Indirect Questions With li

Reporting a Question

Level 4

Use a finite verb followed by li to embed a yes–no question after expressions such as pitati or ne znati.

How It Works

Compare the direct question Dolazi li Ana? with Ne znam dolazi li Ana. The embedded clause retains li. A question word such as gdje already identifies the missing information and does not need an extra li.

Compound verbs put li after the finite auxiliary: Pitam se jesmo li pogriješili. With a present-tense lexical verb, it follows that verb: radi li. Read the whole verb group before deciding what has been asked.

A statement reporting a question ends with a period. A question mark belongs to an actual question, including one whose main clause is interrogative: Znaš li dolazi li Ana? Reporting a past question does not require an English-style automatic tense shift.

Examples (3)

  1. Ne znam radi li trgovina nedjeljom.

    I do not know whether the shop opens on Sundays.

  2. Petra je pitala jesmo li kupili karte.

    Petra asked whether we had bought the tickets.

  3. Provjeri ima li u hladnjaku mlijeka.

    Check whether there is any milk in the refrigerator.

How It Connects

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

Indirect Questions With liLevel 4Reporting a Question

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An embedded yes-no question retains li within a content clause.

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