Reported Questions

Level 3

Indirect questions report a question or express uncertainty (e.g., 'I don't know where he is'). They use a comma and either a question word or the -ko/-kö clitic.

How It Works

Indirect questions (epäsuorat kysymyslauseet) are subordinate clauses used to report what someone asked or to express doubt. They fall into three main categories:1. Yes-No Questions
To report a 'yes or no' question, attach the clitic -ko/-kö to the most important word (usually the verb) and move it to the start of the subordinate clause. Finnish does not use a word for 'if' or 'whether' in this context.
Example: *Kysyin, onko hän kotona.* (I asked if he is home.)

2. Word Questions
If the question uses a question word like kuka (who), mikä (what), or missä (where), simply start the subordinate clause with that word.
Example: *En tiedä, missä avaimet ovat.* (I don't know where the keys are.)

3. Alternative Questions
When reporting a question that offers a choice, you must use the conjunction vai (or) rather than tai.
Example: *En tiedä, tuleeko hän vai ei.* (I don't know if he is coming or not.)

Key Rules:

  • Punctuation: You must always place a comma before the indirect question.
  • Tense: Finnish typically keeps the tense of the original question. If you ask 'Where is he?', the reported version is 'I asked where he is' (*Kysyin, missä hän on*), not 'where he was'.
  • Vowel Harmony: Remember to choose between -ko or -kö based on the vowels in the word it attaches to.
  • Spoken Finnish: In casual speech, -ko/-kö often becomes -ks. Speakers also frequently use että as a structural marker to signal the start of the subordinate clause (e.g., Mä kysyin, että tuleeks se).

Examples (6)

  1. Hän kysyi, tuleeko Pekka huomenna.

    He asked if Pekka is coming tomorrow.

    Word by Word: He asked, comes-question Pekka tomorrow.

    A yes-no indirect question. The verb 'tulee' takes the '-ko' clitic and moves to the front of the clause.

  2. En muista, milloin kurssi alkaa.

    I don't remember when the course starts.

    Word by Word: I not remember, when course starts.

    An indirect question using the question word 'milloin'. Note that the word order 'kurssi alkaa' remains the same as a statement.

  3. Tiedätkö, kuka tuo mies on?

    Do you know who that man is?

    Word by Word: Know-you, who that man is?

    An indirect question embedded within a direct question. The comma is still required.

  4. En tiedä, haluavatko he kahvia vai teetä.

    I don't know if they want coffee or tea.

    Word by Word: I not know, want-question-they coffee or tea.

    In alternative indirect questions, 'vai' must be used instead of 'tai' to present the choice.

  5. Kysy heiltä, haluavatko he kahvia.

    Ask them if they want coffee.

    Word by Word: Ask them, want-question they coffee.

    The clitic '-ko' is attached to the verb 'haluavat' to report the choice.

  6. En ole varma, onks se jo täällä.

    I'm not sure if he/it is already here.

    Word by Word: I am not sure, is-question it already here.

    A spoken Finnish example where 'onko' becomes 'onks' and 'hän/se' is shortened.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'jos' (if) to start an indirect question.

    En tiedä, jos hän tulee.
    En tiedä, tuleeko hän.

    In standard Finnish, an indirect question uses the -ko/-kö clitic: 'tuleeko hän'. 'Jos' introduces a condition ('If it rains...'). In speech 'jos' is also heard in indirect questions, but it is avoided in careful writing.

  • Using 'tai' instead of 'vai' in alternative questions.

    En tiedä, tuleeko hän tai ei.
    En tiedä, tuleeko hän vai ei.

    When an indirect question offers an alternative such as 'or not', use 'vai': 'tuleeko hän vai ei'. 'Tai' joins open options (Haluatko kahvia tai teetä?) but is not used for 'or not' in this kind of choice.

  • Using the past tense from habit, as English backshifting does.

    Different MeaningHän kysyi, missä minä olin.
    Hän kysyi, missä minä olen.

    'Hän kysyi, missä minä olin' is a good sentence, but it means 'He asked where I was (at that earlier time).' English often changes 'is' to 'was' when reporting. Finnish keeps the tense of the original question: if he asked 'Where are you?', say 'Hän kysyi, missä minä olen.'

How It Connects

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Reported QuestionsLevel 3

Learn This First

To form indirect questions, you first need to be comfortable with direct questions. This includes knowing how to attach the -ko/-kö particle to verbs for yes-no questions and being familiar with the various question words (interrogative pronouns and adverbs) like 'mikä', 'missä', and 'miten'. Since indirect questions are embedded clauses, a solid grasp of basic Finnish word order is also necessary.

Words in This Pattern

-ko-kö