All verbs have a subject - the person or thing that is doing the action. Verbs may also have an object - a person or thing that undergoes the action.
single verb endings
The simplest verb endings just tell us who or what the subject is:
| Ippaksaq tikilauqtunga Iqalungnut I arrived in Iqaluit yesterday |
subject: uvanga |
| Angunasuktit utiramik nirilauqtut When the hunters returned, they ate. |
subject: ukua (angunasuktit) |
| Qaigit! Come here! |
subject: ivvit |
If there is an object to the verb, it will take the -mik ending if it is singular, or the -nik ending if it is plural:
Qiniqtuq ulumik.
She is searching for an ulu.
Ikajurniaqtunga niuviaksaksanik.
I will help with the things that are to be sold.
double verb endings
Inuktut also has a series of double verb endings that indicate both the subject and the object. In this book, we show the relationship expressed in the double verb endings like this:
subject object
| Takuqqaujara ullaaq. I saw him this morning. |
–jara: uvanga uumunga (statement) |
| Nagligijagit ullaaq. I love you. |
–jagit: uvanga ilingnut (statement) |
| Apirijumajanga qaujimangmangaaq. He wants to ask her if she knows. |
–janga: una uumunga (statement) |
| Qaujigiarunnaqpiuk? Could you find that out? |
–piuk: ivvit uumunga (statement) |
| …luuktaaq takujariaqaramiuk …because she has to see the doctor |
–ramiuk: una uumunga (because) |
| Uqautiguvinnga quviasungniaqtunga. I will be happy if you tell me. |
–vinnga: ivvit uvannut (if) |
objects of double verbs
With double verb endings, the object does not take the -mik/-nik ending. This is an important difference from single verb endings.
| Single verb | Double verb |
|---|---|
| Niqimik niuvirniaqtunga. I will buy some meat. |
Niqi niuvirniaqtara. I will buy the meat. |
subjects of double verbs
If the subject of a double verb is a singular noun, it takes the -up ending:
Subject (1 person):
Angunasuktiup takulauqtanga.
The hunter saw it.
Subject (2 people):
Angunasuktiik takulauqtangak.
The two hunters saw it.
Subject (3+ people):
Angunasuktit takulauqtangat.
The hunters saw it.