Infinitive + karaa

Being Able to Act

Level 3

qori karaa means “can write.” The infinitive precedes the auxiliary.

How It Works

Class-one infinitives generally end in -i; class-two and class-three infinitives take -n after the appropriate vowel stem. Learn complete forms such as qori, samayn, haysan, including their stem alternations.

The ordinary present auxiliary is karaa for I/he, kartaa for you singular/she, karnaa for we, kartaan for you plural, and karaan for they. Negative present statements use subjunctive forms, whereas affirmative subject focus requires reduced agreement. Many speakers avoid progressive forms of this auxiliary.

Compare qori karaa, “can write,” with qori doonaa, “will write”: ability and future prediction make different claims.

Examples (4)

  1. Waxaan qori karaa warqad gaaban.

    I can write a short letter.

    The infinitive qori precedes agreeing karaa.

  2. Waxaad samayn kartaa miis yar.

    You can make a small table.

    Kartaa agrees with singular you.

  3. Ma arki kartaa buurta?

    Can you see the mountain?

    Question ma permits ordinary present agreement.

  4. Ma qori karo warqadda hadda.

    I cannot write the letter now.

    Negative present ma takes subjunctive karo.

How It Connects

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

Infinitive + karaaLevel 3Being Able to Act

Learn This First

Recognize the infinitive complement before adding ability through karaa.