Lesson V Interrogative Sentences
In asking a question, the tone of the voice sometimes marks the interrogation sufficiently.
Sometimes the interrogation is marked by the use of the particle -kah affixed to the emphatic word of the sentence.
Sometimes the interrogative form of a sentence is shown by the use of such words as—
apa, what?
siapa, who?
ka-mana, where?
bĕr-apa, how many?
mana, who, which, how?
bagei-mana, how?
apa sebab, or
apa buat, or
mengapa why?
Substantives time, kali.
rain, hujan.
market, pasar.
stone, batu.
use, guna.
iron, besi.
steel, baja.
tin, timah.
lead, timah hitam.
copper, tambaga.
box, pĕti.
kind, sort, macham.
tobacco, tambakau.
coffee, kahwah.
tea, teh, cha.
tea (dry), daun teh.
tea (liquid), ayer teh.
money, wang.
jacket, baju.
trousers, saluar.
Examples
What is the matter?— Apa korang?
What is to be done? (i.e., there is nothing to be done)— Apa bulik buat?
What is the use?— Apa guna?
Whence do you come?— Deri-mana datang kamu?
Where are you going?— Handak pergi ka-mana?
Why did you not tell me sooner?— Apa buat ta’bilang dahulu?
What do you say?— Apa kata kamu?
Why do ye run?— Mengapa kumu orang lari?
Where did you get that?— Di-mana-kah angkau dapat itu?
Which tree shall I cut down?— Pokoh mana handak tebang?
How many days ago?— Bĕrapa hari sudah?
When was he at the market?— Bila-mana dia di pasar?
Whose house is this?— Rumah ini siapa punya?
Are there many Chinese in Patani?— Baniak-kah orang China di Patani?
Was it truly he who did it?— Sunggoh-kah dia yang buat?
Is it this one or another?— Ini-kah atau lain-kah?
Is it going to rain?— Handak hujan-kah?
What is the price of this?— Bĕrapa harga ini?
What is the news? (How goes it?)— Apa khabar?
How could I dare to do it?— Macham mana sahaya bĕrani buat?
Exercise
Where is my jacket? What did he say? Why do you come here? Are there any dollars in the box? How many times has it rained this month? Whose tin is this? Who brought this tobacco? Did you demand the money from his father? Whence did you obtain this news? Did you order him to bring the coffee? How many miles (lit. stones) is it to the market? Shall I cut down this tree? Have you seen that play? Who was that who brought the fish? What kind of animal is that? When were you at the house? Why do they not enter?
Sometimes the word apa at the commencement of a sentence gives it an interrogative sense;1 as apa, tuan ta’ makan daging karbau? do you not eat buffalo meat? apa tiada-kah sukar leher bangau itu? what! would not the stork’s neck be inconveniently long? apa tiada-kah tuan-hamba kenal akan bangau itu? does not my lord recognise that stork?2
1. Like the Hindustani kya or the Latin an, num. Forbes’ Hindustani Manual.
2. Sri Rama. Favre’s Grammar, p. 92.