Question Word + ли (Wondering)

Wondering Questions with Ли

Level 5Sounds Like li v ritorični vʺprosi

Какво прави? asks what he is doing. Какво ли прави? means I wonder what he is doing. No answer is expected.

How It Works

1. Two particles, two jobs. In yes-no questions ли makes the question. A question with кой, какво or къде is already a question, so adding ли changes its tone: the speaker wonders rather than asks.

  • Кой е звънял? (Who called?)
  • Кой ли е звънял? (I wonder who called.)

2. Position. Ли comes right after the question word, before any other short forms: Какво ли ще му кажа? (I wonder what I will tell him.) Защо ли не ми се обажда? (I wonder why he isn't calling me.)

3. Mood. The same form can show curiosity, worry or tired doubt: Кога ли ще спре този дъжд? (I wonder when this rain will stop.) It is common when talking to yourself.

4. With не: everyone, everything, everywhere. Add не before the verb and the question means the opposite of nobody: Кой ли не го познава! (Who doesn't know him! = Everybody knows him.) Какво ли не опитахме! (We tried everything imaginable!) See also къде ли не.

5. Related ways to wonder. Дали asks whether something is so: Дали ще дойде? (I wonder if he will come.) Нима shows surprise. Ли after another word puts focus on that word.

Examples (6)

  1. Кой ли е звънял толкова рано?

    I wonder who called so early.

  2. Какво ли прави сега Мария?

    I wonder what Maria is doing now.

  3. Къде ли оставих ключовете?

    Where on earth did I leave the keys?

  4. Кога ли ще спре този дъжд?

    I wonder when this rain will stop.

  5. Кой ли не го познава!

    Everybody knows him!

    Word by Word: Who (I wonder) doesn't him know!

    With не, the wondering question becomes a strong statement.

  6. Защо ли не ми се обажда?

    I wonder why he isn't calling me.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting ли after the verb instead of after the question word.

    Какво прави ли сега?
    Какво ли прави сега?

    In a wondering question, ли comes right after the question word. After the verb it would try to make a yes-no question, which clashes with какво.

How It Connects

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Question Word + ли (Wondering)Level 5Wondering Questions with Ли

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Wondering questions extend focusing with ли.

Words in This Pattern