Rule #18
All noun endings express case and number. Noun endings can also express possessor.
Thus, there are two types of noun endings:
- non-possessive endings
- possessive endings
Case means that a different form of a noun is used for different parts of the sentence. Let’s consider the following sentences:
- Jaani tuttumik takujuq.
- Tuttu Jaanimik takujuq.
Jaani and tuttu are in the basic case, expressed by the null ending Ø.
Jaanimik and tuttumik are in the secondary case, expressed by the ending +mik.
There are eight possible cases for a noun:
1. basic: Jaani sinittuq. / Tuttu takujanga. / Unnuaq tikilaurtuq.
2. relative: Jaaniup nasanga / Jaaniup saniani / Jaaniup takujanga.
3. secondary: Tuttumik takujuq. / Jaanimik irniqartuq. / sukkaitumik
4. locative: nunalimmi sinittuq. / unnuami tikilaurtuq.
5. ablative: nunalimmit tikittuq. / Jaanimit anginirsaq
6. allative: nunalimmut tikittuq. / tuttumut takujaujuq / savimmut
7. translative: nunalikkut pisuttuq. / unnuakut tikilaurtuq / qajariakkut
8. simulative: angutititut
Number means that a noun is either singular, dual or plural. For example, the null ending Ø and the ending +mik express singular nouns.
Possessor means that a noun can be possessed. For example, the ending /ga in paniga expresses a first person singular possessor.
