Yes or No Questions

Level 1

For a more formal question, start with آیا.

How It Works

StatementQuestion
او در خانه است.او در خانه است؟
تو خسته استی.تو خسته استی؟
شما از کابل استید.شما از کابل استید؟

Answer with بلی (yes) or نه (no), then repeat the key word: بلی، در خانه است. نه، در خانه نیست.

Do the same after a negative question, so your answer is clear: تو خسته نیستی؟ نه، خسته نیستم.

A question word such as کجا or چه also makes a question: شما کجا استید؟

For a formal question, start with آیا: آیا شما معلم استید؟ You will meet آیا later.

The Persian question mark ؟ looks like a mirrored ? and sits at the end of the question, on its left side. Never type the Latin ? in Dari.

Examples (5)

  1. شما از کابل استید؟

    Are you from Kabul?

    The word order is the same as the statement, and ؟ closes it.

  2. او معلم است؟

    Is she a teacher?

    Only the voice and ؟ turn the statement into a question.

  3. دکان آنجا است؟

    Is the shop there?

    The verb stays last in a question.

  4. بلی، دکان آنجا است.

    Yes, the shop is there.

    The answer starts with بلی and repeats the key words.

  5. تو خسته نیستی؟

    Aren't you tired?

    A negative statement becomes a question the same way.

Common Mistakes

  • Ending a Dari question with the Latin question mark.

    شما از کابل استید?
    شما از کابل استید؟

    Dari uses the Persian question mark ؟.

  • Moving the verb to the front, as English does.

    استید شما از کابل؟
    شما از کابل استید؟

    Dari keeps the word order of the statement. The form of be stays last.

How It Connects

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

Yes or No QuestionsLevel 1

Learn This First

Many yes or no questions are a normal sentence said with a rising voice, so the sentence with be comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.