qayerda / qayerga / qayerdan
Where, Where to, Where from
Qayer means what place. Its case ending tells you which kind of where: qayerda (where), qayerga (where to), qayerdan (where from).
How It Works
English uses one word, where, and sometimes adds to or from. Uzbek builds all three from qayer with the same place endings a noun takes:
- qayer + -da → qayerda: where something is or happens (-da). Qayerda yashaysiz? (Where do you live?) → Toshkentda.
- qayer + -ga → qayerga: where to (-ga). Qayerga ketyapsiz? (Where are you going?) → Bozorga.
- qayer + -dan → qayerdan: where from (-dan). Qayerdan kelyapsiz? (Where are you coming from?) → Ishdan.
Match the verb. yashamoq (live), ishlamoq (work) and a plain "is" take qayerda. bormoq (go), ketmoq (leave) and kelmoq (come to) take qayerga. kelmoq in the sense of "come from" takes qayerdan.
Where are you from? Add the you are ending -siz to qayerdan: Qayerdansiz? Answer the same way: Toshkentdanman (I am from Tashkent).
Spelling. In the Latin alphabet the word is qayer, with y. The spelling qaerda copies the old Cyrillic letters and is a mistake in Latin script.
Everyday speech also uses qayoqqa for where to and qani? for where is it? when you expect something to be there: Kitobim qani? (Where is my book?). As in all question words, do not add -mi.
Examples (6)
- Qayerda yashaysiz?
Where do you live?
Word by Word: Where-at live-you?
Living happens in a place, so the question uses -da.
- Qayerga ketyapsiz?
Where are you going?
Word by Word: Where-to going-are-you?
Going needs a destination, so the question uses -ga.
- Qayerdansiz?
Where are you from?
Word by Word: Where-from-are-you?
qayer + -dan + -siz. Answer: Toshkentdanman.
- Qayerdan kelyapsiz?
Where are you coming from?
Word by Word: Where-from coming-are-you?
The starting point takes -dan.
- Bank qayerda?
Where is the bank?
Word by Word: Bank where-at?
A noun sentence: no verb for "is" is needed.
- Bu qayer?
What place is this?
Word by Word: This what-place?
Without an ending, qayer asks for the name of the place.
Common Mistakes
Using qayerda with a verb of going.
Qayerda ketyapsiz?Qayerga ketyapsiz?Going needs a destination, so the question takes -ga, like the answer Bozorga (to the bazaar).
Using qayerga with a verb of living or being.
Qayerga yashaysiz?Qayerda yashaysiz?Living happens in a place, so the question takes -da, like the answer Toshkentda.
Spelling qayer without y.
Qaerda yashaysiz?Qayerda yashaysiz?The official Latin spelling is qayer. Qaerda copies the Cyrillic letter е and is wrong in Latin script.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Builds on In, At or On: -da and You Are (Polite or Plural): -siz.
Related Patterns
- -ga/-ka/-qaTo or Toward: -ga
The ending in qayerga.
Level 1 - -dan (chiqish kelishigi)From: -dan
The ending in qayerdan.
Level 2 - bu yerda / u yerdaHere and There
Common answers: here and there.
Level 1 - -lik (kelib chiqish)Where Someone Is from: -lik
Qayerliksiz? is another way to ask where someone is from.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice qayerda / qayerga / qayerdan in Bubblegum
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