Grammar » -gi- (affix)

The following are examples of transitive verb endings.  They describe a subject (who is doing an action) and an object (who is on the receiving end of the action):

takujara I see her  /him / it.
takujagit I see you.
takujanga She sees him.

There are transitive endings for asking questions:

takuviuk? Do you see her / him / it?
takuvauk? Does she see him / her / it?
tusaavinnga? Do you hear me?

Transitive endings can be used to describe the relationship between two or more people using the affix -gi-:

panik daughter
Ilisapi panigiviuk? Is Ilisapi your daughter?

Note that when answering the question, an Inuktut speaker will shorten the construction and just add a simple noun ending to express the relationship.

ii, Ilisapi paniga. Yes, Ilisapi is my daughter

The affix -gi- is also used to create a link between people in expressions like:

Katimaqatigijunnaqqinnga? Can you meet with me?
Uqaalavigilauqtara ippatsaq. I called him yesterday.
Nalligijanga. She loves him.

-ri- is the form this affix takes after a root ending in q- :

nuliaq wife
Uluusi nuliariviuk? Is Uluusi your wife? 
Aagga, Miali nuliara. No Mary is my wife.

One more example:

angijuqqaaq head of an organization; boss
Inna angijuqqaarivauk? Is that his boss?
ii angijuqqaanga Yes, she's his boss.