Grammar » 27. The Affixes -vat-/-qattaq-

These affixes are attached to verbs to indicate an action that happens often or regularly.

–vat– is added to verbs that end in a vowel. For verbs ending in a consonant, it changes to –pat–

ani + vat + tuq =	anivattuq
	He/she goes out often.
makittaq + pat + tunga	Qautamaat makittaqpattunga
	I play cards every day.

 

–qattaq– can be added to verbs ending in vowels or consonants. When added to a root ending in a consonant, it deletes the final consonant:

niri + qattaq + tunga =	Ullaakkut niriqattaqtunga
	I eat in the morning.
miqsuq + qattaq + tuq	Unnukkut miqsuqattaqtuq
	She sews in the evening.

In South Qikiqtaaluk dialect, -qattaq- and –vat–/ –pat– can normally be used interchangeably.

qikaq + qattaq + qit? =	Ukiutamaat qikaqattaqqit?
	Do you take a holiday every winter?
qikaq + pat + tunga	Aujatamaat qikaqpattunga
	I take a holiday every summer.