Questions · Lesson 1
Да или нет?
Yes / no
Russian has no do-support. A yes/no question is often the same words as a statement — the rise in the voice does the work. Soft offers often start with не.
How it works
Russian has no do-support. A yes/no question is often the same words as a statement — the rise in the voice does the work. Soft offers often start with не.
Then open Tables, Notes, Exceptions, and Examples in that order.
When to use it
- Turn a statement into a question with rising intonation: Ты дома? Ты говоришь по-русски?
- Answer with Да. / Нет. Often repeat the verb: Нет, не хочу. Да, хочу.
- A negative question can be a soft offer or a check: Не хочешь чаю? Ты не устал?
- Who / what / whose live in Pronouns (кто, что, чей). This unit is how you actually ask.
Pro tip
If you can say it as a statement, you can ask it: add a rise (and ? on the page). Soften with не at the front: Не закроешь окно?