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Greenlandic grammar · A1

-gaq, -saq: The Thing Done To

Alexander StebnerCreator of Lingora · Updated 14 October 20262 min readComments

-saq, -gaq or -taq turns a verb with an object into a noun for the thing it is done to, like English "eaten", "known": "eats it" gives "what is eaten". Which of them a verb takes has to be learned with the verb. Many such words are everyday nouns: "book" is "what is read".

  • Nipilersukkanik tusarnaarpunga.

    I listen to music. (nipilersukkat: lit. things played)

  • Ordbogip quppersagai pappialamik saattumik sanaajupput.

    The pages of a dictionary are made of thin paper. (quppersagai "its pages")

01

What I …, What You …

With an owner ending, such a word says whose action it is: "what I expected", "what you like".

  • Feeria ilimagisannit nuannerneruvoq.

    The vacation is better than I expected. (ilimagisaq "what one expects" + -nnit "than my")

  • Kaminnik nuannarisannik toqqaagit.

    Choose a pair of shoes that you like. (nuannarisaq "what one likes")

  • Nuliama nipilersukkanik nuannarinerpaasani tusarnaarpaa.

    My wife is listening to her favorite song. (lit. the one she likes most)

02

With -qar-

With -qar- "have", it gives "have something that one …".

  • Neriniartarfimmik pitsaasumik nalunngisaqaravit?

    Do you know a good restaurant? (nalunngisaq "what one knows": lit. do you have a good restaurant that you know?)

All 121 Greenlandic grammar topics

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