Language/Central-khmer/Grammar/Questions
Hi Central Khmer learners! π
In this lesson, we will learn about asking questions in Central Khmer.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: 0 to A1 Course & Possessive Pronouns.
Question Words[edit | edit source]
In Central Khmer, just like in English, there are some specific question words used to ask questions. Here are some of the most common ones:
Central Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ααΎ | "tov" | (used for yes/no questions) |
αα αααααΆ | "nΙ¨pΚ°Δal naa" | when |
ααΎα’ααα | "tov aenek" | who |
ααΎα’αααα αα | "tov aenek cΙΙΙ²" | do you want |
ααΎα’αααααααΌα | "tov aenek trΙv" | should you |
α’αααΈ | "ΙvΙ¨y" | what |
ααΎα’αααααααΆαα | "tov aenek skΙl" | do you know |
ααΎ | "tov" | are/is |
ααααΈααΆ | "mΙk pi naa" | where from |
Word Order[edit | edit source]
The word order in Central Khmer is different from English when asking questions. In English, we usually put the question word at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and verb. In Central Khmer, the subject comes first, then the verb, and finally the question word.
Here is an example:
- English: What is your name?
- Central Khmer: αααααα’αααααΆα’αΈαααα»α? (ChΚmΙ¨aa neak jΙΙm chi mΙ¨y?)
As you can see, the sentence structure in Central Khmer is subject-verb-question word. Another example:
- English: When are you going to the market?
- Central Khmer: α’αααααΉααα ααααααααΈααααΆααα αααααΆ? (Anek nΙ¨Ε tΙ¨w kΙna lΙeΕ tiΚ psa nΙ¨pΚ°Δal naa?)
Question Particles[edit | edit source]
In addition to question words, Central Khmer also has some question particles that can be added to a statement to turn it into a question. These include:
- ααααααΆααΈ (maaeΕ cΔa ti): tag question "isn't it?"
- ααααααα (trΙΜΙp riΙΕ): question marker "right?"
Here is an example:
- Statement: αααα»αα αααα α αΆαααΆα (KhΙ²ΙΙm cΙΙΙ² tΙ¨w haeng ban): I want to go to the store.
- Question: αααα»αα αααα α αΆαααΆαααααααΆααΈ? (KhΙ²ΙΙm cΙΙΙ² tΙ¨w haeng ban maaeΕ cΔa ti?): I want to go to the store, isn't it?
Example Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is an example dialogue to show you how to use some of the question words and particles in context:
- Person 1: α’ααααα·αα αααα ααΈααΆ? (Anek min cΙΙΙ² tΙ¨w ti naa?) - Don't you want to go somewhere?
- Person 2: αααα»αα αααα αααααα·ααΈαα»ααααα·αααΈαααα (KhΙ²ΙΙm cΙΙΙ² tΙ¨w kΙm mΙ¨tΚ°vitΚ° bΙkklik ti nee.) - I want to go to this event.
- Person 1: ααΎα’αααααααΆααααααΈααΆ? (Tov aenek tlaap maak pi naa?) - Where did you just come from?
- Person 2: αααα»αααααΎααααΈααααα (KhΙ²ΙΙm tvΙ¨j maak pi tΚ°Ιh.) - I came from home.
Final Thoughts[edit | edit source]
Asking questions is an important skill to have when learning a new language. By learning the question words, word order, and question particles in Central Khmer, you will be able to communicate more effectively and have more meaningful conversations with native speakers.
To improve your Central Khmer Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to Use Have
- How to Use Be
- Adjectives
- Give your Opinion
- Pronouns
- Negation
- Gender
- Plurals
- Conditional Mood