yake / ake
Location in Questions and Impersonal Clauses
A ina littafin yake? asks about a book; A ina ake ...? can ask where an activity occurs.
How It Works
A fronted location question can use a ina + noun subject + relative continuative. Yake marks masculine singular, take feminine singular and suke plural. Kano speakers commonly prefer initial a, although omission is possible.
Other questions retain plain continuative marking: Littafin yana ina? A noun-only Ina littafin? is also available. Ake combines impersonal subject reference with relative continuative marking. In a rice-selling question, unspecified people sell; rice does not control subject agreement.
Nonverbal locative -ke has construction-dependent length. A fronted locative predicate gives short -ke in the full subject forms illustrated here. Verbal relative continuatives have long -ke. Other locative environments and omission of the pronominal agreement part follow separate conditions.
Examples (3)
- A ina littafin yake?
Where is the book?
Yake agrees with masculine littafi.
- A ina jakarki take?
Where is your bag, addressing a woman?
Take agrees with the bag, independently of its possessor.
- A ina ake sayar da shinkafa?
Where do people sell rice?
Ake introduces an unspecified activity subject; verbal -ke is long.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize location, relative continuation, impersonal activity and the attested da-selling frame before focused location questions. Also recognize known-reference and attached-possession subjects while keeping subject gender separate from the possessor.
- Ongoing Actions After Focus
Recognize location, relative continuation, impersonal activity and the attested da-selling frame before focused location questions. Also recognize known-reference and attached-possession subjects while keeping subject gender separate from the possessor.
Level 3 - aAn Unspecified Agent
Recognize location, relative continuation, impersonal activity and the attested da-selling frame before focused location questions. Also recognize known-reference and attached-possession subjects while keeping subject gender separate from the possessor.
Level 3 - Causing or Directing an Action
Recognize location, relative continuation, impersonal activity and the attested da-selling frame before focused location questions. Also recognize known-reference and attached-possession subjects while keeping subject gender separate from the possessor.
Level 4 - -ka / -ki / -sa / -taYour, His and Her
Recognize location, relative continuation, impersonal activity and the attested da-selling frame before focused location questions. Also recognize known-reference and attached-possession subjects while keeping subject gender separate from the possessor.
Level 2
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice yake / ake in Bubblegum
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