Grammar » 39 » Comparing People and Things

Qualities and characteristics of people and things can be compared by using the roots of the describing words followed by the endings -niqsaq- (it is more... than) or -niqpaaq- / -laaq- (it is the most...):

takijuq It is tall; the tall one
takiniqsaq It is taller; the taller one
takiniqpaaq /takilaaq the tallest one
   
angijuq It is big; the big one
anginiqsaq It is bigger; the bigger one
anginiqpaaq angilaaq the biggest one

 

When -niqsaq and -niqpaaq are added to a stem ending in -t, it changes the final t to n; -laaq deletes the preceeding  consonant sound:
naittuq It is short; the short one
nainniqsaq It is shorter; the shorter one
nainniqpaaq the shortest one
nailaaq the shortest one

 

When talking about you, me or we, the endings above are followed by -u- / -ngu- (to be) and then a verb ending:
taki + niqsaq + u + va?  
takiniqsauva? Is he/she/it taller?
   
taki + laaq + ngu + jutit =  
takilaangujutit You are the tallest.
To make a comparison, we then tack on the affix -mit / -nit to the person or thing to which a comparison is being made:
Ilisapimit takiniqsaujunga. I am taller than Ilisapi.
Amaruq qimmirmit anginiqsaq. The wolf is bigger than the dog.

 

Keep in mind that when using personal pronouns to make comparisons, they don't follow a regular pattern:
uvanga me
uvannit than me
Uvannit takiniqsaujutit. You are taller than me.
   
ivvit you
ilinnit than you
Kinali ilinnit takiniqsauva? And who is taller than you?
   
ilitsik you (2)
ilitsinnit than the two of you
Ilitsinnit nainniqsaujunga. I am shorter than the two of you.
   
ilitsi you (3+)
ilitsinnit than you (3+)