ma: Whether

Level 3

verb + ma + clause.

How It Works

Ma introduces an indirect yes-or-no question.

Say	Meaning
Amaghị m ma ọ ga-abịa.	I do not know whether he or she will come.
Jụọ ya ma ọ chọrọ nri.	Ask him or her whether he or she wants food.
Amaara m ma ọ bụ Ada.	I know whether it is Ada.

Do not confuse it with ma ọ bụ “or”, where ma is the first of three words.

Amaghị m ma ọ ga-abịa.
I do not know whether he or she will come.
Ma follows the verb.
Jụọ ya ma ọ chọrọ nri.
Ask him or her whether he or she wants food.
Jụọ is ask.
Amaghị m ma ọ nọ n'ụlọ.
I do not know whether he or she is at home.
A place question.

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

ma: WhetherLevel 3

Ma follows a verb of knowing, so that row comes first.

Patterns that build on this one.

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