This grammar note is available in the South Qikiqtaaluk dialect only.
The passive voice is used in Inuktitut (and English) when we want to express that something is happening to someone, or they are at the receiving end of a particular action.
| active voice | Mialiup Simiuni takujanga | Mary sees Simiuni. |
|---|---|---|
| passive voice | Simiuni takujaujuq. | Simiuni is seen. |
1. To make verbs in the passive voice in Inuktitut, one adds the affix -jau-/-tau- right after the verb root. -jau- is used after roots ending in vowels, and -tau- after roots ending in consonants.
| ikaujuq- | to help |
| ikajuqtaujuq | He is being helped. |
| ikajuqtaujumavit? | Do you want some help (literally, 'do you want to be helped?') |
| ikajuqtaujumajunga. | I'd like some help; Can you help me? (literally, 'I want to be helped.') |
Some other examples:
| active voice | qai+qu+jaatit = | qaiqujaatit | She wants you to come; She has invited you |
|---|---|---|---|
| passive voice | qai+qu+jau+jutit = | qaiqujaujutit | You are invited. |
| active voice | ai+niaq+tara = | ainiaqtara | I will pick her up. |
| passive voice | ai+jau+juma+guvit | aijaujumaguvit | if you want to be picked up... |
2. - jau-/-tau- is used to make verbs in the passive voice. -ujjaq- is a related affix used to make nouns in the passive voice:
| uqaq + ujjaq = uqaujjaq | someone who is spoken to. |
It is more likely that you will see these used in complete sentence:
| aullaq + ujjaq = aullaujjaq | someone who is taken out on the land |
| aullaq + ujjaq + u + jugut = aullaujjaujugut | We are being taken out on the land. |
| aullaujjaujumagama | (because) I would like to be taken out on the land. |
| aput + ujjaq = apujjaq | someone who has been snowed in |
| aput + ujjaq + u + jut = apujjaujut | They are snowed in. |
| tinittuq | the tide goes out; drops |
| tinujjaujuq | It has been beached at low tide. |