ania
Asking What
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)
- Ania ti naganmo?
What is your name?
The possessed noun phrase identifies the requested content.
- Ania ti gatangenmo idiay ili?
What will you buy in town?
Mo identifies the actor of the goal-focus verb.
- Ania ti ar-aramiden ni Elena?
What is Elena doing?
The ongoing action expression names Elena as actor.
Related Patterns
- siasinoAsking Who
Requests a person's identity.
Level 1 - Questions With ni / tiAsking About a Marked Participant
Explains retained question marking.
Level 2 - -enPatient-Focus Actions with -en
Forms relevant goal-focus predicates.
Level 2 - Actor Forms -ko / -mo / -naNaming the Actor of a Patient-Focus Verb
Identifies non-subject actors.
Level 2 - kadiAsking a Yes-or-No Question
Asks whether a proposition is true.
Level 1