Shirye-shiryen Gobe
Chapter Overview
Chapter 16 opens Unit IV. Building on the education, work, money, and narration domains you consolidated in Chapters 11 through 15, you will now talk about the future: plans, arrangements, hopes, and the constraints that shape them. Future and intention expressions with za and niyya, first introduced in Chapters 6 through 10, are now consolidated and expected to support normal chapter production. This chapter develops four systems that will remain active through the rest of the unit: connected narration and sequencing at a broader discourse level, reasons and comparisons that justify a plan, reference tracking so that a person or plan can be discussed across several sentences without needless repetition, and integrated reading and writing in a controlled, organized register.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Describe future plans, arrangements, hopes, and intentions using consolidated za and niyya patterns.
- Give a reason for a plan using domin and the new connector tunda (since, given that).
- State a condition or constraint on a plan using the new connector idan (if).
- Make a simple comparison between two plans or options using fiye da (more than) and kamar (like, as).
- Track a single person or plan across several connected sentences without repeating the name or noun unnecessarily.
- Read and write a short, organized paragraph describing plans, reasons, and constraints.
- Identify and self-correct common Unit IV errors in future-time and conditional language.
- Complete an integrated listening, speaking, reading, and writing task about personal or community plans.
Communication Scenario
Bala got the new position discussed in Chapter 15's assessment. Now his family, his coworkers, and his community group are all making plans of their own: for the coming month, for a wedding, for a community project, and for his own first months on the job. Over the course of this chapter, you will help narrate and discuss these plans, giving reasons, naming conditions, and comparing options.
- No new vocabulary domain beyond plans, arrangements, hopes, and constraints is required for this chapter.
- Future and intention expressions from Chapters 6–10 are treated as consolidated and should appear accurately without additional explanation.
- The new connectors idan, tunda, and the comparison expressions fiye da and kamar are introduced as developing (not yet fully consolidated) forms.
- Vocabulary and grammar from Units I, II, and III remain fully active and are expected to appear accurately.
Core Vocabulary
| Boko | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| shiri (pl. shirye-shirye) | plan, preparation | masculine; shirye-shiryen gobe = "tomorrow's plans" |
| niyya | intention | feminine; used with na yi niyyar... "I intend to..." |
| buri | hope, wish, ambition | masculine; burina shi ne... "my hope is that..." |
| tsari | arrangement, system | masculine; tsarin aiki = work arrangement |
| kalubale | challenge, constraint | masculine |
| gaba, nan gaba | ahead, in the future | relational/adverbial expression |
| mako mai zuwa | next week | lit. "the week that is coming" |
| wata mai zuwa | next month | same pattern as above |
| bikin aure | wedding celebration | masculine compound |
| ci gaba | progress, development | masculine; also used as a verb phrase "to continue" |
All items above are productive for this chapter. Vocabulary from Chapters 1–15 remains active and is expected to appear in your speaking and writing.
Pronunciation Focus
Pay attention to the tone pattern and vowel length of this chapter's key nouns: shiri, niyya, and buri. Listen for the doubled consonant in niyya, which is pronounced with a clearly lengthened y-glide rather than a single, quick sound. As in earlier chapters, practice the even syllable rhythm of full sentences such as Na yi niyyar zuwa makaranta, resisting the English habit of stressing only one syllable in a long word. This review consolidates pronunciation features already active since earlier chapters; no new sound or contrast is introduced here.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter consolidates future and intention expressions active since Chapter 6, and develops four systems scheduled for Unit IV: connected narration and sequencing at a broader level, reasons and comparisons for plans, reference tracking across discourse, and controlled organization in reading and writing. Completive/perfective, negation, focus, and prepositional systems from Units I–III remain fully active.
16.1 Consolidation: Future and intention with za and niyya
- Za mu yi bikin aure a wata mai zuwa.We are going to hold the wedding celebration next month.
- Na yi niyyar fara sabon aikina da kyau.I intend to start my new job well.
These patterns were introduced in Chapters 6–10 and are now expected to appear accurately without further explanation.
16.2 New: Reason and condition with tunda and idan
Tunda introduces a reason the listener already knows or accepts, similar to "since" in English. Idan introduces a condition, similar to "if." Both are new, developing connectors for this chapter; they are not yet expected to be fully consolidated, so occasional hesitation or repair is normal.
16.3 New: Simple comparison with fiye da and kamar
- Wannan shirin ya fi ɗayan fiye da kyau.This plan is better than the other one.lit. "this plan exceeds the other in goodness"
- Muna shirin yin aiki kamar yadda muka tsara.We plan to work just as we arranged.
Comparison in Hausa is often built on the verb fi ("to exceed") together with fiye da ("more than"), rather than an adjective ending as in English. Kamar introduces similarity or manner.
16.4 New: Reference tracking across connected sentences
When a person, plan, or place has already been named, Hausa speakers usually continue with a pronoun or simply omit the subject where the verb form makes the subject clear, rather than repeating the full noun in every sentence.
- Bala ya sami sabon aiki. Ya yi murna sosai, kuma ya gaya wa iyalinsa nan take.Bala got a new job. He was very happy, and he told his family right away."Bala" named once; "ya" (he) tracks the reference in later clauses
Avoid repeating Bala in every sentence of a connected passage; doing so sounds unnatural and childlike in Hausa, just as constant name repetition would in English.
Atisayen ƙa'ida — Grammar practice: Complete each sentence with the connector or comparison expression that fits.
- ___ (tunda/idan) an gama aiki da wuri, za mu iya hutawa.
- Wannan gidan ya fi wancan ___ (kamar/fiye da) girma.
- ___ (idan/tunda) kuɗi ya isa, za mu sayi sabon abu.
- Ta shirya komai ___ (kamar/fiye da) yadda ta yi niyya.
Model Dialogue
Yanayin hali: Bala yana tattaunawa da 'yar uwarsa, Amina, kan shirye-shiryen bikin auren danginsu.
(Setting: Bala is discussing plans for their relative's wedding celebration with his sister, Amina.)
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- Why can Bala help with money for the wedding celebration?
- Under what condition can the celebration happen next month?
- Why does Bala say this year's plan is better than last year's?
- What challenge does Amina mention?
- What does Bala suggest as a solution, and what comparison does he use?
Guided Practice
Aikin gane — Recognition: Underline every use of tunda, idan, fiye da, and kamar in the Model Dialogue, and label whether each introduces a reason, a condition, or a comparison.
Aikin zaɓi — Selection: Choose the correct connector for each blank: (1) ___ (idan/tunda) muna son yin bikin lafiya, dole ne mu shirya da wuri. (2) ___ (idan/tunda) an sami isasshen kuɗi, za mu gayyaci ƙarin baƙi.
Aikin gyara maimaici — Reference-tracking correction: Rewrite the following short passage, replacing unnecessary name repetition with pronouns or omitted subjects where natural: Amina ta yi shiri. Amina ta tuntuɓi shugaban makaranta. Amina ta sanar da Bala sakamakon.
Aikin kwatanta — Comparison practice: Write two sentences comparing this year's plan to last year's plan (for a celebration, a trip, or a project), using fiye da in one and kamar in the other.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud, twice. Answer the questions after listening. This task assesses your comprehension of connected discourse about future plans, reasons, and conditions.
Sauraro — Shirin Iyalin Ibrahim (Ibrahim's Family Plan)
"Iyalin Ibrahim suna da niyyar gina sabon gida a shekara mai zuwa. Tunda Ibrahim yana samun kuɗi mai kyau daga sabon aikinsa, ya yi alkawarin taimakawa iyayensa. Idan komai ya tafi daidai, za su fara gini a wata na farko na shekara. Ibrahim ya ce wannan shirin ya fi tsohon shirinsu kyau, domin sun tsara komai da kyau a wannan karon. Amma akwai kalubale guda: farashin kayan gini ya haura fiye da yadda suke tsammani. Don haka, iyalin za su ci gaba da ajiye kuɗi kaɗan-kaɗan har sai sun isa."
Kula na sauraro — Questions: (1) What does Ibrahim's family intend to do next year? (2) Why can Ibrahim help his parents? (3) Why does Ibrahim say this plan is better than the old one? (4) What challenge does the family face?
Rubutun sauraro don malami, abokin karatu, ko amfani da rubutun lantarki. Duba amsoshi a sashi na amsoshi.
(Listening Script for Instructor, Partner, or Text-to-Speech Use. See Answer Key for expected responses.)
Speaking Practice
Atisayen ƙa'ida — Controlled substitution drill
With a partner, take turns stating a personal plan for next month, giving one reason with tunda or domin and one condition with idan.
Tattaunawa — Communicative task
Role-play a conversation in which two partners compare two plans for the same event (a trip, a celebration, a project) and reach a decision together, using at least one comparison expression and one moment of communication repair.
Madadin karatu kai tsaye — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your own plans for the coming month in at least six connected sentences, including one reason, one condition, and one comparison, while tracking yourself or another person across the sentences without repeating names unnecessarily.
Reading Practice
Read the short community notice below. Underline every reason or condition connector, and circle every comparison expression.
Sanarwa — Shirin Ci Gaban Al'umma (Notice: Community Development Plan)
Ƙungiyar al'ummarmu tana da shirin gina sabon rumfar kasuwa a shekara mai zuwa. Tunda 'yan kasuwa da yawa suna fama da rashin inuwa, wannan shiri ya fi na baya muhimmanci. Idan mambobin ƙungiyar sun ba da gudummawarsu a kan lokaci, za a fara aiki a watan farko na shekara. Kwamitin ya ce sabon rumfar zai fi tsohuwar girma, kuma zai kasance da kyau kamar yadda aka tsara a taron ƙarshe. Duk da haka, akwai kalubale guda: farashin kayan aiki ya tashi fiye da yadda ake tsammani a bara.
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- What is the community group planning to build?
- Why is this plan considered more important than before?
- Under what condition will work begin at the start of the year?
- What challenge does the notice mention?
Writing Workshop
- Karanta sanarwar da hankali. Reread the community notice and notice how it links a reason, a condition, and a comparison around a single plan.
- Tsarawa. Plan a short paragraph describing your own plan (personal, family, or community) for the coming month or year, with at least one reason, one condition, and one comparison.
- Rubuta. Write 120–150 words in Hausa. Include a future or intention expression, one reason with tunda or domin, one condition with idan, one comparison with fiye da or kamar, and at least one instance of reference tracking (a pronoun or omitted subject rather than a repeated name).
- Duba jerin bincike. Check your draft against the checklist below.
- Rubuta siffa ta ƙarshe. Produce a clean final version.
Jerin binciken gyara — Editing checklist:
- A future or intention expression (za or niyya) appears accurately.
- A reason is expressed with tunda or domin.
- A condition is expressed with idan.
- A comparison is expressed with fiye da or kamar.
- At least one named person or plan is tracked afterward with a pronoun or omitted subject, not repeated by name.
- Prior systems from Units I–III remain accurate where they appear.
- No grammar beyond Chapter 16 appears.
- Special characters (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ) and the apostrophe/glottal convention are used accurately.
Culture and Communication
Family and community plans, such as weddings and development projects, are frequently discussed and decided collectively across many Hausa-speaking communities, though individual and small-family planning is equally common, particularly in urban and diaspora contexts. Neither approach should be treated as more traditional or more modern; the appropriate approach depends on the event, the institution, and the people involved.
Some communities favor alternative conditional expressions or additional politeness markers when discussing hopes and future plans, and formal register vocabulary for community planning exists beyond what has been presented in this chapter. This course presents the productive default forms for this level; further regional and formal register vocabulary is introduced for recognition in later volumes.
Common Mistakes
Error: *Idan na sami sabon aiki, na taimaka wa iyalina. (used to describe an already-known fact as if it were an uncertain condition)
Correction: Tunda na sami sabon aiki, zan taimaka wa iyalina. — Use tunda for a fact the speaker already knows to be true, and reserve idan for a genuine condition that may or may not happen.
Error: *Amina ta yi shiri. Amina ta tuntuɓi shugaban makaranta. Amina ta sanar da Bala. (repeating the name in every sentence)
Correction: Amina ta yi shiri. Ta tuntuɓi shugaban makaranta, sa'an nan ta sanar da Bala. — Once a person has been named, continue with a pronoun, an omitted subject, or a connector, as is natural in connected Hausa narration.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter you consolidated future and intention expressions with za and niyya, and developed four systems for Unit IV: reason and condition with tunda and idan, comparison with fiye da and kamar, reference tracking across connected sentences, and controlled organization in reading and writing. You applied these systems to family, community, and personal plans, while continuing to recycle vocabulary and grammar from Units I through III.
Chapter Review
Sashi na A — Kalmomi (Vocabulary)
1. Give the Hausa for: plan, intention, hope, arrangement, challenge, next month, wedding celebration.
Sashi na B — Nahawu (Grammar)
1. Write one sentence using tunda and one using idan, both about a personal plan.
2. Write one sentence comparing two plans using fiye da.
3. Rewrite this passage to correct unnecessary name repetition: Bala ya sami aiki. Bala ya yi murna. Bala ya gaya wa iyalinsa.
Sashi na C — Karatu da Rubutu
1. Reread the community development notice and summarize it in two to three English sentences.
2. Write your 120–150-word paragraph, following the Writing Workshop instructions.
Sashi na D — Magana
1. With a partner or instructor, perform the communicative comparison-of-plans task from the Speaking Practice section.
Practical Performance Task
Aikin Aiwatarwa
Shirye-shiryen Gobe — My Plans-and-Intentions Project
Complete all four components:
- Listening: Listen to Ibrahim's Family Plan passage read aloud and answer the comprehension questions.
- Speaking: With a partner, role-play a conversation comparing two plans for the same event and reaching a decision, including one instance of communication repair.
- Reading: Read the community development notice and answer the comprehension questions.
- Writing: Submit your 120–150-word paragraph describing a personal, family, or community plan.
Evaluation criteria: accurate consolidated future and intention expressions; accurate use of tunda and idan in appropriate contexts; accurate comparison with fiye da or kamar; natural reference tracking across sentences; natural use of communication repair; accurate ordinary Boko spelling and special characters; successful integration of plans-and-intentions vocabulary with recycled Unit I–III material. Consistent with A2–B1 expectations, comprehensible and task-fulfilling communication should not be penalized as though produced by an advanced speaker.
Independent Study Tools
Self-check: Can you state one plan with a reason, one plan with a condition, and one comparison between two options, and can you track a named person across two or three sentences without repeating the name — all without looking back at this chapter? If not, review Sections 16.1–16.4 before attempting the performance task.
Vocabulary review method: Sort your flashcards from this chapter with your Chapters 11–14 cards and quiz yourself on which words describe a plan, a reason, a condition, or a comparison.
Extra practice: Write three additional sentences describing plans for people you know, using a different connector or comparison expression in each, and read them aloud checking your tone and rhythm against a listening model when available.
Answer Key / Amsoshi
Aikin zaɓi (Connector selection)
- Tunda muna son yin bikin lafiya, dole ne mu shirya da wuri.
- Idan an sami isasshen kuɗi, za mu gayyaci ƙarin baƙi.
Aikin gyara maimaici (Reference-tracking correction)
Sample: Amina ta yi shiri. Ta tuntuɓi shugaban makaranta, sa'an nan ta sanar da Bala sakamakon. (Other natural revisions that reduce repetition are acceptable.)
Aikin kwatanta (Comparison practice)
Sample: Shirin bana ya fi na bara kyau. / Muna son yin komai kamar yadda muka tsara a taron. (Other accurate comparisons are acceptable.)
Atisayen ƙa'ida (Grammar practice, Section 16)
- Idan an gama aiki da wuri, za mu iya hutawa.
- Wannan gidan ya fi wancan girma. (fiye da also acceptable: ...ya fi wancan fiye da girma in extended form)
- Idan kuɗi ya isa, za mu sayi sabon abu.
- Ta shirya komai kamar yadda ta yi niyya.
Tambayoyin fahimta na tattaunawa (Dialogue comprehension)
- Bala can help with money because he got a new job.
- The celebration can happen next month if everyone gives their contribution on time.
- This year's plan is better because they started early.
- Amina mentions that the venue is smaller than what they need.
- Bala suggests finding a bigger place, like the school field.
Kula na sauraro (Listening responses)
(1) Ibrahim's family intends to build a new house next year. (2) Ibrahim can help because he earns good money from his new job. (3) This plan is better because they planned everything well this time. (4) The cost of building materials has risen more than they expected.
Tambayoyin karatu (Reading comprehension)
- The community group is planning to build a new market stall shed.
- It is more important than before because many traders lack shade.
- Work will begin at the start of the year if members give their contributions on time.
- The cost of materials has risen more than expected last year.
Sashi na B (Chapter Review grammar)
- Sample: Tunda ina son inganta rayuwata, na yi niyyar ci gaba da karatu. / Idan lokaci ya yi, zan tafi ziyara. (Other accurate sentences are acceptable.)
- Sample: Wannan shirin ya fi shirin da ya gabata kyau.
- Bala ya sami aiki. Ya yi murna, kuma ya gaya wa iyalinsa.
Sashi na C (Sample writing)
A wata mai zuwa, ina da niyyar fara sabon tsarin karatu na dare. Tunda aikina yana ba ni ɗan lokaci kaɗan da rana, na yi shirin karatu bayan aiki. Idan komai ya tafi daidai, zan gama darasi na farko kafin ƙarshen wata. Wannan shirin ya fi tsohon niyyata kyau, domin yanzu na tsara lokaci sosai. Iyalina sun yarda da shirin, kuma sun yi alkawarin taimaka mini kamar yadda suka saba.
Other accurate, well-formed passages meeting the stated requirements are equally acceptable.
Looking Ahead
Abin da ka/ki koya — What you have learned
You have consolidated future and intention expressions and begun developing reason, condition, comparison, and reference-tracking systems in the domain of plans and intentions, while continuing to recycle vocabulary and grammar from Units I through III.