Language/Lingala/Grammar/Wh--Questions
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Learning how to form wh- questions in Lingala is an important skill to have when communicating with others. Whether you are asking for information, seeking clarification, or just making conversation, forming wh- questions allows you to better engage with those around you. In this lesson, we will cover the basics of wh- questions in Lingala, including the different question words and how to use them in sentences.
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: The Imperative Mood & The First 10 Verbs.
Wh- Questions
In Lingala, there are six main question words that are used to ask wh- questions. These words are:
- Nani - Who
- Nini - What
- Nde - When
- Kuna - Where
- Lipanda - Why
- Na ko - How
When asking a question using one of these question words, it is important to remember to always put the question word at the beginning of the sentence. This allows the listener to know that you are asking a question.
Examples
Let's take a look at some examples of wh- questions in Lingala:
Who
Lingala: Nani ya yango ? Pronunciation: [na-nee ya yan-go] English: Who is he/she?
What
Lingala: Nini ya mayi ? Pronunciation: [nee-nee ya may-ee] English: What is this?
When
Lingala: Nde moko na moko ? Pronunciation: [n-de mo-ko na mo-ko] English: When is it?
Where
Lingala: Kuna mboka ya mingi ? Pronunciation: [koo-na m-bo-ka ya min-gee] English: Where is the city center?
Why
Lingala: Lipanda ya motema na yo ezali nini ? Pronunciation: [li-pan-da ya mo-te-ma na yo ey-za-lee nee-nee] English: Why is your heart beating fast?
How
Lingala: Na ko landa Lingala ? Pronunciation: [na ko lan-da lin-ga-la] English: How do I learn Lingala?
Forming Wh- Questions
To form a wh- question in Lingala, we start with the question word, followed by the predicate or verb, and then the subject. In Lingala, the subject always comes last in a sentence.
Question Word + Verb + Subject
Let's take a closer look at each part of this sentence structure.
Question Word
As we mentioned earlier, Lingala has six main question words for forming wh- questions. These words always come at the beginning of the sentence and are used to identify what type of information we are asking for.
Verb
After the question word, we use a predicate or verb to complete the question. This can be any verb that makes sense in the context of the question, such as "is," "are," "do," or "does."
Subject
Finally, we end the sentence with the subject of the question. This is typically a person, place, or thing that we want more information about.
Examples of Wh- Questions
Let's take a look at some more examples of wh- questions in Lingala:
Lingala: Na ko omonaki ko lula bilamba ? Pronunciation: [na ko o-mo-na-kee ko lu-la bee-lam-ba] English: How do you cook rice?
Lingala: Kuna mosala ya bato ? Pronunciation: [koo-na mo-sa-la ya ba-to] English: Where is the bathroom?
Lingala: Nani mpenza na yo ? Pronunciation: [na-nee m-pen-za na yo] English: Who is your friend?
Lingala: Nde ezali libale na yo ? Pronunciation: [n-de ey-za-lee li-ba-le na yo] English: When is your birthday?
Lingala: Lipanda ya ko lingi koluka ? Pronunciation: [li-pan-da ya ko lin-ghee ko-lu-ka] English: Why do you like to sing?
Lingala: Nini ebele ya moto moko na moko ? Pronunciation: [nee-nee e-be-leya mo-to mo-ko na mo-ko] English: What is the name of this song?
Conclusion
In conclusion, learning how to form wh- questions in Lingala is an important skill to have when communicating with others. By using the six main question words in Lingala, you can ask for information, seek clarification, and engage in conversation more effectively. With practice and repetition, you'll be able to master the art of forming wh- questions in no time!
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Subject Pronouns & Conditional Mood.
Other Lessons
- Subject Pronouns
- Give your Opinion
- Prepositions
- Adjectives
- The Past Tense To Be
- Personal pronouns
- Subject pronouns
- Forming Imperatives
- Present progressive tense
- Irregular verbs – kolia – to eat
Sources
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