Verbs: Questions (Interrogative Mood)

01

The Question Endings

Each ending has a shape with v after a vowel and one with p after a consonant:

• "you": -vit? after a vowel, -pit? after a consonant
• "he, she, it": -va?, -pa?
• "you" (several people): -visi?, -pisi?
• "they": -ppat?, -pat?

• Ammavit?

  Are you open? (-vit? "you")

• Massakkut sulerivisi?

  What are you (pl.) doing now? (-visi? "you all")

• Angajoqqaatit angerlarsimappat?

  Are your parents at home? (-ppat? "they")

02

"I" and "We"

For "I" and "we" there is no special question ending: the statement ending is used, and the question mark and the voice make it a question.

• Filmeriassaagut?

  Should we go to the movies? (-ssaagut "we will", as in a statement)

03

With an Object

With an object, the question endings differ from the statement ones when "you" is doing it:

• -viuk? you … it
• -vinga? you … me
• -vigit? you … them
• -visiuk? you (several) … it

After u the v of these endings drops.

• Takuiuk?

  Did you see that? (-iuk? "you … it", the v dropped after u)

• Ukorsii, una takuisiuk?

  Guys, are you (pl.) seeing this? (-isiuk? "you all … it")

• Takusinnaavinga?

  Can you see me? (-vinga? "you … me")

04

Question Words

With a question word such as qanoq "how", sumi "where" or suna "what", the verb usually takes a question ending. About something that has happened, it often takes the "because, when" ending instead: Qanga pigami? "When did it happen?".

• Aluu, qanoq ippit?

  Hello. How are you?

• Ullumikkut sila qanoq ippa?

  What's the weather like today?