Language/Central-pashto/Grammar/Wh-Questions
Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to form wh-questions in Central Pashto using words such as who, what, where, when, why, and how. Wh-questions are questions that require more information than a simple yes or no answer. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask and answer questions using these question words, expanding your ability to communicate in Central Pashto.
Question Words in Central Pashto
In Central Pashto, there are several question words that can be used to form wh-questions. These include:
- څه (tsa) - What
- کوم (kom) - Who
- ځاى (zhay) - Where
- څوک (tsok) - When
- څنګه (tsanga) - Why
- څوری (tsawri) - How
These question words function similarly to their English counterparts and can be combined with other parts of speech to form questions.
Forming Wh-Questions in Central Pashto
In Central Pashto, wh-questions are formed by placing the question word at the beginning of the sentence. The rest of the sentence follows the typical subject-object-verb word order. For example:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ځاې سترګې څه دی؟ | zhay starga tsa dai? | What is this chair? |
| کوم ته هلاک هو؟ | kom ta halak ho? | Who is that man? |
| آیا ځای په کوم یو؟ | aya zhay pa kom yo? | Where is the place? |
| څوک خوښه راتل؟ | tsok khocha ratl? | When did you wake up? |
| څنګه هغه کس دا بکښلېد؟ | tsanga hagha kas da bikhaleyed? | Why did that person leave? |
| څوری خوندي کولی شې؟ | tsawri khwandai koli she? | How do you eat the food? |
Notice that although the question words are at the beginning of the sentences, the word order for the rest of the sentence is the same as in declarative sentences.
Answering Wh-Questions in Central Pashto
To answer a wh-question in Central Pashto, the answer must include the information being asked for in the question. For example:
Question: ځاې مېنه څه دي؟ (zhay mena tsa dey?) Translation: What is this table?
Answer: دا پایه دي. (da paya dey.) Translation: This is a table.
In this example, the question is asking for the identity of the object (table), and the answer provides that information in a complete sentence.
Using Wh-Questions in Conversation
Wh-questions are an essential part of communication, as they are used to gather information and clarify understanding. You can use wh-questions in many situations, such as when meeting new people, chatting about activities, or asking for directions. Here are some examples of how to use wh-questions in Central Pashto conversations:
- کوم بیا؟ (kom bya?)
Translation: Who is coming?
- څه پخواسته کولی شئ؟ (tsa pakhwaste koli she?)
Translation: What do you want to eat?
- ځای ته واړه؟ (zhay ta wara?)
Translation: Where are you going?
- څوک سترګې خریدولې شم؟ (tsok starga khreedole sham?)
Translation: When should we buy this chair?
- څنګه دندان پاک کړئ ؟ (tsanga dandan pak kare?)
Translation: Why do you brush your teeth?
- څوری کتنه دیر دې؟ (tsawri katanah deer de?)
Translation: How late are you?
By incorporating wh-questions into your conversations, you can gain more understanding and build relationships with Pashto speakers.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned about wh-questions in Central Pashto and how to form and answer them using question words such as who, what, where, when, why, and how. You also saw how to use questions in common conversations. Incorporate these new question words into your Pashto language practice and enhance your ability to communicate in Pashto. Congratulations on completing this lesson!
Related Lessons
- Negation
- Personal pronouns
- How to Use Be
- 0 to A1 Course
- Prepositions of Place
- Possessive Pronouns
- Common Prepositions
- Give your Opinion
- Pronouns
- Subject Object Verb