Symbols used:
WH | Wh-question. |
Y/N | Yes/no question. |
InS | In situ. |
All examples from: Tiprens-la (CaraïbEditions) (TP) and Poullet & Telchid (2010) (P&T).
Guadeloupean – Direct questions
Wh Questions
Type | Example | Source |
InS
Kibiten |
Sensan milyon kibiten ?
Five.hundred million of.what “Five hundred millions of what?” |
TP |
InS
Kimoun |
Yo sé ta kimoun ?
They COPpres that.of who “They belong to whom?” |
TP |
InS
Kisa |
Pou obliyé kisa ?
To forget what “To forget what?” |
TP |
InS
Kisa |
Minis a kisa ?
Minister of what “Minister of what?” |
TP |
InS
Kisa |
On kisa ?
“A what?” |
TP |
InS
Kisa |
Atann kisa ?
Wait what “Wait for what?” |
TP |
InS
Kisa |
On déklarasyon a kisa ? Ka i pasé ?
A declaration of what ? What it happen? “A declaration of what? What happened?” |
P&T |
InS
Poukisa |
Wont poukisa ?
Shame why “Shame of what?” |
TP |
WH
Asi kisa |
Monsényè…asi kisa ou mèt ?
My.king…on what you rule “My king…on what do you rule?” |
TP |
WH
Asi kisa |
Asi kisa Wa-la té pé byen ka fè gòj konsa ?
On what King-DEF ANT can well HAB do yoke like.this “On what could the King be able to rule?” |
TP |
WH
Hokonsa+N |
Hokonsa lajan pap’a-y ka gannyé ?”
How.much money dad’of-he HAB make “How much money does his dad make?” |
TP |
WH
Hokonsa+N |
Hokonsa kilo i ka pézé ?
How.many kilo he HAB weight “How many kilos does he weight?” |
TP |
WH
Hokonsa+N |
Hokonsa frè i ni ?
How.many brother he have “How many brother does he have?” |
TP |
WH
Ka
|
Mé ka i ka fè sa ka rivé-mwen ?
But what it PROGR make this PROGR arrive-me “But what makes this happen to me?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou ka di la ?
What you PROGR say here “What are you saying?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Eben ka i fè, tifi-lasa ?
So what she do, girl-DEM “So what did that girl do?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka yo pé ka rakonté konsa ?
What they can PROGR tell like.this “What can they possibly be talking about?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka zò té ké vlé manjé ?
What you(PL) ANT IRR want eat “What would you like to eat?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Mé ka ou vlé an di-w ?
But what you want I tell-you “But what do you want me to tell you?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Elwa ka ou bizwen pati an Fwans fè ?
Eloi what you need leave in France do “Eloi, what are you leaving to France for?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
E ka zò fè aprésa ?
And what you(PL) do after “And what did you do afterwards?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Mé ka ou fè pou ou las tout las a-w lasa ?
But what you do for you tired all tired of you DEM “But what have you done to be this exhausted?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou ni ?
What you have “What do you have?/What’s wrong with you?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka sa yé on jéograf ?
What this COPint a geographer “What is a geographer?” |
TP |
WH
Ka |
Ka sa vlé di ?
What this want say “What does this mean” |
TP |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou ka fè la ?
What you HAB/PROGR do here “What do you do/what are you doing here?” |
TP |
WH
Ka |
E, pou fè chapo-la tonbé atè, ka pou fè ?
And, to make hat-DEF fall to.the.ground, what to do “And what to do to make the hat fall to the ground?” |
TP |
WH
Ka |
Ka sa yé biten-lasa ?
What this COPint thing-DEM “What’s this/that thing?” |
TP |
WH
Ka |
Mé…ka ou ka fè la ?
But…what you PROGR do here “But…what are you doing here?” |
TP |
WH
Ka |
Ka i ni madanm ?
What it have madame? “What’s going on, Madame?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka yo ka di ?
What they PROGR/HAB say? “What do they say/What are they saying?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou tini?
What you have? “What do you have?/What’s going on?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou vlé fè ?
What you want do? “What do you want to do?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou kyenn ?
What you catch ? “What did you catch?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Ka ou fè Adalbè ?
What you do Adalbert? “How are you doing, Albert?” |
P&T |
WH
Ka |
Bonjou konmè, ka ou fè ?
Good morning dear, what you do ? “Good morning dear, how are you doing?” |
P&T |
WH
Ki |
Ki laj a-y ?
What age og-he “What’s his age” |
TP |
WH
Ki |
Ki son a vwa a-y ?
What sound of voice of-he “What’s the sound of his voice?” |
TP |
WH
Ki |
Ki non a-w ?
What name of-you? “What’s your name?” |
P&T |
WH
Ki+N |
Jik ki lè sé moun-la ka rété an simityè-la ?
Till what time PLUT person-DEF HAB stay in cimitery-DEF “Until what time are these people staying in the cimitery?” |
P&T |
WH
Ki+N |
Mé adan ki kinmin antré a kous-la ké fèt lanné-lasa ?
But in which district finish.line of race-DEF IRR do year-DEM “But in which district will the finisch line of the race be this year?” |
P&T |
WH
Ki+N |
A ki lè ?
At what time “What time?” |
P&T |
WH
Ki+N |
Asi ki planèt ou sòti ?
On what planet you come.from “From which planet do you come?” |
TP |
WH
Ki+N |
Ki lè i yé ?
What hour it COPint ? “What time is it?” |
P&T |
WH
Ki+N |
Ki nouvèl a-w?
What news of-you? “What’s new?” |
P&T |
WH
Kifè |
Kifè ou anpenn ?
Why you sad ? “Why are you sad?” |
P&T |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan fè ni machann la ?
What do have merchant here “How comes there are merchants here?” |
P&T |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan ou ké démélé-y ?
How you IRR help-she “How will you help her?” |
P&T |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan fè ou fen tout fen a-w lasa
What do you be.hungry all hunger of-you DEM “How comes you’re this hungry?” |
P&T |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan jé i pisimyé ?
What game he prefer “Which games does he prefer?” |
TP |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan a vòlé-la daprè sa ou rivé vwé ?
Which.type of thief-DEF according.to that you arrive see? “How was the thief, according to what you could see?” |
P&T |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan i yé ?
How he COPint ? “What does he look like?” |
P&T |
WH
Kijan |
Kijan fè i té ka tann dézòd ?
How make she ANT PROGR hear noise? “How came she was hearing some noise?” |
P&T |
WH
Kilès |
Kilès i non a-w? Klèrnita oben Gyenbo ?
Which that name of-you? Klèrnita or Gyenbo? “Which is your name? Klèrnita or Gyenbo?” |
P&T |
WH
Kilès+N |
Kilès konséyé-la ou konnèt-la ?
Which counselor-DEF you know DEF2 “Which is the counselor you know?” |
P&T |
WH
Kimoun |
Kimoun ka okipé di-y ?
Who PROGR take.care of-it “Who’s going to take care of it?” |
P&T |
WH
Kimoun |
Kimoun ou yé ?
Who you COPint? “Who are you?” |
P&T |
WH
Kimoun |
Kimoun sa té pé yé ?
Who this ANT can COPint ? “Who could it be?” |
P&T |
WH
Kisa |
Kisa lòd-la ka di ?
What order-DEF HAB say “What does the rule say?” |
TP |
WH
Kisa |
Kisa an ka fè épi yo ?
What I HAB do with they “What do I do with them?” |
TP |
WH
Kisa |
É kisa ou ka fè avè sé zétwal-lasa?
And what you HAB do with PLUR star-DEM “And what do you do with these/those stars?” |
TP |
WH
Kisa |
É kisa ou ka fè avè sen-san milyon zétwal ?
And what you HAB do with five-hundred million star “And what do you do with five hundred millions of stars?” |
TP |
WH
Kisa |
Sé pikan-la, kisa yo ka sèvi ?
PLUR thorn-DEF, what they HAB be.useful “The thorns, what’s their use?” |
TP |
WH
Kisa |
Alò sé pikan-la, kisa yo ka sèvi ?
So PLUR thorn-DEF, what they HAB be.useful “So the thorns, what are they useful for?” |
TP |
WH
Kitan |
Kitan sa ké fèt ?
When this IRR do “When will this happen?” |
TP |
WH
Konmen+N |
Konmen timoun ou ka vwè douvan-w ?
How.many child you PROGR see in.front.of-you “How many children do you see in front of you?” |
P&T |
WH
Konmen+N |
Woulé pou dé jou, é pou konmen lajan ?
Work for two day, and for how.much money “To work for two days, (and) for how much money?” |
P&T |
WH
O |
O ou kay Elwa ?
Where you PROGR.go Eloi “Where are you going Eloi?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola nou kay pé manjé sa ?
Where we PROGR.go can eat this “Where will we be able to eat this?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola ou vlé chayé mouton an-mwen alé ?
Where you want fasten mutton of-me go “Where do you want to fasten my mutton?” |
TP |
WH
Ola |
Ola sa yé sa “akaz a-w” ?
Where this COPint this “house of-you”? “And where is it, this ‘house of yours’”? |
TP |
WH
Ola |
Ola sak a-w té yé ?
Where bag of-you ANT COPint? “Where was your bag?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola ou ka rété ?
Where you HAB live? “Where do you live?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola zòt té kay ?
Where you(PL) ANT PROGR.go “Where were you(PL) going?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola sé tifi-la té kay bengné ?
Where PLUR girl-DEF ANT PROGR.go swim? “Where were the girls going to swim?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Fannélya ola zòt kay konsa ?
Fanélya where you(PL) PROGR.go like.this? “Fanélya, where are you(PL) going like this [=in those swimsuits]?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola nou kay ? Bòdlanmè oben bòrivyè ?
Where we PROGR.go? Seaside or riverside ? “Where are we going? To the seaside or to the riverside ?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola i kay ?
Where he PROGR.go ? “Where is he going?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola ou yé ?
Where you COPint? “Where are you? |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Ola kanklo sòti ?
Where snail come.from? “Where does the snail[1] come from?” |
P&T |
WH
Ola |
Kijansa, ola ou soti ?
What, where you come.from? “What? Where do you come from?” |
P&T |
WH
Pouki |
Pouki ou ka lévé cho ?
Why you PROGR raise hot “Why are you getting mad [=at me]?” |
P&T |
WH
Pouki |
Mé pouki ou vlé sé mouton a-w-la manjé sé tibaobab-la ?
But why you want PLUR mutton of-you-DEF eat PLUR little.baobab-DEF “But why do you want your muttons to eat the little baobabs?” |
TP |
WH
Pouki |
Pouki ?
“Why?” |
TP |
WH
Poukisa |
Mé poukisa ou sòti woulimé-y?
But why you just again.turn.on-it “But why have you just turned it on again?” |
TP |
WH
Poukisa |
Poukisa ou ka bwè ?
Why you HAB/PROGR drink? “Why do you drink/why are you drinking?” |
TP |
WH
Poukisa |
Poukisa pa tini, adan liv-lasa, dòt granmanman désen kon désen a sé baobab-la ?
Why NEG have, in book-DEM, other big drawing like drawing of PLUR baobab-DEF “Why aren’t there, in this book, other big drawings like that of the baobabs?” |
TP |
WH
Poukisa |
Poukisa moun té ké pè on chapo ?
Why person ANT IRR can fear(V) a hat “Why should you fear a hat?” |
TP |
WH
What |
Ka sa vlé di “annadorasyon” ?
What this want say “admiring(A) “What does “a fanatic of mine” means?” |
TP |
[1]The snail is one of the two characters of a dialogue in Poullet&Telchid 2010 (page 8).
Yes/no Questions
Type | Example | Source |
Y/N | Tijan, ou ja filé kouto-la ?
Little.jean, you already sharpen knife-DEF “Little Jean, have you already sharpened the knife?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Ou pa’a rivé dòmi?
You NEG’HAB arrive sleep “You can’t get any sleep?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Ou ka tann vwa ?
You HAB heat voice “Do you hear voices?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Ou ka kwè an ké géri manzè Vyoléta ?
You PROGR believe I IRR recover miss Violet “Do you believe I’ll get better, miss Violet?” |
P&T |
Y/N | I kay suiv tou-la asi bisiklèt a-y ?
He PROGR.go follow tour-DEF on bicycle of-he “Will he be following the tour with his bike?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Karakala sé boug a-w ?
Caracala COPpres friend of-you “Caracala is your friend?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Mari, ou vwè tifi-la i té bò fontenn-la yè?
Mari, you see girl-DEF that ANT edge fountain-DEF yesterday “Mary, did you see the girl who was by the fountain yesterday?” |
P&T |
Y/N | On travay ka atann-vou ?
A work PROGR wait-you “A job that’s waiting for you?” |
P&T |
Y/N | E sé sa ki lasi-w konsa ?
And COPpres this that exhaust-you(SG) like.this “And is it this that exhausted you so?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Zò pa jen rivé trapé-y alò ?
You(PL) NEG ever arrive catch-it then “You never managed to catch it, then?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Ou malad ?
You sick “Are you sick?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Ou ni sé zétwal-la ?
You have PLUR star-DEF “You own the stars?” (astonishment) |
TP |
Y/N | É désant an lanmè a solèy-la an mandé-w la ?
And setting in sea of sun-DEF I asked-you DEF2 And what about the sun setting I asked you for?” |
TP |
Y/N | É sé zétwal-la yo ka kouté-w?
And PLUR star DEF they HAB listen-you “And the stars, do they obey you?” |
TP |
Y/N | Asi tousa ?
On all.this “[You rule] on all of these things?” |
TP |
Y/N | Asi toutbiten ?
On everything “[You rule] on everything?” |
TP |
Y/N | An pé sizé ?
I can sit.down “Can I take a sit?” |
TP |
Y/N | Ou pa té ké ni on paravan délè ?
You NEG ANT IRR have a screen of.air “Don’t you have an air screen, by any chance?” |
TP |
Y/N | Menm sé flè-la i ni pikan-la ?
Also PLUR flower-DEF that have thorn-DEF2 “Also the flowers that have thorns?” |
TP |
Y/N | On mouton, si i ka manjé sé tipyebwa-la, i ka manjé sé flè-la osi ?
A mutton, if it HAB eat PLUR little.tree-DEF, it HAB eat PLUR plower-DEF also “If a mutton eats the little trees, does it eat the flowers as well?” |
TP |
Y/N | Sa vlé di ou sòti asi ondòt planèt alò ?
This want say you come from another planet then “Does this mean you that came from another planet, then?” |
TP |
Y/N | Ou ka di mouton-lasa ké bizwen onlo zèb ?
You PROGR sat mutton-DEM IRR need a.lot grass “Are you saying that this mutton will need a lot of grass?” |
TP |
Y/N | Sa vwé sa?
This true this “Is this true?” |
P&T |
Y/N | A pa ponmoun ou konnèt ?
COP NEG nobody you know? “Wasn’t it anyone you know?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Pa té ni pon dòt moun la ?
NEG ANT have other person there? “Weren’t there any other people ?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Ou ka travay ?
You HAB work? “Do you work?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Zòt pa té kay bò rivyé-la ?
You(PL) NEG ANT PROGR.go riverside-DEF “Weren’t you(PL) going to the riverside?” |
P&T |
Y/N | E-w menm, sa kay?
And-you self, this PROGR.go? “And you, is everything fine?” |
P&T |
Y/N | Sé-w i la alò Wobè ?
COPpres-you that there so Robert? “Is that you, Robert?” |
P&T |
Y/N
(rethoric) |
Sa pa pli séryé é pli fondal ki tout kalkilasyon on gwo misyé touwouj ka fè ?
This NEG more serious and more essential than all calculation a big man all.red HAB do “And isn’t this more serious and essential than all the calculations that a big reddish man does?” |
TP |
Y/N
(rethoric) |
É sa pa séryé chèché-sav poukisa flè ka ba kò a-yo tann mal pou fè pikan i pa ka janmé sèvi ahak ?
And this NEG serious try-know why flower HAB give body of-they so trouble to make thorn that NEG HAB never be.useful nothing “And isn’t it serious to try to understand why the flowers go to a lot of trouble to grow some thorns that aren’t useful are all?” |
TP |
Y/N
Es |
Es ou kay suiv tou-la, lanné-lasa ?
INT you PROGR.go follow tour-DEF, year-DEM “Will you be watching the Tour [=of Guadeloupe] this year?” |
P&T |
Y/N
Es |
Es zò dakò pou fè mas ?
INT you(PL) agree(A) to do mask “Do you agree on getting disguised?” |
P&T |
Y/N
Es |
Mé ès ou ka konpranndi an ké babyé dèjè-y ?
But INT you PROGR understand I IRR scold after-he “But do you (really) think I’m going to scold him?” |
P&T |
Y/N
Es |
Es ou annadorasyon kon annadorasyon ka maké douvan mwen oséryé ?
INT you adoring(A) like adoring(A) that written in.front me seriously “Are you seriously a true fan of mine?” |
TP |
Y/N
Es |
Es i ka sanblé papiyon ?
INT he HAB collect butterfly “Does he collect butterflies?” |
TP |