чи (непряме питання)
Indirect Yes-no Question with Чи
In Ukrainian, indirect yes-no questions are introduced by the particle чи. It functions like the English 'whether' or 'if' when reporting a question or expressing doubt.
How It Works
The particle чи serves as a subordinating conjunction. It is used after verbs of asking, knowing, or wondering.
Key Rules:
- Position: It must be the first word of the question clause.
- Punctuation: A comma is required before the clause starts.
- No Tense Shift: Unlike English, Ukrainian does not 'backshift' tenses. If the original question was in the future, the indirect question stays in the future, even if the main verb is in the past.
- Word Order: The rest of the clause usually follows standard subject-verb-object order.
This construction is neutral and used in all registers of speech.
Examples (4)
- Я не знаю, чи він прийде сьогодні.
I don't know whether he will come today.
Word by Word: I not know, whether he will-come today.
Here 'чи' introduces the uncertainty. Note that the future tense 'прийде' is used just as it would be in a direct question.
- Вона запитала, чи ми вже обідали.
She asked whether we had already had lunch.
Word by Word: She asked, whether we already lunched.
The past tense 'обідали' remains the same in the indirect report.
- Цікаво, чи є ще вільні місця.
I wonder if there are still free seats.
Word by Word: Interesting, whether is still free places.
The word 'цікаво' (literally 'interestingly') is a common way to express 'I wonder' in Ukrainian.
- Він хотів дізнатися, чи ви отримали лист.
He wanted to find out if you received the letter.
Word by Word: He wanted to-find-out, whether you received letter.
The verb 'дізнатися' (to find out) is frequently followed by a 'чи' clause.
Common Mistakes
Using 'якщо' instead of 'чи' for indirect questions.
Я не знаю, якщо він вдома.Я не знаю, чи він вдома.In English, 'if' is used for both conditions and questions. In Ukrainian, якщо is only for conditions (If X, then Y). For questions, you must use 'чи'.
Omitting the comma before 'чи'.
Він запитав чи я готовий.Він запитав, чи я готовий.Ukrainian grammar requires a comma to separate the main clause from the subordinate clause.
Using the conditional in an indirect question about the future.
Different MeaningВін запитав, чи я прийшов би.Він запитав, чи я прийду.'Він запитав, чи я прийшов би' is correct, but it reports a question about what I would do ('Would you come?'). If the original question was about the future ('Will you come?'), keep the future tense: 'чи я прийду'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form indirect yes-no questions, learners must first understand the function of the particle 'чи' in direct questions. Additionally, they need to be familiar with the syntax of complex sentences where one clause serves as the object of a verb like 'запитати' (to ask) or 'цікавитися' (to wonder).
- чиQuestion Particle Чи
The particle 'чи' is the core marker used to introduce yes-no questions in both direct and indirect speech.
Level 1 - Indirect content question
Learning how to embed a question with a question word (like 'де' or 'хто') provides the structural foundation for embedding yes-no questions.
Level 5
Related Patterns
- якщоConditional Clauses with Якщо
Contrast this with 'якщо', which is used for 'if' in conditional statements rather than questions.
Level 3 - що (з'ясувальне)Content Clauses with Що
Used for reporting statements ('He said that...') rather than questions.
Level 3 - Indirect speech with що and no tense backshift
Explains the general rule that Ukrainian does not shift tenses in reported speech.
Level 5 - навряд чиНавряд Чи for Doubt
A related particle used to express strong doubt ('hardly' or 'unlikely').
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice чи (непряме питання) in Bubblegum
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