Grammar » 43 » Double Verb Endings for Questions

In this grammar note, we look at transitive verb endings for asking questions.  These involve both a subject (the person performing an action) and an object (the person or thing on the receiving end of the action):

tukisivit? (simple verb ending) Do you understand?
tukisivamma? (transitive verb ending) Do you understand me?

Here are the simplest forms of these endings:

Kaujimavagen? Do I know you?
Kaujimavaga? Do I know him/her?
   
tukisivamma? Do you understand me?
tukisijân? Do you understand him/her?
   
tusaavânga? Does he/she hear me?
tusaavâten? Does he/she hear you?
tusaajangâ? Does he/she hear him/her?

Remember that the first letter of these endings can change after certain affixes.  The endings above that start with v- may switch to K- and the endings beginning with j- may switch to t- :

kati + Kati + gi + niak + Kammâ =  
katiKatiginiakKammâ? Are you going to meet with me later?
   
kati + Kati + gi + laut + tânga =  
katiKatigilauttânga ippasak She met with him yesterday.
   
atuk + niat + tân? =  
Una atunaittân? Are you going to use this one?