As with TI verbs, a special inflection, called a thematic suffixThematic suffixes are special inflections found in the conjugation of transitive verbs, i.e. VTI and VTA. in Algonquian linguistics, is usually added to the base form of a TA stem before person and tense endings are added. In the case of TA verbs, thematic suffixes apply to the sub-classes of local, mixed, non-local, direct, and inverse forms.
The structure of a TA verb conjugated in the Independent order (where it can take person prefixes) is therefore as follows:
| person prefix | + | TA stem | + | thematic suffix | + | person and tense endings |
The subclass local, direct is unmarkedIn linguistics, we often contrast forms referred to as unmarked, which can be described as the most basic – almost “default” – forms, with marked forms; marked forms have some characteristic that separates them from the “norm”, indicated by a particular marking. For example, in English, a singular noun is an unmarked form, while its equivalent plural is a marked form, which takes a plural marker. In the case of TA verbs, direct local forms are unmarked; they conform to the hierarchy of persons and do not take a thematic suffix. All other verb forms are marked, taking a thematic suffix.: the subject corresponds to a person who is higher in the person hierarchy than the complement, and the prefix reflects the subject. Local direct forms do not take a thematic suffix. All other TA subclasses require a thematic suffix, at least in the Independent, because in the Conjunct, only inverse local forms and mixed forms with an obviative object have a thematic suffix. Note that there are no personal prefixes in the Conjunct or Imperative.
| tshi + uapam + (i)t + (i)nan | = | tshuapamitinan | we see you |
| ni + uapam + a + nan | = | nuapamanan | we see him/her |
| ni + uapam + a + u | = | nuapamau | I see him/her |
| ni + uapam + iku + nan | = | nuapamikunan | s/he sees us |
| ni + uapam + im + a + nan + a | = | nuapamimanana | we see him/her (obv, e.g. her/his brother) |
| ni + uapam + im + iku + nan + a | = | nuapamikunana | s/he (obv, e.g. her/his brother) sees us |
| ni + uapam + e + u | = | uapameu | s/he sees him/her (obv) |
VTA thematic suffixes in the Independent Order:
| –(i)t– | Local Inverse forms (also in the Conjunct) |
| –a– | Mixed Direct forms (in the Independent only) |
| Mixed Direct forms, with possessed complements (e.g. her/his brother), in combination with -im-: PREFIX + STEM + im + a + INFLECTIONS | |
| –e– | Non-Local Direct forms (in the Independent only) |
| –iku– | Mixed Inverse forms (in the Independent only) |
| Can be combined with –im– | |
| –im– | Possessive Marker: Indicates that the object (or subject for the Western dialectIn the Eastern dialect, the thematic suffix –iku– cannot be combined with –im-. Example: [his/her brother] hears me: West nipetumiku, East nipetakunua.) is possessed (e.g. her brother, his child, her caribou) |
| In Direct forms, the Possessive Marker, which indicates that the complement is possessed, combines with the thematic suffixes of mixed (-a-) and non-local (-e-) forms: tshi+petu+im+a+u+a = tshipetumaua you hear him/her [obv, e.g. her/his brother] | |
| In the Western dialect, this thematic suffix can be combined with the inverse thematic suffix –iku, which is not possible in the Eastern dialect | |
| When the Possessive Marker is combined with another TA thematic suffix, it comes first in the order of suffixes |