Verbs: Talking About the Past — Greenlandic Grammar

Greenlandic has no ending that means "past". An ordinary statement covers both times: is "he is sleeping" and "he slept". The time is usually made clear by a time word, and where the past has to be marked there are three suffixes: -reer- "already", -nikuu- "at some time before" and -sima- "has happened".

A Time Word Is Often Enough

A word such as "yesterday" or "last year" puts a plain statement in the past.

Ukioq kingulleq suliffittaanni sulilerpunga.
Last year, I started a new job.
Sapaatip akunnera kingulleq New Yorkimut tikippunga.
Last week, I arrived in New York.
Novembarimi umikka naatippakka.
I grew a beard in November.
Ippassaq atuariartorpit?
Did you go to school yesterday?

-reer-: Already, Done

-reer- says that something has already happened and still counts now, like English "have done".

Mobiiliga ilinnut atortereerpara. Utertiguk!
I already lent you my cell phone. Give it back!
Kelly. Nalunngereerpaa napparsimasunga.
Kelly. She already knows that I am sick.
Poortuereerpit?
Have you packed already?
Ningiora utoqqalingaatsiareerpoq.
My grandma is already quite old.

-nikuu-: At Some Time Before

-nikuu- places something at some time in the past, often something the speaker saw or lived through. With "not" it means "never".

Kinamiinnikuuvunga.
I once lived in China.
Filmi isiginnaarparput. Takoreernikuuara.
We are watching a movie. I have seen it before.
Ilumut? Uanga erinniaannik tusagaqarnikuunngilanga.
Really? I don't know any songs from that band. (lit. I have never heard any of their songs)

Used To

-tar- "usually" before -nikuu- gives "used to".

Qimmeqartarnikuuvunga.
I used to have dogs.
Sulisarnikuuvoq.
He used to work.

-sima-: Has Happened

-sima- is the most general of the three: something happened, or has happened and the result is still there.

Angajoqqaatit angerlarsimappat?
Are your parents at home? (lit. have they come home?)
Uanga upperaara nerisassaarussimasoq.
I believe there is no more food left. (lit. that the food has run out)
Napparsimavimmi uninnganerit qanoq issimava?
How was your hospital stay?
Eqqumiik. Nalunaaqutara ajorsimassaaq.
That is weird. My watch must be broken. (-sima- + -ssaaq: lit. it will have broken)

Would Have

-sima- also carries the past into an "if": "if you had …, I would have …". Both verbs take it, and the main verb adds -ssagaluar- "would".

Oqarfigisimasuugumma aningaasanik tunisimassagaluarpakkit.
If you had told me, I would have given you money.

The Causative as a Past

In everyday speech, a verb in the causative mood, the "because, when" mood, can also simply tell what happened, often as one step of a story.

Sugavit?
What happened? (lit. what did you do?)
Qanga pigami? Sumi pigami?
When did it happen? Where did it happen?

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