Indefinite future -a

An Expected or Possible Future

Level 5

A special subject form expresses this future without za.

How It Works

Indefinite-future subjects have long final -a with falling tone. Pronunciation-only illustrations are nâa ‘I’, mâa ‘we’, yâa ‘he’ and sâa ‘they’. Ordinary Boko does not mark these distinctions.

The construction suits mild promises and reasonably expected consequences. English ‘probably’, ‘surely’ or ‘will’ depends on context. Compare Na kira ki gobe, with indefinite-future pronunciation, and Zan kira ki gobe.

Negation places ba before the subject and another ba at the end. Schuh’s Kano description excludes this future from fronted question-word, focus and relative contexts, future-in-the-past, and condition or reason clauses treated as given propositions. These restrictions concern meaning and presupposition. It can occur after a condition. Subsequent actions in one sequence take subjunctive subjects.

Examples (3)

  1. Na kira ki gobe.

    I will probably call you tomorrow, addressing a woman.

    Subject pronunciation-only notation nâa indicates long falling-tone a.

  2. Ma dawo da safe.

    We will probably return in the morning.

    Subject pronunciation-only notation: mâa.

  3. Idan an gama aiki, sa tafi.

    If the work is finished, they will probably leave.

    Consequence sa has pronunciation-only notation sâa; the condition uses completive an.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Indefinite future -aLevel 5An Expected or Possible Future

Learn This First

Compare familiar za futures, conditional possibilities, pronunciation distinctions and impersonal completed conditions before the indefinite-future -a paradigm; earlier conditional lessons supplied their particular consequence forms.