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Questions & Answers about Ke kina karanta littafi?
Why is Ke used here instead of Kai?
In Hausa, Ke is specifically used to address a female, while Kai is used to address a male. This sentence, Ke kina karanta littafi?, is asking a female if she is reading a book.
What does the word kina mean in this sentence?
Kina is the present continuous form of the verb for the second-person singular feminine. It conveys the meaning of you (feminine) are doing an action right now—in this case, reading.
Why do we have both Ke and kina together?
In many spoken varieties of Hausa, it’s common to use the pronoun (Ke) and the appropriate form of the verb (kina) together for emphasis or clarity. It helps confirm that the speaker is talking specifically to a female and that it’s a continuous action.
How do I respond if I want to say Yes, I am reading a book?
You can simply say Eh, ina karanta littafi. Here, you use ina because you’re responding in the first person: I am reading.
Is there a difference between saying Ke kina karanta littafi? and Kina karanta littafi?
Both are grammatically acceptable and convey the same meaning: Are you (female) reading a book? Adding Ke at the start puts extra emphasis on the person being addressed, but you can omit it in casual conversation.
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