Weather: Verbs Without a Subject — Greenlandic Grammar

English says "it is raining", with an "it" that stands for nothing. Greenlandic simply uses the verb with its "he, she, it" ending and no subject: "it is raining". The word for "weather" is , and it can also be the subject.

Warm and Cold

Sila issippoq. Sila kianngilaq.
The weather is cold. The weather is not hot.
Kiaqaaq. Toogtredivenik kiappoq.
It's very hot. It's thirty-two degrees. (degrees take -nik)

Rain

Arraa, siallilerpoq! Siaartartumik sialussiuteqarpit?
Oh no, it is raining! Do you have an umbrella? (-ler- "begin to")
Assiliivimmik nassataqassaanga. Neriutta siallissanngitsoq.
I'll bring a camera. Let's hope it doesn't rain.

Asking About the Weather

Ullumikkut sila qanoq ippa?
What's the weather like today?
Aqagumi sila qanoq issava?
What's the weather forecast for tomorrow? (lit. how will the weather be tomorrow?)

What Is Coming

With -ssa- "will" the weather verb speaks of what is coming.

Ississaaq: femteninik ississaaq.
It will be cold: Minus fifteen degrees.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Greenlandic course

10 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 67. A few of them, with the words “Weather: Verbs Without a Subject” is about in bold:

Ullumikkut sila qanoq ippa?
What's the weather like today?
Lesson 291
Sila issittoq nuannaraara. Aput sermerlu nuannareqaakka.
I love cold weather. I love snow and ice.
Lesson 295

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