Tag questions with anu

From Toki Pona

A tag question with anu is a yes/no question where you want someone to confirm information. For example, in English someone might ask you, "You're learning Toki Pona, aren't you?" You could then reply yes or no.

Unlike yes/no questions with ala, tag questions assume one answer is more likely than the other. You think you might already know the answer, but you want to confirm it.

Forming a tag question

To change a statement to a tag question, add anu seme? (literally meaning or what?) at the end.

Statement:	sina lon ma Sipusi. You're in Djibouti.
Tag question:	sina lon ma Sipusi anu seme? You're in Djibouti, right?

Here are some more examples:

sina sona e toki Epelanto.	You speak Esperanto.
sina sona e toki Epelanto anu seme?	You speak Esperanto, don't you?
jan Uma li wile ala moku e suwi.	Uma doesn't want to eat the cake.
jan Uma li wile ala moku e suwi anu seme?	Is it that Uma doesn't want to eat the cake?

Yes and no

To reply "yes", simply echo the main verb.

sina jan Kanata anu seme?	You're Canadian, eh?
jan.	Yes, I am.

For "no", echo the main verb with ala. Or use ala on its own.

pan li lon poki lete anu seme?	Isn't the noodle in the fridge?
lon ala. or ala.	No, it's not.

See also

• Questions
• anu