4 The shoemaker is sitting outside. 5 How many persons are present to-day? 6 Your tailor is here now. 7 There was a Chinaman in the kitchen just now. 8 For three weeks my elder brother has been ill. 9 The gardener has the hoe. 10 If you have an umbrella go and get it. 11 Take these flowers to your elder sister. 12 Take that mat outside. 13 Go and get my shoes. 14 A man is bringing them.
LESSON XI.
Questions and Answers.
56. The interrogative form may be obtained by adding the suffix -kah to the auxiliary verb or any emphatic word in the sentence, as,
boleh-kah angkau datang? can you come?
57. When the sentence contains an interrogative adverb or pronoun, the suffix -kah is seldom used, as,
kapal deri mana ini? whence is this ship?
apa nama kayu ini? what is the name of this tree?
58. In conversation, the interrogation is usually expressed by the tone of voice, and the frequent use of the suffix -kah should be avoided.
59. The word “yes,” ya, is very seldom used in Malay in reply to an interrogation. A reply in the affirmative may be expressed in several different ways. If the question contains an auxiliary verb, the repetition of the auxiliary expresses the affirmative, as,
kapal sudah sampai-kah? has the ship arrived?
sudah, yes.
60. Similarly the verb or some emphatic word in the question may be repeated, as,
mau hujan-kah? will it rain?
hujan, tuan, yes, sir.
mem ada? is the lady at home?
ada, yes.
bsar-kah Pulau Percha itu? is Sumatra a big island?
bsar, tuan, yes.
61. The affirmative is often expressed simply by the pronoun of the first person, as,
