Uqaalaut

ASKING QUESTIONS WITH TRANSITIVE ENDINGS

 

In an earlier lesson, we introduced verb endings that involve both a subject and an object:

 takujara  I see her.
 qaujimajaanga   He knows me.


There are corresponding affixes that are used to ask questions that have both a subject and an object:

 qaujimavagit?  Do I know you?
 qaujimavara?  Do I know her?
   
 tukisivinga?  Do you understand me?
 tukisiviuk?  Do you understand her?
   
 tusaavaanga? Does she hear me?
 tusaavaatit?

Does she hear you?

 tusaavauk?

Does she hear him?

Remember: that if these affixes are added to a root that ends in a consonant, the first letter of the affix changes to p:
malikpauk? Is she following him?
ikajuqpiuk? Are you helping her?

CALLING OR WRITING TO SOMEONE

Inuktitut uses a structure that is different than English to indicate that you are calling or writing to someone:

uqaalavigijaanga He calls me.
titirarvigijanga She writes to him.
To build these phrases:


1. Begin with the basic verb:

uqaala- to call
titiraq- to write

 

2. Add the affix –vik. This is normally used to indicate a place. When it is added to uqaala- or titiraq- it means the person who is being called or written to.



3. Add the affix –gi.


4. Add the transitive ending to indicate who is calling/writing and who is being called or written to:

uqaalavigiviuk? Are you calling her?
  Did you call her?
   
uqaalavigijara I am calling her; or
  I called her.
   
Ippassaq uqaalavigilauqtaatit. She called you yesterday.
titirarvigivauk? Is she writing to him?
titirarvigijanga She is writing to him.
Pinasuarusiulauqtumi titirarvigilauqtarma irngiinaaqtautikkut.

You e-mailed me last week.

(literally, You wrote to me last week by e-mail).