Language/Hausa/Grammar/Asking-Questions
Asking questions is an important part of communication in any language. In this lesson, you will learn how to form different types of questions in Hausa, including yes/no questions and wh-questions.
Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions are questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. In Hausa, there are two main ways to form yes/no questions.
- 1. Adding '-n' to the end of a statement
The first way to form a yes/no question is to add '-n' to the end of a statement. For example:
- Statement: Na ce fatan alheri. (I am enjoying the weather.)
- Yes/No question: Ka ce fatan alheri-n? (Are you enjoying the weather?)
Here are a few more examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sun gaji wakar. | /sũ gàjì wàkàr/ | They sang a song. |
| Sun gaji wakar-n? | /sũ gàjì wàkàr-n/ | Did they sing a song? |
| A gamsu da ƙofa. | /à gàmsù dà kófà/ | He closed the door. |
| Ka gamsu da ƙofa-n? | /kà gàmsù dà kófà-n/ | Did you close the door? |
- 2. Using the particle 'kuma'
The second way to form a yes/no question in Hausa is to use the particle 'kuma' at the end of a statement. This is a more formal way of asking a question. For example:
- Statement: Bamu iya zama. (We cannot go.)
- Yes/No question: Bamu iya zama kuma? (Can we go?)
Here are a few more examples:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Wannan ne wani abu ne. | /wànnàn nè wànì àbù nè/ | This is something. |
| Wannan ne wani abu ne kuma? | /wànnàn nè wànì àbù nè kófà-n/ | Is this something? |
| Koda yaushe kaga. | /kòdà yàùshè kàgà/ | Come back later. |
| Koda yaushe kaga kuma? | /kòdà yàùshè kàgà kófà-n/ | Can you come back later? |
Wh-Questions
Wh-questions are questions that start with "wh-" words such as "what", "where", "when", "why", "who", and "how". In Hausa, wh-questions are formed by adding the appropriate "wh-" word to the beginning of a statement. For example:
- Statement: Na amince da ƙazantar da za'a taimake ni. (I need a teacher to help me.)
- Wh-question: Me ka ga masu ƙazantar da za'a taimake ka? (Who can you find as a teacher to help you?)
Here are some more examples of wh-questions in Hausa:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Me ka ga tudun wada? | /mè kà gà tùdùn wàdà/ | Where can I find a taxi? |
| Shin dai ka wani zafi? | /shìn dàì kà wànì zàfì/ | What do you want? |
| Me ka wasu na'urar yaki? | /mè kà wàsù nàwàràr yàkì/ | Who are some good wrestlers? |
| Me ka riga yin maganin kifi? | /mè kà rìgà yìn màgànìn kìfì/ | How do you catch a mouse? |
Note that the word order in wh-questions in Hausa is the same as in statements, with the wh-word at the beginning of the sentence.
Practice
- Form five yes/no questions using the two methods explained earlier.
- Form five wh-questions using different "wh-" words.
Congratulations! You have now learned how to form different types of questions in Hausa. Keep practicing and using them in conversations to improve your skills.