Grammar » 5 » Asking Questions

Iñupiaq has a series of verb endings that are used just for asking questions. To ask a question we add one of these endings to the end of the word. The ending that is used changes depending on who the subject of the verb is. 
Niġiviñ? Are you eating?
Niġiva? Is he / she / it eating?

 

The following endings are used with stems that end in vowels:

kaŋiqsi- to understand
kaŋiqsivik? Do I understand?
kaŋiqisiviñ? Do you understand?
kaŋiqsiva? Does he/she understand?
kaŋiqsiviñuk? Do we (2) understand?
kaŋiqisivisa? Do we (3+) understand?
kaŋiqsivisik? Do you (2) understand?
kaŋiqsivisi? Do you (3+) understand?
kaŋiqsivak? Do they (2) understand?
kaŋiqsivat? Do they (3+) understand?

 

If you want to add these endings to stems ending in a consonant, you use the same endings as above, but you replace the v with a p.
taiguaq- to read
Taiguaqpik? Am I reading?
Taiguaqpiñ? Are you reading?
Taiguaqpa? Is he / she reading?
Taiguaqpiñuk? Are we (2) reading?
Taiguaqpisa? Are we (3+) reading?
Taiguaqpisik? Are you two reading?
Taiguaqpisi? Are you (3+) reading?
Taiguaqpak? Are the two of them reading?
Taiguaqpat? Are they (3+) reading?