WORD ORDER AND SENTENCE BUILDING

A Yup'ik word can carry information that English often puts into several separate words. A word may contain a base plus endings that show the people involved, the action's time, or the word's role in the sentence. Sentence order still matters, but the endings are an essential part of understanding who is doing what.

Noun endings show number, case, and possession.

Verb endings show sentence type and the people or things involved.

The final verb does not need a separate English-style subject pronoun when its ending already identifies the subject.

A useful first model is stem plus optional suffixes plus a final grammatical ending. One Yup'ik word can therefore express information that English places in a phrase or an entire sentence.

A common neutral order places participants before the completed verb, but endings carry much of the information that English word order supplies. Order can shift with emphasis, discourse flow, and clarification, so learners should not identify subject and object by position alone.

The main verb ending can identify participants and sentence type. Read the verb ending together with noun case endings before comparing the sentence with English.

Structure: COMPLETE WORD = BASE + (DERIVATIONAL SUFFIX 1 + DERIVATIONAL SUFFIX 2 ...) + FINAL GRAMMATICAL ENDING

Structure: qayar- (kayak) + -pa- (big) + -li- (make) + -yara- (way of doing) + -qa (absolutive ending: one item possessed by me) = qayarpaliyaraqa

How the form is built:

qayar- + -pa- -> qayarpa-: kayak + big = big kayak.

qayarpa- + -li- -> qayarpali-: big kayak + make = make a big kayak.

qayarpali- + -yara- + -qa -> qayarpaliyaraqa: the way I make a big kayak.

Examples:

Nerua. (I'm eating.)

Word breakdown: nere- is the verb base “eat,” and nerua is its first-person ongoing form.

Ayagtua. (I'm going.)

Word breakdown: ayag- (go or leave) + -tua (ordinary statement: I) -> ayagtua

Neraa. (He is eating it.)

Word breakdown: ner(e)- (eat) + -aa (he or she does it) -> neraa

Qavartuq. (He is sleeping.)

Word breakdown: qavar- (sleep) + -tuq (ordinary statement: he, she, or it) -> qavartuq

Mikelnguut cakneq angnirtut. (The children were very happy.)

Word breakdown: mikelnguq (child, one) -> mikelnguut (children); cakneq (very); angnir- (be happy) + -tut (they) -> angnirtut

MAKING POSITIVE STATEMENTS

A positive statement presents something as true, real, or happening. It normally gives a person or thing and then says what that person or thing does, has, or is. The language may show the person, time, number, or kind of action in a verb ending, a prefix, a separate word, or the sentence order.

Essential forms:

Intransitive endings used in this guide: -tua/-ua/-unga = I. -tuten/-uten = you (one). -uq/-tuq/-guq = he, she, or it. -tut/-ut = they.

Transitive endings used in this guide: -aqa = I act on him/her/it. -aa = he/she acts on him/her/it. -amken = I act on you.

Positive pattern: VERB BASE + optional tense/aspect suffix + person ending.

A positive statement uses a statement verb ending and does not contain negative word building. The ending agrees with the participants represented by the verb, including singular, dual, or plural number where the form distinguishes them.

Because the verb carries person and number information, an English subject pronoun may have no separate Yup’ik word. Learn the complete verb form instead of attaching an English-style pronoun mechanically.

Structure: INTRANSITIVE AFFIRMATIVE = VERB BASE + INDICATIVE ENDING: tekit- (arrive) + -uq (statement ending: he/she/it) = tekituq

Structure: TRANSITIVE AFFIRMATIVE = VERB BASE + TRANSITIVE INDICATIVE ENDING: assik- (like) + -aqa (statement ending: I act on him/her/it) = assikaqa

How the form is built:

ayag- + -tuten -> ayagtuten: you (singular) go or went.

atur- + -tuq -> aturtuq: he/she is using something or singing.

assik- + -aa -> assikaa: he/she likes him, her, or it.

Examples:

Assirtua. (I'm fine.)

Word breakdown: assir- (be good or well) + -tua (ordinary statement: I) -> assirtua

Ayagtua. (I'm going.)

Word breakdown: ayag- (go or leave) + -tua (ordinary statement: I) -> ayagtua

Nerua. (I'm eating.)

Word breakdown: nere- is the verb base “eat,” and nerua is its first-person ongoing form.

Tekituq. (He arrived.)

Word breakdown: tekit- (arrive) + -uq (ordinary statement: he, she, or it) -> tekituq

Maktuq. (He got up.)

Word breakdown: makte- (get up) + third-person statement ending -> maktuq

Angnirtuq. (He is happy.)

Word breakdown: angnir- (be happy) + -tuq (ordinary statement: he, she, or it) -> angnirtuq

MAKING NEGATIVE STATEMENTS

A negative statement says that something is not true, does not happen, or should not happen. The negative meaning may be carried by a separate word, a verb ending, or a change inside the verb. The negative form must still match the person, time, and kind of action in the statement being denied.

Essential forms:

-nrit- = general not.

-ngait- = will not.

-ksait- = not yet.

-cuit-/-yuit- = never or not usual or repeatedly.

Negative pattern: VERB BASE + NEGATIVE SUFFIX + PERSON ENDING.

Negation is expressed inside the verbal structure and can also involve negative particles or specialized forms. It is not generally produced by placing an independent English-style not before an unchanged positive verb.

Negative forms must still show the appropriate participant and sentence information. Meanings translated as not being large, not having something, not being able, or not doing an action may require different stems or suffix combinations instead of one universal negative word.

To turn a studied positive sentence into a negative one, first identify the completed verb and its participants. Add the negative suffix in the position shown for that pattern, then retain the required person, number, and sentence ending.

Structure: GENERAL NEGATIVE = VERB BASE + -nrit- + INDICATIVE ENDING

Structure: ayag- (leave) + -nrit- (not) + -uq (statement ending: he/she/it) -> ayanrituq: he/she has not left

Structure: NEGATIVE FUTURE = VERB BASE + -ngait- (will not) + PERSON ENDING

Structure: NOT YET = VERB BASE + -ksait- + ENDING THAT SHOWS WHO IS INVOLVED AND SENTENCE TYPE

The arrival verb has related stem shapes such as tekit-, tekite-, and tekic- in different forms. Treat these as context-dependent stem alternations, not as separate unrelated verbs.

How the form is built:

pi- + -nrit- + -uq -> pinrituq: he/she is not doing it.

ayag- + -ngait- + -ua -> ayagngaitua: I will not go.

tekite- + -ksait- + -uq -> tekiteksaituq: he/she has not arrived yet.

Examples:

Nalluaqa. (I do not know.)

Word breakdown: nallu- (not know) + -aqa (I do not know it) -> nalluaqa

Kass'atun qanyuitua. (I do not speak English.)

Word breakdown: kass'aq + -tun (in the English manner/language) -> Kass'atun; qanyuite- (be silent or not speak; historically qaner- + -yuite-) + -ua (I) -> qanyuitua

Taringenritua. (I do not understand.)

Word breakdown: taringe- (understand) + -nrit- (not) + -ua (I) -> taringenritua

Maani allanivigtaituq. (There isn't a hotel here.)

Word breakdown: maani (here); allanivik (hotel) + -taite- (be absent or not exist) + -uq (it) -> allanivigtaituq

Calisciigatukut tan'germi. (We cannot do our work in the dark.)

Word breakdown: cali- (work) + -sciigat- (cannot) + -ukut (we) -> calisciigatukut; tan'ger- (darkness) + -mi (in) -> tan'germi

FORMING QUESTIONS

A question asks for information or checks whether something is true. Yes/no questions ask for confirmation, while information questions ask for a person, thing, place, time, reason, or way. The language shows the question through word order, a question word, a special ending, or a combination of these.

Essential forms:

Direct yes/no question: qaa marks the questioned or focused element. The verb normally keeps its indicative/statement form.

Softer question: -lli- (perhaps/I wonder) before the person ending.

Information question: question word or question base + question ending.

Yup'ik distinguishes question types through question endings, question words, intonation, and context. The exact ending depends on the participants and on whether the speaker asks for confirmation or new information.

YES/NO QUESTION FORMATION

A yes/no question checks whether a statement is true and normally expects an answer such as yes or no. The language may keep the ordinary statement order, change the verb ending, or use a special question form. The person, time, and action remain part of the question even when the answer is very short.

Essential forms:

qaa or -qaa = direct yes/no question marker.

-lli- = softer perhaps/I wonder question.

Kailliuten? = softer “Are you perhaps hungry?”

Kaigtuten-qaa? = direct “Are you hungry?”

A yes/no question asks whether a proposition is true. Direct yes/no questions can use qaa with an indicative or participial sentence instead of English-style subject-helper verb inversion. Keep the verb's participant information intact. With qaa, the verb normally remains in the indicative or participial form.

Keep the verb's participant information intact when changing sentence type. Do not create a question by moving words according to English order while leaving a statement ending unchanged.

Structure: YES/NO QUESTION = FIRST/FOCUSED WORD + qaa + THE REST OF THE INDICATIVE OR PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE

Structure: Do not use: WH-WORD + INTERROGATIVE ENDING unless the question asks for missing information.

How the form is built:

qaa contributes the meaning is that right?. The following verb keeps the ending required by its own participants.

Examples:

Kass'atun-qaa qantuuten? (Do you speak English?)

Word breakdown: kass'aq (white person) + -tun (in the manner or language of) -> Kass'atun (in English); qaa marks a yes/no question; qan- (speak) + -tu- (customary/habitual) + -uten (you, one person) -> qantuuten

Kailliuten? (Are you hungry?)

Word breakdown: kai- (be hungry) + -lli- (perhaps/I wonder; makes the question softer) + -uten (you, one person) -> kailliuten

Kaigtuten-qaa? (Are you hungry?)

Word breakdown: kaig- (be hungry) + -tuten (you, one person) -> kaigtuten; -qaa adds a direct yes/no question -> kaigtuten-qaa

Difference: Kailliuten? is the softer “perhaps/I wonder” question. Kaigtuten-qaa? Is the direct yes/no question.

Tekituq, qaa Nuk'aq? (Has Nuk'aq arrived?)

Word breakdown: tekit- (arrive) + -uq (he or she) -> tekituq; qaa marks the whole clause as a yes/no question.

Nuk'aq, qaa tekituq? (Has Nuk'aq arrived?)

Word breakdown: Nuk'aq is the person asked about; qaa marks a yes/no question; tekit- + -uq -> tekituq.

Enerpangqertuten, qaa? (You have a big house, right?)

Word breakdown: ener- (house) + -pa- (big) + -ngqer- (have) + -tuten (you, one person) -> enerpangqertuten; qaa adds confirmation.

WH-QUESTIONS

An information question asks for one missing piece of information, such as a person, thing, place, time, reason, or choice. The question word takes the place of that missing information, while the rest of the sentence keeps the language pattern. The form of the question word may also change to show its role in the sentence.

Essential forms:

ca- = what.

ki(t)- = who.

na- = where.

naken = from where.

qaku = when.

qavci- = how many/how much.

Information questions ask for a person, object, place, time, reason, or choice. A question word or question base supplies the missing information. The verb keeps the ending required by the sentence and its participants.

Question-word position does not follow English subject-helper verb inversion. Learn each complete question pattern before substituting a new noun.

Begin by identifying what information is missing, then locate the question word and completed verb. This prevents the English translation from hiding person and number marking in the Yup'ik form.

Structure: CONTENT QUESTION = CASE-MARKED QUESTION WORD + VERB BASE + INTERROGATIVE ENDING

Structure: ki-na (who + singular ending) + tekit- (arrive) + -a (question ending: he/she/it) = Kina tekita?

How the form is built:

ki- + -na -> kina: who, in singular absolutive form.

tekit- + -a -> tekita: who has arrived?

ca- + -mek -> camek: what in singular -mek form; the -mek shows the role required by the question.

Examples:

Kituuga atren? (What is your name?)

Word breakdown: kitu- (identity question) + -u- (be) + -ga (third-person question ending) -> kituuga; ater- (name) + -n (your, one name) -> atren

Naugga Cungauyar? (Where is Cungauyar?)

Word breakdown: naugga is the fixed location-question form “where is?”; Cungauyar is the name of the person being located.

Qurrun nauwa? (Where is the toilet?)

Word breakdown: qurrun (toilet); nauwa is the fixed third-person location question “where is it?”

Kituusit? (Who are you?)

Word breakdown: kitu- (who) + -u- (be) + -sit (question ending: you, one person) -> kituusit

Naken anellrusit? (Where are you from?)

Word breakdown: naken (from where); ane- (go out or come from) + -llru- (past) + -sit (question: you) -> anellrusit

HOW-QUESTIONS

A how-question asks about a person’s condition, the way an action happens, or how often something happens. The question word gives the kind of information wanted, while the verb and the other words show who is involved and when. A single language may use different forms for these different meanings of how.

Essential forms:

cangacit = how are you?

qavcitun = how much/in what amount?

qavcinek = how many?

qavcinun = toward what number/what time?

Choose the form by meaning. English how does not correspond to one Yup’ik word.

English how covers manner, condition, quantity, distance, and degree. Yup'ik does not require every one of these meanings to use a single interchangeable form.

A question about condition can differ from a question about manner or amount. Identify the intended meaning of how before choosing a learned expression.

Question words remain connected to person and number. Use the complete form, including its ending, instead of translating how as an isolated word.

Structure: HOW-MANY QUESTION = qavci- + REQUIRED CASE/NUMBER ENDING + INTERROGATIVE VERB

Structure: qavci- + -nek (plural -nek form) = qavcinek; VERB BASE + -llru- (PST) + INTERROGATIVE ENDING

How the form is built:

qavci- + -nek -> qavcinek: how many, with -mek/-nek form plural marking.

qavci- + -tun -> qavcitun: how much/in what amount.

Examples:

Cangacit? (How are you?)

Word breakdown: canga- (be how) + -cit (question ending: you, one person) -> cangacit

Qavcitun akingqerta? (How much does it cost?)

Word breakdown: qavci- (how many or how much) + -tun (measure/manner form) -> qavcitun; aki- (price) + -ngqer- (have) + -ta (third-person question ending) -> akingqerta

Qavcinek allrakungqercit? (How old are you?)

Word breakdown: qavci- (how many) + -nek (plural amount form) -> qavcinek; allraku- (year) + -ngqer- (have) + -cit (question: you) -> allrakungqercit

NOUNS: GENDER AND NUMBER

Yup'ik nouns distinguish singular, dual, and plural number. The dual refers to exactly two, while the plural normally refers to three or more. Noun forms also interact with case and possession.

Essential forms:

Singular basic subject/object: noun base + no visible number ending.

Dual: noun base + -k. Exactly two.

Plural: noun base + -t. Normally three or more.

Yup’ik nouns do not have masculine and feminine grammatical gender.

Yup'ik nouns do not have a grammatical masculine-feminine gender system. Third-person singular reference can be translated as he, she, or it according to context instead of a gender-marked noun class.

Number distinguishes singular, dual, and plural. The dual refers to exactly two. The plural normally refers to three or more. Number combines with case and possession, so a noun's final form depends on more than an English plural meaning.

Some endings trigger regular sound adjustments at the stem boundary. Learn singular, dual, and plural forms together when they are available instead of forming every plural by visual analogy. Some singular basic dictionary forms already end in k. In those words, the final k belongs to the singular basic dictionary form instead of functioning as a dual ending. Compare yuk (one person) / yuuk (two people) and regional piluguk (one skin boot) / piluguuk (two skin boots).

Structure: ABSOLUTIVE SINGULAR = NOUN BASE + ZERO ENDING

Structure: ABSOLUTIVE DUAL = NOUN BASE + (LINKING VOWEL WHEN REQUIRED) + -k

Structure: ABSOLUTIVE PLURAL = NOUN BASE + (LINKING VOWEL WHEN REQUIRED) + -t

How the form is built:

yuk: one person. No overt basic subject/object form singular ending.

yuk + linking -u- + -k -> yuuk: two people.

yuk + linking -u- + -t -> yuut: three or more people.

Examples:

Piluguk / piluguuk. (One skin boot (regional singular) / two skin boots.)

Number contrast: piluguk (regional singular: one skin boot) -> piluguuk (two skin boots).

Mikelnguut cakneq angnirtut. (The children were very happy.)

Word breakdown: mikelnguq (child, one) -> mikelnguut (children); cakneq (very); angnir- (be happy) + -tut (they) -> angnirtut

Ucinertulliniut makut qayat. (These kayaks can carry a lot.)

Word breakdown: uci- (carry a load) + -nertu- (be able or know how) + -llini- (evidential: it turns out/is found) + -ut (they) -> ucinertulliniut; ma- + -ku- + -t -> makut (these, plural); qayaq -> qayat (kayaks, plural)

ARTICLES AND DETERMINERS

A determiner is a small word or ending that comes with a noun and helps identify it. It can show whether the noun is one or more than one, known or new, near or far, or connected to a particular person. Some languages use an article for these meanings, while others use endings or context.

Essential forms:

There is no compulsory equivalent of English a/an/the.

una = this one.

tauna = that one.

ingna = that visible one over there.

makut = these extended items here.

Yup'ik does not use direct equivalents of English a, an, and the as a compulsory article system. Definiteness is often understood from context, prior mention, possession, demonstratives, or the information structure of the sentence.

Demonstratives can identify entities and locations more precisely than English this and that. Do not add a separate Yup'ik word merely because the English translation contains an article.

Structure: DEMONSTRATIVE NOMINAL = DEMONSTRATIVE ROOT + -na (singular expander) + ZERO ENDING

Structure: NON-ABSOLUTIVE SINGULAR = DEMONSTRATIVE ROOT + -u + CASE ENDING

Structure: DUAL/PLURAL = DEMONSTRATIVE ROOT + -ku + NON-SINGULAR ENDING

Examples:

Tang ingna. (Look! That one over there.)

Word breakdown: tang is the command form of tange- (see/look); ing- (demonstrative root for a visible referent) + -na (one referent) -> ingna

Ucinertulliniut makut qayat. (These kayaks can carry a lot.)

Word breakdown: uci- (carry a load) + -nertu- (be able or know how) + -llini- (evidential: it turns out/is found) + -ut (they) -> ucinertulliniut; ma- + -ku- + -t -> makut (these, plural); qayaq -> qayat (kayaks, plural)

Una sugaq aciraqa Angulluamek. (I am going to call this doll Angulluaq.)

Word breakdown: una (this one); sugaq (doll); acir- (name or call) + -aqa (I act on it) -> aciraqa; Angulluaq + -mek -> Angulluamek (name used as the naming complement)

PRACTICE SECTION

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in each blank with the correct word, letter, or form based on what you learned.

1. ________ qanyuitua.

2. Maani ________

3. ________ tan'germi.

True/False

Read each statement carefully and decide if it is True or False.

1. Yup'ik grammatical roles are identified only by English-style word order.

2. Yup'ik distinguishes singular, dual, and plural number.

Translation

Translate each English phrase or sentence into Central Alaskan Yup'ik.

1. Do you speak English?

2. Are you perhaps hungry? (softer question)

3. Are you hungry? (direct question)