waxaa

Introducing Focus with Waxaa

Level 2

Final object or adverbial focus normally retains full agreement; final subject focus takes reduced agreement.

How It Works

The focus particle waxaa, also waxa, directs attention to a noun phrase at the clause’s end. It precedes the verb phrase, while the focused object, time, place or subject follows. With an unfocused subject, the particle phrase normally contains a short subject pronoun. Familiar contractions from waxa include waxaan, wuxuu and waxay.

If the final focused phrase is the subject, omit the ordinary short subject pronoun and use reduced agreement. Feminine singular agreement remains distinct: Waxaa qortay warqadda Hodan identifies Hodan as the writer. Compare Hodan waxa ay qortay warqad, where the final letter is focused and Hodan is unfocused.

Final subject focus can translate naturally as an English passive, but the Somali particle is not a passive ending. Existence comes from a predicate such as jira. Also distinguish particle waxa from the definite noun “the thing/what” introducing a relative description.

Examples (3)

  1. Waxaa aan sawirayaa buur.

    I am drawing a mountain.

    The final object is focused; aan and full sawirayaa remain.

  2. Waxaa qortay warqadda Hodan.

    Hodan is the one who wrote the letter.

    Final focused feminine subject requires qortay, without an ordinary short subject pronoun.

  3. Waxaa uu shaqeeyay shalay.

    Yesterday is when he worked.

    Final time focus retains ordinary masculine subject agreement.

How It Connects

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

waxaaLevel 2Introducing Focus with Waxaa

Learn This First

Recognize the focus relation before comparing the waxa-based clause frame introduced by waxaa.

Words in This Pattern