Asking Questions / Question Particles

Question 1

…か。

Answer 1

“…ka?” (a question particle added at the end of a sentence)

Used to ask a question. To make a statement into a question, we add “ka” (a question particle) at the end of the sentence.

We do not need to put “?” at the end of a question when we use “ka”, because it serves as a question mark.

です (desu) comes right before this particle to indicate politeness.

Question 2

name + さん + は?

Answer 2

To ask the question “How about you?” we use the construction: name + “san” + “wa”?

Question 3

…ね。

Answer 3

“…ne.”; …, isn’t it? (an agreement particle added at the end of a sentence)

We use the particle ね (ne) at the end of a sentence to show or ask for agreement.

です (desu) comes right before this particle to indicate politeness.

Question 4

…どうですか。

Answer 4

“dou desu ka”; How about….?

Used to offer something.

To offer something, we use the construction:
subject + “wa” + “dou” + “desu” + “ka”.
subject + は + どう + です + か?

Question 5

どう

Answer 5

“dou”; How

Question 6

どこ

Answer 6

“doko”; Where

Question 7

どれ

Answer 7

“dore”; Which

Question words like “dore” cannot be followed by the particle “wa” (は) . Instead, they must be followed by the particle “ga” (が).
Ex: どれがあなたのペンですか。(Which one is your pen?)

Question 8

なに / 何

(Subject は) + なに + を + verb ます + か。

(Subject は)何をverbますか。

Answer 8

“nani”; What (question word)

Question words like “nani” can be followed by the particles “wa” (は), “ka” (か) or “ga” (が).

“(Subject-san wa) + nani + o + (verb)masu + ka.”
= (Subject-san,) what do you (verb)?

Question 9

どの

Answer 9

“dono”; Which (aka it means which thing of 3 or more?)

It is called a pre-nominal and it connects directly to a noun without any particles between the two.

Question words like “dono” can be followed by the particle “wa” (は) or by the particle “ga” (が).

Question 10

The particle は

Answer 10

“wa” (subject particle)

It establishes a loose connection with the subject.

Question 11

The particle が

Answer 11

“ga”; establishes a very tight and exhaustive connection with the subject of the sentence.