 | Chapter 43 - Questions with Yes/No Answers |
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We use the same word MA in questions to ask "is it", and in negative responses to mean "not".
We use HAA or HAYA = "Yes", at the beginning of an affirmative response and MAYA = "No", at the beginning of a negative response.
Examples:
| QUESTION | AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE | NEGATIVE RESPONSE |
|---|---|---|
| Ma shaah baa? Is it tea? |
Haa, waa shaah. Yes, it is tea. |
Maya, shaah maaha No, it isn't tea. |
| Biyuhu ma kulul yihiin? Is the water hot? |
Haa, biyuhu waa kulul yihiin. Yes, the water is hot. |
Maya, biyuhu kuma kulula No, the water isn't hot. |
| Qaxwuhu ma kulul yahay? Is the coffe hot? |
Haa, qaxwuhu waa kulul yahay. Yes, the coffe is hot. |
Maya, qaxwuhu ma kulula No, the coffee isn't hot. |
| Rootigu ma wanaagsan yahay? Is the bread good? |
Haa, rootigu ayaa wanaagsan. Yes, the bread is good. |
Maya, rootigu ma wanaagsan. No, the bread isn't good. |
| Naagtu ma qurux badan tahay? Is the woman beautiful? |
Haa, naagtu way qurux badan tahay. Yes, the woman is beautiful. |
Maya, naagtu ma qurux badna. No, the woman isn't beautiful. |
| Maanta ma aadaysaa dugsi? Are you going to school today? |
Haa, maanta waxaan aadaya dugsiga. Yes, I'm going to school today. |
Maya, maanta dugsi ma aadayo. No, I'm not going to school today. |
| Maanta ma caano cabaysaa? Are you driking milk today ? |
Haa, maanta waxaan cabaya caano. Yes, I'm drinking milk today. |
Maya, maanta caano ma cabayo. No, I'm not drinking milk today. |
| Sigaar ma cabtaa? Do you smoke cigarettes ? |
Haa, waan cabaa. Yes, I smoke. |
Maya, ma cabi. No, I don't smoke. |
| Daqiiq ma talaa? Is there flour ? |
Haa, way talaa. Yes, there is. |
Maya, ee ma taalo. No, there isn't. |
| Daqiiq ma haysaa? Do you have flour ? |
Haa, waan hayna. Yes, I have. |
Maya, ma hayno. No, I haven't. |
Reminder of some negative conjugations:
| Negative Conjugation in the 1st person singular | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tegid / tag (go) | Cunid / cun (eat) | Siin / sii (give) | Barid/ baro (learn) | |
| Present General | Ma tego | Ma cuno | Ma siiyo | Ma baro |
| Present Continuous | Ma tegeyo | Ma cunayo | Ma siinayo | Ma barayo |
| Past General | Ma tegaynin | Ma cunaynin | Ma siinaynin | Ma baraynin |
| Past Continuous | Ma tegayayn | Ma cunayayn | Ma siinayayn | Ma barayayn |
| Future | Ma tegi doono | Ma cuni doono | Ma siin doono | Ma bari doono |
Interrogative Personal Pronouns:
In cases where the question with MA should not be clear enough, you can add the endings of the personal subject pronouns to MA to specify the person the question is directed to.
| Table of Interrogative Subject Pronouns | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Ma + aan | Miyaan | ||
| You (singular) | Ma + aad | Miyaad | ||
| He | Ma + uu | Miyuu | ||
| She | Ma + ay | Miyay | ||
| We (inclusive) | Ma + aynu | Miyaynu | ||
| We (exclusive) | Ma + aannu | Miyaannu | ||
| You (plural) | Ma + aydin | Miyaydin | They | Ma + ay | Miyay |
Thus, you can rephrase the question Maanta ma aadaysaa dugsi? (= Are you going to school today?) for different people:
| I | Maanta miyaan aadayaa dugsi? | Am I going to school today? |
| You (singular) | Maanta miyaad aadaysaa dugsi? | Are you going to school today? | He | Maanta miyuu aadayaa dugsi? | Is he going to school today? |
| She | Maanta miyay aadaysaa dugsi? | Is she going to school today? |
| We (inclusive) | Maanta miyaynu adaynaa dugsi? | Are we going to school today? |
| We (exclusive) | Maanta miyaannu adaynaa dugsi? | Are we going to school today? |
| You (plural) | Maanta miyaidin adaysaan dugsi? | Are you going to school today? |
| They | Maanta miyay adayaan dugsi? | Are they going to school today? |
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