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Yes/No-Questions

Aktualisiert: 15. Juli 2023

Yes/No-questions in Islandish are formed using the question word či. The question word follows the finite verb immediately or is fronted. It cannot stand at the end of the sentence.


Šelčeš či Querítelu?

Či šelčeš Querítelu?

Do you live in Querítel?


Či rabeš? Do you work?


If the verb has an accusative object, it can be fronted, deleting the question word in the process:


Ričeš či čelinu?

Čelinu ričeš?

Do you see that house?


If the object is a personal pronoun, it can be used in its short form in the fronted position:


Řičeš či mete?

Me ričeš?

Do you see her?


If the object is an adjective + a noun, then the finite verb can be inserted after the adjective, i. e., only the adjective is fronted. If there are more adjectives, only the first one can be fronted.


Žina pleš pukova? Do you know that little boy?

Nerégo pleš žinégo oža? Do you know my little son.


Answers

  • igradňi - true

  • bo - yes (colloquial ),

  • iosprši - false

  • u(z) - no

  • mňo - maybe (colloquial mňó)

To reinforce the answer, use the auxiliary verb of the question in positive or negative form or the verb zmiti (do).


Jabrzdeš či vzi čiľi? Bo, zmidem. Will you come home? Yes, I will.

Ňe ga riknel niš ľeňégo? Uz, unám. Have you seen anything new? No, I haven't.


Negative yes/no questions

Questions with a negative uči are used to express doubt or surprise, together with a bit of irritation, because the speaker expected something which doesn't seem to have been fullfilled.


The question word uči must be fronted and cannot be deleted with the object. The pronoun after uči can still be short form.


Uči šelčeš Querítelu? You do not live in Querítel? (The speaker supposed the other party was living in Querítel.)

Uči me ričeš? You do not see her?


In an answer, "yes" means the supposition was true, "no" - the supposition was false.


Uči jabrzdeš vzi čiľi? Bo, zmidem. You do not come home? Oh yes, I do (come home).


If instead of the question word, the verb is negated, no supposition or doubt is expressed, and a yes-answer means the negative is true. This kind of question is used to express accidentality.


Nerú uniš čerň riknel? Bo, unám. Didn't you (by chance) see my book? No, I didn't.










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