Aiki, Sana'a, da Kasuwanci
Chapter Overview
Chapter 7 continues Unit II and moves the conversation from education into work, trade, and enterprise. You will learn to talk about jobs, small businesses, markets, contracts, and services, while developing the systems introduced in Chapter 6 further. The imperfective/habitual TAM frame expands to cover a wider range of routines, and you will be introduced to a first future-time expression built on the same subject-marker pattern. Object pronouns and possessive constructions become active systems in their own right, no longer limited to the fixed phrases seen earlier. Noun gender and plural continue to be recorded as lexical facts for every new noun, and the market/service repair formulas from Chapter 6 are recycled and extended into negotiation contexts. All vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1 through 6 remain active.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify and use at least twelve new active vocabulary items related to work, trade, and enterprise.
- Describe a job, business, or service using recycled location, possession, and quantity clauses.
- Use object pronouns to refer to people and things already mentioned in a conversation.
- Use possessive constructions with na/ta to indicate ownership of a business, tool, or product.
- Expand the imperfective/habitual frame to describe work routines across a wider range of verbs.
- Recognize and begin producing a first future-time expression using za a/za ka/za ki/za mu + verb.
- Record the gender and plural form of new work- and trade-related nouns as part of learning them.
- Use repair formulas in a negotiation context, such as asking for a lower price or confirming a price.
- Read a short passage about a small business and answer factual and inferential questions.
- Write a short paragraph describing a job, business, or service, real or invented.
Communication Scenario
Sule, Halima's brother, runs a small phone-repair stall near the market in Kaduna. A customer, Amina, brings a broken phone to the stall and asks Sule what is wrong with it, how much the repair will cost, and how long it will take. Sule explains the problem, quotes a price, and tells her when the phone will be ready. Amina asks him to lower the price slightly, and Sule agrees to a small discount because she is a regular customer. Later, Sule tells a friend about his week at the stall and his plans for the business.
- New vocabulary domain: work, trade, entrepreneurship, markets, contracts, and services.
- Developed grammar: expanded imperfective/habitual frame, a first future-time expression, object pronouns, and possessive constructions.
- Continued system: noun gender and plural recorded as part of each new vocabulary entry.
- Extended pragmatic system: repair and negotiation formulas for price discussion and clarification.
- All Chapter 1-6 vocabulary and grammar remain active and should be recycled throughout this chapter's tasks.
Core Vocabulary
Each noun entry below records gender and plural form, continuing the lexical-entry system introduced in Chapter 6. m. = masculine, f. = feminine.
| Hausa | Gender/Plural | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aiki | m., pl. aikace-aikace | work, job | Yana da aiki mai kyau. |
| ma'aikaci | m., pl. ma'aikata | worker, employee | Shi ma'aikaci ne a bankin. |
| sana'a | f., pl. sana'o'i | trade, occupation | Gyaran waya sana'arsa ce. |
| kasuwa | f., pl. kasuwanni | market | Kasuwar tana da girma. |
| shago | m., pl. shagunan | shop, stall | Yana da shago kusa da kasuwa. |
| kwastoma | m./f., pl. kwastomomi | customer | Kwastomomi da yawa suna zuwa kullum. |
| kwangila | f., pl. kwangiloli | contract | Sun sa hannu kan kwangila. |
| hidima | f., pl. hidimomi | service | Wannan hidima ce mai kyau. |
| farashi | m., pl. farashi-farashi | price | Farashin ba ya da tsada. |
| rangwame | m., no common plural | discount | Za ka iya ba ni rangwame? |
| gyara | m. (verbal noun), no common plural | repair, fixing | Gyaran waya yana ɗaukar sa'a ɗaya. |
| ɗan kasuwa | m., pl. 'yan kasuwa | trader, businessperson | Ɗan kasuwa ne mai kwarewa. |
Kumulative recycling: This chapter continues to require accurate production of personal-history, relationship, place, health, and education vocabulary from Chapters 1-6.
Pronunciation Focus
Several new words in this chapter contain the glottal stop written with an apostrophe, as in sana'a and 'yan kasuwa. This chapter does not introduce a new tone or vowel-length rule, but it does require careful attention to the apostrophe as a real consonantal sound rather than a spelling mark, consistent with the Boko orthography policy established in Chapters 1 through 6. Practice pausing briefly at the apostrophe in sana'a and at the start of 'yan kasuwa rather than gliding over it.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter develops (D) the systems introduced in Chapter 6: the imperfective/habitual TAM frame expands across more verbs and a first future-time expression is introduced, object pronouns and possessive constructions become independently productive, noun gender/plural continues as a lexical-entry system, and market/service repair formulas extend into negotiation. No new predicate type, negative TAM paradigm, or focus structure is introduced in this chapter, consistent with the Volume III scope for Chapter 7.
7.1 Expanding the imperfective/habitual frame
Chapter 6 introduced this frame with ina/kana/tana. This chapter adds yana (he), muna (we), kuna (you plural), and suna (they), so that the habitual/imperfective frame can describe the routines of any person, not only the speaker or a person directly addressed.
7.2 A first future-time expression: za + subject marker + verb
This chapter presents za + subject marker + verb as a formulaic, high-frequency future-time pattern used for near-term plans and promises. Learners are expected to recognize and use this pattern in fixed, high-frequency frames such as scheduling repairs or agreeing on a payment time. Full productive control of the future TAM system, including its negative and dependent forms, remains scheduled for later Unit II chapters and is not assessed here.
7.3 Object pronouns
- Sule ya gyara ta.Sule repaired it (the phone).ta = feminine object pronoun
- Amina ta tambaye shi farashin.Amina asked him the price.shi = masculine object pronoun
- Za ka ba ni rangwame?Will you give me a discount?ni = first-person object pronoun
Object pronouns replace a noun already identified in the conversation, in the same way English uses "it," "him," or "me." Choose the object pronoun according to the gender and number of the noun it replaces, following the noun gender information you have been recording since Chapter 6.
7.4 Possessive constructions with na/ta
- Shagon nan naSule ne.This shop is Sule's.na (masculine possessive linker)
- Wayar ta Amina ce.The phone is Amina's.ta (feminine possessive linker)
- Sana'ar Sule ita ce gyaran waya.Sule's trade is phone repair.
Use na after a masculine noun and ta after a feminine noun to link a possessor to the thing possessed. This system connects directly to the noun gender you have been recording since Chapter 6: choosing the wrong linker is a gender error, not merely a vocabulary error.
7.5 Noun gender and plural, continued
Continue recording gender and plural for every new noun, as shown in the Core Vocabulary table above. Some plurals in this domain, such as sana'o'i and 'yan kasuwa, are irregular and must be learned as lexical facts rather than derived from a general rule.
7.6 Repair and negotiation formulas
- Don Allah, ka sake maimaita farashin?Please, could you repeat the price?
- Za ka iya rage farashin kaɗan?Can you lower the price a little?
- To, na fahimta yanzu.Okay, I understand now.
The first two repair formulas from Chapter 6 continue to be useful here. This chapter adds a negotiation-specific formula, za ka iya rage farashin kaɗan, and a confirmation formula used once understanding is reached.
Atisayen ƙa'ida — Controlled practice: Complete each sentence with the correct word or phrase.
- Sule ___ (yana/ina) gyara wayoyi kowace rana.
- Wayar nan ___ (ta/na) Amina ce.
- Amina ta tambaye ___ (shi/ta) farashin gyara.
- ___ (Za a/Ina) gyara wayarki gobe.
Model Dialogue
Yanayin hali: Amina ta kawo wayarta da ta lalace zuwa shagon Sule.
(Setting: Amina brings her broken phone to Sule's stall.)
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- What is wrong with Amina's phone?
- What is the original price, and how much does Amina end up paying?
- What repair formula does Amina use, and why?
- How long will the repair take?
Guided Practice
Aikin gane — Recognition: Underline every object pronoun, possessive construction, habitual/imperfective verb form, and future-time expression in the Model Dialogue.
Aikin zaɓi — Selection: Choose the correct word: (1) Wayar nan ___ (na/ta) Amina ce. (2) Sule ___ (yana/suna) gyara wayoyi a shago.
Aikin gyara — Repair and negotiation practice: With a partner, role-play a short price negotiation in which one person asks for a discount and the other agrees to a smaller price, using at least one repair formula.
Aikin haɗawa — Combination practice: Write two sentences about a job or business, one using an object pronoun and one using a possessive construction.
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.
Sauraro — Shagon Sule (Listening: Sule's Stall)
"Ina da shago kusa da kasuwa, kuma sana'ata ita ce gyaran waya. Kwastomomi da yawa suna zuwa kullum, kuma ina gyara wayoyinsu cikin sauri. Wasu suna kawo wayoyinsu da suka lalace, wasu kuma suna kawo kwamfutocinsu. Farashin gyara ba ya da tsada, kuma sau da yawa ina bai wa kwastomomi na kullum rangwame kaɗan. Gobe, za a gama kwangilar sabon shago a wani wuri mai girma kusa da babbar kasuwa."
Kula na sauraro — Questions: (1) What is Sule's trade? (2) What do customers bring him? (3) Does Sule ever give discounts, and to whom? (4) What will happen tomorrow?
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
With a partner, take turns asking and answering: "Nawa ne farashin ___?" and "Za ka/ki iya rage farashin ___?" substituting different work- and trade-related nouns from this chapter's vocabulary.
Tattaunawa — Communicative assessment task
With a partner or instructor, role-play a stall or shop interaction in which a customer describes a problem, asks about price and timing, and negotiates a discount, while the seller explains the routine and confirms an agreement using at least one repair formula.
Madadin karatu kai tsaye — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing a job, business, or service (real or invented), including at least one habitual clause, one future-time expression, one object pronoun, and one possessive construction.
Reading Practice
Read the short passage below. Underline every object pronoun and possessive construction, and circle every habitual/imperfective and future-time verb form.
Karatu — Sana'ar Zainab (Reading: Zainab's Trade)
Zainab tana da ɗan shago a kasuwar Kaduna, kuma sana'arta ita ce sayar da tufafi. Kwastomominta suna zuwa kullum, musamman mata masu son sabbin tufafi. Tana sayar musu da tufafi masu inganci, kuma tana bai wa kwastomomi na kullum rangwame idan sun sayi abu mai yawa. Mijinta yana taimaka mata a shago da yamma, bayan aikinsa. Gobe, za su sayi sabbin kayayyaki don shagon, kuma za a sayar da su a farashi mai kyau.
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- What is Zainab's trade, and who are her main customers?
- Under what condition does Zainab give a discount?
- Who helps Zainab at the shop, and when?
- What will happen tomorrow?
Writing Workshop
- Karanta labarin da hankali. Reread Zainab's passage and notice how it combines habitual routines, a future plan, object pronouns, and possessive constructions.
- Tsarawa. Plan a short paragraph about a job, business, or service, noting one routine, one future plan, one object pronoun use, and one possessive construction.
- Rubuta. Write 80–120 words in Hausa describing the job, business, or service, using at least one habitual clause, one future-time expression, one object pronoun, and one possessive construction.
- Duba jerin bincike. Check your draft against the checklist below.
- Rubuta siffa ta ƙarshe. Produce a clean final version.
Jerin binciken gyara — Editing checklist:
- At least one habitual/imperfective clause with any subject marker appears.
- At least one future-time expression with za + subject marker + verb appears.
- At least one object pronoun appears, matching the gender/number of its referent.
- At least one possessive construction with na or ta appears, matching the noun's gender.
- New work/trade vocabulary is used accurately, including correct gender/plural where relevant.
- No grammar or vocabulary beyond the cumulative Chapter 1-7 scope appears.
- Special characters (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ, ƴ) and apostrophe/glottal conventions are used accurately.
Culture and Communication
Small stalls and shops offering repair, retail, and personal services are a significant part of daily economic life in many Hausa-speaking towns and cities, but the scale, formality, and organization of such enterprises vary widely by location, capital, and family circumstance. Sule's and Zainab's businesses represent individual, plausible situations rather than a description of how all traders in Hausa-speaking communities operate.
The degree to which prices are negotiable, and the phrases used to request a discount, can differ between markets, shop types, and regions, and even between individual sellers within the same market. This chapter's negotiation formulas reflect a common, general pattern and should be treated as a starting point rather than a fixed rule for every setting.
Common Mistakes
Error: *Shagon nan ta Sule ne. (using the feminine linker ta with the masculine noun shago)
Correction: Shagon nan na Sule ne. — Choose na or ta according to the gender of the noun being possessed, not the gender of the possessor.
Error: *Za gyara wayarki gobe. (missing subject marker)
Correction: Za a gyara wayarki gobe. — The future-time pattern requires a subject marker between za and the verb; za alone is not sufficient.
Chapter Summary
This chapter continued Unit II with the domain of work, trade, and enterprise. It expanded the imperfective/habitual TAM frame to additional subject markers, introduced a first future-time expression with za + subject marker + verb, developed object pronouns and possessive constructions with na/ta into independently productive systems, continued noun gender and plural as lexical entries, and extended market/service repair formulas into negotiation contexts. All Chapter 1-6 vocabulary and grammar remained active throughout.
Chapter Review
Sashi na A — Kalmomi (Vocabulary)
1. Give the Hausa word, gender, and plural for four work- or trade-related nouns from this chapter.
Sashi na B — Nahawu (Grammar)
1. Write one habitual sentence about someone else's work routine, using a subject marker other than ina/kana/tana.
2. Write one sentence using za + subject marker + verb about a plan for tomorrow.
3. Write one sentence with an object pronoun and one with a possessive construction.
Sashi na C — Karatu da Rubutu
1. Reread Zainab's passage and summarize it in three to four English sentences.
2. Write your 80–120-word paragraph about a job, business, or service, following the Writing Workshop instructions.
Sashi na D — Magana
1. With a partner or instructor, role-play the negotiation conversation from the Speaking Practice section, including at least one repair formula.
Practical Performance Task
Aikin Aiwatarwa — Chapter 7
A Shago — At the Stall
Complete all four components, drawing on new Chapter 7 vocabulary and grammar as well as cumulative Chapter 1-6 material:
- Listening: Listen to Sule's stall description and answer the comprehension questions.
- Speaking: Role-play a stall or shop interaction covering a problem, price, timing, and a negotiated discount, with at least one repair formula.
- Reading: Read Zainab's passage and answer the comprehension questions.
- Writing: Submit your 80–120-word paragraph about a job, business, or service.
Evaluation criteria: accurate use of the expanded habitual frame and the future-time expression; correct object pronoun and possessive-linker gender agreement; correct gender/plural for work and trade vocabulary where relevant; at least one repair or negotiation formula used naturally; accurate ordinary Boko spelling and special characters; comprehensible, task-fulfilling communication appropriate to B1 development, without penalty for the natural limitations of this proficiency stage.
Independent Study Tools
Self-check: Can you describe someone else's work routine, state a plan for tomorrow, refer to something already mentioned with an object pronoun, and say who owns something using na/ta, without looking back at this chapter? If not, review the relevant grammar section before submitting your final performance task.
Vocabulary review method: Add this chapter's work and trade vocabulary to your flashcard set, recording gender and plural for each noun as shown in the Core Vocabulary table.
Extra practice: Write two additional short passages describing jobs or businesses, one your own or a family member's and one belonging to someone you know, checking each against this chapter's writing checklist before moving to Chapter 8.
Answer Key / Amsoshi
Atisayen ƙa'ida (Grammar review, Section 7)
- Sule yana gyara wayoyi kowace rana.
- Wayar nan ta Amina ce.
- Amina ta tambaye shi farashin gyara.
- Za a gyara wayarki gobe.
Tambayoyin fahimta na tattaunawa (Dialogue comprehension)
- Amina's phone has no power; the battery is the problem.
- The original price is two thousand; Amina pays one thousand five hundred.
- Amina uses Don Allah, ka sake maimaita farashin? because she did not understand the price well.
- The repair will take about one hour.
Kula na sauraro (Listening responses)
(1) Sule's trade is phone repair. (2) Customers bring broken phones and computers. (3) Yes, Sule often gives regular customers a small discount. (4) A contract for a new, larger shop near the main market will be finished tomorrow.
Tambayoyin karatu (Reading comprehension)
- Zainab sells clothing, mainly to women who want new clothes.
- She gives a discount when a customer buys a large quantity.
- Her husband helps her at the shop in the evening, after his own job.
- Tomorrow, they will buy new stock for the shop and sell it at a good price.
Sashi na B (Chapter Review grammar)
- Sample: Malaminmu yana koyar da darasi kullum.
- Sample: Za mu tafi kasuwa gobe.
- Sample: Na ga shi a shago. Wayar nan ta Amina ce.
Sashi na C (Sample writing)
Kanwata tana da ɗan shago kusa da gidanmu, kuma sana'arta ita ce dinkin tufafi. Tana yin aiki kullum, sai Lahadi. Kwastomominta suna zuwa domin sabbin riguna, kuma tana bai wa kwastomomi na kullum rangwame kaɗan. Gobe, za ta karɓi sabbin kayan aiki daga birnin Kano. Na taimaka mata a wasu lokutan bayan aikina, kuma ina son sana'arta sosai.
Other accurate, well-formed passages meeting the stated requirements are equally acceptable.
Looking Ahead
Abin da ka/ki koya — What you have learned
This chapter continued Unit II with the work, trade, and enterprise domain, expanding the imperfective/habitual TAM frame to more subject markers, introducing a first future-time expression, developing object pronouns and possessive constructions, continuing noun gender/plural as lexical entries, and extending market/service repair formulas into negotiation, while continuing to recycle Unit I and Chapter 6 vocabulary and grammar.