Quechua Cusqueña – Grammar Notes

What are the rules about the third person singular with the verb “kay", “to be"?

You CANNOT use the verb “kay” with the third person singular. Instead, you mark the SUBJECT with “qa" (topical suffix), and the COMPLEMENT (i.e. what the subject is, with either "n” or “mi" (evidential suffix), depending on whether it ends in a consonant or a verb. This evidential suffix CONFIRMS that you know that this is the case. In other sentences it is optional.

What does “kan” mean when used as the verb in a sentence?

“Kan” is the equivalent of “hay” in Spanish. It is ONLY used to mean “there is” or “there are", NEVER to mean “he/she/it is".

When is “chu” used in question formation?

“Chu” is used with closed questions, where there is NOT a question word in the sentence. It is added to the WORD IN DOUBT, whether this is a verb, noun, adjective, or other suffix.
E.g. Imaynan kashanki? (How are you?)
VERSUS Allinchu kashanki? (Are you well?)

What can “chu” NOT be combined with? (2 things)

1) The EVIDENTIAL suffix ("n/mi”). Usually, in closed questions, “chu” replaces the evidential.
E.g. Yanan qowiqa. (My guinea pig is black).
VERSUS “Yanachu qowiyki?” (Is your guinea pig black?)

2) The verb “kay” when it is equational (i.e. not when it means “there is/are” [existential]).
E.g. → “Puka michi kanchu?” (Are there red cats? - Existential)
VERSUS → “Mamachu kanki?” (Are you a mother? - Equational, hence “chu” moved to “mama”).

What are the two main functions of the contrastive suffix “taq"?

1) The first main function is to mean “but". It is often paired with “qa", in the first contrastive sentence.
e.g. Michiqa yanan. Qowitaq pukan. (The cat is black but the guinea pig is red).

2) The second main function is for interrogatives. It adds a touch of politeness to a question. These are nearly always used in open questions with question words, since Quechua speakers do not like to sound curt.
E.g. “Imataq sutiyki?” / “Maypitaq tiyanki?” / “Maymantaq rishanki?”…

What must you remember with possessives for plural nouns (I.e. nouns that will take “kuna” after the possessive?

These possessive suffixes will DROP the “ku” before the “kuna” is added. Hence, -yku and -nku will lose their ku, making these suffixes ambiguous. “Allqoykuna” could therefore mean “our” dogs (excl) or “my” dogs. “Allqonkuna” could mean “his” dogs or “their” dogs. Meaning is determined by context.

What are the rules for the genitive suffix -q/-pa, used in defining possession?

If the possessor ends in a vowel, add -q, then add the possessive suffix to the item they are possessing.

If the possessive ends in a consonant, add -pa, then add the possessive suffix to the item they are possessing.

How does Quechua demonstrate the verb “to have”?

In Quechua, there is no verb for to have. Ownership is shown by adding -yoq as a suffix to the thing “had”, followed by the verb “Kay” conjugated to the correct person. Of course, the third person singular will not take “Kay”, instead adding an evidential suffix (n/mi) onto the “-yoq”.