wani / wata / wasu

An Indefinite Referent

Level 2

Wani/wata/wasu distinguish singular gender and plural reference. Waɗansu is another plural form.

How It Works

Place masculine singular wani or feminine singular wata before its noun. Plural wasu and waɗansu take plural reference and agreement. Use the noun’s attested plural rather than generating it from one universal ending.

These forms often translate as ‘a certain’ or ‘some’. A speaker may have a particular person or item in mind without identifying it to the listener. An unmarked noun can also receive an English indefinite translation, so these forms are not obligatory wherever English has ‘a’.

Compare an unidentified boy or girl with some unidentified children. Demonstratives instead identify or point to referents. Indefinite wata differs from the noun ‘month’; the complete phrase determines whether it introduces a noun or is itself being counted.

Examples (4)

  1. Wani yaro yana hutawa.

    A certain boy is resting.

    Wani introduces masculine singular reference.

  2. Wata yarinya tana karatu.

    A certain girl is studying.

    Wata introduces feminine singular reference.

  3. Wasu yara suna wasa.

    Some children are playing.

    Wasu takes plural agreement.

  4. Na ga waɗansu gidaje.

    I saw some houses.

    Waɗansu is another plural indefinite form.

How It Connects

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

wani / wata / wasuLevel 2An Indefinite Referent

Learn This First

Contrast identifiable demonstrative reference with a newly introduced unspecified singular or plural referent.

Words in This Pattern

waniwatawású