Car Rental & Driving

1. Akia sunik imaqarpa?

   What's included in the rental price?

   Usage

   Checking what is included in the rental fee

   Grammar Note

   "To contain" is -mik imaqarpoq (example: qillertuusaq qalipaammik imaqarpoq "the tin contains paint"). "What" is sunik, the instrumental plural of the interrogative suna.

2. GPS-imik automatgearimillu peqarpa?

   Does it have GPS / automatic transmission?

   Usage

   Checking car features

   Grammar Note

   peqarpoq "has, is fitted with" governs the instrumental -mik. Neither GPS nor automatic transmission has its own Greenlandic word; the latter is called automatgear in the shop, as in Danish. The enclitic -lu "and" attaches to the end of the preceding word.

3. Ulikkaartumik utertissavara?

   Should I return it with a full tank?

   Usage

   Confirming the fuel policy

   Grammar Note

   utertippaa is "gives it back, returns it" (Danish aflevere / returnerer), here with the future -ssa- and the 1sg→3sg ending -vara. "Full tank" is expressed by ulikkaartumik, the instrumental of the participle of ulikkaarpoq "is full to the brim". The word for petrol is benziina, but the sentence works without naming it.

4. Kilometerinut killiliisoqarpa?

   Is there a mileage limit?

   Usage

   Asking about mileage restrictions

   Grammar Note

   killiliineq is "limitation" and killiliivoq "sets a limit". -soqar- means "there is something that ..."

5. Biili ajoqusersimavoq — nalunaarutigerusuppara.

   I'd like to report a scratch / damage

   Usage

   Reporting damage on the car

   Grammar Note

   ajoquserpoq is "is hurt, is damaged" (Danish kommer til skade); the perfect -sima- gives "has been damaged". nalunaarutigaa is "reports it"; before the desiderative -rusup- the stem-final i becomes e, giving nalunaarutigerusup-.

6. Orsiivik qaninnerpaaq sumiippa?

   Where is the nearest gas station?

   Usage

   Looking for the nearest petrol station

   Grammar Note

   For tankstation, orsiivik is used (alongside orsersorfik and ikummatissaarniarfik). "Nearest" is qaninnerpaaq, in the same word order as Errorsisarfik qaninnerpaaq sumiippa?

7. Killeqarfik biilimik qaangersinnaavara?

   Can I take this car across the border?

   Usage

   Checking if cross-border travel is allowed. Note that Greenland has no land border, so this phrase is only useful when renting a car elsewhere.

   Grammar Note

   killeqarfik qaangerpaa corresponds to "går over grænsen". The means of travel takes the instrumental -mik. Note that Greenland has no land border, so this phrase is for renting a car elsewhere.

8. Politiinit unitsinneqarpunga. Qanoq iliussaanga?

   I've been stopped by the police — what should I do?

   Usage

   Asking what to do when stopped by police

   Grammar Note

   politiit (police) is plural, and the agent of a passive takes the ablative -nit. unitsinneqarpoq is the passive of unitsippaa, the causative of unippoq "stops".

9. Aqqusineq akeqarpa?

   Are there toll roads on this route?

   Usage

   Checking for toll roads. Note that Greenland has none, and there are almost no roads between towns at all — settlements are connected by air and sea.

   Grammar Note

   aqqusineq is "road". Whether it costs anything is asked with akeqarpoq "costs something". There is no noun for "toll road", so the question asks directly whether the road charges.

10. Biili aallartissinnaanngilaq.

    The car won't start

    Usage

    Reporting that the car won't start

    Grammar Note

    aallartippoq is "begins, starts"; the transitive aallartippaa is used of starting an engine (example: motoori aallartippaa). The ability affix -sinnaa- plus the negative -nngilaq gives "cannot start".

11. Biili piaartumik utertissavara.

    I'd like to return the car early

    Usage

    Informing about early return

    Grammar Note

    piaartumik is "early" (Danish tidlig); if it is earlier than it should be, the word is siusinaartumik instead. The future -ssa- on utertippaa "returns it" states the intention.

12. Meeqqap issiavianik peqarpisi?

    Do you have a child seat available?

    Usage

    Asking about child seat availability

    Grammar Note

    A child seat is meeqqap issiavia ("the child’s chair"); for babies, meeraaqqap issiavia. peqarpoq means "has / there is".

13. Biili innaallagiartortoq peqarpit?

    Do you have an electric car?

    Usage

    Requesting an electric or hybrid vehicle

    Grammar Note

    An electric car is not a Danish loan but biili innaallagiartortoq. No word exists for a hybrid car, so that half is not rendered.

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