Yes/No questions past tense

I want to practice question and full-sentence answers forming in Cantonese with you today. We will only focus on yes/ no question this episode and only on past tense or present perfect and past perfect tense. Forming a question in Cantonese is not always more difficult than forming a sentence. The reason why you find forming a question difficult is because there are several ways of asking a yes or no question depending on the tense alone. And then we get the what, why, where, when, who, how questions. I talked about them a little bit in August 2020 last year. I promise I will talk a little more. Today though, I want to spend some time diving through the different structures of the Yes and no questions and you will also get to do some practice. They are the most general ways to form questions and answers. There are always occasions where the question structure is a little different, because Cantonese is a really fluid language. Don’t worry, it’s not difficult. It’s fun! Follow along.

Let me just say at the beginning here, many times you feel tongue tied when you try to form a question in Cantonese is because you don’t quite remember the vocab or the phrase or the structure. So in terms of vocab, you will need to familiarize yourself on time phrases, action verbs and pronouns. Pretty much it! Let’s begin!

If you don’t remember what past tense is like, there is a post about it. Check it out now or whenever.

Quick recap.

咗 (Dummy PY: Jaw), 完 (Dummy PY: Yuen) and 晒 (Dummy PY: Sai), 過 (Dummy PY: Gwoh). Are the past tense indicators.

咗 (Dummy PY: Jaw) is the -ed form.

完 (Dummy PY: Yuen) means something is done, finished or over completely in the past 晒 (Dummy PY: Sigh) also carries the meaning of finishing the remaining amount, or the remainder of the particular action or thing.

過 (Dummy PY: Guo) is indicating that you have done something before, at least have tried it.

This episode I will introduce another past tense indicator to you, it is 到[dou3/dou2]. You will also put it after the verb. With a yes or no question, the most straightforward way is to use a 有[yau5]冇[mou5]have or not have structure.

你[nei5]有[yau5]無[mou4]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]功[gung1]課[fo3]?

Did you do homework? You have or not have done Homework?

Formula: Pronoun + 有[yau5]無[mou4] have or not have + verb + 到[dou3/dou2] past tense indicator + noun?

功[gung1]課[fo3] - Homework/ assignment.

做[jou6]功[gung1]課[fo3] - Do homework/ assignments

做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]功[gung1]課[fo3] - did homework/ assignments

Full Sentence:

我[ngo5]有[yau5]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]功[gung1]課[fo3]。I have done my homework. /

我[ngo5]無[mou4]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]功[gung1]課[fo3]。I have not done my homework.

To answer in short, some items you can omit, for example, the pronoun, time phrase if there is one, nouns usually. But you usually have to have a verb or a verb to be, to form a Cantonese sentence.

Short answers option 1:

我[ngo5]有[yau5]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2]I have done /

我[ngo5]無[mou4]做[jou6]到[dou3/dou2] I have not done

Short answers option 2:

我[ngo5]有[yau5]做[jou6] I have done /

我[ngo5]無[mou4]做[jou6]I have not done

Short answers option 3:

我[ngo5]有[yau5]/ I have/

我[ngo5]無[mou4] / I have not

Short answers option 4:

有[yau5]/ have /

無[mou4]/ not have

Fairly simple. If the question is addressing you, then the subject will have to be I 我[ngo5]. If you are talking about someone else, you keep their pronoun or name. Quite simple. Now your turn.

頭[tau4]先[sin1]哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]?

Did older brother brush his teeth just now?

Just now older brother have or not have brushed teeth?

Formula: Time Phrase (can be moved) + Pronoun + 有[yau5]無[mou4] have or not have + verb + 到[dou3/dou2] past tense indicator + noun?

頭[tau4]先[sin1] - just now, or earlier.

刷[chaat3]牙[nga4] - brush teeth

刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4] - brush -ed teeth

Note that the time phrase, for example, 頭[tau4]先[sin1] - just now, or earlier. Can be placed after the pronoun or at the end of the sentence after the emotion sound.

For example it can be,

哥[go4]哥[go1]頭[tau4]先[sin1]有[yau5]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]?

Did older brother brush his teeth just now?

older brother just now have or not have brushed teeth?

Or

哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]呀[a3]頭[tau4]先[sin1]? Did older brother brush his teeth just now?

Older brother have or not have brushed teeth ah just now?

How would you respond for yes in full sentence?

Good. you can say

頭[tau4]先[sin1]哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]。/

哥[go4]哥[go1]頭[tau4]先[sin1]有[yau5]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]。/

哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]呀[a3]頭[tau4]先[sin1]。

in full sentence, or in short you can omit or not omit the time phrase and just say

哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]/

哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]刷[chaat3]/

哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]/

有[yau5]。

Because the Cantonese language is very fluid, later on I will tell you other ways of responding to the question, but now I don't want to confuse you just yet. So how would you respond to

頭[tau4]先[sin1]哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]?

if it is no, brother didn’t brush his teeth?

Good. you can say

頭[tau4]先[sin1]哥[go4]哥[go1]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]牙[nga4]。

or

哥[go4]哥[go1]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]到[dou3/dou2]/

哥[go4]哥[go1]無[mou4]刷[chaat3]/

哥[go4]哥[go1]無[mou4]/

無[mou4]。

One more example, then we will on the other hand try to form a question in Past tense.

今[gam1]日[yat6]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]有[yau5]無[mou4]去[heui3]到[dou3]睇[tai2]醫[yi1]生[sang1]?

Did mom go to see a doctor today?

Today Mother have or not have gone to see a doctor?

Again time phrase can be put at the beginning of the sentence, after the pronoun or at the end of the sentence after the emotion sound. How do you say yes to this question in full sentence? Good. It will be

今[gam1]日[yat6]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]有[yau5]去[heui3]到[dou3]睇[tai2]醫[yi1]生[sang1].

Or in short, again you can omit the time phrase if you like,

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]有[yau5]去[heui3]到[dou3]睇[tai2]/

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]有[yau5]去[heui3]到[dou3]/

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]有[yau5]去[heui3]/

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]有[yau5]/ 有[yau5]

How about for no? How to say it in full sentence? Good. It will be

今[gam1]日[yat6]媽[ma4]媽[ma1]無[mou4]去[heui3]到[dou3]睇[tai2]醫[yi1]生[sang1].

Or in short,,

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]無[mou4]去[heui3]到[dou3]睇[tai2]/

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]無[mou4]去[heui3]到[dou3]/

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]無[mou4]去[heui3]/

媽[ma4]媽[ma1]無[mou4]/

無[mou4]

Good. Now on the other hand, let’s practice how to form a yes/ no question on the other hand. All you need to do is to convert the answer to a question. For example,

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]有[yau5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]。

Younger sister went to school yesterday.

Yesterday, younger sister had returned to school.

琴[kam4]日[yat6] - yesterday 返[faan1]學[hok6] - go to school, return to school

返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6] - went to school, returned to school

In order to form a question, you will just need to add the word 無[mou4] after the word 有[yau5] in the sentence and slightly raise the tone to be higher at the last sound of the sentence or to add an emotion sound to make it a question. For example,

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]有[yau5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]。

Yesterday little sister went to school.

->

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]有[yau5]冇[mou5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]？

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]有[yau5]冇[mou5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]啊[a1]？

Formula: Time Phrase (can be moved) + Pronoun + 有[yau5]無[mou4] have or not have + verb + 到[dou3/dou2] past tense indicator + noun?

Now same principle, from the sentence,

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]冇[mou5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]。

To turn this sentence to a question, again you will need to add 有[yau5]in front of 無[mou4], and raise the tone of the last sound of the sentence or add an emotion sound to form a question

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]有[yau5]冇[mou5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]？

琴[kam4]日[yat6]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]妹[mui6/mui2/mui4/mui1]有[yau5]冇[mou5]返[faan1]到[dou3]學[hok6]呢[ne1]？

Very good. Now your turn. The sentence is,

早[jou2]幾[gei2]日[yat6]，我[ngo5]有[yau5]睇[tai2]到[dou3]電[din6]視[si6]。

Few days ago, I watched TV.

Or

早[jou2]幾[gei2]日[yat6]，我[ngo5]冇[mou5]睇[tai2]到[dou3]電[din6]視[si6]。

Few days ago, I did not watch TV.

How do you turn it back into a question? Very good. It will be,

早[jou2]幾[gei2]日[yat6]，你[nei5]有[yau5]冇[mou5]睇[tai2]到[dou3]電[din6]視[si6]？

Few days ago, did you watch TV?

How about this?

兩[leung5]年[nin4]前[chin4]，哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]去[heui3]到[dou3]旅[leui5]行[hang4]。 Two years ago, older brother travelled.

Two years ago, older brother has gone travel.

Or

兩[leung5]年[nin4]前[chin4]，哥[go4]哥[go1]冇[mou5]去[heui3]到[dou3]旅[leui5]行[hang4]。

Two years ago, older brother did not travel.

Two years ago, older brother has not gone travel.

What would it be in a question?

兩[leung5]年[nin4]前[chin4]，哥[go4]哥[go1]有[yau5]冇[mou5]去[heui3]到[dou3]旅[leui5]行[hang4]？

Two years ago did older brother go travel?

Now very good. When you want to express past participle, like have you done … before, the format is also very similar. But this time, instead of 到[dou3/dou2] following the verb, 過[gwo3]follows the verb. With the word 過[gwo3]，always keep in the back of your head they are asking again in the past, not at this current moment if you have done something just now. Unless, they give you a specific time frame, otherwise, they are usually asking from the time when you are born until now. For example,

以[yi5]前[chin4]你[nei5]有[yau5]無[mou4]試[si3]過[gwo3]養[yeung5]狗[gau2]?

In the past have you tried keeping dogs?

In the past you have or not have tried keeping dogs?

Formula: Time Phrase (can be moved) + Pronoun + 有[yau5]無[mou4] have or not have + verb + 過[gwo3] past tense indicator + verb phrase?

To say yes, then you again need to fix the pronoun, if it is addressing you then you have to say 我[ngo5]，if they were talking about other people then you can keep the pronoun. To say yes, then you will say Full:

以[yi5]前[chin4]我[ngo5]有[yau5]試[si3]過[gwo3]養[yeung5]狗[gau2]。

In the past, I have tried keeping dogs.

Again you can omit the time phrase or not,

Short:

我[ngo5]有[yau5]試[si3]過[gwo3]養[yeung5]。/ I have tried keeping.

我[ngo5]有[yau5]試[si3]過[gwo3]。/ I have tried.

我[ngo5]試[si3]過[gwo3]。/ I tried.

我[ngo5]有[yau5]。/ I have.

有[yau5]試[si3]過[gwo3]。/ have tried.

試[si3]過[gwo3]。/ tried. 有[yau5]。have

To say no, then you will say, Full:

以[yi5]前[chin4]我[ngo5]冇[mou5]試[si3]過[gwo3]養[yeung5]狗[gau2]。

In the past, I have not tried keeping dogs.

Short:

我[ngo5]冇[mou5]試[si3]過[gwo3]養[yeung5]。/

我[ngo5]冇[mou5]試[si3]過[gwo3]。/

我[ngo5]冇[mou5]。/

冇[mou5]試[si3]過[gwo3]養[yeung5]。/

冇[mou5]試[si3]過[gwo3]。/

冇[mou5]。

Your turn, the question is,

之[ji1]前[chin4]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]有[yau5]冇[mou5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]日[yat6]本[bun2]？

In the past has dad ever been to Japan?

Before dad have not have gone to Japan?

Formula (place): Time Phrase (can be moved) + Pronoun + 有[yau5]無[mou4] have or not have + verb + 過[gwo3] past tense indicator + noun?

日[yat6]本[bun2] - Japan

Once again you can omit or keep the time phrase. To say yes in full sentence?

Full: 之[ji1]前[chin4]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]有[yau5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]日[yat6]本[bun2]。

Short:

爸[ba4]爸[ba1]有[yau5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]。/

爸[ba4]爸[ba1]有[yau5]。/

爸[ba4]爸[ba1]去[heui3]過[gwo3]。/

有[yau5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]。/

去[heui3]過[gwo3]。/

有[yau5]。

To say no in full sentence?

Full: 之[ji1]前[chin4]爸[ba4]爸[ba1]冇[mou5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]日[yat6]本[bun2]。

Short:

爸[ba4]爸[ba1]冇[mou5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]。/

爸[ba4]爸[ba1]冇[mou5]。/

冇[mou5]去[heui3]過[gwo3]。/

冇[mou5]。

How about this question?

表[biu2]弟[dai2]有[yau5]冇[mou5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]過[gwo3]山[saan1]車[che1]？

Has cousin ever rode on a roller coaster?

Cousin has or not has sit-ed a roller coaster?

Formula: Pronoun + 有[yau5]無[mou4] have or not have + verb + 過[gwo3] past tense indicator + noun?

表[biu2]弟[dai2]- male younger cousin

坐[jo6/cho5]- to sit (literal) or to ride (when talking about riding vehicles you would usually use the word 坐[jo6/cho5]）

過[gwo3]山[saan1]車[che1]- roller coaster

To say yes in full,

表[biu2]弟[dai2]有[yau5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]過[gwo3]山[saan1]車[che1]。

Short:

表[biu2]弟[dai2]有[yau5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]。/

表[biu2]弟[dai2]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]。/

表[biu2]弟[dai2]有[yau5]。/

有[yau5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]。/

坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]。/

有[yau5]/

To say no in full,

表[biu2]弟[dai2]冇[mou5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]過[gwo3]山[saan1]車[che1]。

Short:

表[biu2]弟[dai2]冇[mou5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]。/

表[biu2]弟[dai2]冇[mou5]。/

冇[mou5]坐[jo6/cho5]過[gwo3]。/

冇[mou5]。

Very good. Now let’s practice forming the question, Same principle as before. If the sentence is,

我[ngo5]有[yau5]食[sik6]過[gwo3]榴[lau4]槤[lin4]。 I have eaten durian (in the past)

or

我[ngo5]冇[mou5]食[sik6]過[gwo3]榴[lau4]槤[lin4]。 I have not eaten durian (in the past).

To form a question, just add 無[mou4]after 有[yau5]，or Add 有[yau5]in front of 無[mou4]， and raise the tone of the last word of the sentence or add an emotion sound, also pay attention to the pronoun, who are you talking to? So then the question will be?

你[nei5]有[yau5]無[mou4]食[sik6]過[gwo3]榴[lau4]槤[lin4]？

Have you eaten durian Before?

Another example,

我[ngo5]有[yau5]睇[tai2]過[gwo3]Iron man。

I have watched Iron man before.

Or

我[ngo5]無[mou4]睇[tai2]過[gwo3]Iron man。

I have not watched Iron man before.

The question will be,

你[nei5]有[yau5]無[mou4]睇[tai2]過[gwo3]Iron man? Have you watched Iron man before?

Another example,

弟[dai6]弟[dai6]有[yau5]玩[waan2]過[gwo3]包[baau1]剪[jin2]揼[dap6]。

Little brother has played rock paper scissors before.

Or

弟[dai6]弟[dai6]無[mou4]玩[waan2]過[gwo3]包[baau1]剪[jin2]揼[dap6]。

Little brother has not played rock paper scissors before.

包[baau1]剪[jin2]揼[dap6] - rock paper scissors

The question is,

弟[dai6]弟[dai6]有[yau5]無[mou4]玩[waan2]過[gwo3]包[baau1]剪[jin2]揼[dap6]?

Has little brother played rock paper scissors before?