4. SYNTAX
1b. tuma @yaa kla idllaI jaaAaogao?
tum kya: kal dilli: ja:oge?
A declarative sentence can be converted to a neutral yes-no question
without adding any question marker by raising the intonation at the
end of the verb.
A negative declarative sentence is changed to a yes-no question by
adding the negative morpheme before the verb.
- tuma kla idllaI jaaAaogao.
tum kal dilli: nahĩ: ja:oge.
you tomorrow Delhi neg go-fut
You won’t go to Delhi tomorrow.
2a. (@yaa) tuma kla idllaI nahIM jaaAaogao?
(kya:) tum kal dilli: nahĩ: ja:oge?
(Q) you tomorrow Delhi neg go-fut
Won’t you go to Delhi tomorrow?
2b. tuma @yaa kla idllaI nahIM jaaAaogao?
tum kya: kal dilli nahĩ: ja:oge?
Aren’t you going to Delhi tomorrow?
A negativized yes-no question invokes multiple answers. Consider
the answers to questions (3) and (4):
- tuma yah if,lma nahIM doKaoogao?
tum yah film nahĩ: dekhoge?
you this picture neg watch-fut
Won’t you watch this film?
3a. haÐ ̧ maOM doKUÐgaa (yah if,lma).
hã:, m ́~ dekhũ:ga: (yeh film).
yes I watch-1s-fut (this film).
Yes, I’ll see (this film).
3b. nahIM ̧ maOM doKUÐgaa nahIM (yah if,lma).
nahĩ:, m ́~ dekhũ:ga: nahĩ: (yeh film).
neg I see-fut neg (this film)
No, I won’t watch (this film).