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Questions: Difference between revisions
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A [[Questions|question]] is a [[Glossary#sentence|sentence]] that solicits some information from the listener. There are three main ways to form questions in toki pona.
==
===
To form a yes-or-no question, repeat the main word of the predicate, and add the word [[ala]] between the repetitions.
; sina moku ala moku? : Do you eat?
; ona li pona ala pona tawa sina? : Are they good to you?
=== ''anu'' ===
The [[Category:Particles|particle]] [[anu]] can be used to ask question about alternatives. See the [[anu|article on anu]] for more details.
; ona li
==== ''anu seme'' ====
As a special case, the pair of words ''anu seme'' can be added to the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes-or-no question. [[Sonja Lang]] introduced this style of question in a forum post on [[2003-02-12]]<ref name=newquestiontype>[http://forums.tokipona.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=112]New question type</ref>:
<blockquote>
=== (soft) yes-or-no question ===▼
: (literally: you're coming or what?)
: I think you're coming, but please correct me and tell me what is really happening.
: aren't you coming?
</blockquote>
She compares its meaning to "the way 'oder' can be used in colloquial German."<ref name=newquestiontype /> A question formed with ''anu seme'' typically is less forceful and more open to alternative answers than a question formed by [[#'''verb''' ''ala'' '''verb'''|repeating the main verb]].
=== ''seme'' ===
The [[Category:Particles|particle]] [[seme]] can be used to form general questions. It replaces the word in the sentence the speaker wants information about.
; sina moku e seme? : What are you eating?▼
; sina seme e kili? : What do you do with the fruit?▼
; seme li moku e kili? : Who/What is eating the fruit?
The word [[seme]] can also [[Glossary#modifier|modify]] other words.
; jan seme li moku e kili? : Who (what person) eats the fruit?▼
▲What are you eating?
; jan li moku seme e kili? : How is the person eating the fruit?
; jan li moku e kili seme? : What kind of fruit is the person eating?
== Answering questions in toki pona ==
A positive answer to a yes-or-no question can be given by repeating the word asked about:
; akesi li suwi ala suwi? : suwi.▼
▲What do you do with the fruit?
; Are lizards cute? : Yes.
To say no, repeat the word asked about followed by [[ala]], or use the word [[ala]] on its own.
; sina wile ala wile moku e pipi?
: wile ala.
: ala.
; Do you want to eat bugs? : No.
=== General questions ===
A question asked with [[#''seme''|''seme'']] can be answered with a [[Glossary#sentence|sentence]] providing the information that was asked for.
; ona li pali e seme? : What are they doing?
▲Who (what person) eats the fruit?
; ona li kepeken ilo. : They are using a tool.
== References ==
<references />
▲akesi li suwi ala suwi?
== External resources ==
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