Understanding Wh-Questions in Czech

In this guide, we will explore how to form Wh-questions in Czech, specifically in the context of the English language. Wh-questions are information questions that require a specific piece of information, such as "What is your name?" or "Where is the nearest coffee shop?" Let's dive in!

Basic Wh-Question Words

In Czech, just like in English, Wh-questions start with question words that elicit specific information. Here are the basic Wh-question words in Czech along with their English equivalents:

1. Co (What)
2. Kdo (Who)
3. Kdy (When)
4. Kde (Where)
5. Proč (Why)
6. Jak (How)
7. Kolik (How much/many)
8. Kam (Where to)
9. Odkud (Where from)
10. Jaký (What kind of)

Forming Wh-Questions

To form a Wh-question in Czech, follow these steps:

1. Start with the appropriate Wh-question word.
2. Place the verb in the sentence as the second element.
3. Invert the subject and verb order.
4. Add a question mark at the end.

Let's see some examples using the basic Wh-question words:

Example 1: Co (What)

English:

• What is your name?
• What are you doing?

Czech:

• Jak se jmenuješ? (Literally: What do you call yourself?)
• Co děláš? (Literally: What are you doing?)

Example 2: Kdo (Who)

English:

• Who is that person?
• Who ate all the cake?

Czech:

• Kdo je ta osoba? (Literally: Who is that person?)
• Kdo snědl všechno dort? (Literally: Who ate all the cake?)

Example 3: Kdy (When)

English:

• When is your birthday?
• When does the train arrive?

Czech:

• Kdy máš narozeniny? (Literally: When do you have birthdays?)
• Kdy přijede vlak? (Literally: When will the train arrive?)

Example 4: Kde (Where)

English:

• Where do you live?
• Where is the nearest grocery store?

Czech:

• Kde bydlíš? (Literally: Where do you live?)
• Kde je nejbližší obchod? (Literally: Where is the nearest store?)

Example 5: Proč (Why)

English:

• Why did you leave early?
• Why is it so hot today?

Czech:

• Proč jsi odešel brzy? (Literally: Why did you leave early?)
• Proč je dnes tak horko? (Literally: Why is it so hot today?)

Additional Considerations

• In Czech, question words can have different forms depending on their grammatical role in the sentence. Pay attention to the gender, number, and case of the noun they refer to.
• When forming Wh-questions, it's important to adjust the verb form accordingly. This may involve verb conjugation or changing the aspect of the verb.
• Remember to pay attention to word order and place the verb as the second element in the sentence. This is different from English, where the verb usually comes after the subject.

That's it! You now have a basic understanding of how to form Wh-questions in Czech. Practice forming different Wh-questions using various question words to reinforce your knowledge.