Pronunciation Tip
Yes/No Questions - هَل
هَل questions in Arabic are formulated in such a manner that their answer must be either yes or no hence their classification as yes/no questions. Generally, these questions start with هَل or أ. The particles هَل and أ may be used interchangeably with no change to the meaning. While هَل stands alone at the beginning of the interrogative sentence, أ is always attached to the word that follows it.
When Standard Arabic is spoken, you will also hear yes/no questions formulated without the use of either question word. You will also encounter this kind of question in writing that emulates the spoken standard language as in novels or in plays.
أنتِ تدرسين العربيّة؟
In writing, the potential ambiguity resulting from the absence of the question words هَل or أ is resolved thanks to the question mark. In speech, however, the clue for distinguishing an affirmative sentence from an interrogative one lies in the intonation. Example:
Intonation in هَل questions rises at the end of the sentence regardless of whether هَل or أ are used or left out. This is the key difference between هَل questions and wh-questions examined in chapter 1 where the stress lies on the question word itself.
Compare the following examples and note how the intonation rises in the last word in example 1 while it falls in example 2 as the question word أينَ gets the stress.
Practice
Listen to the following yes/no questions and practice asking them, making sure that your intonation rises at the end of the question. Click to check your answers and practice some more.
meaningDoes Maha's mother work in the university? meaningDoes your family live in the U.S.? meaningAre you (masculine singular) lonely? meaningAre you (masculine singular) hungry? meaningAre you (feminine singular) a student? meaningIs he a professor?Listen to the following sentences and decide which ones are affirmative and which are interrogative by paying attention to the intonation. The sentences are hidden, but, after listening, you may click on the button to the right to see the sentences in print.
meaningYou (masculine singular) are really busy. meaningAre you really busy? meaningYou (feminine singular) are from Cairo. meaningAre you from Cairo? meaningIs he a new student (masculine singular)? meaningHe is a new student.Speak to Your Instructor
Practice listening and saying the following sentences in preparation for the chat session where you will be asked to read them aloud to your instructor.
meaningDo you (masculine singular) study chemistry? meaningIs he Egyptian? meaningAre you (feminine singular) a translator? meaningAre you (feminine singular) really busy? meaningWho is the new teacher (feminine singular)? meaningIs the new teacher (feminine singular) really good? meaningWhere does Mahmoud work? meaningDoes he work in the United Nations? meaningWhich city does Maha's mother live in? meaningDoes Maha's mother live in Cairo?