Syntax
Umatilla, like other varieties of Sahaptin, is characterized by a free word order and a complex case-marking system.
Noun case endings
| Nonhuman | Human | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Dual | Plural | ||
| Unmarked | kʼúsi (horse) | ɨwínš (man) | awínšin | awínšma |
| Inverse ergative | kʼúsinɨm | ɨwínšnɨm | no dual | no plural |
| Obviative ergative | kʼúsiyin | ɨwínšin | no dual | no plural |
| Objective | kʼúsina | ɨwínšna | awínšinaman | awínšmaaman |
| Comitative | kʼúsiyin | ɨwínšin | no dual | no plural |
| Genitive | kʼúsinmí | ɨwínšmí | awínšinamí | awínšmaamí |
| Benefactive | kʼúsiyay | ɨwínšmíyay | awínšinamíyay | awínšmaamíyay |
| Dative | kʼúsiyaw | ɨwínšmíyaw | awínšinamíyaw | awínšmaamíyaw |
| Allative | kʼúsikan | ɨwínšmíkan | awínšinamíkan | awínšmaamíkan |
| Ablative | kʼúsikni | ɨwínšmíkni | awínšinamíkni | awínšmaamíkni |
| Instrumental | kʼúsiki | ɨwínšmíki | awínšinamíki | awínšmaamíki |
| Locative | kʼúsipa | ɨwínšmípa | awínšinamípa | awínšmaamípa |
Read more about this topic: Umatilla Language