(疑問詞)〜か ka

(疑問詞)〜か(ka)means “embedded question (whether / what / who…)”. A question that contains a question word (なに, だれ, いつ, どこ…) can be embedded inside a larger sentence by ending the clause with か. Formation: 疑問詞+V/Aい(普通形)+か/ナA・N(普通形、だ脱落)+か

embedded question (whether / what / who…)

N4

Formation

疑問詞+V/Aい(普通形)+か/ナA・N(普通形、だ脱落)+か

Explanation

A question that contains a question word (なに, だれ, いつ, どこ…) can be embedded inside a larger sentence by ending the clause with か. The whole clause then works as the object of verbs like 知る, 分かる, 聞く, 教える. With な-adjectives and nouns the plain だ is dropped before か (きれいか, がくせいか).

Examples

かれがどこにすんでいるかわかりません
かれがどこにすんでいるかわかりません。
I don't know where he lives.
パーティーにだれがくるかおしえてください
パーティーにだれがくるかおしえてください。
Please tell me who is coming to the party.

Note

When there is no question word (yes/no question), use 〜かどうか instead, e.g. くるかどうか (whether or not (someone) comes).

FAQ

(疑問詞)〜か — what does it mean and how is it used?

embedded question (whether / what / who…). A question that contains a question word (なに, だれ, いつ, どこ…) can be embedded inside a larger sentence by ending the clause with か. The whole clause then works as the object of verbs like 知る, 分かる, 聞く, 教える. With な-adjectives and nouns the plain だ is dropped before か (きれいか, がくせいか).

(疑問詞)〜か — how do you form it?

疑問詞+V/Aい(普通形)+か/ナA・N(普通形、だ脱落)+か

(疑問詞)〜か — any usage notes?

When there is no question word (yes/no question), use 〜かどうか instead, e.g. くるかどうか (whether or not (someone) comes).

Related grammar

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