Yes-No Questions

Level 1

Máš čas. (You have time.) becomes Máš čas? (Do you have time?) Only the voice and the question mark change.

How It Works

No extra words: A statement becomes a question without any new words.
Hovoríte po slovensky. → Hovoríte po slovensky? (Do you speak Slovak?)
Si hladný. → Si hladný? (Are you hungry?)

The voice: In speech the voice usually goes up toward the end of a yes-no question. In writing, the question mark shows it.

Verb first: Starting with the verb is very common and sounds neutral: Je Zuzana v práci? (Is Zuzana at work?) Keeping statement order, Zuzana je v práci?, often sounds like you are checking something you expect or are surprised by.

Small words never start the question: Words like sa, mi, ti and si meaning "oneself" must come after the first word: Páči sa ti to? (Do you like it?) The si that means "you are" is different and can start a question: Si hladný? See príklonky na druhom mieste.

Negative questions: Join ne- to the verb: Nemáš hlad? (Aren't you hungry?)

Answering: Say áno or nie and repeat the verb for a full answer: Máš čas? – Áno, mám. / Nie, nemám. To ask for agreement, add a tag like však? or nie? (see však? / že? / nie?).

Examples (6)

  1. Máš čas?

    Do you have time?

    Word by Word: Have-you time?

  2. Hovoríte po slovensky?

    Do you speak Slovak?

    Word by Word: Speak-you in Slovak?

  3. Je Peter doma?

    Is Peter at home?

    Word by Word: Is Peter at-home?

  4. Páči sa ti to?

    Do you like it?

    Word by Word: Pleases itself to-you it?

  5. Nemáš hlad? – Nie, ďakujem.

    Aren't you hungry? – No, thanks.

    Word by Word: Not-have-you hunger? – No, thank-you.

  6. Si z Bratislavy? – Áno, som.

    Are you from Bratislava? – Yes, I am.

    Word by Word: Are-you from Bratislava? – Yes, I-am.

Common Mistakes

  • Starting the question with a small word like sa or ti.

    Sa ti to páči?
    Páči sa ti to?

    Sa, mi, ti and the si that means "oneself" can never be the first word. Put the verb first and the small words after it.

  • Writing nie as a separate word before the verb.

    Nie máš čas?
    Nemáš čas?

    With most verbs the negative ne- is joined to the verb: nemáš, nehovoríš. Only the present tense of byť uses a separate nie: nie je, nie si.

How It Connects

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

Yes-No QuestionsLevel 1

Learn This First

Before Yes-No Questions, learn Yes and No. Yes-no questions are answered with áno or nie.