ka
That: Ka
Put a comma and ka before what someone says, thinks or knows: Es zinu, ka viņš ir mājās. (I know that he is at home.)
How It Works
The pattern. Verb, comma, ka, clause:
- Es zinu, ka viņš ir mājās. (I know that he is at home.)
- Es domāju, ka tas ir labi. (I think that's good.)
- Viņa saka, ka nāk. (She says that she is coming.)
- Es redzu, ka tu esi noguris. (I can see that you are tired.)
Keep ka. English can say I know he is at home without that. Latvian normally keeps ka. In stories and quick speech you may meet a comma alone (Es zinu, viņš ir mājās), but with ka you are always correct.
The tense stays. After a past verb, Latvian keeps the tense of the original words: Viņš teica, ka ir noguris. (He said that he was tired.) He said Es esmu noguris, so the present stays. More in reported speech.
Ka or kā? The macron changes the word. ka means that. kā means how: Es zinu, kā to darīt. (I know how to do it.)
Where English that is not ka.
- After gribēt (want), use lai: Es gribu, lai tu esi laimīgs. (I want you to be happy.) See wanting someone to do something.
- The that in the book that I am reading is ko: grāmata, ko es lasu. See who and which: kas.
Examples (6)
- Es zinu, ka viņš ir mājās.
I know that he is at home.
- Viņa saka, ka nāk.
She says that she is coming.
Word by Word: She says, that comes.
The subject viņa is left out after ka because it is clear.
- Es domāju, ka tas ir labi.
I think that's good.
Word by Word: I think, that it is good.
- Es redzu, ka tu esi noguris.
I can see that you are tired.
- Es dzirdēju, ka tu dzīvo Rīgā.
I heard that you live in Riga.
- Viņš teica, ka ir noguris.
He said that he was tired.
Word by Word: He said, that is tired.
Latvian keeps the present ir from his own words, Es esmu noguris.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before ka.
Es zinu ka viņš ir mājās.Es zinu, ka viņš ir mājās.A comma always separates the main clause from the clause with ka.
Using ka after gribēt.
Es gribu, ka tu esi laimīgs.Es gribu, lai tu esi laimīgs.When you want someone else to do or be something, Latvian uses lai, not ka.
Using ka for that after a noun.
Tā ir grāmata, ka es lasu.Tā ir grāmata, ko es lasu.After a noun, English that means which. Latvian uses ko or kuru here, not ka.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ka introduces a clause.
Related Patterns
- Reported Speech With kaReported Speech
Retelling what someone said with ka, and how tenses behave.
Level 4 - gribēt, laiWanting Someone to Do Something
After gribēt, Latvian uses lai instead of ka.
Level 4 - Relative kasWho and Which: Kas
The that after a noun is ko or kas, not ka.
Level 3 - Reporting a Question
Reporting a question uses vai or a question word instead of ka.
Level 3 - kas / kur / kad / kā / kāpēc / cikQuestion Words
Kā (how) differs from ka (that) only by its macron.
Level 1 - Commas in Latvian
Why a comma goes before ka.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ka in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latvian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
