Verbs: Imperative Mood

01

Commands Without an Object

• "you": -git after a vowel, -it after r
• "you" (several people): -gitsi, -itsi
• "let's": -sa after a vowel, -ta after a consonant or r

A stem that ends in another consonant drops it before -git: sinippoq "sleeps" gives sinigit! "sleep!".

• Eqqissigit!

  Don't worry! (-git "you")

• Nerilluaritsi!

  Enjoy your meal! (nerilluar- + -itsi "you all")

• Kisitsisa.

  Let's count. (-sa "let's")

• Aap! Nalugiarta.

  Yes! Let's go swimming. (nalugiar- + -ta "let's")

02

Commands With an Object

When the command has an object, the ending names it too:

• -uk you … it, after i, u or r; -juk after a; -guk after another consonant
• -kkit you … them
• -nnga you … me
• -tigu or -sigu let's … it

• Takuuk, illutaara.

  Look, this is my new house. (taku- + -uk "you … it")

• Massakkut pisiariuk!

  Buy it now!

• Taxat utaqqipput, taskitit nassakkit.

  The taxi is waiting. Bring your bags. (-kkit "you … them")

• Viinnimik tuneqqilaannga.

  Please bring another bottle of wine. (-nnga "you … me": lit. give me another)

• Weekendimi sussanerluta isumaqatigisigu.

  Let's make a plan for the weekend. (-sigu "let's … it")

03

Don't

"Don't" has endings of its own: -nak for one person, -nasi for several.

• Aliasunnak!

  Don't be sad!

• Maani pujortarnak.

  Please don't smoke here.

• Utaqqivallaarnasi.

  Don't wait too long. (-nasi: said to several people)

04

Softer or Stronger

-laar- "a little" in front of the ending makes a command gentler, much like "please". -niar- also often translates as "please", and can make a command sound firmer.

• Nipitunerusumik oqalulaarit.

  Speak up, please. (-laar- + -it)

• Pisiniarfilialaarit.

  Please go to the store. (-lia- "go to", -laar-, -it)

• Kaagimik peqqinniarit.

  Please have some more cake. (-niar- + -it)