ma + question

Asking a Yes or No Question

Level 1

A basic question replaces waa with ma. Ma may follow an initial noun phrase.

How It Works

Short subjects are optional in basic ma questions. The predicate retains ordinary affirmative agreement. Sawirtaa addresses singular you in the first card and agrees with Hodan in the second.

Basic noun-predicate questions add an agreeing copula. Focused identity questions can instead use ma ... baa or miyaa and omit the present copula. The final card uses subject + ma + focused noun + baa, an attested frame extended with a possessive noun predicate.

Question ma has high tone when the following phrase lacks high tone; negative ma consistently has high tone. Tone alone is therefore not an exclusive test. Verb form, construction, context and delivery help distinguish the two. Ordinary writing leaves tone unmarked, and ma need not be the first word.

Examples (4)

  1. Ma sawirtaa geed?

    Do you draw a tree?

    Ordinary second-person singular present.

  2. Hodan ma sawirtaa geed?

    Does Hodan draw a tree?

    Ma follows the subject.

  3. Cali ma yahay dhakhtar?

    Is Ali a doctor?

    Basic identity question with a copula.

  4. Kani ma buuggaaga baa?

    Is this your book?

    Focused noun-predicate question.

How It Connects

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

ma + questionLevel 1Asking a Yes or No Question

Learn This First

Recognize ordinary affirmative verb agreement and copular forms before using interrogative ma, retaining verbal agreement and adding an agreeing copula in basic identity questions.

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