Shoshoni exhibits switch reference, in which a non-relative, subordinate clause is marked when its subject is a pronoun that differs from the subject of the main clause. In such subordinate clauses, the subject takes the objective case and the verb takes on a switch reference suffix: -"ku" if the events of both clauses occur simultaneously, -"h/kkan" if the events of the subordinate clause occur first, or the combined -"h/kkanku" if the events of the subordinate clause occur over an extended amount of time. For example, "sunni naaku wihyu nɨnɨttsi utɨɨkatti tattɨkwa" "when that happened, something scary came to them." In the relative clause "sunni naaku" "when that happened", the verb "naa-" "be" or "happen" takes on the suffix "-ku" to indicate that the relative and main clauses co-occur in the narrative.