Difference between revisions of "Language/Lingala/Grammar/Questions"

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==Question words==
==Question words==
===Nini: What/Which===
===Nini: What/Which===
** Olobi nini?: What do you say?
* Olobi nini?: What do you say?
** Eza nini?: What is it?
* Eza nini?: What is it?
** Lelo eza mukolo nini?: Which day are we today?
* Lelo eza mukolo nini?: Which day are we today?
===Nani: Who/Whom===
===Nani: Who/Whom===
** Eza ya nani?: To whom does it belong?
* Eza ya nani?: To whom does it belong?
** Wana nani?: Who is that?
* Wana nani?: Who is that?
===Wapi: Where===
===Wapi: Where===
** Saki nanga eza wapi?: Where is my bag?
* Saki nanga eza wapi?: Where is my bag?
** Bavandaka wapi?: Where do they live?
* Bavandaka wapi?: Where do they live?
** Owuti wapi?: Where are you coming from?
* Owuti wapi?: Where are you coming from?
===Tango nini/mukolo nini/ngonga nini: When===
===Tango nini/mukolo nini/ngonga nini: When===
** Tango nini makita ekobanda?: When will the meeting begin?
* Tango nini makita ekobanda?: When will the meeting begin?
** Bokoya tango nini?: When will you (all) come?
* Bokoya tango nini?: When will you (all) come?
** Likambo oyo ekosila mukolo nini?: When will this problem take an end?
* Likambo oyo ekosila mukolo nini?: When will this problem take an end?
===Boni: How many===
===Boni: How many===
** Oza na bana boni?: How many children do you have?
* Oza na bana boni?: How many children do you have?
** Batu boni baza na kelasi nayo?: How many people are there in your class?
* Batu boni baza na kelasi nayo?: How many people are there in your class?
===Mutuya nini: How much(price)===
===Mutuya nini: How much(price)===
** Mutuka oyo eza mutuya nini?: How much is this car?
* Mutuka oyo eza mutuya nini?: How much is this car?
** Telefoni naye eza mutuya nini?: How much does her phone cost?
* Telefoni naye eza mutuya nini?: How much does her phone cost?
===Mbala boni: How often===
===Mbala boni: How often===
** Oliaka mbala boni na mukolo?: How often do you eat a day?
* Oliaka mbala boni na mukolo?: How often do you eat a day?
===Pona nini: Why===
===Pona nini: Why===
** Ozoyekola lingala pona nini?: Why are you learning lingala?
* Ozoyekola lingala pona nini?: Why are you learning lingala?
** Asiliki pona nini?: Why is he/she angry?
* Asiliki pona nini?: Why is he/she angry?




'''NOTE: We can notice that lingala question words are most of the time used at the end of sentences while English ones are always at the beginning.'''
'''NOTE: We can notice that lingala question words are most of the time used at the end of sentences while English ones are always at the beginning.'''

Revision as of 16:23, 4 October 2021

Lingala-Language-PolyglotClub.png
MITUNA/QUESTIONS - Learn the Lingala Language

There exist two kinds of questions in lingala, just like in English. We can build questions by using the interrogative form of the verb or a question word.

Yes/No Questions

Lingala yes/no-questions do not swap the verb and the subject. We just add a question mark to the affirmative form and raise the voice to indicate the interrogative form


  • Ayebi nga?: Does he/she know me?
  • Mike alobaka falanse?: Does Mike speak French?
  • Boza malamu?: Are you all okay?
  • Oza na nzala?: Are you hungry?
  • Okoki kosalisa nga?: Can you help me?
  • Boza bandeko?: Are you siblings?
  • Ayebi nkombo nayo?: Does he/she know your name?
  • Bovandaka esika moko?: Do you live together?
  • Okoya lobi na pokwa?: Will you come tomorrow evening?
  • Basilisi musala?: Have they finished working?
  • Baza baboti nayo?: Are they your parents?
  • Kongo eza munene?: Is the DRC big?
  • Bakutanaki yenga eleki?: Did they meet last Sunday?
  • Mwasi nayo alambaka malamu?: Does your wife cook well?
  • Boyebanani

Question words

Nini: What/Which

  • Olobi nini?: What do you say?
  • Eza nini?: What is it?
  • Lelo eza mukolo nini?: Which day are we today?

Nani: Who/Whom

  • Eza ya nani?: To whom does it belong?
  • Wana nani?: Who is that?

Wapi: Where

  • Saki nanga eza wapi?: Where is my bag?
  • Bavandaka wapi?: Where do they live?
  • Owuti wapi?: Where are you coming from?

Tango nini/mukolo nini/ngonga nini: When

  • Tango nini makita ekobanda?: When will the meeting begin?
  • Bokoya tango nini?: When will you (all) come?
  • Likambo oyo ekosila mukolo nini?: When will this problem take an end?

Boni: How many

  • Oza na bana boni?: How many children do you have?
  • Batu boni baza na kelasi nayo?: How many people are there in your class?

Mutuya nini: How much(price)

  • Mutuka oyo eza mutuya nini?: How much is this car?
  • Telefoni naye eza mutuya nini?: How much does her phone cost?

Mbala boni: How often

  • Oliaka mbala boni na mukolo?: How often do you eat a day?

Pona nini: Why

  • Ozoyekola lingala pona nini?: Why are you learning lingala?
  • Asiliki pona nini?: Why is he/she angry?


NOTE: We can notice that lingala question words are most of the time used at the end of sentences while English ones are always at the beginning.