Language/Ewe/Grammar/Questions
Hi Ewe learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will delve into Ewe questions. Understanding how to form questions is an essential aspect of learning Ewe Grammar. We will explore the different types of questions and how to form them. We will also provide cultural information and interesting facts to make the lesson more engaging. By the end, you should have a good understanding of how to ask questions in Ewe.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: How to Use "Have", Geography, Pronouns & Give your Opinion.
Basic Questions[edit | edit source]
Questions that start with a verb in Ewe are similar to English questions. The word order is subject, verb, object. However, in Ewe, the questioning tone is used to indicate that the sentence is a question.
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples of basic questions in Ewe:
| Ewe | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Wo la xexexe | wo la khe-khe-khe | Are you laughing? |
| Ame dzo tsofia? | a-me jo-so fia | Did you see Sophia? |
Questions Starting with Question Words[edit | edit source]
Question words are used to form more complex and specific questions. In Ewe, they are placed at the beginning of the question.
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples of questions starting with question words.
| Ewe | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Wo de woefa wolo? | wo de wo-fa wo-lo | Where are you going? |
| Anade dee asiakogo nye wo de? | a-na-de de-e a-sia-ko-go ny-e wo de | When are you coming back from the market? |
| Wo nye wo fafada nee wo de? | wo nye wo fa-fa-da nɛ wo de | Why did you leave early? |
Tag Questions[edit | edit source]
Tag questions are similar to English questions that include statements with a question to confirm the statement's accuracy. In Ewe, there are different ways to form tag questions.
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are some examples of tag questions in Ewe:
| Ewe | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Wo nye xlaa ni? Kuku yenye? | wo nye kha-aa ni? ku-ku ye-nye? | You cooked yam right? Kuku ate? |
| Ame ne gbe ko? Mawu na wo alo o. | a-me ne gbe ko? ma-wu na wo a-lo o | You are coming, right? God be our helper. |
Cultural Notes[edit | edit source]
- In Ewe culture, it is essential to ask for permission before entering someone's home. The phrase "medela" (please) is often used when asking for permission. - It is also customary to ask about someone's family before starting a conversation. For example, "woe nye ame?" (How is your family?).
Interesting Facts[edit | edit source]
- Ewe is spoken in Ghana, Togo, and Benin. It is also spoken by a small number of people in Nigeria. - Ewe is a tonal language, which means that the tone affects the meaning of a word. There are three tones in Ewe: high, mid, and low.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Wo la xexexe? (Are you laughing?)
- Person 2: Aaa, mi xexexefe ni. (Yes, I am very happy.)
- Person 1: Wo de woefa wolo? (Where are you going?)
- Person 2: Mi de Akosombo nya woe. (I am going to Akosombo.)
- Person 1: Anade dee asiakogo nye wo de? (When are you coming back from the market?)
- Person 2: Ame dee dzo lile mi. (I will come back later.)
- Person 1: Wo nye xlaa ni? Kuku yenye? (You cooked yam right? Kuku ate?)
- Person 2: Aayida, Kuku yenye. (Yes, Kuku ate.)
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Ewe Serial Verb Constructions in their Grammatical Context
- Ewe language - Wikipedia
- introduction to the structure of the Ewe language and "reasonable ...
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