In this lesson we will see the particle, /mo/, which functions like a prefix to indicate a reflexive mode in all four classes of verbs. This particle refers to three types of activities. The first is a reflexive action. The second is a mutual action between two or more people. And the third is an action in passive voice. Next we will explain the particle /mo/.
1. Reflexive Action
The reflexive action refers to a grammatical construction where the direct object of the verb is the same as the subject or agent doing the action. In this instance, /mo/ can be used with all the subjects markers for all four classes of verbs.
Tlamanextilli tlen ahahuiltiliztli tlen tlachihualiztli (Example of conjugation of verbs)
2. Mutual action
The mutual action refers to an action that is pluralized between two or more people. The reflexive action and the mutual action have the same structure, but they need to be distinguished by the sentence context. For example:
Tlamanextilli tlen ahahuiltiliztli tlen tlachihualiztli huan cequin tlahtolpameh (Example of conjugation of verbs and some sentences)
“They see themselves” (separately, on the mirror).
“They see themselves” (mutually, between each other).
“You all comb yourselves.”
“You all comb yourselves” (mutually, between each other).
3. The passive voice
The passive voice refers to an impersonalized action without a subject marker. In this instance the “mo-” particle functions like the subject. The passive voice is indicated by the third person singular and plural. By integrating the particle “mo-” with a transitive verb, the verb loses its object marker. This is explained in the following examples.
Tlamanextilli tlen ahahuiltiliztli tlen tlachihualiztli huan cequin tlahtolpameh (Example of conjugation of verbs and some sentences)
4. Special use of “mo-“
In some cases the particle “mo-” is already integrated into the verbal base. These verbs do not indicate the reflective action, mutual, or passive.
Tlamanextilli tlen ahahuiltiliztli tlen tlachihualiztli (Ejemplo de conjugación de verbos)
/mocicinia/ “to get angry”
Tequitl Ce (Activity One): Match the following words with the images, according to what we saw in this unit.
moitta, moxilhuia, motlaloa, monamaca, timoittah, mocua, timoxilhuiah, mochihchihua
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Tequitl Ome (Activity Two): make two sentences with the reflective action for each of the following verbs.
| itta |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| cehuia |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| xilhuia |
| 1. |
| 2. |
Tequitl Eyi (Activity Three): Construct a paragraph using the following verbs.
monomaca, mochihua, motlamaca, mocua, motehtequi