How to ask questions in Arabic part 6

 The interrogative Pronouns : which

The pronoun 'ayy(u) أَيُّ = "which (of)"

This pronoun will only mean "which?" when it is in the construct state, or when it is a first part of a genitive construction.

Examples:


which picture is the prettiest? = ayu suratin ajmal = أَيُّ صُوْرَةٍ أَجْمَلُ ؟

which language do you speak? = ayu lughatin tatahadath = أَيَّ لُغَةٍ تَتَحَدَّثُ ؟

which city are you from? = min ayi madinatin anta ? = مِنْ أَيِّ مَدِيْنَةٍ أَنْتَ ؟

When 'ayy(u) is followed by pronouns, they will have to be object pronouns, and thus they will be attached.

Attachment of 'ayy(u) to different object pronouns:

Attachment of 'ayy(u) to Object Pronouns

Which (of) you (dual) 'ayukumaa أَيُّكُمَاْ
Which (of) them (dual) 'ayuhumaa أَيُّهُمَاْ
Which (of) us 'ayyu-naa أَيُّنَاْ
Which (of) you (plu. masc.) 'ayukum أَيُّكُمْ
Which (of) you (plu. fem.) 'ayukuna أَيُّكُنَّ
Which (of) them (plu. masc.) 'ayuhum أَيُّهُمْ
Which (of) them (plu. fem.) 'ayuhuna أَيُّهُنَّ

Examples :

which one of you took this? = ayukum akhadha hdha = أَيُّكُمْ أَخَذَ هَذَاْ ؟

which of them have you seen? = ayuhum ra'ayta ? =أَيَّهُمْ رَأَيْتَ ؟

to which of you will I send it? ='ilaa 'ayikunna 'ursiluha =إِلَىْ أَيِّكُنَّ أُرْسِلُهَاْ ؟
'ayy(u) Meaning "Any"

The meaning of 'ayy(u) can change to "any" in questions and in negative statements.

Examples:

have you seen any duck?= hal ra’yta aya batah = هَلْ رَأَيْتَ أَيَّ بَطَّةٍ ؟
Any's

Anybody= 'ayu shakhs(in) أَيُّ شَخْصٍ

Anyone= 'ayu waahid(in) أَيُّ وَاْحِدٍ
'ayu 'ahad(in) أَيُّ أَحَدٍ

Anything= 'ayu shay'(in) أَيُّ شَيْءٍ

Anytime= 'ayu waqt(in) أَيُّ وَقْتٍ
'ayu zamaan(in) أَيُّ زَمَاْنٍ
'ayu zaman(in) أَيُّ زَمَنٍ
'ayu heen(in) أَيُّ حِيْنٍ
'ayu 'awaan(in) أَيُّ أَوَاْنٍ
'ayu saa"a(tin) أَيُّ سَاْعَةٍ

Anyway= 'ayu tareeqa(tin) أَيُّ طَرِيْقَةٍ
'ayu waseela(tin) أَيُّ وَسِيْلَةٍ
Anywhere 'ayu makaan(in) أَيُّ مَكَاْنٍ

letters between brackets it means u can pronounce them or not both are correct because the pronounciation differ accordin' to the sentence

Do u have any question ? = hal ladaykum ayu su'aal = هل لديكم اي سؤال ( here ayu is used to mean any )

which question ? = ayu su'aal = اي سؤال . here ayu means which.


By: Ŝtĕlla Esperanza