-sima- is a very common affix in Inuktut. It is added to verb roots to indicate the state that one is in as a result of the action described by the root. Compare the following examples :
| nigisimaven? | Have you eaten? |
| â nigisimavunga. | Yes, I have eaten. |
We see in this lesson that -sima- can be used when one is out hunting:
| tuttusiugiajuk | He/she is going caribou hunting. |
| ttuttusiugiasimajuk | He/she is out caribou hunting. |
| puijisiugiattuk | He/she is going seal hunting. |
| puijisiugiasimajuk | He/sheis out seal hunting. |
...or it can be used when one has caught something
| Kilalugak | beluga |
| Kilalugasimajut | They caught a beluga. |
| utjuk | bearded seal |
| utjusimajuk | He/she caught a bearded seal. |
| ukalik | hare |
| ukalisimajuk | He/she caught a hare. |
Here are some other examples of how this versatile affix can be used:
| aullajuk | He/she departs. |
| aullasimajuk | He/she is out of town. |
| tikijut | They arrive. |
| tikisimajut | They have arrived. |
| tupik | tent |
| tuppisimajuk | He/she is camping. |
| matutsijuk | He/she closes something. |
| matusimajuk | It is closed. |
| iga | cooking fire; stove |
| igasimajuk | It is cooked. |
-LAUTSIMA-
When -laut- is added before -sima- it gives the meaning of "ever" :
| Kilalugammik takulautsimaven? |
| Have you ever seen a beluga? |
| Nanuvinittulautsimaven? |
| Have you ever eaten polar bear meat? |
...and if we put together -lauk- + -sima- + -ngit-, we can express the idea of "never" :
| Kilalugammik takulautsimangilanga. |
| I have never seen a beluga. |
| nanuvinittulautsimangilanga. |
| I have never eaten polar bear meat. |