if
IF
In this lesson we look at affixes that are used in Inuktitut for the idea of “if”.
| Uqaalaguvit, qailangajunga. | If you call, I will come. |
You will notice that they are very similar to the affixes used to express the idea of “because”:
uqaala - to call someone on the phone
| uqaalaguma | if I call |
| uqaalaguvit | if you call |
| uqaalaguni* | if he calls |
| uqaalappat | if he calls |
| uqaalagunnuk | if the two of us call |
| uqaalagutta | if all of us call |
| uqaalaguttik | if the two of you call |
|
uqaalagutsi |
if all of you call |
| uqaalagutik* | if all of them call |
| uqaalappata | if all of them call |
* -guni can only be used when the subject of the verb it is attached to is the same person who is the subject of the verb in the main sentence:
| Qaiguni, mumiriarunnarniaqtuq. | If she comes, she will be able to go dancing. |
This sentence only works if the person who is coming is the same person who will be able to go dancing.
If, on the other hand, we wanted to say:
If Ilisapi comes, Ani will be able to go dancing
we would have to say:
Ilisapii qaippat, Aita mumiriarunnarniaqtuq.
The first letter of the endings that begin in g change to r. The last consonant of the root is deleted
| Uirngaqtunga | I am sleepy. |
| Uirngaruma anilangajunga. | If I am sleepy, I will leave. |
| Nattiqtutit | You catch a seal. |
| Nattiruvit, nirittiarniaqtugut. | If you get a seal, we will eat well. |
As for the endings that end in p:
| tusaq- | hears |
| tusaqpat | if he hears |
| tusaqpata | if they hear |
The first letter of the endings that begin in g change to k:
| tupakkuma | if I wake up |
| malikkuvit | if you follow |
The endings that begin in p are unchanged. They delete the last consonant of the root:
| malippat | if he follows |
| tupappata | if they wake up |
The last letter of the root and the first letter of the affix both change to k:
| tikit- | to arrive |
| tikikkutta | if we arrive |
| tikikkuvit | if you arrive |
The endings that begin in m are unchanged. They delete the last consonant of the root:
| tikippat | if he arrives |
| tikippata | if they arrive |