Here is my quick reference sheet for understanding how to apply the man- prefix (both the indefinite man- prefix and the plural man- prefix) to transitive verbs. I don’t go in-depth into any grammar rules, I just give some examples for past, present, future, and imperative tense with light notes on the differences in the structures between definite and indefinite objects. In all the examples I use the root word fa’tinas which means “to make or prepare.” For a more in-depth walkthrough of the man- prefix for transitive verbs, please see this post: Man- Prefix for Transitive Verbs. Happy reviewing!

Past Tense

1-2 Subjects

For sentences with definite objects (ie: the chicken versus a chicken) we can use the Subject-Verb-Object sentence order and no man- prefix is needed, even if there are 3+ subjects. For sentences with indefinite objects, apply the man- prefix to the verb and change the order to Verb-Subject-Object.

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
Hu fa’tinas i kelaguen månnok. I made the chicken kelaguen. Hu fa’tinas. I made it.	Mama’tinas yu’ kelaguen månnok. I made some chicken kelaguen. Mama’tinas yu’. I made something.

3+ Subjects

Note the application of the double man- prefix for 3+ subjects when an indefinite object is used; the first man- is applied for indefinite objects, and then the second man- is applied to make it refer to 3+ people:

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
In fa’tinas i kelaguen månnok. We made the chicken kelaguen. In fa’tinas. We made it.	Manmama’tinas ham kelaguen månnok. We made some chicken kelaguen. Manmama’tinas ham. We made something.

Present Tense

We can use the same sentence structures as past tense, but with a reduplication of the verb to bring it into a continuous tense:

1-2 Subjects

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
Hu fa’títinas i kelaguen månnok. I am making the chicken kelaguen. Hu fa’títinas. I am making it.	Mama’títinas yu’ kelaguen månnok. I am making some chicken kelaguen. Mama’títinas yu’. I am making something.

3+ Subjects

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
In fa’títinas i kelaguen månnok. We are making the chicken kelaguen. In fa’títinas. We are making it.	Manmama’títinas ham kelaguen månnok. We are making some chicken kelaguen. Manmama’títinas ham. We are making something.

Future Tense

In future tense, we need to use the future markers (ie: para bai, para, para u) at the beginning of the sentence. For a guide to basic future tense sentences, see Basic Actions Part 6: Future Tense

1-2 Subjects

For sentences with definite objects, no man- prefix is needed with the verb, even for 3+ subjects. For sentences with indefinite objects, we use the indefinite fan- prefix, which is the future form of the indefinite man- prefix. Also note that the verb can be reduplicated in the future tense:

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
Para bai hu fa’tinas i kelaguen månnok. I will make the chicken kelaguen. Para bai hu fa’títinas i kelaguen månnok. I will be making the chicken kelaguen. Para bai hu fa’tinas. I will make it. Para bai hu fa’títinas. I will be making it.	Para bai hu fama’tinas kelaguen månnok. I will make some chicken kelaguen. Para bai hu fama’títinas kelaguen månnok. I will making some chicken kelaguen. Para bai hu fama’tinas. I will make something. Para bai hu fama’títinas. I will be making something.

3+ Subjects

For sentences with indefinite objects referring to 3+ subjects, add both a fan- and man- prefix:

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
Para bai in fa’tinas i kelaguen månnok. We will make the chicken kelaguen. Para bai in fa’títinas i kelaguen månnok. We will be making the chicken kelaguen. Para bai in fa’tinas. We will make it. Para bai in fa’títinas. We will be making it.	Para bai in fanmama’tinas kelaguen månnok. We will make some chicken kelaguen. Para bai in fanmama’títinas kelaguen månnok. We will making some chicken kelaguen. Para bai in fanmama’tinas. We will make something. Para bai in fanmama’títinas. We will be making something.

Commands

1-2 Subjects

For commands directed at 1-2 people, just use the basic structures of the Past Tense sentences with the subject pronouns dropped. For the commands with indefinite objects, use the fan- prefix instead of the man- prefix.

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
Fa’tinas i kelaguen månnok. Make the chicken kelaguen. Fa’tinas. Make it.	Fama’tinas kelaguen månnok. Make some chicken kelaguen. Fama’tinas. Make something.

3+ Subjects

For 3+ subjects with definite objects, the verb remains unchanged. For indefinite objects, a fan- prefix and a man- prefix are both applied to the verb:

Definite Object	Indefinite Object
Fa’tinas i kelaguen månnok. Make the chicken kelaguen. Fa’tinas. Make it.	Fanmama’tinas kelaguen månnok. Make some chicken kelaguen. Fanmama’tinas. Make something.