Yes/no questions with ala
From Toki Pona
Use a yes/no question with ala when you want to know whether something a) is true or b) isn't true. For example, in English someone might ask you, "Are you hungry?". You could then reply yes or no.
Unlike tag questions with anu, this type of question makes no assumption about which answer is more likely than the other. You simply want to know yes or no.
Forming a yes/no question
To change a statement to a yes/no question, add ala after the verb and repeat the verb.
| Statement: | soweli li suwi. The armadillo is cute. |
| Question: | soweli li suwi ala suwi? Is the armadillo cute? |
Here are some more examples:
| jan nasa li moku e kiwen. | The crazy person is eating stones. |
| jan nasa li moku ala moku e kiwen? | Is the crazy person eating stones? |
| mije ni li jo e mani mute. | That man has a lot of cattle. |
| mije ni li jo ala jo e mani mute? | Does that man have a lot of cattle? |
Yes and no
To reply "yes", simply echo the verb.
| sina pali e tomo? | Are you building a hut? |
| pali. | Yes. |
For "no", echo the verb with ala. Or use ala on its own.
| sina pali e poki? | Are you weaving a basket? |
| pali ala. or ala. | Nope. |
