Details

General

Morphemic form: V{nəru}V
New orthography: +neruvoq
Old orthography: -neruvoĸ
Sources: [9, 12, 11, 14]
Combinations: Click here
Constituents: V{nəq}N, N{-u}V,
See also: V{nərə}V,
Left sandhi:
Default,
ə-eliding,
Right sandhi:
Default/none,
Inflection sandhi:
Default/none,
Stem type: Vowel stem
Diathesis: None
Valency:
Preserving,

Description and behaviour

Form and usage:

This affix is a combination of V{nəq}N, here in the comparative/superlative sense of 'more/most', and N{-u}V, which is here used to verbalise this comparative/superlative nominal form. This combination always (but non-standardly) has the speciality that /q/ is not deleted, but instead weakened to /r/. Thus, the meaning is 'to be the more/most Vb'ing'.

The affix is commonly used with adjectival stems for the purpose of deriving a verbal, comparative/superlative form of adjectival stems, but its usage is not limited to these stems. It can be used whenever it makes sense to speak of a performing a verbal action to a higher degree. If the affix is used in the sense of 'more' (comparative), the element of comparison can optionally also be given in the ablative case. Note also that the combination is valency preserving, so if the stem is divalent, this affix will also be used with a transitive ending (which may seem surprising, given the constituents).

Kleinschmidt [9] and Schultz-Lorentzen [11] also mention an alternative form, -neraoĸ, spelt +neraaq in the new orthography, which they claim is synonymous with the present affix. For this form, see V{nərə}V.


Left sandhi:

Left sandhi is inherited from the left-most component, V{nəq}N. See this for details.


Meanings and examples

In the comparative sense 'more Vb'ing', an optional noun phrase in the ablative case can also be added, to specify the thing the subject is more Vb'ing than.

  • anneruvoq, it is bigger [9]

    From angivoq, 'it is big'. The stem is {aŋə}V, with elision of /ə/ before V{nəq}N; angineruvunga without schwa-elision is also possible.

  • Piitamit anneruvunga, I am bigger than Piitaq

    Piitaq is here given as an explicit element of comparison in the ablative case.

  • ajunnginneruvoq, It is better

    From {ajuq}V, 'it is bad' + V{ŋŋit}V, 'not', i.e. 'is good'.

  • asaneruaa, he loves him more [9]

    From asavaa, 'he loves him'. Note that this is not an adjectival stem, so this example illustrates that the affix can also be used with other stems. It also illustrates the usage on a divalent stem, so we have a transitive ending V{vaa} here.

  • qaqorneruvoq, it is whiter; it is more white [9]

    From qaqorpoq, 'it is white'.