か (ka): Question and Choice
Quick Answer: か at the end of a sentence makes it a question. Between nouns, か means 'or.' In embedded questions, か marks the question clause.
Forming questions and offering alternatives
Category: Particles
The Rule
か at the end of a sentence makes it a question. Between nouns, か means 'or.' In embedded questions, か marks the question clause. With question words, か creates indefinite pronouns: 何か (something), 誰か (someone), どこか (somewhere).
Why This Matters
English uses word order and intonation for questions; Japanese simply adds か. No word order change needed. The 'or' usage between nouns is straightforward. The indefinite pronoun pattern (question word + か) is very productive and worth memorizing.
Examples
• 日本語を話しますか？ — "Do you speak Japanese?" [Yes/no question — か at sentence end] • コーヒーか紅茶、どちらがいいですか？ — "Which would you like, coffee or tea?" [か between nouns = 'or'] • 何か食べましたか？ — "Did you eat something?" [何か = something (indefinite)] • いつ来るか分かりません。 — "I don't know when (they) will come." [Embedded question — か marks the question inside the sentence]
Common Mistakes
❌ 何を食べますか知っていますか？ ✅ 何を食べるか知っていますか？ → Embedded questions use plain form before か, not polite form. The か replaces the sentence-ending function ❌ 明日は雨ですかどうか分かりません。 ✅ 明日雨かどうか分かりません。 → In 'whether or not' patterns (かどうか), use plain form without は or です before か
Quick Tip
Question word + か = something/someone/somewhere (indefinite). Question word + も + negative = nothing/nobody/nowhere. These pairs are essential vocabulary.
Question word + か = something/someone/somewhere (indefinite). Question word + も + negative = nothing/nobody/nowhere. These pairs are essential vocabulary.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 何を食べますか知っていますか？ → Correct: 何を食べるか知っていますか？. Embedded questions use plain form before か, not polite form. The か replaces the sentence-ending function
Incorrect: 明日は雨ですかどうか分かりません。 → Correct: 明日雨かどうか分かりません。. In 'whether or not' patterns (かどうか), use plain form without は or です before か
Quiz
How do you say 'someone called' (unknown person)?