da
Imagined States, Plans and Past Events
Distinguish imagined states, supposed plans and unreal completed events.
How It Works
Conditional da, including in da, introduces a supposition. Context establishes whether that situation is contrary to fact. Unreal states, supposed plans and completed unreal events have different frames.
An imagined possession state uses the continuative: In da Hauwa tana da kuɗi ‘If Hauwa had money’. Its indefinite-future consequence describes what would follow. Consequence ta has long falling-tone a, unmarked in ordinary spelling.
Da with za supposes a plan. Compare conditional da za ta zo with accompaniment ta zo da ita ‘she came with her’.
For an unreal completed past event, da can precede both clauses: Da na ji labarin, da ban tafi ba ‘Had I heard the news, I would not have left’. The consequence is negative completive.
Examples (4)
- In da Hauwa tana da kuɗi, ta sayi mota.
If Hauwa had money, she would buy a car.
Consequence ta has pronunciation-only notation tâa: long falling-tone a.
- In da muna da lokaci, ma jira ku.
If we had time, we would wait for you.
Consequence ma has pronunciation-only notation mâa.
- Da za ka sayi gida, gara ka zaɓi mai kusa da kasuwa.
If you were going to buy a house, it would be better to choose one near the market.
Da supposes a plan; gara introduces a recommendation.
- Da na ji labarin, da ban tafi ba.
Had I heard the news, I would not have left.
Both clauses begin with da; the consequence is negative completive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize conditional event organization, possession states, negative completive events, plural short direct objects and substantive mai property expressions before distinguishing imagined states, plans and unreal completed events with da. In ma jira ku, ma is the indefinite-future subject and ku the plural listener object; mai kusa da kasuwa selects an understood singular house near the market.
- in / idanIf and When
Recognize conditional event organization, possession states, negative completive events, plural short direct objects and substantive mai property expressions before distinguishing imagined states, plans and unreal completed events with da. In ma jira ku, ma is the indefinite-future subject and ku the plural listener object; mai kusa da kasuwa selects an understood singular house near the market.
Level 4 - daHaving Something
Recognize conditional event organization, possession states, negative completive events, plural short direct objects and substantive mai property expressions before distinguishing imagined states, plans and unreal completed events with da. In ma jira ku, ma is the indefinite-future subject and ku the plural listener object; mai kusa da kasuwa selects an understood singular house near the market.
Level 2 - Negating a Completed Event
Recognize conditional event organization, possession states, negative completive events, plural short direct objects and substantive mai property expressions before distinguishing imagined states, plans and unreal completed events with da. In ma jira ku, ma is the indefinite-future subject and ku the plural listener object; mai kusa da kasuwa selects an understood singular house near the market.
Level 3 - mu / ku / suPlural Direct Objects
Recognize conditional event organization, possession states, negative completive events, plural short direct objects and substantive mai property expressions before distinguishing imagined states, plans and unreal completed events with da. In ma jira ku, ma is the indefinite-future subject and ku the plural listener object; mai kusa da kasuwa selects an understood singular house near the market.
Level 3 - mai / masuSomeone or Something with a Property
Recognize conditional event organization, possession states, negative completive events, plural short direct objects and substantive mai property expressions before distinguishing imagined states, plans and unreal completed events with da. In ma jira ku, ma is the indefinite-future subject and ku the plural listener object; mai kusa da kasuwa selects an understood singular house near the market.
Level 2
Related Patterns
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Practice da in Bubblegum
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