Questions and answers
Questions rearrange nothing. Put ker ‘what’ (or a related ker-word) in the slot where the answer belongs, and leave the rest of the sentence exactly as it was.
| Question | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Toreta ri kerroko? | toilet RI what-place | Where is the bathroom? |
| Tu ri ire ver kerroko? | you RI go toward what-place | Where are you going? |
| Tis ri ker moni? | this RI what money | How much is this? |
| Keromo ri sanaomo? | what-person RI heal-person | Who is the doctor? |
The question words
They are all ker plus the root for the kind of thing you are asking about.
| Word | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ker | what | what, which |
| keromo | what-person | who |
| kerroko | what-place | where |
| kertempo | what-time | when |
| kermoto | what-manner | how |
| kerrason | what-reason | why |
‘What is it?’ vs. ‘How is it?’
ker right after ri asks what something is — its identity, or its value. To ask what state it is in, use kermoto there instead.
| Pikotika | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tu nova opus ri ker? | you new work RI what | What is your new job? |
| Tu nova opus ri kermoto? | you new work RI what-manner | How's the new job? |
So Ora ri ker? ‘What time is it?’ and Tu anyoturan ri ker? ‘How old are you?’ both take ker — each wants a value back — while Tu nino ri kermoto? ‘How are your children?’ takes kermoto.
With a verb in the sentence, kermoto asks by what means, and then it needs in: Tu ri sape a Karra in kermoto? ‘How do you know Carla?’ See Prepositional phrases.
Yes-or-no questions
Here there is no slot to fill, so ker, non, or si goes at the end after a comma. Which one you choose says how you expect to be answered.
| Tag | You are | Example |
|---|---|---|
| , ker? | genuinely asking | Tu ri vite a kanis, ker? Do you see the dog? |
| , non? | expecting yes | Tu ri vite a kanis, non? You see the dog, don't you? |
| , si? | seeking agreement | Tu ri vite a kanis, si? You see the dog, right? |
Use ker when you do not know the answer. The other two are asking for confirmation of something you think you already know.
Answering
si and non mean ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Either stands alone, or repeat the verb to be unmistakable.
| Short | Fuller | |
|---|---|---|
| yes | Si. | Si, vite. |
| no | Non. | Non vite. |
Try it yourself
Can you translate these sentences?
- Tu senseyanvin ri kermoto?
Show answer
‘How was your weekend?’ — literally you seven-day-finish RI what-manner.
- Musi ri apa in kerora?
Show answer
‘What time does the music start?’ kerora is what-hour, sitting in the slot an hour would occupy.
- ‘Is the fish fresh?’ (Fish is akupeste; fresh is nova)
Show answer
Akupeste ri nova, ker?