In this grammar note, we look at double (transitive) verb endings for asking questions. These involve both a subject (the person performing an action) and an object (the person or thing on the receiving end of the action):
| tukisivit? (single verb ending) | Do you understand? |
| tukisivinnga? (double verb ending) | Do you understand me? |
Here are the simplest forms of these endings:
| qaujimavagit? | Do I know you? |
| qaujimavara? | Do I know him/her? |
| tukisivinnga? | Do you understand me? |
| tukisiviuk? | Do you understand him/her? |
| tusaavaanga? | Does he/she hear me? |
| tusaavaatit? | Does he/she hear you? |
| tusaavauk? | Does he/she hear him/her? |
If these endings are added to a root ending in a vowel, they begin with the letter v:
| takuviuk? | Do you see him/her? |
If these endings are added to a root ending in -q, they begin with the letter q:
| ikajuqqiuk? | Are you helping him/her? |
If they are added to a root ending in -k or -t, they switch the final consonant to -p and then begin with p-:
| malik- | to follow |
| malippiuk? | Are you following him/her? |