October 25, 1829
Published December, 3, 1829
Page 2 Column 5b
October 25, 1829
Mr. Editor- With this I forward a continuation of the Cherokee verb (Cherokee symbols). I have not inserted the two forms of the third person singular, but if you think it better to add the other you will please to do so.
I am Dear sir, your obedient servant,
(Cherokee symbols) Ga-wo-hee-lo-skee.
Active voice
of the Cherokee verb (Cherokee symbols) I speak,
[Continued]
Subjective Mood
Primary present tense
singular
Person
1. (Cherokee symbols) if I speak
2. ' ' if thou speakest
3. ' ' if he speaks.
Dual
1 ' 2. ' ' if thou ' I speak
1 ' 3 ' ' if he and I speak
2. ' ' if you (2) speak
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' if you (all) ' I speak
1 ' 3 ' ' if they and I speak
2. ' ' if you (all) speak
3. ' ' if they speak
N. B. the 3d person Dual is in all cases the same as the plural.
Primary perfect tense
singular
1. (Cherokee symbols) if I have spoken*
2. ' ' if thou hast 'c.
3. ' ' if he has 'c.
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' if thou and I have spoken
1 ' 3. ' ' if he ' I have 'c.
2. ' ' if you (2) have 'c.
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' if you (all) ' I have spoken
1 ' 3 ' ' if you ' I have 'c.
2 2 ' ' if you (all) have 'c.
3. ' ' if they have 'c.
Primary approximate tense
Singular
1. (Cherokee symbols) if I am about to speak
2. ' ' if thou art 'c.
3. ' ' if he is 'c.
Dual
1 ' 2.(Cherokee symbols) if thou ' I are about to speak
1 ' 3 ' ' if he ' I are 'c.
2 ' ' if you (2) are 'c.
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' if you (all) ' I are about to speak
1 ' 3 ' ' if they ' I are 'c.
2 ' ' if you (all) are 'c.
3. ' ' if they are 'c.
____*More properly, if I should speak. Ed.
Imperative mood
Present tense.
Singular
Person
1. (Cherokee symbols) let me speak
2. ' ' speak thou
3. ' ' let him speak
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' let us:thee ' me speak
1 ' 3 ' ' let us:him ' me speak
2 ' ' speak ye (2) speak
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' let us: you and me speak
1 ' 3 ' ' let us: them ' me speak
2 ' ' speak ye (all) speak
3 ' ' let them speak.
Future tense
singular
1. (Cherokee symbols) let me speak, at a future time
2. ' ' speak thou
3. ' ' let him speak 'c.
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' let us: thee and me speak 'c.
1 ' 3 ' ' let us: him and me speak 'c.
2 ' ' speak ye (2) 'x.
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' let us: you and me speak
1 ' 3 ' ' let us: them and me speak 'c.
2 ' ' speak ye (all) 'c.
3. ' ' let them speak. 'c.
First form
singular
Person
1. (Cherokee symbols) I can speak
2. ' ' thou canst speak
3. ' ' he can speak
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' thou ' I can speak
1 ' 3 ' ' he ' I can speak
2. ' ' you (2) can speak
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' you (all) and I can speak
1 ' 3 ' ' they and I can 'c.
2. ' ' you (all) can speak
3. ' ' they can speak
Second form
singular
1 ' ' I can speak
2. ' ' thou canst speak
3. ' ' he can speak
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' thou and I can speak
1 ' 3 ' ' he ' I can 'c.
2. ' ' you (2) can 'c.
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' you (all) ' I can speak
1 ' 3 ' ' they and I can speak
2. ' ' you (all) and I can speak
3. ' ' they can speak
N.B. It is difficult to convey, to the English reader, the precise distinction of idea expressed by these two forms. The following sentence, in which both are used, may serve to illustrate the matter '(Cherokee symbols)' Literally: I can speak if I can speak (Cherokee symbols), conveying the idea of natural ability to speak: and (Cherokee symbols) the idea of ability resulting from favorable circumstances.
Negative of the 1st form of the Potential mood.
Singular
Person
1. (Cherokee symbols) I cannot speak
2. ' ' thou canst not speak
3. ' ' he cannot speak
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' thou and I cannot speak
1 ' 3 ' ' he and I cannot speak
2. ' ' you (two) cannot speak
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' you (all) and I cannot speak
1 ' 3 ' ' they and I cannot speak
2. ' ' you (all) cannot speak
3 ' ' they cannot speak
Infinitive mood proper
(Cherokee symbols) to speak
Infinitive Mood with distinctions of person and number
singular
Person
1. (Cherokee symbols) I to speak
2. ' ' thou to speak
3. ' ' he to speak
Dual
1 ' 2 ' ' thou ' I to 'c.
1 ' 3 ' ' he and I to 'c.
2 ' ' you (two) 'c.
Plural
1 ' 2 ' ' you and ' I 'c.
1 ' 3 ' ' they and I 'c.
2 (Cherokee symbols) you (all) 'c.
3 ' ' they 'c.