Learn Hardcore Hausa: Ni ma ina son in yi ƙoƙari don in sami sakamako mai kyau. - I also want to make an effort so that I get a good result.

If you say Ni ina son in yi ƙoƙari…, it’s still grammatical, but it sounds more like you’re just stating what you want, without that “me too” feeling or contrast with someone else.

Why is it ina son and not ina so?

Both so and son come from the same root meaning to like / to love / to want, but they are used differently:

so is the bare verb/root.
son is a noun-like/genitive form used when so is followed by an object (a noun or a clause).

Compare:

Ina so. – I like it / I want (it). (no explicit object)
Ina son abinci. – I want food. (son
- noun)
Ina son in yi ƙoƙari. – literally: I have a wanting that I should make an effort. (son
- clause)

So in your sentence, son is correct because it introduces what you want to do (in yi ƙoƙari).

What is the in before yi and sami? Is it the same as the word in = “if”?

Hausa has two different in forms in writing:

in = “if” (a conjunction)
- In ka zo, zan yi murna. – If you come, I’ll be happy.
in as a subjunctive pronoun meaning “that I (should)” before a verb.
That’s the one in your sentence.

In your sentence:

in yi ƙoƙari ≈ “that I (should) make an effort / for me to make an effort”
in sami sakamako… ≈ “that I (should) get a result / for me to get a result”

So:

ina son in yi ƙoƙari = I want to make an effort (literally: I want that I should make an effort).
don in sami… = in order that I may get… / so that I can get…

Could I say “…don samun sakamako mai kyau” instead of “…don in sami sakamako mai kyau”?

Yes, both are possible, with a small nuance:

don in sami sakamako mai kyau
- Literally: “so that I may get a good result.”
- Uses in sami (finite verb clause with “I”).
- Slightly more explicit about who gets the result.
don samun sakamako mai kyau
- samun is a verbal noun (like “getting / obtaining”).
- Literally: “for getting a good result.”
- More general or abstract; the “I” is understood from context, not stated again.

Both are natural. The original sentence emphasizes the subject “I” in both actions: I want to try, so that I may get a good result.

What exactly does ƙoƙari mean, and why do we have yi ƙoƙari?

Ƙoƙari is a noun meaning effort / attempt / trying.

Hausa often uses yi + noun to express actions that in English are single verbs:

yi ƙoƙari – make an effort / try
yi magana – speak / talk (literally “do speech”)
yi ƙoƙon bara – beg (literally “do begging bowl”)

So in yi ƙoƙari literally is “that I do effort”, but it’s understood as “that I try / that I make an effort.”

Why is it sakamako mai kyau instead of just sakamako kyau?

In Hausa, adjectives often use a “mai + quality” structure when qualifying a noun:

sakamako mai kyau – a good result (literally: a result that has goodness)
mace mai kyau – a beautiful/good woman
gida mai tsada – an expensive house

You can also use adjectival forms like:

kyakkyawan sakamako – a good result (good-looking, pleasing)

But sakamako mai kyau is very common and perfectly natural.
Sakamako kyau without mai is not normal.

Could I drop don and just say “Ni ma ina son in sami sakamako mai kyau”?

Yes, you can, but the meaning shifts slightly.

Ni ma ina son in yi ƙoƙari don in sami sakamako mai kyau.
– Emphasizes the effort as a means: I also want to try in order to get a good result.
Ni ma ina son in sami sakamako mai kyau.
– Emphasizes only the outcome: I also want to get a good result. (no explicit mention of trying).

Both are grammatical; choose based on whether you want to mention trying/effort or just getting the result.

What tense/aspect is ina son? Why not zan yi ƙoƙari or zan sami?

Ina son uses ina (imperfective/progressive) + son. It typically indicates:

present, ongoing desire: I want / I like
or a general intention in the near future: I want to…

Alternatives:

Zan yi ƙoƙari – I will try / I am going to try (definite future action).
Zan sami sakamako mai kyau – I will get a good result.

Your sentence:

Ni ma ina son in yi ƙoƙari… = I also want to try… (focusing on desire/intent).

You could combine them, e.g.:

Ni ma zan yi ƙoƙari don in sami sakamako mai kyau.
– I too will try in order to get a good result.

What is the difference between ina so in yi ƙoƙari and ina son yin ƙoƙari?

Both are correct and very close in meaning: I want to make an effort / I want to try.

ina so in yi ƙoƙari
- uses so
  - a subordinate clause: in yi ƙoƙari
- literally: I want that I should make an effort.
ina son yin ƙoƙari
- son
  - yin (verbal noun “doing”) + ƙoƙari
- literally: I have a wanting of doing effort.

Nuance:

The “ina so in…” pattern is very common in everyday speech.
“ina son yin…” is slightly more nominal/structured, but still natural spoken Hausa.

In your original sentence, the pattern is the first type: ina son in yi ƙoƙari (a mix of the two: son + clause).

Where else can ma be placed? If I change the pronoun, how does it work?

Ma usually comes right after the word it is modifying (“also / too / as well”). It works similarly with other pronouns and nouns:

Shi ma yana son in yi ƙoƙari. – He also wants me to try / He also wants to try. (context decides)
Su ma suna son in yi ƙoƙari. – They also want me to try / They also want to try.
Malamin ma yana son in yi ƙoƙari. – The teacher also wants me to try.

You can also follow the topic:

Ni ma, ina son in yi ƙoƙari. – Me too, I want to try.

But you would not usually put ma far away from the pronoun/noun it belongs to (e.g. Ni ina ma son… sounds odd).

Is this sentence formal, informal, or neutral? In what situations would it sound natural?

The sentence “Ni ma ina son in yi ƙoƙari don in sami sakamako mai kyau.” is neutral and natural in everyday spoken Hausa.

You could use it:

Talking to classmates about exams or grades
Talking to coworkers about work performance
Discussing any goal or project where “trying hard to get a good result” is relevant

It’s not slangy, and it’s not overly formal; it fits both polite conversation and semi-formal contexts (like talking to a teacher or supervisor).