Taqqiit
THE PAST TENSE
Affixes are used in Inuktitut when we want to indicate that an event has happened in the past. The affix that is used depends on how long ago an event has happened.
-rataaq- is an affix that is used to describe actions that have happened in the immediate past (within the hour).
| isirataaqtuq | She just came in. |
| tikirataaqtugut | We just arrived. |
-qqau- is an affix that is used to describe actions that have happened earlier in the day.
| Uqaalaqqaujuq. | He called earlier. |
| Angirraqqaujunga. | I went home (earlier that day). |
-lauq- is used to describe actions that have happened yesterday or in the not too distant past.
| Ippassaq tuktulialauqtuq. | Yesterday, he went caribou hunting. |
| Torontomuulauqtunga. | I went to Toronto. |
For events further in the past, or if you are vague about when something happened, the affix -lauqsima- is used:
| Aatuvaamiutaulauqsimajunga. | I used to live in Ottawa. |
| Iglulimmilauqsimaviit? | Have you ever been to Iglulik? |
Note that when any of the above affixes are added to a root ending in a consonant, they delete the final consonant.