-ssaq: The Future One, the One To Be — Greenlandic Grammar

-ssaq on a noun means "a future …", "something meant to be …": "workplace" gives "a job to be had". The noun takes endings as usual.

Eqiasunnak, suliffissat amerlaqaat.
Don't be lazy. There are plenty of jobs available.
Illoqarfiup qeqqanukarniaruma aqqutissara nassuiarsinnaaviuk?
Can you tell me how to get to the city center? (aqqut "road" + -ssaq + -ra "my": lit. my road to take)
Akissutissat pissangagaara.
I look forward to hearing from you. (akissut "answer" + -ssaq + -t "your": lit. your answer to come)

What Is To Be Done

After -saq "what is done to", -ssaq gives "what is to be done": "food", "what is to be eaten".

Matu ajattariaqarpoq, nusutassaanngilaq.
You have to push the door, not pull it. (lit. it is not one to be pulled)

With -qar-

With -qar- "have", it says what someone has for later use.

Septembarimi koncerteriarnissamut bilitsissaqarpunga.
I have tickets for a concert in September.
Arlaannik atorfissaqassaguit sianerfigiinnassavarma.
Call me if you need anything. (lit. if you have a use for anything)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Greenlandic course

8 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 88. A few of them, with the words “-ssaq: The Future One, the One To Be” is about in bold:

Septembarimi koncerteriarnissamut bilitsissaqarpunga.
I have tickets for a concert in September.
Lesson 398

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