Choosing the Active or Inactive Set

Level 1

Most words go with one set of person markers, so learn the word and its set together.

How It Works

Guarani has two sets of person markers. The active set is a-, re-, o-, ja-, ro-, pe-. The inactive set is che-, nde-, i-, ñande-, ore-, pende-. A verb or describing word usually takes one set, and the sets are not swapped for the same meaning.

Active setInactive set
aguata “I walk”chekaneʼõ “I am tired”
rembaʼapo “you work”chevareʼa “I am hungry”
oke “she sleeps”iporã “it is good”
japuka “we laugh”chemanduʼa “I remember”

Actions that a person chooses and controls usually take the active set. States, feelings and things that happen to a person usually take the inactive set.

The rule has exceptions. Ke “sleep” and g̃uahẽ “arrive” take the active set, even though they are not clearly things you do on purpose. Manduʼa “remember” takes the inactive set. Nothing in the meaning says so, which is why each word is learned with its markers.

A good habit is to write each new word with a marker already on it, such as aguata or chekaneʼõ.

Examples (5)

  1. Aguata.

    I walk.

    Guata “walk” takes the active marker a-.

  2. Rembaʼapo.

    You work.

    Mbaʼapo “work” takes the active marker re-.

  3. Chekaneʼõ.

    I am tired.

    Kaneʼõ “tired” takes the inactive marker che-.

  4. Chevareʼa.

    I am hungry.

    Vareʼa “hungry” also takes the inactive marker che-.

  5. Oke.

    She sleeps.

    Ke “sleep” takes the active marker o- even though sleeping does not feel like something you do.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting an active marker on a word from the inactive set.

    Akaneʼõ.
    Chekaneʼõ.

    Kaneʼõ “tired” always takes che-, nde-, i- and the other inactive markers, so check the set whenever you learn a new word.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Choosing the Active or Inactive SetLevel 1

Learn This First

Learners can choose a set for a verb only after they know both sets.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.