Language/Central-pashto/Grammar/Wh-Questions

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Central Pashto → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Wh-Questions

In learning any language, asking questions is one of the most fundamental skills you can develop. Questions not only help you gather information but also deepen your understanding of the language and culture. In Central Pashto, forming wh-questions is essential, as they allow you to engage in meaningful conversations and clarify doubts. This lesson will guide you through the process of forming and using wh-questions in Central Pashto.

We'll cover the following key aspects:

• Understanding what wh-questions are

• Learning the different wh-words (who, what, where, when, why, and how)

• Practicing sentence formation

• Engaging in exercises to reinforce your learning

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of asking and answering wh-questions in Central Pashto, paving the way for more complex conversations as you progress in your language journey.

What are Wh-Questions?

Wh-questions are inquiries that begin with specific words that help gather information. These questions can ask about people, things, places, times, reasons, and methods. In Central Pashto, the wh-words are similar in function to their English counterparts.

Here are the primary wh-words in Central Pashto:

• څوک (tsok) - Who

• څه (tsah) - What

• چیرته (chirta) - Where

• کله (kala) - When

• ولې (wule) - Why

• څنګه (tsanga) - How

Structure of Wh-Questions

In Central Pashto, wh-questions typically follow this structure:

• Wh-word + Subject + Verb + Object?

For instance:

• څوک دی؟ (Tsok di?) - Who is it?

• څه کوې؟ (Tsah kawi?) - What are you doing?

Let’s delve deeper into each wh-word with examples.

Who (څوک)

The wh-word څوک (tsok) is used to ask about people.

Central Pashto	Pronunciation	English
څوک دی؟	tsok di?	Who is it?
څوک راغلی؟	tsok raghli?	Who has come?
څوک دې؟	tsok de?	Who are you?
څوک در سره دی؟	tsok dar sara di?	Who is with you?
څوک د ښوونځي سره دی؟	tsok da khwondze sara di?	Who is with the school?

What (څه)

The wh-word څه (tsah) is used to inquire about things or actions.

Central Pashto	Pronunciation	English
څه کوې؟	tsah kawi?	What are you doing?
څه شی دی؟	tsah she di?	What is it?
څه خوري؟	tsah khori?	What do you eat?
څه پکار دی؟	tsah pakar di?	What is needed?
څه وخت دی؟	tsah wakht di?	What time is it?

Where (چیرته)

The wh-word چیرته (chirta) is used to ask about places.

Central Pashto	Pronunciation	English
چیرته ځي؟	chirta zhi?	Where are you going?
چیرته دی؟	chirta di?	Where is it?
چیرته راغلی؟	chirta raghli?	Where have you come from?
چیرته دي؟	chirta de?	Where are they?
چیرته میشته دی؟	chirta mishta di?	Where do you live?

When (کله)

The wh-word کله (kala) is used to inquire about time.

Central Pashto	Pronunciation	English
کله به راشي؟	kala ba rashi?	When will you come?
کله دی؟	kala di?	When is it?
کله مو واده دی؟	kala mo wada di?	When is your wedding?
کله به وزم؟	kala ba wozum?	When will I go?
کله به خلاص شي؟	kala ba khlas shi?	When will it be finished?

Why (ولې)

The wh-word ولې (wule) is used to ask for reasons.

Central Pashto	Pronunciation	English
ولې دې؟	wule de?	Why are you?
ولې راغلې؟	wule raghli?	Why have you come?
ولې خفه یې؟	wule khafa ye?	Why are you sad?
ولې دې خبرې نه کوي؟	wule de khabare na kawi?	Why don’t you talk?
ولې تا ته اړتیا لرم؟	wule ta ta arziya laram?	Why do I need you?

How (څنګه)

The wh-word څنګه (tsanga) is used to inquire about methods or manners.

Central Pashto	Pronunciation	English
څنګه یې؟	tsanga ye?	How are you?
څنګه کوو؟	tsanga kawi?	How do we do?
څنګه راشي؟	tsanga rashi?	How does it come?
څنګه مرسته وکړم؟	tsanga mrasta wakram?	How can I help?
څنګه پوه شوم؟	tsanga poh shom?	How did I understand?

Practice Exercises

Now that we have covered the basics of wh-questions, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are ten exercises designed to help you practice forming and responding to wh-questions in Central Pashto.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct wh-word (who, what, where, when, why, how).

1. ______ دی؟ (______ di?) - ______ is it?

2. ______ کوې؟ (______ kawi?) - ______ are you doing?

3. ______ ځي؟ (______ zhi?) - ______ are you going?

4. ______ به راشي؟ (______ ba rashi?) - ______ will you come?

5. ______ دې؟ (______ de?) - ______ are you?

Solutions:

1. څوک (tsok)

2. څه (tsah)

3. چیرته (chirta)

4. کله (kala)

5. ولې (wule)

Exercise 2: Match the Questions to Their Answers

Match the question to the appropriate answer.

1. څوک دی؟

2. څه کوی؟

3. چیرته ځي؟

4. کله به راشي؟

5. ولې خفه یې؟

A. زه خوشحال یم.

B. زه کار کوم.

C. زه د ښوونځي ته ځم.

D. زه د شپې راځم.

E. دا زما دوست دی.

Solutions:

1 - E, 2 - B, 3 - C, 4 - D, 5 - A

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Questions

Create your own wh-questions using the wh-words you have learned. Share them with a partner.

Example:

• څنګه یې؟ (Tsanga ye?) - How are you?

Exercise 4: Identify the Wh-word

Read the following sentences and identify the wh-word used.

1. څوک درسره دی؟ (Tsok dar sara di?) - Who is with you?

2. چیرته ځي؟ (Chirta zhi?) - Where are you going?

3. کله به راشي؟ (Kala ba rashi?) - When will you come?

4. ولې خفه یې؟ (Wule khafa ye?) - Why are you sad?

5. څه کوې؟ (Tsah kawi?) - What are you doing?

Solutions:

1. څوک (tsok)

2. چیرته (chirta)

3. کله (kala)

4. ولې (wule)

5. څه (tsah)

Exercise 5: Role Play

In pairs, role-play a conversation using wh-questions. One student asks questions while the other answers.

Example:

• Student A: څوک دی؟ (Tsok di?)

• Student B: زه محمد یم. (Za Muhammad yam.) - I am Muhammad.

Exercise 6: Translation Practice

Translate the following wh-questions into Central Pashto.

1. What is your name?

2. Where do you live?

3. When is your birthday?

4. Who is your friend?

5. Why are you studying?

Solutions:

1. ستاسو نوم څه دی؟ (Staso nom tsah di?)

2. ته چیرته اوسی؟ (Ta chirta osi?)

3. ستاسو زوکړه کله ده؟ (Staso zukhra kala da?)

4. ستاسو دوست څوک دی؟ (Staso dost tsok di?)

5. ولې زده کړه کوی؟ (Wule zada kra kawi?)

Exercise 7: Question Formation

Change the following statements into wh-questions.

1. You are going to the market. → چیرته ځې؟ (Chirta zhi?)

2. They are playing. → څه کوي؟ (Tsah kawi?)

3. He is happy. → ولې خوشحال دی؟ (Wule khushal di?)

4. We will meet tomorrow. → کله به ملاقات وکړو؟ (Kala ba mulaqat wakro?)

5. She is my sister. → څوک ده؟ (Tsok da?)

Exercise 8: Wh-Questions Bingo

Create a bingo card with different wh-questions. Ask your classmates, and when they answer, mark it on your card.

Exercise 9: Fill in the Blanks with Answers

Fill in the blanks with appropriate responses to the wh-questions.

1. څوک راغلی؟ (Tsok raghli?) - ______

2. څه وخت دی؟ (Tsah wakht di?) - ______

3. چیرته دی؟ (Chirta di?) - ______

4. کله به راشي؟ (Kala ba rashi?) - ______

5. ولې دې؟ (Wule de?) - ______

Solutions:

1. زما دوست راغلی دی. (Za ma dost raghli di.)

2. دوه بجې دي. (Dwa baje di.)

3. دا دلته دی. (Da delta di.)

4. د شپې به راشي. (Da shpay ba rashi.)

5. زه خفه یم. (Za khafa yam.)

Exercise 10: Create a Short Dialogue

Write a short dialogue using at least five wh-questions.

Example:

• A: څوک دی؟ (Tsok di?)

• B: دا زما ورور دی. (Da zama waror di.)

• A: چیرته ځي؟ (Chirta zhi?)

• B: هغه ښوونځي ته ځي. (Haga khwondze ta zhi.)

• A: ولې ځي؟ (Wule zhi?)

• B: هغه زده کړه کوي. (Haga zada kra kawi.)

By diligently practicing these exercises, you will not only become more comfortable with wh-questions but also enhance your overall language skills, preparing you for more advanced topics in Central Pashto. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep engaging with the language, and before you know it, you'll be conversing like a pro.

Table of Contents - Central Pashto Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Personal Pronouns

• Subject Pronouns
• Object Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Numbers 1-10
• Numbers 11-20

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Object-Verb
• Negation

  ---

Common Verbs

• Action Verbs
• State Verbs

  ---

Present Tense

• Present Simple
• Present Continuous

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Common Drinks

  ---

Questions

• Yes/No Questions
• Wh-Questions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives

• Possessive Pronouns
• Possessive Adjectives

  ---

House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores

  ---

Prepositions

• Common Prepositions
• Prepositions of Place

  ---

Hobbies and Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Sports

  ---

Past Tense

• Past Simple
• Past Continuous

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Essentials

  ---

Pashtun Customs and Traditions

• Traditional Clothing
• Pashtun Cuisine

Other 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

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