Allavvik

THE VERB -QAQ

This verb expresses the idea to have. If you want to talk about having something in your possession, you add the affix -qaq directly to the end of a noun:

uluqaqqit? Do you have an ulu?
ii, uluqaqtunga.
 Yes, I have an ulu.

 

 

When -qaq is added to a noun ending in a consonant, it deletes the final consonant:

umik + qaq + qa = umiqaqqa? Does he have a beard?

Now, watch what happens when we answer in the negative. Remember that both -qaq and -nngit delete any consonant that appears immediately before them:

aagga, umik + qaq + nngit + tuq = aagga, umiqanngittuq.
  No, he doesn't have a beard.

 

 

When we want to say "he or she has something", Inuktitut speakers avoid the construction ...qaqtuq, and use the affix -lik instead:

nuliaqaqqa? ii, nulialik.
Does he have a wife?
 Yes, he has a wife.

 

Note that when –lik is added to a root ending in a consonant, it deletes the final consonant:

 nuliaq + lik =  nulialik

 

Note, too, that -lik is not used to make a negative sentence:

aaggaa, nuliaqanngittuq.
 No, he does not have a wife.

 

THE PLURAL

 

In Inuktitut, the plural is used to talk about more than two of any noun:

inuk person
inuit people

The plural form always ends in t. Here are some instructions on changing a noun from its singular form to the plural:

if the noun ends in a vowel, add -it:

ilisaiji ilisaijiit
teacher teachers (more than two)

If the noun ends in t, just add -iit:

uqaalaut uqaalautiit
telephone telephones

If the object ends in any other consonant, delete the last consonant, and add -it:

iqaluk iqaluit
fish fishes

If you delete the last consonant, and find that you already have two vowels, just add t:

puuq puut
bag bags

THE DUAL

Talking about two of something

In English, when we want to talk about more than one of something, we usually add an s to the end of a noun:

one door two doors
 three doors

In Inuktitut, we use different endings to distinguish between two of something and more than two of something:

matu matuuk matuit
one door
 (two) doors (three) doors
The dual form is used to talk about two of a particular object. You can recognize the dual form as any noun that ends in a double vowel, followed by a k.
saak uqaalautiik illuuk
(two) tables
 (two) telephones
 (two) buildings

 

Here's some instructions on changing a noun from its singular form to the dual:

  • if the object ends in a vowel, double the last vowel and add k:
nuvuja nuvujaak
cloud (two) clouds

  • if the object ends in a t, add the ending iik:
paippaamuurijjut paippaamuurijjutiik
printer (two) printers


  • if it ends in any consonant other than t, delete the last consonant, double the last vowel, and add k:
kamik kamiik
traditional boot
 (two) traditional boots
   
nasaq nasaak
hat (two) hats
   
qarasaujaq qarasaujaak
computer (two) computers


remember: that in Inuktitut, you almost never put together more than two vowels in a row. So if you drop the final consonant and find you already have two vowels, just add k:

luuktaaq luuktaak
doctor (two) doctors
   
nunannguaq nunannguak
map (two) maps

THE VERB -TAQAQ-

-taqaq- is used to express the English there is / there are. This affix is tacked on to the end of nouns and must be followed by a subject ending:

kaapitaqaqqa Is there coffee?

 

When we want to say "there is...", Inuktitut speakers avoid the construction ...taqaqtuq, and use the affix -talik instead:

kaapitaqaqqa? ii, kaapitalik.
Is there coffee? Yes, there is coffee.

 

Note that -talik is never used to make a negative sentence:

kaapitaqaqqa? aagga, kaapitaqanngittuq
Is there coffee?
 No, there is no coffee.

 

-taqaq- deletes final consonants of any nouns it is added to:

paippaaq + taqaq + qa =  
paippaataqaqqa? Is there any paper?
ii, paippaatalik Yes, there is paper.
aagga, paippaataqanngittuq No, there is no paper.