kad
Content Clauses with Kad
Verb of saying or thinking , kad + clause: Manau, kad tu teisus. (I think you are right.)
How It Works
1. The basic pattern. The main clause names the thinking, knowing or saying. Then comes , kad and the content:
- Žinau, kad jis namie. (I know that he is at home.)
- Manau, kad tu teisus. (I think you are right.)
- Jis sakė, kad vėluoja. (He said he was running late.)
2. After feelings and judgments. Džiaugiuosi, kad tau patinka. (I am glad you like it.) Gerai, kad atėjai. (It is good that you came.)
3. The comma. The kad clause is always set off with a comma, as in commas before subordinate clauses.
4. Keep kad. English often drops that: I think you are right. In Lithuanian, keep kad, especially in writing.
5. No tense change. Lithuanian does not require English-style tense backshift after a past reporting verb: Jis sakė, kad serga. means he said he was ill at that time. See reported speech with kad.
6. Kad or ar? For a reported yes-no question, use ar, not kad: Paklausk, ar jie namie. (Ask whether they are at home.)
Later you will meet kad with the conditional for purposes and wishes, in kad + conditional, and the bookish synonym jog.
Examples (6)
- Žinau, kad jis namie.
I know that he is at home.
Word by Word: I-know, that he at-home.
- Manau, kad tu teisus.
I think you are right.
Word by Word: I-think, that you right.
- Jis sakė, kad vėluoja.
He said he was running late.
Word by Word: He said, that is-late.
Vėluoja stays in the present: it was true when he spoke.
- Džiaugiuosi, kad tau patinka.
I am glad you like it.
Word by Word: I-rejoice, that to-you pleases.
- Gerai, kad atėjai.
It is good that you came.
Word by Word: Good, that you-came.
- Ar tiesa, kad tu išvažiuoji?
Is it true that you are leaving?
Word by Word: Q truth, that you leave?
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before kad.
Žinau kad jis namie.Žinau, kad jis namie.The kad clause is always separated from the main clause by a comma.
Using kad for a reported yes-no question.
Paklausk, kad jie namie.Paklausk, ar jie namie.You are asking whether something is true, so use ar (whether), not kad.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Reported Speech With kad
Reported speech with kad does not require English-style tense backshift.
Level 3 - Indirect Questions With arIndirect Yes-No Questions
Ar replaces kad when the reported content is a yes-no question.
Level 3 - kad + conditionalPurpose and Requests with Kad
With the conditional, kad expresses purpose or a wish.
Level 4 - jogFormal That with Jog
Jog is a more bookish word for that.
Level 5 - Commas Before Subordinate Clauses
The comma before kad follows the rule for all subordinate clauses.
Level 4 - nesBecause with Nes
Nes is the other common joining word at this level, giving a reason.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice kad in Bubblegum
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