Giving a Direct Instruction
In Schuh's Kano teaching description, the subjectless imperative addresses either a male or female singular listener.
How It Works
The affirmative singular imperative has no preverbal subject marker. Its basic pronunciation has Low tones before a final High syllable. An isolated monosyllabic imperative therefore has High tone. Ordinary Nigerian Boko spelling marks neither tone nor vowel length.
Before noun objects, regular -a imperatives have all Low tones and short final vowels. Regular -e verbs also permit a long-final-vowel variant; with three or more syllables, retained long final -e carries High tone. Before pronoun objects, monosyllabic imperatives have Low tone; regular -a/-e imperatives have High tone on both their final syllable and object pronoun.
Compare Zauna a nan! and Ka zauna a nan!: both instruct a male listener to sit here. Neither construction inherently guarantees politeness. Groups use subjunctive marking; prohibitions use kada plus subjunctive forms. Variable-vowel imperative variants depend on speaker usage.
Examples (3)
- Zauna a nan!
Sit here!
A subjectless affirmative instruction to one listener.
- Karanta wannan wasiƙa!
Read this letter!
The regular -a imperative has all Low tones and short final -a before this noun-object phrase.
- Kama shi!
Catch him!
The final verb syllable and object pronoun both have High tone.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize regular verb classes, pronunciation, complement-conditioned forms and demonstrative noun-object phrases before giving an imperative instruction in the supplied singular-addressee account.
- A Common Verb Grade
Recognize regular verb classes, pronunciation, complement-conditioned forms and demonstrative noun-object phrases before giving an imperative instruction in the supplied singular-addressee account.
Level 3 - Object-Dependent Verb Forms
Recognize regular verb classes, pronunciation, complement-conditioned forms and demonstrative noun-object phrases before giving an imperative instruction in the supplied singular-addressee account.
Level 3 - wannan / waɗannanThis and These
Recognize regular verb classes, pronunciation, complement-conditioned forms and demonstrative noun-object phrases before giving an imperative instruction in the supplied singular-addressee account.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- ku + instructionAddressing Several People
Uses subjunctive marking for group instructions.
Level 3 - Intended and Directed Actions
Provides an alternative singular instruction.
Level 3 - kadaTelling Someone Not to Act
Introduces prohibitions.
Level 3 - What Ordinary Spelling Leaves Unmarked
Explains pronunciation distinctions omitted in ordinary spelling.
Level 4
Practice Giving a Direct Instruction in Bubblegum
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