CARROTTA
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❓ Compendium
Grammar
DE
Deutsch — Yes/no questions
In German yes/no questions the finite verb moves to the first position: Kommst du? To answer, you use ja, nein or — after a negative question — doch.
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How it works
✓ Rule
A yes/no question begins with the finite verb (position 1), followed by the subject: Kommst du? Trinkst du Kaffee? Hast du Zeit? Word order is otherwise the same as in the statement (Du kommst → Kommst du).
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Examples
| Question | Answer + meaning |
|---|---|
| Kommst du? | Ja. — Yes, I'm coming. |
| Trinkst du Kaffee? | Nein. — No, I don't. |
| Hast du Zeit? | Ja. — Yes, I have time. |
| Kommst du nicht? | Doch. — Yes (I am), contradicting the negative. |
| Hast du keine Zeit? | Doch. — Yes, I do have time (after all). |
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Good to know
⚠ Note
Use doch (not ja) to answer a negative question affirmatively: Kommst du nicht? — Doch! Answering with ja here would be wrong. Confirming the negative uses nein: Kommst du nicht? — Nein (I'm not coming).