Modern Hindi Grammar - Indian Institute of Language Studies (IILS)

4. SYNTAX

4.3.4.1.2. Leading Questions...........................................

Leading questions are formed by adding the repetitive form of the
verb negative or positive question markers nahIM nahĩ: and haÐ hã:
respectively at the end of a declarative sentence to serve as tag
questions. The tag question comprising of the verb + naa na: is
preceded by a positive proposition and the tag question of the verb +
haÐ hã: is preceded by the negative proposition.

The expectation of a positive answer is expressed by an affirmative
proposition preceding the verb + naa na: as a tag question.

5. Aaja gamaI- hO, hO naa?
   a:j garmi: h ́, h ́ na:?
   today hot is is neg-q
   It is hot today, isn’t it?


6. vah iktaba pZ,ogaa, pZ,ogaa naa?
   vah kita:b parhega:, parhega: na:?
   he book read-3s-fut read-3s-fut neg-q
   He will read a letter, won’t he?

The expectation of a negative answer is expressed by a negative
proposition preceding the verb + naa na: or the repetition of the verb
form as a tag question.

7. Aaja gamaI- nahIM hO, naa?
   a:j garmi: nahĩ: h ́, na:?
   today hot neg is neg-q
   It isn’t hot today, is it?


8. vah p~ nahIM pZ,ogaa, pZ,ogaa?
   vah patr nahĩ: parhega:, parhega:?
   he letter neg read-3s-fut read-3s-fut-q
   He won’t read a letter, will he?

Note that the occurrence of certain negative polarity markers such as
phlao pahle, qaaoD,o thore ‘ever’ in the interrogative sentence also invoke
a negative answer.