Definite and Indefinite Objects

01

The Particular One

A particular object stands in its plain form, and the verb ending names the object too: -vara "I … it", -viuk? "do you … it?".

• Naasoq una pisiarerusuppara.

  I want to buy this plant. (-para "I … it")

• Asseq takutissinnaaviuk?

  Can you show me the photo? (-viuk? "can you … it?")

02

Any One, Some

An object that is not a particular one takes -mik, in the plural -nik, and the verb takes an ordinary ending, as if it had no object at all.

• Imermik imerpunga, eqeernarpoq.

  I am drinking water. It is refreshing.

• Atuagaq pisoqaavoq. Nutaamik pisisa.

  This book is old. Let's buy a new one.

• Tyskit oqaasiinik nalunngisaqarpit?

  Do you know any German words?

• nalunngilaa "knows it", but nalunngisaqarpoq "knows something"

03

One Verb, Two Shapes

Many verbs change shape for an object that is "a" or "some": a suffix such as -si- or -tsi- stands in for it, and the verb takes no object ending. takutippaa "shows it" becomes takutitsivoq "shows something", and pisiaraa "buys it" has the partner pisivoq "buys something".

• Assersuummik takutitsisinnaavit?

  Can you give me an example?

• Allaatikka pisoqaasorujussuupput, pingasunik nutaanik pisisariaqarpunga.

  My pens are very old. I need to buy three new ones. (pisi- "buy something")

• Qujanaq, allaanerusumik ujaasivunga.

  Thanks, but I'm looking for something different. (ujaasi- "look for something")

04

Giving

With tunivaa "gives to him, to her", the one who receives is the object, and the gift takes -mik. tunisivoq "gives something" has no object: the one who receives it takes -mut "to".

• Ataataga tunissummik tunivara.

  I gave a present to my father. (ataataga is the object)

• Kammaga anaanaminut tunissummik tunisivoq.

  My friend gave a present to her mother.

05

Built Into the Verb

An object can also be built into the verb, with suffixes like -tor- "eat, drink" or -taar- "get a new". Such an object is always "a" or "some", and a word that describes it stands before the verb in the -mik form.

• Unaana angut. Nerivoq. Iipilitorpoq.

  This is a man. He is eating. He is eating an apple. (iipili "apple" + -tor-)

• Nutaamik tujuuluttaartariaqarpunga.

  I need a new sweater. (tujuulu(k) "sweater" + -taar-)

06

The One Doing It

With a particular object, the one doing it takes -p. With a -mik object, it stays in its plain form, because the verb counts as having no object.

• Naja nannumik takuvoq.

  Naja saw a polar bear.

• Najap nanoq takuaa.

  Naja saw the polar bear.