أأنت مسلم؟ / هل انت مسلم؟ I've learned that both هل and أ are used to make a question First I learned هل is put to make a formal question, which sounds polite. Is that the only differencet between هل

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أأنت مسلم؟ / هل انت مسلم؟ I've learned that both هل and أ are used to make a question First I learned هل is put to make a formal question, which sounds polite. Is that the only differencet between هل انت مسلم؟ and أأنت مسلم؟ ? I'd like to know how native speakers feel when they hear both of them. Thanks for your help :)

Jan 17, 2014 8:37 AM

Answers · 18

I can confirm that they have the same meaning , I think people use (أ) when they want the phrase to be short ,but they have exactly the same meaning. - you have to be aware that when asking negative questions only (أ) can be used and not هل examples : ألن تذهب إلى المدرسة غَدًا ؟ : aren't you going to school tomorrow ? (لن will not) ألا يمكنك فعل ذلك ؟ : can't you do that ? ( لا=not) أليست تلك الفتاة أختك ؟ : isn't that girl your sister ? ( ليس=is not ) - when you want an answer from two choices you can only use (أ) and not هل , but many people do that mistake. examples using أم=or أهو صديقك أم أخوك ؟ is he your friend or you brother ? أستأتي معي أم لا ؟ will you come with me or not ? - when answering negative questions use بلى to deny or نعم to agree with, like in the following examples : الجو حار ، أليس كذلك ؟ the weather is hot , isn't it ? answer : - بلى (if you think the weather hot ) - نعم (if you think the weather isn't hot ) that means 'yes it isn't hot ' أليس اليوم عيد ميلادك ؟ isn't it your birthday today ? answer : - بلى (if that day is your birthday) - نعم (if it is not your birthday) that means you agree with him , because he asked a negative Q many people do a lot of mistakes in Arabic because they don't use it in daily life.

January 18, 2014