Language/Panjabi/Grammar/Questions
Hi Panjabi learners! ๐
In this lesson, we will learn how to ask questions in Panjabi using the correct grammatical structures. We will also explore interesting cultural facts related to questioning in Panjabi language. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to construct questions and answers with ease. Let's get started!
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Panjabi Grammar โ Basic Sentence Structure โ Subject-Object ..., Nouns and Pronouns, Adjectives and Adverbs & Adjectives.
Basic question structure[edit | edit source]
As in English, a basic question in Panjabi consists of three elements:
1. Question word, followed by: 2. Auxiliary verb or main verb, and after that: 3. The subject.
The sentence structure of a question is different from that of a declarative statement.
Here is an example:
- Statement: เจฎเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจฌเฉเจฒเจฆเจพ เจนเจพเจเฅค (I speak Panjabi.)
- Question: เจเฉ เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจฌเฉเจฒเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ? (Do you speak Panjabi?)
Let's take another example using an auxiliary verb:
- Statement: เจฎเฉเจ เจชเจฐเฉเจเจฟเจ เจฆเจฟเฉฐเจฆเจพ เจนเจพเจเฅค (I am giving an exam.)
- Question: เจเฉ เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเจฐเฉเจเจฟเจ เจฆเจฟเฉฐเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ? (Are you giving the exam?)
In a question, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject, while in a statement it comes after the subject.
It is also important to note that, in Panjabi, many questions can be expressed just by intonation alone, without the need for any additional words. For example, a raising intonation at the end of a statement can be used to convey a question.
Question words[edit | edit source]
Question words are essential in constructing questions in Panjabi. Here are some of the most common ones:
Panjabi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เจเฉ | ki | What |
เจเจฟเจเจ | kion | Why |
เจเจฟเฉฐเจจเจพ | kinna | How much/many |
เจเจฟเจนเฉเจพ | kihra | Which |
เจเจฟเฉฑเจฅเฉ | kithe | Where |
เจเจฟเจนเจพ | kiha | What did you say/How did it happen |
It's important to note that the question word comes at the beginning of the sentence. It's possible to drop the question word and still form a question with the right tone.
Here's an example of how to use question words in a sentence:
- Person 1: เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจเจฟเจนเฉเจพ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจเจพเจฃเจพ เจชเจธเฉฐเจฆ เจเจฐเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ? (Which Punjabi song do you like?)
- Person 2: เจฎเฉเจ เจฌเจนเฉเจค เจธเจพเจฐเฉ เจธเฉเจฃเจฆเจพ เจนเจพเจเฅค (I listen to many.)
Yes/No questions[edit | edit source]
In Panjabi, a yes/no question can be formed by using one of the following techniques:
1. Inverting word order: By putting the auxiliary verb before the subject, the sentence is transformed into a question.
Example:
- Statement: เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจนเจพเจเจเฉเจฐ เจนเฉเฅค (You are a teacher.)
- Question: เจเฉ เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจนเจพเจเจเฉเจฐ เจนเฉ? (Are you a teacher?)
2. Add a question particle: By using the particle เจนเฉเจ haiN at the end of the statement, we can transform the sentence into a question.
Example:
- Statement: เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจฌเฉเจฒเจฆเฉ เจนเฉเฅค (You speak Punjabi.)
- Question: เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจฌเฉเจฒเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ เจนเฉเจ? (Do you speak Punjabi?)
Interrogative particles[edit | edit source]
In Panjabi, we use interrogative particles to indicate that we are asking a question. Here are some of the most common interrogative particles:
Panjabi | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
เจนเฉ | hai | Is it? |
เจเฉ | ki | Is it? |
เจจเฉ | nee | Not so? |
เจจเจพเจ | naa | No? |
เจเจเจจเจพ | unna | So much? |
Here is an example of how to use interrogative particles:
- Person 1: เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌเฉ เจชเฉเฉเจนเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ เจนเฉ? (Do you read Punjabi?)
- Person 2: เจนเจพเจ เจชเฉเฉเจนเจฆเจพ เจนเจพเจ เจนเฉเฅค (Yes, I read Punjabi.)
Cultural facts[edit | edit source]
In Panjabi culture, questioning is not always encouraged. Asking too many questions can be seen as intrusive or even impolite. Panjabi people can be very private about their personal lives, so it's important to be sensitive when asking questions. However, asking questions shows interest and is generally appreciated if done in moderation.
Examples in context[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจฆเฉเจธเจคเฉ เจตเจฟเฉฑเจ เจเจฟเจนเฉเจพ เจธเจฌเฉฐเจงเฉ เจฆเจฐเจเจพ เจนเฉ? (What is your relationship status in friendship?)
- Person 2: เจฎเฉเจ เจฎเฉเจฐเฉ เจฆเฉเจธเจคเจพเจ เจจเจพเจฒ เจเฉฑเจก เจเฉ เจธเจญ เจจเฉเฉฐ เจชเจฟเจเจฐ เจเจฐเจฆเจพ เจนเจพเจเฅค (I love all equally and don't prefer anyone in particular in my group of friends.)
- Person 1: เจเฉ เจคเฉเจธเฉเจ เจชเจฐเฉเจเจฟเจ เจฆเจฟเฉฐเจฆเฉ เจนเฉ? (Are you giving the exam?)
- Person 2: เจนเจพเจ เจฎเฉเจ เจชเจฐเฉเจเจฟเจ เจฆเจฟเฉฐเจฆเจพ เจนเจพเจเฅค (Yes, I am giving the exam.)
Sources[edit | edit source]
โก If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
โก Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. ๐
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Pronouns
- How to Use Be
- Negation
- Future Tense
- Nouns
- Conditional Mood
- Give your Opinion
- Gender
- Adjectives