I wrote to you’ 

COMPLETIVE FUTURE COMMAND TENSE /-el-v’i/

Hi-wonis-elv’i  ‘Speak for him (later)!’ 

De-hi-goliye’-elv’i  ‘Read to him (later)!’ 

COMPLETIVE FUTURE TENSE /-el-i/

Da-gv-wonis-eli ‘I will speak for you’ 

Do-da-gv-goliye’-eli ‘I will read to you’ 

INCOMPLETIVE TENSES /-eh-/

HABITUAL TENSE /-eh-o’i/

Gv-wonis-eho’i  ‘I often speak for you’ 

De-gv-goliye’-eho’i  ‘I often read to you’ 

PROGRESSIVE PAST TENSE /-eh-v’i/

Gv-wonis-ehv’i  ‘I was speaking for you’ 

De-gvy-ohwelan-ehv’i  ‘I was writing to you’ 

PROGRESSIVE FUTURE TENSE /-eh-esdi/

Gv-wonis-ehesdi ‘I will be speaking for you’ 

De-gv-goliye’-ehesdi ‘I will be reading to you’ 

INFINITIVE TENSE /-ehd-/

Gv-wonis-ehdi agwaduli ‘I want to speak for you’ 

Ti-goliye’-ehdi ‘You should read this to her’ 

Di-gv-goliye’-ehdi ‘I have to read to you’ 

Di-gvy-ohwelan-ehdi ‘I have to write to you’ 

IMMEDIATE COMMAND TENSE /-si/

Hi-woni(s)-si ‘Speak for her!’ 

Ti-goliye-si! ‘Read to her!’ 

Tiy-ohwela-si! ‘Write to her!’ 

PRESENT TENSE /-eha/

Gv-wonis-eha ‘I am speaking for you’ 

De-gv-goliye’-eha ‘I am reading to you’ De-gvy-ohwelan-eha ‘I am writing to you’ 

IMMEDIATE PAST TENSE /-eli/

Gv-wonis-eli ‘I just spoke for you’ 

De-gv-goliye’-eli ‘I just read to you’ 

De-gvy-ohwelan-eli ‘I just wrote to you’ 

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Applicative Malefactive

Verb Examples:

• /Oginiyochelv’i/ ‘It broke down on us’ 

Takes the verb ‘It is breaking’ /ayoga/ in the

Completive Stem /uyojv’i/ ‘It broke’ and adds theApplicative /-el-/ along with the Person Prefix

/ogini-/ ‘It to You & I’. 

• /Ajisganvchisi/ ‘She fouled her’ 

Form literally means ‘She committed a sin against

her.’ Uses the Passive Person Prefix /aji-/ which

normally transforms a verb to a passive statement,

but in this context it establishes an emphasis on

the person being fouled while still retaining its

transitive meaning of ‘she fouled her’.

• /Gado ulstanele’i?/ ‘What’s wrong with her?’ 

Takes the verb /nigalstanvsga/ ‘It is happening’and with the applicative creates both a person-

object and malefactive meaning. Literally, the

question /Gado ulstanele’i?/ means ‘What

happened to her?’ 

Malefactive meaning can be applied

using the Applicative when it is used onspecific verbs. The term “malefactive”

refers to actions or events that are seen

as “bad” and in Cherokee are viewed as

often happening “to” someone.

The specific rules governing the pattern

for establishing a Malefactive meaningis determined by two variables.

The first variable is the verb used – It

must be a verb that either carries a

negative connotation to it or that could

convey a negative meaning.

The second variable relates to thetransitivity of the verb. Intransitive

verbs need only add the Applicative

Suffix. Transitive verbs, however, may

require the Applicative as well as the use

of the Passive Prefix Set.

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SummaryApplicative

Review of the Applicative Suffix

• Identify verb as TRANSITIVE or INTRANSITIVE.

This determines the exact meaning it has on the verb.Transitive Verbs add person to person reference along

with its normal object meaning. On Intransitive Verbs,only the person to person reference is added.

• Identify the COMPLETIVE ASPECT STEM for the verb.

The Completive Aspect Stem forms the base for allconstructions of the Applicative.

• Determine the specific VERB TENSE for the verb.The tense used determines the exact form the verbwill have. This specifically identifies the exact formthe Applicative takes on the verb. As well, the verbfollows normal aspect-tense patterns like any otherverb in that specific tense.

• Identify the specific PERSON PRONOMINAL PREFIX tobe used on the verb.

Since the basic function of the Applicative is to, ineffect, “personize” the given verb, it requires the use ofthe Person Pronominal Prefix Set.

Applicative Suffix has, as its basic

function, the ability to take an

action and specifically denote that

action as being done by a person or

persons TO or FOR another person

or persons.

The Applicative will be required in

forms where the verb does not usethe Person Pronominal Prefixes and

the intended meaning involves a

person as BOTH sentence subject

and object.

Since this makes the idea involve

“people” as both its subject andobject, it requires the use of the

Person Pronominal Prefixes.

The basic review of this process is

given here.

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Applicative REGULAR VERB FORM VERB – APPLICATIVE

Gadloyhga. Gvy-adlohyil-eli.

‘I cried’  ‘I cried for you’ 

Unahnesgehdi. Gvgw-ahnesgeh-ehdi.

‘They have to build a house’  ‘They have to build a house for me’ 

Udlanvda’delv’i. Agw-adlanvda’del-elv’i.

‘He had time’  ‘He had time for me’ 

Osda nigvnehv’i. Osda ni-sdvy-vnel-ehv’i.

‘I was fixing it’  ‘I was fixing it for you two’ 

Dayunihwasi. Da-geji-hwas-eli.

‘They will buy it’  ‘They will buy it for you’ 

Jahnehldohdi agwaduliha. Sgin-ahnehltan-ehdi agwaduliha.

‘I want you to translate it’  ‘I want you to translate it for me & him’ 

Adadolisdisgo’i. Unetlanvhi adadolistan-eho’i.

‘She prays often’  ‘She prays to God often’ 

The verbs here show the

contrast between a verb

in a “regular” form next

to the same verb in the

same tense using the

Applicative.

Note that applicative

forms often utilize

different pronominals

than those seen on the

regular verb form.

Person Pronominals

must be used with the

applicative so the

pronoun has to change.

One exception to the

pronoun changing iswhen a Set A verb with

subject ‘s/he’ takes the

applicative with ‘him’ as

the object. On those

forms, the pronominal

stays the same.