li in Clitic Order

Li in a Clitic Group

Level 6

In a direct or embedded yes–no question, place li after the finite lexical verb or auxiliary. Other clitics follow in their normal order.

How It Works

With a simple present, use the lexical verb as the host: Poznaješ li je? Do not insert an unrelated je before li. With the perfect, use the appropriate full auxiliary: Jesi li je vidio?

Object clitics follow li: Jesi li mu ga poslao? Mu is dative and ga is accusative. Reflexive se also belongs in the following group: Jesi li se odmorio?

The same ordering appears inside reports: Ne znam jesi li mu ga poslao. A main clause that reports a question is not automatically a question itself. Where a question word such as gdje already introduces the question, do not add li mechanically.

Examples (3)

  1. Vidiš li našu kuću?

    Can you see our house?

  2. Jesi li joj već odgovorila?

    Have you already answered her?

  3. Znaš li jesmo li kupili karte?

    Do you know whether we have bought the tickets?

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

li in Clitic OrderLevel 6Li in a Clitic Group

Learn This First

Interrogative li has to be integrated into the ordering of an existing clitic group.

Words in This Pattern