mai / masu
Someone or Something with a Property
Both singular genders use mai; plural reference uses masu.
How It Works
Place mai after a singular head noun and before a noun expressing a quality or association. Use masu after a plural head. Mai serves masculine and feminine singular nouns alike. A quality or action noun does not automatically become plural because several referents are described.
The construction associates a referent with strength, cleverness, money or an activity. With the head understood, mai can itself identify someone through an association. Translate the whole phrase naturally; possessor of explains the structure but often makes awkward English.
Compare mace mai kuɗi, a woman with money, with maza masu kuɗi, men with money. The association remains money while the people change in number. True adjectives have their own agreement patterns. Direct noun-linker-quality combinations also exist, but they are restricted expressions rather than a freely interchangeable alternative to mai.
Examples (3)
- mace mai kuɗi
a woman with money
Noun phrase: feminine singular reference uses mai.
- maza masu kuɗi
men with money
Noun phrase: plural reference uses masu.
- yara masu wasa
children playing
Noun phrase: masu associates the children with an activity.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Contrast an ordinary descriptive adjective with mai/masu plus a quality or activity expression; this lesson introduces their singular/plural distinction.
Related Patterns
- mai kyauA Common Descriptive Phrase
Applies this construction to goodness or beauty.
Level 2 - daHaving Something
States possession of an item or quality in a clause.
Level 2 - Describing Masculine and Feminine Nouns
Contrasts adjective agreement with singular mai.
Level 2 - Actions Used Like Nouns
Explains noun forms used to name activities.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice mai / masu in Bubblegum
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