A1 · Beginner Chapter 6

Asking Questions

5 Total Rules
53 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of curiosity and gather information effortlessly using Persian's intuitive question words and structures.

  • Identify people and things using 'Ki' and 'Chi'.
  • Inquire about time, place, and quantity with 'Key', 'Kojā', and 'Chand'.
  • Offer choices and select options using 'Kodām' and the connector 'yā'.
Unlock the world around you by simply asking why.

What You'll Learn

Hey there! Ready to dive into one of the most essential skills in Persian? Asking questions! Don't worry, it's easier than you think and super useful. In this chapter, you'll learn how to ask anything on your mind using magic words like Ki (Who), Chi (What), Kojā (Where), Key (When), Chand? (How many/much?), and Kodām? (Which?). You'll see exactly how to place these words in a sentence without messing up the natural flow (remember, the verb always comes at the end!). For example, you don't need to move the question word to the front; just swap out the noun you're asking about with Ki or Chi, and you're good to go! Imagine you're at the bazaar and want to ask,

How many is this?
or
Which one do you want?
Or when you're making new friends, you'll want to know, "What's your name? or Where do you live?
Even for making plans, you can ask,
When should we go?" We'll teach you how to use Chand? to inquire about quantity or price (and remember, always follow it with a singular noun). You'll also master Kodām? for making choices between options. Plus, there's a cool little word: «yā» (or)! With «yā,» you can offer choices, like This or that? By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to confidently ask about people, things, places, times, and quantities, gathering all the information you need. Nothing will slip past you now! Ready? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to ask for someone's identity or the name of an object.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to schedule meetings and find locations using time and place interrogatives.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to shop and compare items using quantity and choice markers.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome, language adventurers, to a truly essential chapter in your journey to mastering Persian grammar A1! Asking questions is the key to unlocking conversations, understanding the world around you, and connecting with native speakers. Think about it: how often do you ask "What's this?" or "Where is...?" in your daily life? This guide will equip you with the fundamental tools to do just that in Persian, making your interactions richer and more meaningful right from the start. We're focusing on core interrogative words that are perfect for A1 Persian learners.
You'll quickly discover that asking questions in Persian is far more intuitive than in many other languages. There's no complex sentence restructuring or auxiliary verbs to worry about. Instead, you'll learn to use "magic words" like Ki (Who), Chi (What), Kojā (Where), Key (When), Chand? (How many/much?), and Kodām? (Which?) by simply slotting them into your sentences where the answer would normally be. This natural placement, combined with the consistent Persian sentence structure where the verb always comes at the end, makes question formation surprisingly straightforward.
By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to confidently inquire about people, objects, locations, times, quantities, and choices. Whether you're navigating a bazaar, making new friends, or simply exploring, these question words are your best allies. Get ready to transform from a passive listener to an active participant in Persian conversations!

How This Grammar Works

The beauty of asking questions in Persian, especially at the A1 Persian level, lies in its simplicity. Generally, you replace the piece of information you want to know with the appropriate question word, and the sentence structure remains largely the same, with the verb at the end.
Let's break down the Persian question words:
* Ki (Who): Used for people.
* In ki ast? (This who is? / Who is this?)
* U ki ast? (He/She who is? / Who is he/she?)
* Chi (What): Used for things or concepts.
* In chi ast? (This what is? / What is this?)
* Shomā chi mikhāhid? (You what want? / What do you want?)
For asking about places and times:
* Kojā (Where):
* Ketāb kojā ast? (Book where is? / Where is the book?)
* Shomā kojā hastid? (You where are? / Where are you?)
* Key (When):
* Mehmāni key ast? (Party when is? / When is the party?)
* Shomā key miāyid? (You when come? / When will you come?)
To inquire about quantity or price, we use Chand? (How many/much?):
A crucial Persian grammar point here is that Chand? is *always* followed by a singular noun, even if the English translation implies plurality.
* Chand ketāb? (How many book? / How many books?)
* In chand ast? (This how much is? / How much is this?) – Used for price.
When you need to make a choice, Kodām? (Which?) comes in handy:
* Kodām ketāb? (Which book? / Which book?)
* Kodām rang rā dust dārid? (Which color (object marker) like you have? / Which color do you like?)
Finally, the conjunction yā (or) allows you to present options in your questions:
* Chāy yā ghahve? (Tea or coffee?)
* In yā ān? (This or that?)
Remember, the verb usually stays at the end of the sentence, making these Persian question words easy to integrate.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Chi in ast? (What this is?)
✓ Correct: In chi ast? (This what is? / What is this?)
*Explanation:* In Persian, the question word generally replaces the noun or phrase you're asking about, keeping the natural sentence flow. You don't usually move the question word to the very beginning of the sentence as you might in English. The verb still goes at the end.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Chand ketābhā? (How many books?)
✓ Correct: Chand ketāb? (How many book? / How many books?)
*Explanation:* When using Chand? to ask "how many?", the noun that follows it must always be in its singular form in Persian. The plurality is understood from the question word itself.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: In ast yā ān? (This is or that?)
✓ Correct: In yā ān ast? (This or that is? / Is it this or that?)
*Explanation:* The conjunction yā (or) connects the two choices. The verb ast (is) correctly comes after the combined phrase, maintaining the verb-at-the-end rule for the entire question.

Real Conversations

A

A

In ki ast? (Who is this?)
B

B

In Ali ast. (This is Ali.)
A

A

Shomā kojā hastid? (Where are you?)
B

B

Man dar bāzār hastam. (I am at the bazaar.)
A

A

In chand ast? (How much is this?)
B

B

Panj toman ast. (It is five tomans.)
A

A

Kodām rang rā dust dārid, ābi yā sabz? (Which color do you like, blue or green?)
B

B

Man ābi rā dust dāram. (I like blue.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Do I always put the Persian question word at the end of the sentence?

Not necessarily at the very end, but usually where the *answer* to the question would naturally sit within the sentence structure, often *before* the verb which remains at the end.

Q

Is there a difference between asking "how much" for price versus quantity in Persian?

For price, you typically use In chand ast? (How much is this?). For quantity, you use Chand followed by the singular noun, like Chand ketāb? (How many books?).

Q

Can I just use intonation to ask a question without a question word?

Yes, in simple yes/no questions, rising intonation can indicate a question (e.g., Shomā Irāni hastid? - You are Iranian?). However, for specific information, you'll need the appropriate question word.

Q

Are these A1 Persian question words used in both formal and informal contexts?

Yes, Ki, Chi, Kojā, Key, Chand, Kodām, and yā are fundamental and used across both formal and informal speech. Politeness, however, might involve using formal "you" (shomā) or other polite phrases.

Cultural Context

In Persian culture, even with direct questions using these A1 Persian question words, politeness (known as taarof) is often appreciated, though not strictly required for these basic inquiries. These simple questions are the building blocks of initial interactions and are used universally. There are no significant regional differences in the usage of these core interrogative words; they are understood and used consistently across all Persian-speaking regions. Mastering them is a crucial step towards engaging respectfully and effectively in everyday conversations.

Key Examples (8)

1

In chiye?

What is this?

Persian Question Words: Who (Ki) & What (Chi)
2

Un kiye?

Who is that?

Persian Question Words: Who (Ki) & What (Chi)
3

کجا هستی؟

Where are you?

Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key
4

پیک کِی می‌رسد؟

When does the courier arrive?

Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key
5

In chand ast?

How much is this?

Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)
6

In chande?

How much is this?

Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)
7

Kodām ketāb rā mikhānid?

Which book are you reading?

Which? (kodām?) — Making Choices in Persian
8

Kodum film ro bebinim?

Which movie should we watch?

Which? (kodām?) — Making Choices in Persian

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Context is King

Always look at the verb to see if it refers to a person or thing.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Persian Question Words: Who (Ki) & What (Chi)
💡

Keep it short

In casual speech, drop the subject pronoun. 'Kojā miri?' is perfectly fine.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key
💡

Use 'ta'

Adding 'ta' makes your Persian sound much more natural when counting objects.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)
💡

Use Ezafe

Always add -e to Kodām when followed by a pronoun.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Which? (kodām?) — Making Choices in Persian

Key Vocabulary (8)

کی(ki) who چی(chi) what کجا(kojā) where کی(key) when چند(chand) how many / how much کدام(kodām) which یا(yā) or قیمت(gheymat) price

Real-World Preview

shopping-bag

At the Grand Bazaar

Review Summary

  • [Subject] + کی/چی (ki/chi) + [Verb]?
  • [Subject] + کجا/کی (kojā/key) + [Verb]?
  • چند (chand) + [Singular Noun] + [Verb]?
  • کدام (kodām) + [Noun] + [Verb]?
  • [Option A] + یا (yā) + [Option B]?

Common Mistakes

After 'Chand' (How many), the noun must always be singular, even if you are asking about many items.

Wrong: چند کتاب‌ها؟ (chand ketāb-hā?)
Correct: چند کتاب؟ (chand ketāb?)

While 'key' can sometimes start a sentence, it is more natural to keep the subject first and the question word before the verb.

Wrong: کی تو می‌آیی؟ (key to mi-āyi?)
Correct: تو کی می‌آیی؟ (to key mi-āyi?)

The question word 'Kodām' must come directly before the noun it is describing.

Wrong: کدام است کتاب؟ (kodām ast ketāb?)
Correct: کدام کتاب است؟ (kodām ketāb ast?)

Next Steps

You're doing amazing! Asking questions is the key to unlocking the Persian language. Keep being curious!

Walk around your room and ask 'In chie?' (What is this?) for every object.

Write 5 questions you would ask a shopkeeper in Tehran.

Continue to: Prepositions and Connectors

Quick Practice (10)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Chi آمد؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی آمد؟
Ki is for people.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Persian Question Words: Who (Ki) & What (Chi)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کدامِ شما می‌آیید؟
Need Ezafe and correct verb agreement.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Which? (kodām?) — Making Choices in Persian

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

کجا تو هستی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تو کجا هستی؟
Standard word order.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key

Fill in the blank with the correct interrogative.

___ سیب می‌خواهی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: چند
Use 'chand' for countable items.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

چه ماشین را می‌خواهی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کدام ماشین را می‌خواهی؟
Use Kodām for selection.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Which? (kodām?) — Making Choices in Persian

Fill in the blank with Ki or Chi.

___ آنجاست؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی
Ki is for people.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Persian Question Words: Who (Ki) & What (Chi)

Choose the correct question word.

___ مهمانی شروع می‌شود؟ (When does the party start?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: کی
Key is for time.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking Where & When in Persian: kojā and key

Select the best fit.

___ آب می‌خواهی؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: چقدر
Water is uncountable.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Asking 'How many/much?' in Persian (chand?)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sib yā moz
yā is for choice.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Conjunction "or": `yā` (یا)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

either sib yā moz

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sib yā moz
Remove 'either'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Conjunction "or": `yā` (یا)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, Ki is strictly for people. Use Chi for objects.
Chi is neutral. Use Che-chizi for formal writing.
No, 'kojā' is strictly for place. Use 'key' for time.
It is neutral. It works in almost all situations.
Yes, 'chand' is the standard way to ask for the price of an item.
Persian grammar does not require pluralization after quantifiers like 'chand'.
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Prepositions and Connectors
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