че

Content Clauses with Че

Level 2Sounds Like če

Че means "that" after verbs like мисля, знам, казвам, радвам се: Знам, че си зает. (I know that you are busy.)

How It Works

1. Common verbs before че. мисля (think), знам (know), казвам/кажа (say), чувам (hear), виждам (see), надявам се (hope), радвам се (be glad), сигурен съм (I am sure):

  • Мисля, че е прав. (I think he is right.)
  • Сигурен съм, че ще успееш. (I am sure you will succeed.)

2. Че or да? Че reports a fact or a belief. After verbs of wanting, or when you tell someone to do something, use да. Compare Казах му, че идвам. (I told him that I am coming.) with Казах му да дойде. (I told him to come.) See wanting someone else to act.

3. Че or дали? For a yes/no question inside a sentence ("whether", "if"), use дали: Не знам дали ще дойде. (I don't know if he will come.)

4. Short answers. Мисля, че да. (I think so.) Мисля, че не. (I don't think so.)

5. Everyday "because". In conversation, че after a request or warning can give a reason: Облечи се добре, че навън е студено. (Dress warmly, it's cold outside.) For a clear, neutral reason, use защото.

Comma. Put a comma before че when it follows the main clause. See commas before subordinate clauses.

Examples (6)

  1. Мисля, че е прав.

    I think he is right.

  2. Знам, че си зает.

    I know that you are busy.

  3. Тя каза, че ще закъснее.

    She said that she would be late.

  4. Радвам се, че дойде.

    I'm glad you came.

    English can drop "that"; Bulgarian keeps че.

  5. Надявам се, че времето ще е хубаво.

    I hope the weather will be nice.

  6. Облечи се добре, че навън е студено.

    Dress warmly, it's cold outside.

    In everyday speech, че can give a reason after a request.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out че, as English can leave out "that".

    Мисля е прав.
    Мисля, че е прав.

    Bulgarian always needs че to join the two clauses.

  • Using че after искам.

    Искам, че дойдеш.
    Искам да дойдеш.

    After verbs of wanting, the second action goes in a да-clause, not a че-clause.

  • Leaving out the comma before че.

    Знам че си зает.
    Знам, че си зает.

    The standard spelling rules separate a че-clause from the main clause with a comma.

How It Connects

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чеLevel 2Content Clauses with Че

Learn This First

Че clauses follow the first clause connectors.

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Patterns that build on this one.

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Words in This Pattern