Language/Odia/Grammar/Questions

Odia Grammar - Questions

Hi Odia learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about questions in Odia language. Asking questions is an essential part of communication. Let's dive into the topic and explore the grammar rules and cultural aspects of Odia questions.

Basic question formation

In Odia, a basic question is formed by adding କି (ki) at the end of a sentence. କି is equivalent to "whether" or "if" in English. Here is an example:

Odia	Pronunciation	English
ତୁମେ ଅଛେ? କି	tume achhe? ki	Are you there?

So, in the above example, ତୁମେ ଅଛେ? (tume achhe?) means "You are there" and adding କି (ki) to the end makes it a question.

Types of questions

Yes/No questions

The above example is an example of a yes/no question, which is a question that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no". In Odia, yes/no questions are formed by adding କି (ki) to the end of a sentence. Here are some more examples:

Odia	Pronunciation	English
ତୁମେ ସେଠାଏ ଗଳେ? କି	tume sethaae gale? ki	Did you go there?
ତୋମର ବାପା ଅସୁଭ ଅଭିଲେଖ ଲେଉଥିଲା? କି	tomara baapa asubha abhilekha leuthila? ki	Did your father take the wrong document?

Notice that in both cases above, the question is formed by adding କି (ki).

Wh- questions

Wh- questions are questions that ask for specific information, such as who, what, where, when, why, and how. In Odia, these questions are formed slightly differently than yes/no questions. Here are some examples:

Odia	Pronunciation	English
ତୁମେ କେଉଁଠେ ଥିବା?	tume keuṭhe thibaa?	Where are you?
କାରଣ ତୁମେ ଖାଇ ପାରେଥିବା?	kaaraṇa tume khaai paarethibaa?	Why did you eat?
ତୁମେ କେମିତି ଯାଉଥିଲେ?	tume kemit̪i jaauthile?	How did you go?

Notice that in wh- questions, the interrogative word (such as କେମିତି kemit̪i or କାରଣ kaarana) comes at the beginning of the sentence.

Practice

Let's practice some more by reading this conversation:

• Person 1: ନୀଳ ବିଷୟରେ ତୁମେ କେହିଁ ଭାବୁଥିବେ? (niḷa biṣayare tume kehin̐ bhābuthibe? - What did you think about the movie?)
• Person 2: ସେ ଖରାପ ଛିଲା। (se kharap chhila - It was bad.)

Culture and interesting facts

In Odisha, it is customary to greet people by asking "ଆପଣ କେମିତି ଆଛନ୍ତି?" (apaṇa kemit̪i achhanti? - How are you?). It is a way to show politeness and start a conversation.

If you want to know more about Odia grammar, you can access the Odia Grammar page on Polyglot Club. Remember that the best way to learn a language is to practice with native speakers. You can find native speakers on Polyglot Club and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Odia language
• Odia grammar
• Interrogative

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Related Lessons

• How to Use Be
• Negation
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• How to Use Have
• Give your Opinion
• Conditional Mood
• Plurals