One Root, Many Jobs
Many Guarani roots can work as a noun, a verb or a describing word.
How It Works
In English, a word often changes shape when its job changes: “quick” describes, and “quickly” says how. In Guarani, a root can do several jobs without changing shape. The words around it show what it is doing.
| Root | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tuicha | describes a noun: big | ko yvyra tuicha “this tall tree” |
| tuicha | describes an action: a lot | Upéva tuicha orepytyvõ. “That helped us a lot.” |
| tuicha | the whole sentence: is big | Che tuicha. “I am big.” |
The person marker helps too. With the active marker a-, karu is a verb: akaru “I eat”. With the inactive marker che-, it describes a person: chekaru “I am a big eater”. On its own, karu is a noun, “food”.
For this reason a dictionary entry often lists several meanings for one root. Read the whole sentence to see which one fits.
Examples (5)
- ko yvyra tuicha
this tall tree
Next to the noun yvyra, tuicha describes it.
- Upéva tuicha orepytyvõ.
That helped us a lot.
Next to a verb, tuicha means “a lot”.
- Che tuicha.
I am big.
The root tuicha is the whole sentence.
- Akaru.
I eat.
With a-, karu is a verb.
- Chekaru.
I am a big eater.
With che-, karu describes a person.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A root can change jobs only once learners know that Guarani words are built from pieces.
Related Patterns
- Describing Words After the Noun or Verb
A describing word follows the noun or verb it describes.
Level 1 - Sentences Without a Verb for Is
A describing word with a person marker can be a whole sentence.
Level 1 - Two Sets of Person Markers
The two sets of person markers decide whether a root acts like a verb or like a description.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice One Root, Many Jobs in Bubblegum
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