How to Form Questions with Verbs and Particles in Vietnamese

Understanding Question Formation in Vietnamese

Forming questions in Vietnamese is quite different from English. Instead of changing word order or using auxiliary verbs, Vietnamese often uses question particles or intonation to indicate a question. This article will guide English speakers through the basics of forming questions using verbs and particles in Vietnamese.

Yes/No Questions with the Particle "không"

One of the simplest ways to form a yes/no question in Vietnamese is by adding the particle không at the end of a statement. This particle functions similarly to "right?" or "isn't it?" in English.

For example, the statement Bạn ăn cơm means "You eat rice." To turn it into a question, add không at the end: Bạn ăn cơm không? which means "Do you eat rice?" or "Are you eating rice?"

Using the Particle "à" for Confirmation Questions

Another particle used to form questions is à, which is often used to seek confirmation or express surprise. It is placed at the end of a sentence.

Example: Bạn đi học à? translates to "Are you going to school?" or "You are going to school, right?"

Question Words (Wh-Questions) in Vietnamese

Vietnamese uses specific question words to ask for information, similar to English "who," "what," "where," "when," "why," and "how." These question words usually appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.

• Ai – Who
• Gì – What
• Ở đâu – Where
• Khi nào – When
• Tại sao – Why
• Như thế nào – How

For example, to ask "Where are you going?" you can say Bạn đi đâu? where đi means "go" and đâu means "where."

Rising Intonation to Indicate Questions

Sometimes, especially in casual speech, Vietnamese speakers form questions simply by using a rising intonation at the end of a statement without adding any particles.

For example, Bạn ăn cơm? with a rising tone means "Are you eating rice?" even though it looks like a statement.

Summary: Key Points to Remember

1. Add không at the end of a statement for yes/no questions.
2. Use à to seek confirmation or express surprise.
3. Use question words like ai, gì, đâu to ask for specific information.
4. Rising intonation alone can indicate a question in casual speech.