Syntax
q is a verb particle for past or present tense. It precedes the question ending.
| verb | q | la; |
| verb particle | question ending |
| Does (someone) verb?/ Is (something) adjective? |
qU laqla;" Does he come?
kYn\eta\ mHa;qla;" Am I wrong?
ty\ is a positive sentence ending for past or past or present tense.
pf as a verb particle is used for politeness.
| verb | pf | ty\ |
| verb particle | sentence ending |
| (Someone) verbs./ (Someone) is adjective. |
qU lapfty\" He comes.
Kc\bja; mHa;pfty\" You are wrong.
m and BU; sandwich verbs in negative statements.
| m | verb | pf | BU; |
| negative prefix | verb particle | negative sentence ending |
| (Someone) does not verb./ (Someone) is not adjective. |
qU mlapfBU;" He does not come.
Kc\bja; mmHa;pfBU;" You are not wrong.
la; is added to negative statements to construct negative questions.
| m | verb | BU; | la; |
| negative prefix | negative sentence ending | question ending |
| Does not someone verb?/ Is not someone adjective? |
qU mlaBU;la;" Does not he come?
Kc\bja; mmHa;BU;la" Are not you wrong?
Note: Use of the verb particle pf in negative questions is rare.