1.5 Yes/No Questions (-ko/-kö)

1.5 Yes/No Questions (-ko/-kö)

When you want to ask a question that can be answered with “yes” or “no” in Finnish, you do not change the word order like in English. Instead, you attach a small particle –-ko or -kö – to the word that is being questioned, usually the verb. The particle follows vowel harmony rules, so its form depends on the vowels in the word it attaches to.

Why it matters / when it's used

Yes/no questions are essential for everyday conversation. You will use them to ask about someone’s state, actions, possessions, or preferences. Mastering the -ko/-kö particle lets you form questions correctly without rearranging sentences, which is a key skill at the A1 level.

Clear rules with the logic behind them

The basic pattern is:

word + (-ko / -kö)

Where:

• word is the part of the sentence you want to question (most often the verb in its conjugated form).
• -ko is used after back vowels: a, o, u.
• -kö is used after front vowels: ä, ö, y.
• If the word ends in a consonant, you simply add the particle.
• If the word ends in a vowel, the particle attaches directly; no extra letters are needed.

The particle itself does not cause any other changes in the word (such as consonant gradation). It merely signals that the utterance is a question.

Vowel harmony table

Example questions and answers (10 pairs)

1. Finnish: Onko sinulla nälkä?
   English: Are you hungry?
2. Finnish: Puhutko suomea?
   English: Do you speak Finnish?
3. Finnish: Tuleeko bussi pian?
   English: Is the bus coming soon?
4. Finnish: Käytkö koulussa tänään?
   English: Are you going to school today?
5. Finnish: Onko tämä kirja sinun?
   English: Is this book yours?
6. Finnish: Sydäätkö kahvia?
   English: Do you drink coffee?
7. Finnish: Voitko auttaa minua?
   English: Can you help me?
8. Finnish: Asuuko hän Helsingissä?
   English: Does he/she live in Helsinki?
9. Finnish: Onko sinulla aikaa huomenna?
   English: Do you have time tomorrow?
10. Finnish: Rakastatko minua?
    English: Do you love me?

Common beginner mistakes

• Using the wrong vowel harmony: Saying puhutkö when the verb stem contains a back vowel (e.g., puhut has u, a back vowel, so -ko is correct). The correct form is puhutko.
• Adding extra vowels: Some learners insert an extra -e- before the particle, producing puhuteko. This is unnecessary; the particle attaches directly.
• Forgetting to conjugate the verb: Using the infinitive instead of the conjugated form, e.g., puhua ko? instead of puhutko?. Always conjugate the verb first.
• Misplacing the particle: Putting -ko/-kö at the end of the sentence rather than on the questioned word. In Finnish the particle clings to the word being questioned, usually the verb.
• Confusing -ko/-kö with the imperative: The imperative singular 2nd person also ends in -k (e.g., tule!), but the question particle is added after the verb form, not replacing it.

Short practice exercise

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb plus the appropriate question particle (-ko/-kö). Use the English cue to guide you.

1. Sinä ___ (lukea) tätä kirjaa? (Do you read this book?)
2. Hän ___ (asua) Tampereella? (Does he/she live in Tampere?)
3. Me ___ (olla) valmiita? (Are we ready?)
4. Te ___ (haluta) kahvia? (Do you want coffee?)
5. Se ___ (maksaa) viisi euroa? (Does it cost five euros?)

Answer key

1. luetko
2. asuuko
3. olemmeko
4. haluatteko
5. maksaako

Memory tips / mnemonics

• Vowel harmony cue: Think of “back” vowels as Back = Backward = B = -ko. “Front” vowels as Front = Forward = F = -kö.
• Particle as a tag: Imagine the particle as a small tag you hang on the verb: verb-tag. No extra stitches needed.
• Sound pattern: The particle always starts with a k sound. If you hear a question that sounds like …ko? or …kö?, you know it’s a yes/no question.
• Verb first: Always conjugate the verb before adding the tag. Think: “I cook the verb, then I sprinkle the -ko/-kö seasoning.”
• Practice with “onko”: The most common question word is onko (is/are). Memorize this as your anchor; other verbs follow the same pattern.