Language/Nepali-individual-language/Grammar/Interrogatives-in-Nepali

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Nepali (individual language) Grammar → Interrogatives in Nepali

Welcome to our lesson on Interrogatives in Nepali! Understanding how to form questions is a crucial part of learning any language, and Nepali is no different. Interrogatives help us seek information, express curiosity, and engage in conversations. In this lesson, we will explore the various types of interrogative words used in the Nepali language, their usage, and how to form questions in sentences.

This lesson is designed for complete beginners, so don’t worry if you’re just starting out! We will take you through the topic step by step, providing numerous examples and exercises to solidify your understanding.

Here’s what you can expect in this lesson:

1. Introduction to Interrogatives

2. Types of Interrogatives

• Yes/No Questions

• Wh- Questions

3. Forming Questions in Nepali

4. Practice Exercises

5. Conclusion and Summary

Introduction to Interrogatives

Interrogatives are words that help us ask questions. They are essential for communication, whether you’re trying to find out someone’s name, asking for directions, or inquiring about the time. In Nepali, interrogatives can be categorized into two main types: Yes/No questions and Wh- questions.

Recognizing how to use these interrogatives will not only enhance your conversational skills but also improve your understanding of the structure of Nepali sentences. Let’s dive into the different types!

Types of Interrogatives

Yes/No Questions

These types of questions can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." In Nepali, the structure is straightforward, often just requiring a change in intonation or a specific word added to the sentence.

Here are some common Nepali interrogative words for Yes/No questions:

• तिमीलाई (timīlā'ī) - Do you?

• के (ke) - Is/Are?

Let’s look at some examples:

Nepali (individual language)	Pronunciation	English
के तिमीलाई थाहा छ?	ke timīlā'ī thāhā cha?	Do you know?
के यो राम्रो छ?	ke yo rāmrō cha?	Is this good?
तिमी के गर्दैछौ?	timī ke gardēchauh?	Are you doing?
के तिमी आउँछौ?	ke timī ā'unchauh?	Are you coming?
के उसले यो लेखेको छ?	ke uslē yo lekhēkō cha?	Has he written this?

As you can see, the structure of Yes/No questions in Nepali is quite similar to English, with the verb often taking a prominent position.

Wh- Questions

Wh- questions, on the other hand, are used to gather specific information. These questions begin with words like who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Here are some common Nepali interrogative words for Wh- questions:

• को (kō) - Who?

• के (ke) - What?

• कहाँ (kahān) - Where?

• कसरी (kasarī) - How?

• कति (kati) - How many?

• किन (kin) - Why?

Let’s explore some examples of Wh- questions:

Nepali (individual language)	Pronunciation	English
को यो हो?	kō yo hō?	Who is this?
के तिमीलाई मन पर्छ?	ke timīlā'ī man parcha?	What do you like?
कहाँ जान्छौ?	kahān jānchauh?	Where are you going?
कसरी जान्छौ?	kasarī jānchauh?	How do you go?
कति पैसा छ?	kati paisā cha?	How much money is there?
किन यस्तो भयो?	kin yastō bhayō?	Why did this happen?

These examples illustrate how Wh- questions can help you gather detailed information about various topics.

Forming Questions in Nepali

Now that you are familiar with the types of interrogatives, let’s discuss how to form questions in Nepali. The typical structure for forming questions includes placing the interrogative word at the beginning of the sentence.

1. Using Yes/No Questions:

• Start with the verb, followed by the subject, then the object if applicable.

• Example:

• तिमी आउँछौ?

• (Timī ā'unchauh?)

• (Are you coming?)

2. Using Wh- Questions:

• Start with the interrogative word, followed by the verb, subject, and object.

• Example:

• को आउँछ?

• (Kō ā'unch?)

• (Who is coming?)

Here are additional examples that combine different interrogatives in question formation:

Nepali (individual language)	Pronunciation	English
के तिमी मसँग आउँछौ?	ke timī ma sanga ā'unchauh?	Are you coming with me?
कहाँ जान्छौ तिमी?	kahān jānchauh timī?	Where are you going?
को त्यो हो?	kō tyō hō?	Who is that?
किन तिमीले यो गरेनौ?	kin timīlē yo garēnau?	Why didn’t you do this?
कति समय लाग्छ?	kati samaya lāgcha?	How long does it take?

By following these structures, you’ll be able to frame questions effectively in Nepali.

Practice Exercises

Now that you’re familiar with how to use interrogatives in Nepali, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises for you to practice.

Exercise 1: Yes/No Questions

Transform the following statements into Yes/No questions.

1. तिमी स्कूल जान्छौ। (You go to school.)

2. उसले खाना खायो। (He ate food.)

3. तिमीले यो पुस्तक पढ्यौ। (You read this book.)

Solutions:

1. के तिमी स्कूल जान्छौ? (Do you go to school?)

2. के उसले खाना खायो? (Did he eat food?)

3. के तिमीले यो पुस्तक पढ्यौ? (Did you read this book?)

Exercise 2: Wh- Questions

Create Wh- questions using the prompts provided.

1. ___ कति (How many) ___ पुस्तक छन्? (books are there?)

2. ___ को (Who) ___ आउँछ? (is coming?)

3. ___ के (What) ___ गर्छौ? (do you do?)

Solutions:

1. कति पुस्तक छन्? (How many books are there?)

2. को आउँछ? (Who is coming?)

3. के गर्छौ? (What do you do?)

Exercise 3: Forming Questions

Using the provided phrases, form complete questions.

1. तिमी कता जान्छौ। (Where do you go?)

2. उसले के पकाएको छ। (What has he cooked?)

3. तिमी किन गुनासो गर्छौ। (Why do you complain?)

Solutions:

1. तिमी कता जान्छौ? (Where do you go?)

2. उसले के पकाएको छ? (What has he cooked?)

3. तिमी किन गुनासो गर्छौ? (Why do you complain?)

Exercise 4: Identify the Interrogative

Read the following sentences and identify the interrogative word.

1. को तिमीलाई मन पर्छ?

2. कति दिन लाग्छ?

3. किन तिमी आएनौ?

Solutions:

1. को (Who)

2. कति (How many)

3. किन (Why)

Exercise 5: Translate to Nepali

Translate the following English questions into Nepali.

1. Where are you from?

2. What do you eat?

3. When will you come?

Solutions:

1. तिमी कहाँ बाट आउँछौ? (Where are you from?)

2. तिमी के खान्छौ? (What do you eat?)

3. तिमी कहिले आउँछौ? (When will you come?)

Conclusion and Summary

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Interrogatives in Nepali! You have learned about the different types of interrogative words, how to form questions, and practiced with various exercises. Understanding interrogatives is essential for effective communication in Nepali and will significantly enhance your conversational skills.

Keep practicing these questions in your daily conversations to become more fluent. Remember, asking questions is a vital part of language learning, and the more you engage, the better you’ll become!

Table of Contents - Nepali (individual language) Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Introduction to Nepali Nouns
• Noun Cases in Nepali
• Pronouns in Nepali

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Introduction to Nepali Verbs
• Present Tense in Nepali
• Past Tense in Nepali
• Future Tense in Nepali

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives in Nepali
• Comparison of Adjectives in Nepali
• Adverbs in Nepali

  ---

Negation and Interrogatives

• Negation in Nepali
• Interrogatives in Nepali

  ---

Numbers in Nepali

• Cardinal Numbers
• Ordinal Numbers
• Plural and Fractional Numbers

  ---

Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Nepali Words and Phrases

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food in Nepali
• Drinks in Nepali

  ---

Festivals in Nepal

• Dashain Festival
• Tihar Festival
• Holi Festival

  ---

Nepali Society

• Family and Marriage in Nepal
• Religion and Beliefs in Nepal

  ---

Nepali Cuisine

• Traditional Nepali Dishes
• Nepali Spices and Herbs

  ---

Nepali Arts and Crafts

• Nepali Handicrafts
• Nepali Music and Dance

Other Lessons

• Verbs kriyaharu क्रियाहरू
• Introduction to Nepali Nouns
• Pronouns in Nepali
• Past Tense in Nepali
• Future Tense
• How to Use Have
• Pronouns
• 0 to A1 Course
• Comparison of Adjectives in Nepali

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