Verbs: Participial Mood (that ...)

01

The Endings

The ending names who the "that" clause is about. It begins with s after a vowel and with t after a consonant or r:

• "that I": -sunga after a vowel, -tunga after a consonant or r
• "that you": -sutit, -tutit
• "that he, she, it": -soq, -toq
• "that we": -sugut, -tugut
• "that you" (several people): -susi, -tusi
• "that they": -sut, -tut

• Kelly. Nalunngereerpaa napparsimasunga.

  Kelly. She already knows that I am sick. (-sunga "that I")

• Neriuppunga pitsaalissasutit.

  I hope that you will feel better soon. (-sutit "that you")

• Uanga upperaara nunarsuaq manissuusoq. Illimmi?

  I believe the earth is flat. What about you? (-soq "that it")

• Uanga isumaqarpunga nerisassat kimittuusariaqartut.

  I think food should be spicy. (-tut "that they": nerisassat "food" is plural)

02

Not

With "not", "that he, she, it" is -nngitsoq.

• Assiliivimmik nassataqassaanga. Neriutta siallissanngitsoq.

  I'll bring a camera. Let's hope it doesn't rain. (-ssa-nngitsoq "that it won't")

03

Other Suffixes Inside

The suffixes before the ending keep their meaning: -ssa- "will" gives -ssasoq "that he will", and with "not" -ssanngitsoq "that he won't".

• Nakorsara oqarpoq sapaatip akunnera naallugu sulissanngittunga.

  My doctor says I will be out for one week. (-ssanngittunga "that I won't work")

• Uanga isumaqarpunga sipaariarlutit aningaasaliissuteqassasutit.

  I think you should save and invest your money. (-ssasutit "that you will")

04

Looks Like "the One Who"

The "he, she, it" and "they" forms look exactly like the words for "the one who …": nerisoq is both "that he eats" and "the one who eats". The words around it decide which is meant.

• Uanga upperaara nerisassaarussimasoq.

  I believe there is no more food left. (after "believe": "that")

• Kinaana erinarsortoq?

  Who is singing? (here the noun: lit. who is the singing one?)

05

It Is That …

With -una "it is" attached, a participial verb explains or corrects something: "it is that I …".

• Inortuinngilanga. Isiaartungaana.

  I am not late. I am early. (lit. it is that I am early)

06

Why Is It That

After sooruna "why is it that", the participial gives what is being asked about.

• Sooruna suliffeqanngittutit?

  Why don't you have a job?

07

Where and What

With a question word, the participial makes an indirect question, "where …", "what …".

• Alersikka sumiittut nalunngiliuk?

  Do you know where my socks are? (sumiittut "where they are")