Nouns: Inflectional Distinctions

Nouns in Southern East Cree appear in various forms. Prefixes and suffixes (called inflection) are added to the stem to create different meanings.

  • Number inflection for singular and plural
  • Gender inflection for animate and inanimate categories
  • Obviative inflection indicates information about third persons
  • Locative inflection indicates place
  • Person inflection for something that is possessed
  • Vocative inflection to speak to a person directly
  • Diminutive inflection indicates that something is considered small or cherished
  • Simulative inflection indicates likeness

Noun paradigm tables show the basic inflections that various nouns can take. Some nouns have special stem shapes, creating changes in the inflectional forms.