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

4. SYNTAX

90b. prsaaoM.
parsõ.
Day after tomorrow.

The minimum answers to a yes-no question include haÐ hã: ‘yes’, nahIMM
nahĩ: ‘no’ Saayad ša:yad ‘perhaps’, maalaUma ma:lu:m/ pta nahIMM pata: nahĩ: ‘it
is not known’. The short answers may optionally be followed by
polite or honorific particles or terms. The polite particle jaI ji: can be
added to both positive and negative short answers. It usually
precedes the answers. In speech under the influence of Punjabi, it
follows the affirmative or negative short answers. It is added to
indicate politeness for any questioner older or younger than the
respondent. Other formal honorific markers used are ijanaaba jina:b or
saahba sa:hab ‘sir/madam’ for addressing people of all communities.
The English honorific terms, sir and madam are also frequently used
by the educated community.

91. vah Aaja Aaegaa Aagara sao?
    vah a:j a:yega a:gra: se?
    he come-fut today Agra-abl from
    Will he come from Agra today?

91a. haÐ /jaI haÐ /haÐ ijanaaba/ haÐ saahba/ haÐ sar/ haÐ maOD,ma
hã:/ji: hã:/hã: jina:b/hã: sa:hab/hã: sar/ hã: m ́dam
Yes/ yes sir/madam.

91b. nahIM / jaI nahIM /nahIM ijanaaba/ nahIM saahba/ nahIM sar/ nahIM maOD,ma
nahĩ:/ji: nahĩ:/nahĩ: jina:b/nahĩ: sa:hab/nahĩ: sar/
nahĩ: m ́dam
No/no sir/madam.

91c. Saayad.
ša:yad.
Perhaps.

91d. @yaa maalaUma /@yaa ptaa/ jaI @yaa pta?
kya: ma:lu:m/kya: pata:/ ji: kya: pata:?
Who knows?