Question formation

Level 1

Statement + Intonation Change = Question

How It Works

In Korean, one of the simplest ways to ask a question is by changing your intonation. This is especially true for the standard polite speech style, 해요체, which ends in -요. The intonation changes depending on the type of question you're asking.

1. Yes/No Questions → Rising Intonation (↑)
For questions that can be answered with 'yes' (네) or 'no' (아니요), you raise the pitch of your voice at the end of the sentence.

  • Statement: 한국 사람이에요. (I am Korean.)
  • Question: 한국 사람이에요? ↑ (Are you Korean?)

2. Questions with Question Words → Falling Intonation (↓)
When you use question words like 뭐 (what), 누구 (who), 어디 (where), 언제 (when), and 왜 (why), the pitch of your voice typically falls at the end of the sentence.

  • 이름이 뭐예요? ↓ (What is your name?)
  • 어디에 가요? ↓ (Where are you going?)

3. Word Order Stays the Same
Unlike English, you do not need to change the word order to ask a question. The Subject-Object-Verb structure remains the same for both statements and questions.

  • Statement: 밥을 먹어요. (I eat a meal.)
  • Question: 밥을 먹어요? ↑ (Do you eat a meal? / Are you eating?)

While this intonation method is very common, Korean also has specific grammatical endings for questions in other speech styles, such as the formal -ㅂ/습니까? or the confirming -지?.

Examples (4)

  1. 이거 책이에요?

    Is this a book?

    Word by Word: This book is?

    The statement '이거 책이에요' (This is a book) becomes a question with a rising intonation.

  2. 지금 학교에 가요?

    Are you going to school now?

    Word by Word: Now to school go?

  3. 날씨가 좋아요?

    Is the weather good?

    Word by Word: Weather is good?

  4. 이름이 뭐예요?

    What is your name?

    Word by Word: Name what is?

    When using question words like 뭐 (what), the sentence structure remains the same. The intonation for these types of questions typically falls at the end.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a flat intonation for a yes/no question.

    Different Meaning밥 먹었어요. (spoken with flat intonation)
    Better밥 먹었어요? (spoken with rising intonation)

    Without the rising intonation, '밥 먹었어요' sounds like a statement ('I ate a meal'). The rising tone is crucial to signal that you are asking a yes/no question ('Did you eat?').

  • Trying to change the word order like in English (e.g., moving the verb to the front).

    Not Quite가요 학교에?
    Better학교에 가요?

    Korean word order (Subject-Object-Verb) does not change for questions. Simply add the correct intonation to the end of the standard sentence.

Learn This First

To form questions, you need to understand how verbs conjugate with question endings.

Related Patterns

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 5 more in the full list.

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