kur / kada / kaip / kodėl
Where, When, How and Why
Kur = where, kada = when, kaip = how, kodėl = why. Put the word first: Kur tu gyveni?
How It Works
The four words.
- kur — where: Kur tu gyveni?
- kada — when: Kada koncertas?
- kaip — how: Kaip sekasi? (see how are you)
- kodėl — why: Kodėl tu nemiegi?
No ar is added; see yes-no questions with ar.
Kur for place and direction. Like English where, Lithuanian kur can ask about location or destination. The answer shows which one is meant: a place can be in the locative (Vilniuje, see the locative of place), and a destination can use į (į darbą, see into and to with į).
Where from. Put iš in front: Iš kur tu esi? (Where are you from?) The preposition always comes first; it never goes at the end. The answer uses iš with the genitive: Iš Kauno.
Kada, not kai. Kai also means when, but it joins two parts of a statement (when clauses with kai). A question uses kada.
An answer to kodėl often starts with nes (because).
Examples (6)
- Kur tu gyveni? — Vilniuje.
Where do you live? — In Vilnius.
Word by Word: Where you live? — Vilnius-in.
- Kur eini? — Į darbą.
Where are you going? — To work.
Word by Word: Where go-you? — To work.
Kur also asks about direction. The answer uses į.
- Iš kur tu esi? — Iš Kauno.
Where are you from? — From Kaunas.
Word by Word: From where you are? — From Kaunas.
- Kada koncertas? — Šiandien.
When is the concert? — Today.
Word by Word: When concert? — Today.
- Kaip sekasi? — Gerai, ačiū.
How are you? — Fine, thanks.
Word by Word: How goes? — Well, thanks.
- Kodėl tu nemiegi?
Why are you not sleeping?
Word by Word: Why you not-sleep?
Common Mistakes
Leaving the preposition at the end, as in English.
Kur tu esi iš?Iš kur tu esi?A Lithuanian preposition never goes at the end of a question. Iš comes right before kur.
Using kai to ask when.
Kai tu dirbi?Kada tu dirbi?Kai joins parts of a statement. The question word for when is kada.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- Questions With arYes-No Questions with Ar
Yes-no questions use ar instead of a question word.
Level 1 - Locative of Place
The usual answer to kur for a place.
Level 1 - į + accusativeInto and to with Į
The usual answer to kur for a direction.
Level 1 - iš + genitiveFrom with Iš
Iš kur asks where from; the answer uses iš.
Level 1 - nesBecause with Nes
Answers to kodėl often begin with nes.
Level 2 - kas / kąQuestion Word Kas
The question words for who and what.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice kur / kada / kaip / kodėl in Bubblegum
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