To ask a question, -o is added to the end of the verb or modal verb. Lets make questions tense-wise.
Present tense
Simple present *
1) njaan nadakkunnu = I am walking / I walk
njaan nadakkunno ? = am I walking?
2) avar pookunnu = they are going / they go
avar pookunno ? = are they going? / do they go?
3) ooduka -> oodunnu ( run ) - oodunno ?
4) cheyyuka -> cheyyunnu ( do ) - cheyyunno ?
Present continuous tense
Here we use the root form of the verb and the modal verb 'aanu'. Remember: The modal verb always at the end of the sentence. To make a question, we add 'instead of 'aanu'
1) ningal nadakkuka aanu = you are walking
ningal nadakkuka aano ? = are you walking ?
2) avar oru apple kazhikkuka aanu = they are eating an apple
(oru=a, an)
avar oru apple kazhikkuka aano ? = are they eating an apple ?
3) avar oru apple thinnuka aanu = they are eating an apple
avar oru apple thinnuka aano ? = are they eating an apple ?
4) aval uranguka aano ? = is she sleeping ?
5) amma book vaayikkuka aanu = mom is reading the book
amma book vaayikkuka aano ? = is mom reading the book ?
Past tense
Here simply add -o to the end of the past tense of the verb. Below, the verb, past tense and the question are given.
1) njaan pooyi = I went;
njaan pooyio ? = did I go? ( also 'pooyo' )
2) avar vannu = they came
avar vannuo ? = Did they come ? ( also 'vanno' )
3) ningal ithu cheythu = you did it
ningal ithu cheythuo ? = did you do it? ( also 'cheytho' )
4) Miel innale wine kudichu = Miel drank wine yesterday
Miel innale wine kutichuo ? = Did Miel drink wine yesterday ?
( also 'kuticho' ?)
For the following verbs, there are two possibilities as above. But if the word ends in 'i' then there is only one form-'io'
Simple past tense
pookuka - pooyi- pooyio / pooyo?
varuka - vannu- vannuo /vanno?
ooduka - oodi-oodio? ( 'oodo' is incorrect )
paatuka - paadi-paadio? ( 'paado' is incorrect )
ezhuthuka - ezhuthi-ezhuthio ?
nadakkuka - nadannu-nadannuo/ nadanno?
irikkuka - irunnu-irunnuo/irunno
kidakkuka - kidannu -kidanno ?
parayuka - paranju-paranjo?
choodikkuka - choodichu-chodicho?
kelkkuka - keettu-keetto?
vaayikkuka - vaayichu- vaayicho?
thinnuka - thinnu-thinno?
kazhikkuka - kazhichu-kazhicho?
kaanuka - kandu-kando?
kodukkuka - koduthu-kodutho?
Past continuous tense
Here we use aayirunnu, which means was/were in english. But to make a question we add aayirunno ?
1) njaan nadakkuka aayirunnu = I was walking
njaan nadakkuka aayirunno ? = Was I walking
2) avar oru apple kazhikkuka aayirunnu = they were eating an apple
avar oru apple kazhikkuka aayirunno ? = Werethey eating an apple?
3) avan oru apple thinnuka aayirunnu = he was eating an apple
avan oru apple thinnuka aayirunno ? = Was he were eating an apple?
4) aval uranguka aayirunno ? = Was she sleeping ?
5) amma book vaayikkuka aayirunno ?= Was mom reading the book ?
Also using was/were (aayirunnu) we can make sentences like,
innale Sunday aayirunnu = yesterday was Sunday ( innale=yesterday )
innale Sunday aayirunno ? = Was yesterday Sunday ( innale=yesterday )
Future tense
it is very easy to make future tense. Just replace -uka from the end of the root verb by -um. But to make question add -umo
Simple future tense
1) ningal pookum =you will go
njaan pookumo ? = will you go ?
2) avan varum = he will come ( varuka = to come )
avan varumo ? = Will he come?
3) ningal naale parayum = you will tell tomorrow ( naale = tomorrow, parayuka = tell, say; )
ningal naale parayumo ? = Will you tell tomorrow ?
4) njaan urangum = I will sleep ( uranguka = to sleep )
njaan urangumo ? = Will I sleep ?
5) Deepa oru paattu paadum = Deepa will sing a song (paaduka = to sing, paattu= song )
Deepa oru paattu paadumo ? = Wil Deepa sing a song?
An offer/request in future !
There is another usage in malayalam, if you offer something to do in future, or obey someone that you will do something in future. It is mostly used in speaking. The rule is add -aam instead of -um. But to make question add -aamo.
njaan homework cheyyaam = i will do homework (teacher asked you to do it and you obey )
ningal homework cheyyaamo ? = Will you do homework ? (you are asking your student)
njaan pookaam = i will go (some one asked you to go and you obey)
ningal pookaamo ? = Will you go ? (You are asking your friend)
njaan partyku varaam = i will come to the party (you give an offer)
ningal partyku varaamo ? =Will you come to the party ?
Question words
enthu = what enthinu = for what (-inu= for)
evide = where evideku = to where (-ku= to)
eppol = when
engene = how ethra = how much / how many
aaru = who aarku = to whome
aarude = whose (-ude = of ) aare kondu = by whome
enthu kondu = why
ithu enthu aanu? -> ithu enthaanu? = what is this?
ningal aaru aanu -> ningal aaraanu? = who are you?
Most of the sentances with the above question words, that we say in our daily life are having the modal verb aanu (=is/are) or aayirunnu (=was/were). This is same for english or any other language. In malayalam, these question words, when comes with aanu, the combination rule is applied.
Also, when you use the question word, the sentance structure is similar to english. That is, the modal verb always comes with the question word. For example, the following are also correct.
enthaanu ithu = what is this ?
aaraanu ningal = who are you ?
evide aayirunnu ningal ? = where were you?
ningal evide aayirunnu ? = where were you?
njaan ithu aarkku kodukkum? = To whome should I give this?
avan enthu konduvarum? = what will he bring?
aval enthu konduvannu? = what did she bring?
ningal enthu konduvarunnu? = what are you bringing?
Unlike in English, in Malayalam, the subject is not very important. Even without the subject, the sentence is correct. Use only if it is necessary. For example
nevide aayirunnu ? = where were (you) ?
ithu aarku kodukkum ? = To whome should I/you... give this?
The subject I/you/he /she etc are assumed according to the context of the speech. This rule is valid not only for question words, but also for all malayalam sentances.