3.2. Yes/no questions: E
Models
| 1) | YÁ¸ E SW̱? | ‘Did you go?’ or ‘Are you going?’ |
| 2) | ȻENET E ȽTE? | ‘Are we going to take it?’ or ‘Did we take it?’ |
| 3) | YÁ¸ E LE¸ SW̱? | ‘Did you go?’ |
| 4) | ȻENET E ȽTE SE¸? | ‘Are we going to take it?’ |
| 5) | EN¸Á ¸Á SW̱? | ‘Are you coming?’ |
‣ 1 A yes/no question is any question that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’ Some examples of yes/no questions in English are ‘Did you go?’ and ‘Are we going to take it?’
‣ 2 The formation of yes/no questions in SENĆOŦEN is very easy. Simply put E right after the verb.
‣ 3 If there is any tense marker, the E goes before it. But remember that the tense marker is optional if the context makes it clear.
‣ 4 There are types of questions that require an answer other than ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ These other types of questions are the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘how,’ ‘where,’ ‘when,’ and ‘why’ questions. These questions are a little more complicated in SENĆOŦEN and are covered later.
‣ 5 Note that this little particle is never stressed.
‣ 6 Negative yes/no questions like ‘Didn’t you go?’ have a special form in SENĆOŦEN. Negative yes/no questions will be covered with other negative words in §14.
‣ 7 The fifth model shows that the yes/no question marker has a special form when it follows some words ending in a vowel. Use ¸Á instead of E when the verb ends in a vowel.
 | U¸ ÍY¸ E SW̱? | ‘Are you okay?’ |
 | U¸ ÍY¸ SEN. | ‘I’m fine.’ |
| ŚTEṈ E SE¸ SW̱? | ‘Will you walk?’ |
| EWE. ȻONEṈET SEN SE¸. | ‘No. I’ll run.’ |
| 3.2A. Translate each of the following into English. 1.XĆIT E SW̱. 2. NEḴEṈ E SW̱ HÁLE. 3. SÁ¸ET E SE¸ SW̱. 4. ȻONEṈET E ȽTE SE¸. 5. ȽIȾET E LE¸ SW̱ HÁLE. 6. ŚJET E LE¸ SEN. 7. ȻENÁṈETES E SE¸. 8. NEḴEṈ E LE¸. 9. ŚTEṈ E LE¸ SW̱. 10. ȽÁU¸ E SEN SE¸. 11. X̱OṈ E SW̱. 12. JISEṈ E. 13. IȾEṈ E SE¸ SW̱ HÁLE. 14. ȻENET E ȽTE SE¸. 15. W̱ITEṈ E LE¸ SW̱. 16. TȻET E SW̱. 17. ȻÁ¸ET E SE¸ SW̱. 18. W̱EĆET E SEN SE¸. 19. ȻENITES E. 20. ITET E SEN SE¸. | 3.2B. Translate each of the following into SENĆOŦEN. 1. Are we are going to run? 2. Did I sleep? 3. Are you holding it? 4. Will he run away? 5. Are you all going to fly? 6. Did you wake it? 7. Am I going to grow? 8. Did they jump? 9. Am I going to break it? 10. Did you figure it out? 11. Are you going to cry? 12. Will they choose it? 13. Are you all going to lift it? 14. Will you help him? 15. Did he take it? 16. Is she going to hit it? 17. Are they going to cut it? 18. Did we get dressed? 19. Is she going to walk? 20. Will you dive? |
| 3.2C. Write ten SENĆOŦEN yes/no questions not shown above. | |