Who Comes First: I, You and He

Level 2

The verb marker names the highest-ranking person: I, then you, then he or she.

How It Works

When two people meet in one action, Guarani asks who ranks higher: first I or we, then you, then he, she or they. The marker on the verb names that person.

SentenceWho ranks higherMarker
Ainupã ichupe “I hit him”I, who does itactive ai-
Chenupã haʼe “He hit me”me, who receives itinactive che-
Haʼe chegueru “He brings me”me, who receives itinactive che-
Nde cherayhu “You love me”me, who receives itinactive che-
Jahecha ichupekuéra “We see them”we, who do itactive ja-

Between two people, an active marker belongs to the doer and an inactive marker belongs to a receiver who ranks higher. Some verbs take the inactive set even for the one who is in a state, as in chekaneʼõ “I am tired”.

Two cases are special. When I or we act on you, one prefix does both jobs: ro- or po-. When both people are he or she, the verb takes o-.

Examples (5)

  1. Ainupã ichupe.

    I hit him.

    I outrank him, so the marker is the active ai-.

  2. Chenupã haʼe.

    He hit me.

    I outrank him, so the marker is the inactive che-, even though he does the hitting.

  3. Nde cherayhu.

    You love me.

    Che- on the verb names me, the highest-ranking person.

  4. Haʼe chegueru.

    He brings me.

    Che- names me, who receives the action.

  5. Jahecha ichupekuéra.

    We see them.

    We outrank them, so the marker is the active ja-.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the marker of the doer when the receiver ranks higher.

    Haʼe onupã che.
    Chenupã haʼe.

    I rank above he, so the verb takes che-.

How It Connects

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

Who Comes First: I, You and HeLevel 2

Learn This First

This rule needs learners to know both sets of markers and the pronouns for I, you and he.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.