In a previous post, I wrote about subject pronouns, in the “declarative” (sentence) sense. Of course, a conversation usually consists of both sentences (declarative) and questions (interrogative). So, today will be about the interrogative, so that we can start putting together small conversations.
Here’s a table showing pronouns, the declarative marker, and the interrogative marker for each person. Just like the declarative marker is formed as “waa+suffix,” the interrogative marker is formed as “ma+suffix.” That being said, it comes out looking like “miy+suffix.”
Forming the Interrogative
ENGLISH | SUBJECT | DECLARATIVE | DECLARATIVE (with complement) | INTERROGATIVE |
I | aniga | waan | waxaan | ma+aan = miyaan |
You | adiga | waad | waxaad | ma+aad = miyaad |
He | isaga | wuu | waxuu | ma+uu = miyuu |
She | iyada | way | waxay | ma+ay = miyay |
We (exc.) | aanaga | waannuu | waxaannu | ma+aannu = miyaannu |
We (inc.) | innaga | waynu | waxaynu | ma+aynu = miyaynu |
Ya’ll | idinka | waydin | waxaydin | ma+aydin = miyaydin |
They | iyaga | way | waxay | ma+ay = miyay |
Using the Interrogative
Note: the rest of this post assumes you’re already familiar with the simple past tense (positive). If you need a refresher, click here for the post about the past tense.
Okay, let’s leave the jargon behind. These “ma” words are used similarly to the English question word “do.” Yes/no questions which would begin with “do” in English begin with these “ma+suffix” participles (words) in Somali.
Did you eat lunch? Qado miyaad cuntay? | Yes, I ate lunch. Haa, qado waxaan cunay. |
Did you sleep? Miyaad seexatay? | Yes, I slept. Haa, waan seextay. |
Did you (all) arrive? Miyaydin gaadhteen? | Yes, we arrived. Haa, waannu gadhnay. |
Did they go to Somaliland? Somaliland miyay tageen? | Yes, they went to Somaliland. Haa, Somaliland waxay tageen. |
Did you (all) drink tea? Shaah miyaydin cabteen? | Yes, we drank tea. Haa, shaah waxaannu cabteen. |
Did he enter the house? Guriga miyuu galay? | Yes, he entered the house. Haa, guriga waxuu galay. |
Did she bring breakfast? Quraac miyay keentay? | Yes, she brought breakfast. Haa, quraac waxay keentay. |
Obviously, there aren’t any “no” answers so far — I haven’t learned the negative version of the past tense yes, but I’ll be sure to share when I do!