Inuktut has a series of endings to talk about events that have not yet happened:
| Uqaalaguvit, qailangajunga. |
| if / when you call, I will come. |
Depending on the context, these endings can be translated in English as "when something happens..." or "if something happens..."
You will notice that these endings are very similar to those used to express the idea of “because”:
uqaala - to call someone on the phone
| uqaalaguma | if when I call |
| uqaalagunnuk | if / when we (2) call |
| uqaalagutta | if / when we (3+) call |
| uqaalaguvit | if / when you call |
| uqaalagutsik | if / when you (2) call |
| uqaalagutsi | if / when you (3+) call |
| uqaalaguni / uqaalappat * | if / when he/she calls |
| uqaalagutik / uqaalappatik * | if / when they (2) call |
| uqaalagutik / uqaalappata * | if / when they (3+) call |
* -guni, and -gutik can only be used when the two actions in the sentence will be done by the same person/people:
| Qaiguni, mumiriarunnarniaqtuq. |
| If she comes, she will be able to go dancing. |
If the two verbs in the sentence will be done by different people, then -ppat / -ppatik / -ppata must be used:
| lisapi qaippat, Aani mumiriarunnarniaqtuq. |
| If Ilisapi comes, Aani will be able to go dancing. |
Form of these endings following -q:
| natsiq- | to catch a seal |
| natsiruma | if / when I catch a seal |
| natsirunnuk | if / when we (2) catch a seal |
| natsirutta | if / when we (3+) catch a seal |
| natsiruvit | if / when you catch a seal |
| natsirutsik | if / when you (2) catch a seal |
| natsirutsi | if / when you (3+) catch a seal |
| i | |
| natsiruni / natsiqqat | if / when he/she catches a seal |
| natsirutik / natsiqqatik | if / when they (2) catch a seal |
| natsirutik / natsiqqata | if / when they (3+) catch a seal |
Form of these endings following -k or -t
| tikit- | to arrive |
| tikikkuma | if when I arrive |
| tikikkunnuk | if / when we (2) arrive |
| tikikkutta | if / when we (3+) arrive |
| tikikkuvit | if / when you arrive |
| tikikkutsik | if / when you (2) arrive |
| tikikkutsi | if / when you (3+) arrive |
| tikikkuni / tikippat | if / when he/she arrives |
| tikikkutik / tikippatik | if / when they (2) arrive |
| tikikkutik / tikippata | if / when they (3+) arrive |