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RV 23 (Rh) As illustrated by the above list of the Independent Pronouns, Amharic has different terms of reference with regard to people spoken to (second person) and people spoken of (third person). Thus /antə/ (addressing a man) and /anci/ (addressing a woman) show a certain degree of familiarity. /ırsıwo/ is used as a polite or deferential form of 'you' (addressing both men and women), and /ınnantə/ addressing many persons without distinction of sex. /ırsaccəw/ is a polite or deferential form of 'he’ or ‘she’. Note that verb forms used with the 'polite' pronouns have the third person plural personal endings.

Note 3.2 Pronoun: Suffix Pronouns.

There are two kinds of suffixed pronouns:

1) Verb Suffix (or Object) Pronouns, (Sertences 1 and 2) i.e. pronominal suffixes attached to verb stems or other forms of the verb. The translation of a Verb Suffix Pronoun depends upon the structure of English. For example the suffix /-əñ/ after consonants (/-ñ/ after vowels), can mean 'me' (direct object) or 'to me' (indirect object); /-accəw/ 'them' (direct object) or 'to them' (indirect object), etc.

2) Noun Suffix Pronouns (Sentence 3) i.e. pronominal suffixes attached to nouns, corresponding to English ‘possessive pronouns': ‘my', 'your', etc. These are discussed in Note 4.1.

Note 3.2.1 The Verb Suffix Pronouns are: