Chapter 5: Asking Questions and Interrogatives

Section 5.1: Question Words (Kio, Kiu, Kiam, Kie, Kiel, Kial)

In Esperanto, you can form questions using question words, which are similar to their English counterparts. Here are some common question words:

  • Kio - What
  • Kiu - Who/Which (used when selecting from a group or identifying a specific person or thing)
  • Kiam - When
  • Kie - Where
  • Kiel - How
  • Kial - Why

These question words are used to ask for specific information and are essential for constructing meaningful questions in Esperanto.

Section 5.2: How to Form Yes/No and Open-Ended Questions

In Esperanto, you can form two types of questions: yes/no questions and open-ended questions.

  • Yes/No Questions: These questions require a simple "yes" or "no" response. To form a yes/no question, you typically use the word "Ĉu" at the beginning of the sentence. The structure is:

    Ĉu [subject] [verb]?

    For example:

    • Ĉu vi manĝas? - Do you eat?
    • Ĉu ŝi havas libron? - Does she have a book?

  • Open-Ended Questions: These questions ask for more detailed information and usually begin with one of the question words (kio, kiu, kiam, kie, kiel, kial). The structure of open-ended questions is straightforward:

    [Question word] [subject] [verb] [rest of the sentence]?

    For example:

    • Kio estas tio? - What is that?
    • Kiam vi iros al la lernejo? - When will you go to school?
    • Kiel vi sentas vin? - How do you feel?
    • Kie vi loĝas? - Where do you live?
    • Kiu estas via amiko? - Who is your friend?
    • Kial ili ne venis? - Why didn't they come?

Section 5.3: Simple Responses

When answering questions in Esperanto, you can typically respond with "jes" (yes) or "ne" (no) for yes/no questions. For open-ended questions, provide relevant information or details.

  • Ĉu vi manĝas? - Do you eat?

    • Jes, mi manĝas. - Yes, I eat.
    • Ne, mi ne manĝas. - No, I don't eat.

  • Kiam vi iros al la lernejo? - When will you go to school?

    • Mi iros al la lernejo morgaŭ. - I will go to school tomorrow.
    • Mi iros al la lernejo je la oka horo. - I will go to school at 8 o'clock.

  • Kie vi loĝas? - Where do you live?

    • Mi loĝas en urbo. - I live in a city.
    • Mi loĝas en domo apud la rivero. - I live in a house by the river.

By understanding question words and the structure of questions in Esperanto, you can engage in meaningful conversations, gather information, and respond appropriately. Practice asking and answering questions to improve your communication skills in the language.