How to Form Questions in Hindi for English Speakers

Understanding Hindi Sentence Structure

Before diving into questions, it's essential to understand the basic sentence structure in Hindi. Unlike English, which follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, Hindi uses a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure.

Formulating Yes/No Questions

The simplest way to form yes/no questions in Hindi is by adding the interrogative particle, "क्या (kyā)", at the beginning of a statement. This particle directly translates to "is" or "are", depending on context.

Wh-Questions: An Introduction

In Hindi, Wh-questions (who, what, where, when, why, how) are formed using respective question words. These words usually replace the part of the sentence you're asking about.

Using Question Words

• Who: कौन (kaun)
• What: क्या (kyā)
• Where: कहाँ (kahān)
• When: कब (kab)
• Why: क्यों (kyon)
• How: कैसे (kaise)

Examples of Wh-Questions in Hindi

Intonation in Hindi Questions

In spoken Hindi, intonation plays a crucial role in forming questions. The tone often rises towards the end of the question, similar to English. However, this is not always grammatically necessary in written Hindi, where sentence structure and question words suffice.

Practice Forming Questions

Try converting these statements into questions:

• He is reading a book.
• They are going to the market.
• She will arrive tomorrow.