Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Add '-mi' to the end of a sentence to turn a statement into a yes/no question.
- Attach -mi directly to the end of the word you are questioning: 'Bu kitobmi?' (Is this a book?)
- If the word ends in a consonant, add -mi: 'Dostmi?' (Is it a friend?)
- If the sentence has a verb, -mi usually follows the verb: 'Keldingizmi?' (Did you come?)
Meanings
The particle '-mi' is used to transform a declarative sentence into a polar (yes/no) question.
Yes/No Question
Turning a statement into a question.
“Bu qalammi?”
“U keldimi?”
Question Formation
| Statement | Question | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| U keldi | U keldimi? | Did he come? |
| Bu qalam | Bu qalammi? | Is this a pen? |
| Siz talabasiz | Siz talabamisiz? | Are you a student? |
| Ular ketyapti | Ular ketyaptimi? | Are they leaving? |
| Bu tayyor | Bu tayyormi? | Is this ready? |
| Siz tushundingiz | Siz tushundingizmi? | Did you understand? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + Verb | U keldi. |
| Question | Subject + Verb + mi? | U keldimi? |
| Negative | Subject + Verb + mas | U kelmadi. |
| Negative Question | Subject + Verb + mas + mi? | U kelmadimi? |
| Short Answer (Yes) | Ha | Ha, keldi. |
| Short Answer (No) | Yo'q | Yo'q, kelmadi. |
Spectre de formalité
Siz kelasizmi? (Invitation)
Kelasizmi? (Invitation)
Kelasanmi? (Invitation)
Kelyapsanmi? (Invitation)
The -mi Particle Map
Usage
- Yes/No Binary questions
Placement
- End Suffix position
Exemples par niveau
Bu kitobmi?
Is this a book?
U talabami?
Is he a student?
Bu osonmi?
Is this easy?
Ovqat tayyormi?
Is the food ready?
Siz ertaga kelasizmi?
Are you coming tomorrow?
Ular uyda ekanmi?
Are they at home?
Bu mashina siznikimi?
Is this car yours?
Dars boshlandimi?
Has the lesson started?
Shunchalik qiyinmi?
Is it that difficult?
Sizga yordam kerakmi?
Do you need help?
Ular buni bilishadimi?
Do they know this?
Hamma narsa joyidami?
Is everything in place?
Bu taklifni qabul qilasizmi?
Will you accept this offer?
Sizningcha, bu adolatlimi?
In your opinion, is this fair?
Ular kelishganmi?
Have they agreed?
Bu vaziyatni tushunish qiyinmi?
Is it hard to understand this situation?
Nahotki u shunday qilgan bo'lsa?
Could he really have done that?
Sizdan so'rashim mumkinmi?
May I ask you?
Bu masala hal bo'ldimi?
Has this issue been resolved?
Ular o'z fikrlarini o'zgartirishdimi?
Have they changed their minds?
Sizningcha, bu yondashuv samaralimi?
Do you think this approach is effective?
Ushbu qaror qabul qilindimi?
Has this decision been adopted?
Bu tushuncha qanchalik chuqurmi?
How deep is this concept?
Ular o'z vazifalarini bajardimi?
Have they fulfilled their duties?
Facile à confondre
Learners add -mi to question words.
Learners try to translate 'isn't it?'
Learners rely only on intonation.
Erreurs courantes
Mi bu kitob?
Bu kitobmi?
Bu kitob mi?
Bu kitobmi?
Siz talaba mi?
Siz talabamisiz?
U keldi mi?
U keldimi?
Nima uchun keldingmi?
Nima uchun kelding?
Ular kelishdimi?
Ular kelishdimi?
Bu qimmatmi yoki arzonmi?
Bu qimmatmi yoki arzon?
Siz buni qildingizmi yoki yo'qmi?
Siz buni qildingizmi?
U keladimi yoki kelmaydimi?
U keladimi?
Bu to'g'rimi yoki noto'g'rimi?
Bu to'g'rimi?
Siz buni bilasizmi yoki bilmaysizmi?
Siz buni bilasizmi?
U keldimi, yo'qmi?
U keldimi?
Bu shartmi yoki shart emasmi?
Bu shartmi?
Ular tayyormi yoki tayyor emasmi?
Ular tayyormi?
Structures de phrases
Bu ___ mi?
Siz ___ mi?
U ___ mi?
Sizga ___ mi?
Real World Usage
Rasmlar yoqdimi?
Keldingmi?
Tajribangiz bormi?
Bu avtobus markazga boradimi?
Ovqat issiqmi?
Tushundingizmi?
Placement
Redundancy
Intonation
Politeness
Smart Tips
Attach -mi directly to the word you want to emphasize.
Don't repeat -mi in your answer.
Drop -mi if you use 'kim' or 'nima'.
Use rising intonation.
Prononciation
Intonation
The pitch rises at the end of the sentence when using -mi.
Rising
Bu kitobmi? ↑
Standard question
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'mi' as a 'mini' question mark that you stick onto the end of your sentence.
Association visuelle
Imagine a sentence as a train, and the '-mi' is a little red caboose that turns the whole train into a question.
Rhyme
When you want to know the truth, just add 'mi' to your youth.
Story
Ali is walking. He sees a box. He asks, 'Bu qutimi?' (Is this a box?). He opens it. 'Ichida narsa bormi?' (Is there something inside?). He is happy.
Word Web
Défi
Ask 5 people around you 5 different questions using '-mi' today.
Notes culturelles
Using -mi is very polite. It is preferred over blunt statements.
The particle -mi is of Turkic origin, common across the language family.
Amorces de conversation
Ismingiz nima?
Bugun havo yaxshimi?
Siz o'zbek tilini o'rganyapsizmi?
Sizga yordam kerakmi?
Sujets d'écriture
Test Yourself
Bu qalam ___?
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Nima uchunmi kelding?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Is he a student?
Answer starts with: U t...
Can you use -mi with 'nima'?
A: Ovqat tayyor? B: ___
Siz (o'qimoq) -mi?
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesBu qalam ___?
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Nima uchunmi kelding?
keldi / u / mi
Is he a student?
Can you use -mi with 'nima'?
A: Ovqat tayyor? B: ___
Siz (o'qimoq) -mi?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Yes, for yes/no questions.
At the end of the word.
No, it is redundant.
It is neutral.
With 'ha' or 'yo'q'.
No, it is invariant.
Yes, always.
No, it's for questions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ka
Japanese 'ka' is more formal than '-mi'.
ma
Chinese 'ma' is strictly for yes/no questions.
hal
Positioning is opposite.
inversion
Uzbek uses a particle.
est-ce que
Uzbek is a suffix.
verb-first
Uzbek uses morphology.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Connected Grammar
Question Words
Builds OnExpands questioning ability.
Personal Suffixes
PrerequisiteNeeded for conjugation.
Verb Conjugation
PrerequisiteNeeded for verb questions.
Modal Particles
Advanced FormAdds nuance.