Grammar » 27 » The Affix -sima-

-sima- is used to describe the state that one finds oneself after a certain action has been completed.  Compare the following examples :

tuttuliaqtuq He / she goes caribou hunting.
tuttuliaqsimajuq He / she is out caribou hunting (right now).

 

-sima- is an easy affix to work with.  It can be added to any root without changing its spelling :

aullaq + sima + juq =   
aullaqsimajuq He / she has departed; He/she is away.

 

-LAUQSIMA-

The affix -lauq- is often combined with -sima- and can be used in the following ways:

1. When used as part of a statement, -lauqsima- indicates something that has happened a while ago.

Iqalummiutaulauqsimajunga. I used to live in Iqaluit.
Arraani, Kiupamuulauqsimajunga. Last year, I went to Cuba.

 

2. It can be used as part of question to ask if a person has ever done something in the past:

Qurluqturmiilauqsimavit? Have you ever been to Kugluktuk?
Qilalugarmik takulauqsimavit? Have you ever seen a beluga?

 

3. When used with the negative affix -nngit-, it gives the meaning of “never”:

igunaqtulauqsimanngittut They have never eaten igunaq.
Arvialialauqsimanngittunga I have never been to Arviat.