Signals that a substantive has an undergoer relationship, usually a patient, to either an action verb, passive voice or a state verb.
See sec. 7.15.4; see also 7.5.1, 7.15.1.3 and 7.15.2. With a few verbs the relationship is a theme or location reference. The table below indicates the form in combination with nonpast or past tense affixes.
| Nonpast/Past Prefix |
Role Marking Prefix |
Resultant Form |
| m-/n- |
a- |
ma-/na- |
This affix combines with the suffix -an. The prefix a- indicates a secondary role relationship; -an indicates a primary relationship of a location reference, place or time. Affix forms in combination with nonpast/past affixes: a-an/na-an. A verb phrase with a verb inflected with one of these affixes occurs only as the head of a substantive phrase or head of a modifying phrase, see -an 2 for description.
For the equivalent of this affix in the active voice, see -on.
As a passive form, patient signalled by a- means that an associated substantive is undergoing a change of condition. Inflecting a state verb, this affix typically signals that an associated substantive is in a particular state of condition, as to be hungry, rich, etc.