Short Answers Without a Verb

Level 5

In conversation, Latvian often drops a verb that everyone can guess: Kur tu? — Uz veikalu. (Where are you off to? — To the shop.) Kafiju? — Jā, lūdzu. (Coffee? — Yes, please.)

How It Works

1. Short questions. The verb is left out when the situation makes it clear:

  • Kur tu? (Where are you off to? / Where are you?)
  • Kafiju? (Coffee? = Would you like coffee?)

2. Short answers keep the case. Answer with only the needed words, in the case the question's verb requires:

  • Ko tu gribi? — Tēju. (accusative)
  • Kam tu to dāvināsi? — Mammai. (dative)
  • Ar ko tu runāji? — Ar skolotāju. (the preposition stays)

3. Yes and no. Often jā and nē plus a polite word is enough: Kafiju? — Jā, lūdzu. / Nē, paldies.

4. In writing: a dash. When the second part of a sentence repeats the same verb, it can be left out and marked with a dash: Es braucu uz Rīgu, bet viņš — uz Liepāju. (I am going to Riga, and he to Liepāja.)

This is similar to leaving out subject pronouns: Latvian leaves out what the listener already knows.

Examples (6)

  1. Kur tu? — Uz veikalu.

    Where are you off to? — To the shop.

    Word by Word: Where you? — To shop.

  2. Kafiju? — Jā, lūdzu.

    Coffee? — Yes, please.

    Word by Word: Coffee(acc)? — Yes, please.

    Kafiju is accusative because it stands for Vai gribi kafiju?

  3. Kam tu to dāvināsi? — Mammai.

    Who will you give it to? — To Mum.

    Word by Word: To-whom you it will-give? — To-Mum.

  4. Ar ko tu runāji? — Ar skolotāju.

    Who were you talking to? — The teacher.

    Word by Word: With whom you talked? — With teacher.

  5. Tev tēju vai kafiju? — Tēju.

    Tea or coffee for you? — Tea.

    Word by Word: To-you tea or coffee? — Tea.

  6. Es braucu uz Rīgu, bet viņš — uz Liepāju.

    I am going to Riga, and he to Liepāja.

    Word by Word: I go to Riga, but he — to Liepāja.

    The dash stands for the left-out verb brauc.

Common Mistakes

  • Answering in the nominative instead of the case the question needs.

    Ko tu gribi? — Tēja.
    Ko tu gribi? — Tēju.

    The answer stands for Es gribu tēju, so tēja must be accusative: tēju.

  • Answering a Kam? question in the nominative.

    Kam tu zvanīsi? — Mamma.
    Kam tu zvanīsi? — Mammai.

    Zvanīt takes a dative, so the short answer is Mammai.

How It Connects

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

Short Answers Without a VerbLevel 5

Learn This First

Short answers can leave out the verb.