Examples
Meaning
there is/are someone (who is/are) Vb'ing
Notes
This construction is a form of clefting, which is used to focus on the verbal action. See also *{una} for a different type of clefting, which focuses on the subject. Note: This affix only makes sense on monovalent stems.
| Kalaallisut | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| nipilersortoqarpoq | there is someone (who is) playing music (on an instrument) | Compare the cleft sentence 'there is someone playing music' with the direct form 'he plays music' (nipilersorpoq). The former focuses more on the action itself (i.e. the fact that it is taking place), rather than on who performs the action. |
| inersuarmi sinittoqarpoq | there is someone sleeping in the living-room | |
| unnuaru nipilersortoqassaaq | there will be (live)-music tonight | Literally, 'tonight there will be someone playing music'. Here V{ðuqaq}V is followed by future affix V{ssa}V (which has some special right-sandhi rules, hence the unusual shape of the ending V{vuq}). This combination, V{ðuq}N{-qaq}V{ssa}V is very common on e.g. posters, advertisements, programmes etc. describing some future event. |
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