tabae¹ what / why, what for / which, what kind of

Part of Speech	n2
Variant Form(s)	tae

1. • what
   • • questions

   • • Example 870:
       

       Mepaa hivi komana bene eve, "A tabae ei?"

       Then he asked himself, "What is this?"

       Source: Skae 01W 016

     • Example 1229:
       

       A naovana tabae to dadao bata maana bene roosuu vai tea voora?

       What kind of bird is calling this giant in the mountain?

       Source: Mat 01R 099

     • Example 1380:
       

       Eh! A tabae to paku nomeam en rau?

       Hey! What are you doing here?

       Source: Aro 03E(Eno) 035

     • Example 1837:
       

       Haihai ameam tea tabae?

       Help you with what?

       Source: Sia 01E(Joy) 153

     • Example 4369:
       

       Mean na rake pete nom a tabae?

       And do you want anything else? (lit. and you want in addition what?)

       Source: Vae 01R 124

     • Example 5018:
       

       Mepaa ma sue, "Eh! Tabae to paku nomeam?"

       And (he) came (and) said, "Hey, what are you doing?"

       Source: Sii 06RG 011

2. • why, what for

   • • Example 6821:
       

       Tabae to oga noman?

       Why are you crying? (What for are you crying?)

       Source: Sha 01E(Eno) 098

3. • which, what kind of

   • • Example 6822:
       

       O manae bari o uhu tabae?

       Those boys (had) which paint (on their faces)?

       Source: Aro 10E(Eno) 111

Related entries

• See also:
  • mene tabae what for
  • tae³ what
  • tea tabae because