Japatan
Formation
- N + です + か
- いA／なA + です + か
- Vます形 + ます／ません + か
Explanation
Add か to the end of a polite sentence to turn it into a question. The word order does not change. Say the end with rising intonation; in writing, a question normally ends with 。 rather than a question mark. Yes/no questions are answered with はい or いいえ. Questions with words such as 何 (what), だれ (who), いつ (when) or いくら (how much) also end in か, and the question word stays where the answer would be.
Examples
A: リンさんは 学生ですか。
B: はい、学生です。A: Are you a student, Lin-san? B: Yes, I am.
お名前は 何ですか。
What is your name?
すみません、今 何時ですか。
Excuse me, what time is it now?
テストは 明日ですか。
Is the test tomorrow?
Notes
Do not answer a question-word question (何ですか) with はい or いいえ. そうですか said with falling intonation is not a question; it means "I see."
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1A: アリさんは 先生です（ ）。
B: はい、そうです。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 か
A asks "Is Ali a teacher?" and B answers "Yes, that's right." A question ends with か. は, を and に cannot end a sentence.
2A: お仕事は 何ですか。
B: （ ）。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 会社員です
A asks "What is your job?" A question with 何 asks for information, so it cannot be answered with はい or いいえ. B simply gives the answer: 会社員です (I'm an office worker).
3A: マリアさんは 学生ですか。
B: はい、（ ）。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 そうです
A asks "Is Maria a student?" After はい, the natural answer is そうです (that's right). そうですか and 何ですか end in か, so they are not answers, and 先生です does not match the question.
