Language/Marathi/Grammar/Questions

Marathi Grammar - Questions

Hi Marathi learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore questions in Marathi language. Asking questions is an integral part of communication and it can help you to gain information, clarify doubts, and express curiosity. Marathi language has a unique way of asking questions, which is both interesting and challenging at the same time. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to construct various kinds of questions in Marathi, and also understand the cultural context of questions. So, let's begin!

Basic Questions

In Marathi, the basic question can be formed by placing the verb at the start of the sentence, followed by the subject and the object. The intonation of the sentence is raised slightly at the end to indicate a question. Let's see some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
तू सुद्धा जायचेस का?	tu sudhha jayaches ka?	Are you also going?
बारीक आहे का?	barik ahe ka?	Is it fine?
तुम्ही कसे आलात?	tumhi kase alaat?	How did you come?

As you can see from the examples, the word order is different from English where we start with the subject and then the verb. In Marathi, the verb takes the first position to indicate the sentence is a question. It's important to note that the verb agrees with the subject in Marathi, whether it be singular or plural.

Yes/No Questions

Yes/No questions are a type of question that can be answered with either "yes" or "no". To form Yes/No questions, you need to add the sentence-ending particles का (ka) or ना (na) at the end of the sentence. Here are some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
तू घरी जायचेस का?	tu ghari jayaches ka?	Do you want to go home?
तुम्ही खाली जाणार आहात का?	tumhi khali janar ahat ka?	Will you go downstairs?
तो भोवती लवकरच येईल ना?	to bhovati lavkarach yeil na?	Will he come soon?

As you can see from the examples above, the particle का or ना is added at the end of the sentence to indicate a Yes/No question. The particle का is used for interrogative sentences in general, while ना is used for negative sentences.

Wh- Questions

Wh- questions are question words that are used to elicit specific information. In Marathi, Wh- questions are formed by placing the question word at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb and the subject. The sentence-ending particle का (ka) is also used to indicate a question. Here are some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
कोण आला?	kon ala?	Who came?
कधा बोलायचं होतं?	kada bolayach hota?	When did you call?
कशा पद्धतीने कमाई करता तुम्ही?	kasha paddhatine kamai karta tumhi?	How do you earn money?

As you can see, the position of the verb and subject return to the basic word order (subject-verb-object), but the question word is added at the start of the sentence.

Tag Questions

Tag questions are additional questions added at the end of a sentence when seeking confirmation or agreement. In Marathi language, tag questions are formed by adding either verb or pronoun to the end of the sentence. Here are some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
धुकायचं आहे ना?	dhukayach ahe na?	You are tired, right?
तू वाटतो संभव आहे ना?	tu vatato sambhav ahe na?	You think it's possible, right?
तुम्हीच हा ठिकाण आहे ना?	tumhich ha thikan ahe na?	It's your place, right?

As you can see from the examples, a question particle ना is used at the end of the sentence similar to Yes/No questions, but the sentence is also made up of the statement and the tag providing additional confirmation.

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are a form of question that are reported or asked in a more formal manner. They are usually introduced by question words such as कसे (kase), कोणाचे (konache), or कधा (kada). Let's see some examples:

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
मला कसे ठेवायचं आहे हे सांगा.	mala kase thevayach ahe he sanga.	Tell me how to keep it.
जाणून घ्या कशा पद्धतीने करायचं हे कसं असेल?	janun ghya kasha paddhatine karayach he kasan asel?	How should we do it, knowing all the processes?

In the examples above, indirect questions are formed by adding a statement or request first, followed by the question word and the question itself. Indirect questions can be useful when asking questions politely and formally.

Cultural Context

In Marathi culture, questions are often used to show care, concern, or respect towards someone. For example, when greeting elders, it is customary to ask them about their health or well-being, or inquire about their family. Similarly, when visiting someone, it's common to ask if they want something to eat or drink. Also, inquiring about someone's name, origin, or profession is a way to initiate a conversation or get to know the person better. Therefore, asking questions in Marathi language, especially in cultural context, can serve as a way to connect with people and form long-lasting relationships.

Dialogue

Here is a simple dialogue that demonstrates how questions are asked and answered in Marathi:

• Person 1: हॅलो, तुमचं नाव काय आहे? (halo, tumach nav kay ahe?) (Hello, what is your name?)
• Person 2: माझं नाव प्रिया आहे. (majha nav priya ahe.) (My name is Priya.)
• Person 1: कुठे राहताय तुमचं? (kuthe rahatay tumach?) (Where do you live?)
• Person 2: माझं घर दहीच्या बँगल्यामध्ये आहे. (majha ghar dahichya banglyamadhye ahe.) (My house is in the bungalow of the curd.)

Conclusion

Asking questions is an essential aspect of communication, and learning how to ask questions in Marathi can open many doors for you. By understanding the basics of forming questions, different types of questions, and the cultural context of questions, you can improve your Marathi language skills and form better connections with people. To improve your Marathi Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Marathi Language
• Marathi Grammar
• Indirect Question
• Question
• List of Common Marathi Phrases

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