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Greenlandic grammar · A1

Noun Incorporation: Verb and Object in One Word

Alexander StebnerCreator of Lingora · Updated 14 October 20262 min readComments

Many suffixes take a noun into the verb, so that verb and object become one word: "apple" + -tor- "eat" gives "eats an apple". English says the same with a verb and a separate object.

01

Common Suffixes

These suffixes all take the noun in front of them into the verb. With -liar- and -mukar- the noun is the place one goes to, not an object.

  • -tor- or -sor- eat, drink: "drinks coffee"
  • -qar- have: "has a dog"
  • -si- buy, get: "buys bread"
  • -taar- get a new: "gets new clothes"
  • -lior- make: "makes a cake"
  • -liar- or -mukar- go to: "goes to the shop"

  • Pizzatorusuppunga. Pizzaguppunga. Pizzatorta.

    I want to eat pizza. I want pizza. Let's eat pizza. (pizza + -tor-)

  • Kaagiliorusuppunga, kisianni manniiteqanngilanga.

    I want to bake a cake, but I don't have any eggs. (kaagi + -lior-)

  • Nerisassarsillungalu nutaamik nalunaaqutarsivunga.

    I bought groceries and a new watch. (nalunaaqut + -si-)

  • Kiaguppunga. Sissamukarta?

    I'm hot. Let's go to the beach. (sissaq "beach" + -mukar-)

02

Always "a" or "Some"

A noun built into a verb is never a particular one: is "eats an apple", not "eats the apple". It also stays singular, even when the meaning is plural.

  • Unaana angut. Nerivoq. Iipilitorpoq.

    This is a man. He is eating. He is eating an apple.

  • Arlaannik amigaateqarpit? Nerisassarsinialerpunga.

    Do you need anything? I am shopping for groceries. (nerisassaq "food", singular)

03

Describing the Built-In Noun

A word that describes a built-in noun cannot follow it inside the verb, so it stands before the verb in the -mik form.

  • Nutaamik tujuuluttaartariaqarpunga.

    I need a new sweater. (nutaamik goes with tujuulu(k) "sweater")

  • Marlunnik qitornaqarpunga. Erneq taavalu panik.

    I have two children, a son and a daughter.

04

"Something" and "What"

Two stems can also be built into a verb as the object: pi- "something" and su- "what".

  • Utoqqatserpunga. Pisilanga?

    Excuse me. Can I order, please? (pi- + -si-: lit. may I get something?)

  • Takunngilara, susoqarami?

    I didn't see it. What happened? (susoq "something that does what" = su- + -toq, + -qar-: lit. was there something happening?)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Greenlandic course

121 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 4. A few of them, with the words “Noun Incorporation: Verb and Object in One Word” is about in bold:

  • Marlunnik biileqarpunga, sikkilit marluk, motorsikkilillu pingasut.

    I have two cars, two bicycles, and three motorbikes.

    Lesson 33

  • Aluu nakorsaq, ajornartorsiuteqarpunga.

    Hello, Doctor. I have a problem.

    Lesson 91

  • Marlunnik nukaqarpunga marlunnillu angajoqarlunga.

    I have two younger sisters and two older sisters.

    Lesson 138

All 121 Greenlandic grammar topics

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