Some A; Any A (somebody, somewhere, sometime, somehow, etc.)
- Some A; Any A (somebody, somewhere, sometime, somehow, etc.)
- Forms the question form of the sentence A
- A or B Shows a pair of choices between two objects, descriptions, or actions.
- A is a question within the sentence
30
酔ってたので、間違ってだれかの靴を履いて帰って来てしまった。
Because I was drunk, I accidentally put on someone else's shoes and went home.
17
君といつか、世界旅行をしたいと思っている。
I want to travel around the world with you one day.
17
だれかが私を呼んでいるようだ。
It seems like someone is calling me.
12
いつかその話を聞かせてください。
Please tell me that story sometime.
15
どこか遠くに行きたい気分だ。
I'm in the mood to go somewhere far away.
14
何か歴史の本が読みたいな。
I want to read something like a history book.
16
だれか手伝ってくれませんか。
Can somebody please help?
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
だれか (anyone)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
These can be considered words on their own.
どこか - somewhere
だれか - someone
なにか - something
いつか - sometime
どこか - somewhere
だれか - someone
なにか - something
いつか - sometime
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
Forms the question form of the sentence A
- Some A; Any A (somebody, somewhere, sometime, somehow, etc.)
- Forms the question form of the sentence A
- A or B Shows a pair of choices between two objects, descriptions, or actions.
- A is a question within the sentence
11
おばあさんはお元気ですか。
Is Grandma doing well?
11
今日、山田君を見ませんでしたか?
You didn't see Yamada today?
14
あなたの趣味は何ですか?
What is your hobby?
11
ものまねは得意か?
Are you good at imitating things?
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
何ですか (what is it?)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
For new folks here having word order troubles, I recommend considering questions like statements (as one technique).
For example,
"Do you like strawberries?"
いちごがすきですか。(question)
into "You like strawberries."
いちごがすきです。(statement)
In this sense, Japanese questions are very easy, they are simple statements with a rising intonation "ka" at the end. Please keep in mind, thinking in or translating from English is only one tool, and likely not the best, to communicating/comprehending Japanese. Just that, if you're keeping the *core meaning* in mind, and that the question structure in Japanese is the same as the statement structure, you can better reduce your mental overhead.
For example,
"Do you like strawberries?"
いちごがすきですか。(question)
into "You like strawberries."
いちごがすきです。(statement)
In this sense, Japanese questions are very easy, they are simple statements with a rising intonation "ka" at the end. Please keep in mind, thinking in or translating from English is only one tool, and likely not the best, to communicating/comprehending Japanese. Just that, if you're keeping the *core meaning* in mind, and that the question structure in Japanese is the same as the statement structure, you can better reduce your mental overhead.
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
A or B
Shows a pair of choices between two objects, descriptions, or actions.
- Some A; Any A (somebody, somewhere, sometime, somehow, etc.)
- Forms the question form of the sentence A
- A or B Shows a pair of choices between two objects, descriptions, or actions.
- A is a question within the sentence

今週は雨か曇りの日が多いそうだ。
I heard there will be a lot of rain or clouds this week.
21
私は京都か大阪に旅行に行きたい。
I want to travel to Kyoto or Osaka.
15
ケーキかプリンが食べたい。
I want to eat cake or pudding.
13
洗濯か掃除を手伝って!
Help with the cleaning or the laundry!
19
ダンスかヨガを習いたいんだけど、忙しくて時間がありません。
I want to learn dance or yoga, but I'm busy and I don't have any time.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
りんごかオレンジ (apple or orange)
Basic Examples:
暑いか寒い (Hot or cold)
静かかうるさいか (quiet or noisy)
Basic Examples:
行くか行かないか (to go or not to go)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Nothing posted yet!
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!
A is a question within the sentence
- Some A; Any A (somebody, somewhere, sometime, somehow, etc.)
- Forms the question form of the sentence A
- A or B Shows a pair of choices between two objects, descriptions, or actions.
- A is a question within the sentence
22
えみは夏休み中どこへ行くか知らない。
I don't know where Emi is going for summer vacation.
13
君がどうやってここまで来たのか、教えて欲しい。
I want you to tell me how you got here.
8
ミッキーとピカチュウはどちらが可愛いか、考えている。
I am thinking about which is cuter: Mickey or Pikachu.
9
このパーティーはいつなのか、友達に聞いてみよう。
Let's try asking a friend when this party is.
10
あなたが描いた絵は、どれなのか教えてください。
Please tell me which painting you painted.
8
お酒を飲んで、どうやって家に帰ったのか思い出せない。
I cannot recall how I got home after I had some drinks.
15
雑誌の売り場はどこか店員に聞いた。
I asked the employee where the magazines are sold.
9
この小説は、いつ書かれた物か分からない。
I don't know when this story was written.
11
山口がどこにいるか知らない?
Do you know where Yamaguchi is?
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
With embedded questions, だか is allowed in contrast to regular clauses.
Compared to grammar かどうか, I've been told by my teacher that か tends to use more of 疑問詞 (question words) such as どんな, どこ, いつ, 何, 誰 etc...
Questions/Discussion
Nothing posted yet!