Language/Malayalam/Grammar/Questions
Hi Malayalam learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about questions in Malayalam grammar. Learning how to ask questions is essential in any language, as it allows us to communicate effectively and gather information. Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate learner, this lesson will help you improve your Malayalam language skills. Let's get started!
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Malayalam Grammar → Basic Sentence Structure → Present Tense ..., Future Tense, Pronouns & Direct and Indirect Speech.
Basics[edit | edit source]
In Malayalam grammar, a question is called "prashnam". Questions typically start with an interrogative word, such as "enna" (what), "aaru" (who), "ethra" (how much), or "elle" (which). The word order in a question is different from that of a statement. In a statement, the subject typically comes before the verb, but in a question, the subject may come after the verb or in between the verb and the object.
For example, let's look at the simple sentence "I am eating rice".
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഞാൻ അന്നം ചോറ് കഴിച്ചു | I am eating rice |
To turn this into a question, we can say "Chōṟ kacicceṇṇe?" (Are you eating rice?). Notice that the subject ("you") comes in between the verb and the object.
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ചോറ് കഴിച്ചുണ്ടോ? | Are you eating rice? |
Now, let's learn about different types of questions.
Yes/No Questions[edit | edit source]
Yes/no questions in Malayalam are formed by adding the question particle "a" or "aa" (depending on the final sound of the verb) at the end of a statement. The pitch of the last syllable is usually raised to indicate a question.
For example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഞാൻ അന്നം ചോറ് കഴിച്ചു. | I ate rice. |
To turn this into a yes/no question, we add "a" to the end and raise the pitch in the last syllable:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഞാൻ അന്നം ചോറ് കഴിച്ചുണ്ടോ? | Did I eat rice? |
Similarly, here is another example:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഞാൻ കൊറോണ അനുഭവപ്പെടുന്നു. | I am experiencing a cold. |
To turn this into a yes/no question, we add "aa" to the end and raise the pitch in the last syllable:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ഞാൻ കൊറോണ അനുഭവപ്പെടുന്നായിരുന്നുണ്ടോ? | Was I experiencing a cold? |
WH-Questions[edit | edit source]
In Malayalam grammar, WH-questions are formed by using interrogative words such as "enna" (what), "aaru" (who), "ethra" (how much), or "elle" (which). The word order of WH-questions in Malayalam is usually subject-verb-object (SVO).
Here are some examples:
Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
എന്താണ് നിങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് പോകുന്നത്? | What are you carrying? | |
ആര് വന്നു? | Who came? | |
എത്ര കഴിച്ചു കൊണ്ടുവന്നു? | How much did he eat? | |
എന്താണ് നിന്റെ പേര്? | What is your name? |
Question Words[edit | edit source]
Here is a list of commonly used question words in Malayalam:
Malayalam | English |
---|---|
എങ്ങനെ | How |
എത്ര | How much |
എന്താണ് | What |
എന്ത് | What |
ആര് | Who |
എങ്ങും | Where |
ഇവിടെ | Here |
എങ്ങനെയായാലും | Any way |
എങ്ങിനെ | How |
എങ്ങോട്ടായാലും | any where |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To help you better understand how to ask questions in Malayalam, here's a brief dialogue:
- Person 1: നിങ്ങൾ ആരുടെ പെട്ടിയാണ്? (ninnguḷ āru-ṭe peṭṭiyāṇ? | Whose bag is that?)
- Person 2: എനിക്ക് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ നിങ്ങളുടെയാണ്. (enikk allenkil ninnguḷaṭe-āṇ-ū? | It's either mine or yours.)
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Here are some practice exercises to help you master questions in Malayalam:
1. How do you say "What is your name?" in Malayalam? 2. Change the following statement to a yes-no question: ഞാൻ കൊറോണ അനുഭവപ്പെടുന്നു. (nyāṇ koṟōṇa anubhavappetu-nnu | I am experiencing a cold.) 3. Fill in the blank: എന്താണ് നിങ്ങൾ ---------- കഴിച്ചു? (entāṇ ninnguḷ ---------- kacicc-u? | What did you eat?)
Further Resources[edit | edit source]
If you want to learn more about questions in Malayalam grammar, check out these resources:
- Malayalam: The Wiki page for Malayalam
- Find native speakers and ask them any questions via Polyglot Club.
- Grammar section on the Malayalam language.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Videos[edit | edit source]
LEARN MALAYALAM GRAMMAR: QUESTION WORDS: - YouTube[edit | edit source]
malayalam grammar previous year questions discussion ...[edit | edit source]
PSC Malayalam Literature & Grammar Questions and Answers + ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to Use Be
- Nouns
- How to Use Have
- Pronouns
- Plurals
- Future Tense
- Negation
- Conditional Mood
- Adjectives
- Give your Opinion
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Kerala PSC Malayalam Grammar Questions and Answers
- Malayalam Grammar Questions And Answers | Takeawayrcl
- Malayalam Grammar Mock Test - PSC PDF BANK