Many verbs that describe a phyiscal or emotional sensation are followed by the affix -gusuk- or sometimes just -suk- . In South Qikiqtaaluk dialect, the final -k of this affix often changes to match the first letter of the verb ending that follows.
| quvia + suk + pit |
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| quviasuppit? |
Are you happy? |
| quviasuttunga |
I am happy. |
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| ippigusuttuq |
to feel a sensation or emotion |
Here are some other examples:
| kappia + suk |
to be afraid |
| kappiasuttuuk |
The two of them are afraid. |
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| kanngu + suk |
to feel embarrassed |
| kanngusuttuq |
He/she feels shy/embarrassed |
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| aukuni + gusuk |
to be a long time |
| akunigusuttut |
They feel like it has been a long time. |
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| nalli + gusuk |
to love someone |
| nalligusuppa? |
Does he/she feel love/compassion towards someone? |
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| uppi + gusuk |
to feel pride |
| uppigusukkami |
because he is proud of something |
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| pisuk + gusuk |
to feel like walking |
| pisugusuttunga |
I fell like walking. |
Next, there is a more complex form of these verbs that takes a transitive verb ending to describe who or what is causing that emotion:
| kappiagiviuk? |
Are you afraid of it? |
| nalligijaatit |
He/she loves you. |
| uppigijagit |
I am proud of you. |
When a transitive verb ending is used, the affix -suk- is dropped and the verb -gi- is added to the root verb to create a link between different people. Here are some other examples of this construction:
| quviagijara |
I like it; it makes me happy. |
| piugijara |
I like it. |
| piuginngittara |
I don’t like it. |
| kanngugijanga |
He/she makes him feel shy. |
Note that -ri- is used after verb roots that end in -q :
| mamaqtuq |
It tastes good. |
| mamarijanga |
It tastes good to her. |
To express the above in the negative, the affix -nngit- is added just before the verb ending:
| kanngusunngittutit |
You are not shy. |
| nalliginngittanga |
He/she does not love him/her. |
| Natsiminiq mamarinngittanga |
He/she does not enjoy the taste of the seal meat. |