Language/Tswana/Grammar/Questions
Hi Tswana learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to form questions in Tswana. As an intermediate learner, you should have some knowledge of the Tswana language, including basic sentence structure and verb conjugation. If you are a beginner, we recommend starting with our Tswana Grammar page on Polyglot Club before continuing with this lesson.
Basic Questions
To form a basic question in Tswana, there are several methods. Let's take a look at each one.
Inverting the Word Order
One way to form a question in Tswana is to invert the word order of a declarative sentence. In other words, switch the subject and the verb. For example:
- Statement: Ke tla ithuta puo e mme. (I will learn the language tomorrow.)
- Question: O tla ithuta puo e mme? (Will you learn the language tomorrow?)
Notice how the subject "ke" became "o". The verb "tla ithuta" remained the same.
Using the Question Particle "Ke"
Another way to form a question in Tswana is by using the question particle "ke". Place "ke" at the beginning of the sentence. Here's an example:
- Statement: Gago go botlhokwa ka dinako tse di farologaneng. (Your time is important at all times.)
- Question: Ke gago go botlhokwa ka dinako tse di farologaneng? (Is your time important at all times?)
Notice how "ke" was added at the beginning of the sentence.
Using Question Words
Question words are also used to form questions in Tswana. Here are some common question words:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Efe | eh-fé | Who |
| Fela jang | fela jang | How |
| Gona eng | goh-nah eng | Where |
| Se o dira eng | seh oh dee-rah eng | What are you doing? |
| Seo se bonwang ke eng | seh-oh-seh bone-wang keh eng | What is this called? |
| Leina la eng ke...? | leh-ee-nah lah eng keh | What is the name of...? |
Here's an example of using question words:
- Person 1: Efe a itlhopheng? (Who is studying?)
- Person 2: Ke Tirelo. (It's Tirelo.)
More Complex Questions
Sometimes, a question can be more complex and require more than one part to answer. Here's an example of a complex question with multiple parts:
- Question: O tla se ka se dira eng, fela jang fa o nna jang? (What will you do, how and where will you be when you do it?)
This question is asking 3 things at once: what will you do, how will you do it, and where will you be when you do it. Let's break down the question and look at each part:
- O tla se ka se dira eng: What will you do?
- Fela jang: How will you do it?
- Fa o nna jang: Where will you be when you do it?
This type of complex question is more common in conversation than in formal writing or textbooks.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you've learned how to form questions in Tswana! Remember that practice is key to mastering any language skill. To improve your Tswana Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources
Videos
Setswana : Questioning in the Tswana language - YouTube
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