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Greenlandic grammar · A1

-neq: the act of, -ing

Alexander StebnerCreator of Lingora · Updated 14 October 20262 min readComments

-neq turns a verb into a noun for the action itself, like English "-ing": "eats" gives "eating". After a vowel or an r it is simply added. Any other last consonant of the stem becomes n: "dances" gives "dancing".

  • Qitigiarusuppunga. Qitinneq nuannerpoq.

    I want to go dancing. Dancing is fun.

  • Atuakkat atuarpatit. Atuarneq nuannaraat.

    You are reading books. You like to read books. (atuar- + -neq)

  • Timmisartorneq nuannaraarput. Timmisartorneq uloriananngilaq.

    We enjoy flying. Flying is safe.

01

With Endings

A -neq word takes endings like any noun. Before most of them it becomes -ner-, as in -nerit "your …ing"; before -nni "in my" it becomes -ni-.

  • Ajunngeqaaq. Feeriarnerit atorluaruk.

    That sounds great. Enjoy your vacation. (feeriar- "be on vacation" + -ner- + -it "your")

  • Innannginninni uffaqqaassaanga.

    I'll take a bath before going to bed. (-ni- + -nni: lit. in my not going to bed)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Greenlandic course

22 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 114. A few of them, with the words “-neq: the act of, -ing” is about in bold:

  • Perusuersartarfik salittariaqarpara, ipeqarnermik.

    I need to clean the toilet. It is too dirty.

    Lesson 469

  • Innannginninni uffaqqaassaanga.

    I'll take a bath before going to bed.

    Lesson 481

  • Oqaatsimik nutaamik ilinniarneq assut nalunarpoq.

    Learning a new language is very hard.

    Lesson 499

All 121 Greenlandic grammar topics

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