Yes & No

Lesson 8

This lesson focuses on the words ja, nai, and ma.

• Ja - "Yes", "Indeed"

• Nai - "No", "Not"

• Ma - Question Marker

By themselves, Ja and Nai are used to answer yes/no questions, meaning "yes" and "no" respectively. All three words have related meanings when used in a sentence, as well. You can also answer questions using so ("right," "correct") and anso ("wrong," "incorrect").

In a sentence, ja is an adverb similar to what is called the "emphatic 'do'" in English. It doesn't change the meaning, but it adds in emphasis on the verb that can be useful when answering a question or refuting a negative statement. Look at the example:

• Anu awes kanin. - "I have a dog."

• Anu awes ja kanin. - "I do have a dog."

As an adverb, nai fulfills the same purpose as English "not," negating the sentence. There's no helping verb needed, simply place it after the verb you want to negate.

• Pu etes sus. - "He eats pork."

• Pu etes nai sus. - "He does not eat pork."

Whereas ja and nai are used to answer questions, ma is used to ask them. Ma behaves like any other adverb; insert it after the main verb to turn a statement into a yes/no question.

• Tu preste burger. - "You got a burger."

• Tu preste ma burger? - "Did you get a burger?"

If the question contains a nai, answering nai or so affirms what's being asked, while answering ja or anso denies it.

• Rojal es ma nai jen gud? - "Is the King not a good person?"

  • Nai, pu es nai jen gud. - "No, he's not a good person."

  • So, pu es nai jen gud. - "Right, he's not a good person."

  • Ja, pu es ja jen gud. - "Yes, he is a good person."

  • Anso, pu es ja jen gud. - "Wrong, he is a good person."

Practice 8

Turn each statement into a question, then answer the question by repeating the sentence with ja or nai.

• Sus fliges. - "Pigs fly."

• Apel es frut. - "The apple is a fruit."

• Kek delisios. - "Cake is delicious."

Vocabulary 8

Etes - Eat

Sus - Pig, Pork

Pres - Get, Take

Fliges - Fly

Apel - Apple

Frut - Fruit

Kek - Cake

Delisios - Delicious