Can you make generalized statements, or rules, concerning the formation of questions in Hebrew, based on the examples given below? Each example contains a declarative sentence and the parallel question or questions. Word-by-word translations are given in parenthesis.
hi lomedet ivrit. (She studies Hebrew)
ha'im hi lomedet ivrit? (question-marker she studies Hebrew?)
hi lomedet ivrit? (she studies Hebrew?)
hem yoshvim bakita. (They sit in-the-class)
hem yoshvim bakita? (they sit in-the-class?)
ha'im hem yoshvim bakita? (question-marker they sit in-the-class?)
hu medaber im hamore. (He speaks with the-teacher)
im mi hu medaber? (with who he speaks?)
dina yoshevet al-yad yoram. (Dina sits next-to Yoram)
al-yad mi dina yoshevet? (next-to who Dina sits?)
hem kotvim sipur al hatiyul. (They write a-story about the-trip)
al ma hem kotvim sipur? (about what they write a-story?)
English speakers who study Hebrew as a second language often produce sentences like "ma hem kotvim sipur al?" or "mi hu medaber im?", which are incorrect. Can you suggest a reason for such an error?