kí ló dé

Kí ló dé? asks why when context supplies the situation. To state it explicitly, one supported pattern uses kí ló dé tí, a subject, fi and the predicate. Aspect material can occur within that clause. The reason expression has no number or gender ending.

A reason question seeks an explanation rather than merely an event description. An answer can state the cause directly or introduce it with nítorí pé. The tí … fi … pattern is not obligatory in every expanded reason question: the textbook also attests one without fi.

The established expression relates the established contraction to kí ni ó dé. Preserve ordinary ló, reflecting ni and high-tone ó. Learn this expression without extending its contraction mechanically to unrelated clauses.