Verbs as Nouns: -ʻana

Level 5

ʻAna after a verb, with an article or a possessive before it, usually turns the action into a noun.

How It Works

Three common uses:

  • As a noun: ka heluhelu ʻana, the reading.
  • As the object of a verb: Makemake au i ka kākau ʻana, I like writing.
  • In a time clause: i kona hiki ʻana mai, when he arrived.

Some grammar books say a verb with an article can already work as a noun, so ʻana is not always needed. The form with ʻana is the one learners meet most. It can combine with ʻia, as in ka hānau ʻia ʻana, “the being born”.

The noun made this way can take a possessive: kāna kākau ʻana, “his writing”. Choose the possessive to match who is doing the action.

Examples (4)

  1. Maikaʻi ka heluhelu ʻana i kēlā puke.

    Reading that book is good.

    Ka heluhelu ʻana is the subject.

  2. Makemake au i ka kākau ʻana i nā leka.

    I like writing letters.

    The noun is the object of makemake.

  3. I kona hiki ʻana mai, ua kuke ʻia ka ʻai.

    When he arrived, the food was cooked.

    I plus a possessive and a verb with ʻana makes a when clause.

  4. Ua hauʻoli ke keiki i ka hana ʻana.

    The child was happy about the working.

    ʻAna can follow most verbs.

How It Connects

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

Verbs as Nouns: -ʻanaLevel 5

Learn This First

The ending ʻana turns an action into a noun.

Words in This Pattern

ʻana