ania

Asking What

Level 1

Ania ti + noun or verbal expression is a useful “what” question frame.

How It Works

An identity question can follow ania with a noun phrase such as ti naganmo, “your name.” An action question can instead use ti and a verbal expression. The reference lessons specifically associate many ania questions with non-actor-focus predicates and the possessor-agent pronoun series.

In Ania ti gatangenmo?, “What will you buy?”, the unknown item is what will be bought. The goal-focus verb suits that role, and mo identifies the buyer. In Ania ti ar-aramiden ni Elena?, the ongoing verb supplies “What is Elena doing?”

These questions need content answers rather than simply yes or no. A purchase question may receive an item answer; a question with “do” may receive an action phrase. Constantino uses variant forms aná and anyá; Medina/Pawley and modern official material support ania. Keep this lexical spelling without treating every reference variant as an error.

Examples (3)

  1. Ania ti naganmo?

    What is your name?

    The possessed noun phrase identifies the requested content.

  2. Ania ti gatangenmo idiay ili?

    What will you buy in town?

    Mo identifies the actor of the goal-focus verb.

  3. Ania ti ar-aramiden ni Elena?

    What is Elena doing?

    The ongoing action expression names Elena as actor.

Words in This Pattern

ania