Yes-no question by intonation
In Russian, you can turn a statement into a question without changing the word order or adding extra words. You simply change your intonation (IK-3).
How It Works
Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs like 'do' or 'is' (e.g., 'Do you speak?'), Russian relies on intonation to distinguish a statement from a yes-no question. This is known as IK-3 (Intonational Construction 3).
How to form it:
- Keep the neutral word order of a statement.
- Identify the word that is the focus of your question.
- On the stressed syllable of that word, raise your pitch sharply.
- If there are syllables after the stress, the pitch drops quickly below the starting level. If the stress is on the final syllable, the pitch simply stays high.
Changing the Focus:
By moving this pitch rise to different words, you change the meaning:
1. Ты идёшь в парк? (Is it you who is going to the park?)
2. Ты идёшь в парк? (Are you going [walking] to the park?)
3. Ты идёшь в парк? (Is the park where you are going?)
How to answer:
While you can use да or нет, it is very common and natural to answer by repeating the main verb or predicate:
— Ты работаешь?
— Работаю. (or: Да, работаю.)
Note on 'ли':
In direct questions, the particle ли is formal (e.g., Знаете ли вы...?). When using 'ли', the word being questioned must move to the very beginning of the clause, immediately followed by the particle. It is also the standard way to form indirect questions, where it translates to 'if' or 'whether' (e.g., Я не знаю, дома ли он).
Examples (5)
- Ты дома?
Are you at home?
Word by Word: You at-home?
The pitch rises sharply on the 'до-' of 'дома' and drops on '-ма'.
- Это твой паспорт?
Is this your passport?
Word by Word: This your passport?
The pitch peaks on the 'па-' of 'паспорт'.
- Вы говорите по-русски?
Do you speak Russian?
Word by Word: You speak in-Russian?
The pitch rise occurs on the '-ри-' of 'говорите'.
- Иван врач?
Is Ivan a doctor?
Word by Word: Ivan doctor?
This shows a nominal predicate turned into a question by rising on 'врач'.
- Чай горячий?
Is the tea hot?
Word by Word: Tea hot?
The focus is on the quality 'горячий', so the pitch rises on '-ря-'.
Common Mistakes
Ending a yes-no question with a full stop.
Different MeaningТы идёшь в парк.Ты идёшь в парк?Without a question word or «ли», only the pitch (in speech) and the question mark (in writing) show that this is a question. With a full stop, the sentence is a statement: «Ты идёшь в парк.» means 'You are going to the park.'
Putting the verb before the subject in a plain yes-no question.
Different MeaningРаботает он?Он работает?«Работает он?» is possible, but it puts the focus on the verb and sounds like a follow-up question. To ask a simple question, keep the statement word order and change only the pitch: «Он работает?»
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- да/нетYes and No Answers
These are the standard answers to yes-no questions formed by intonation.
Level 1 - Neutral word order
Yes-no questions usually maintain the same word order as neutral statements.
Level 1 - чтоWhat Question
Unlike yes-no questions, questions starting with 'что' (what) use a falling intonation (IK-2).
Level 1 - лиIndirect Yes-no Question with Ли
The particle 'ли' is the formal/written way to form yes-no questions, whereas intonation is used in speech.
Level 3 - Topic and focus word order
Intonation in questions helps identify the 'focus' or the specific information being requested.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Yes-no question by intonation in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Russian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
