Basic Question Formation

In English, we use words like "do," "does," or "did" to start a question. We say, "Do you like kimchi?" In Korean, the sentence structure stays exactly the same as a statement. The magic happens at the very end of the sentence. If you are using the polite -어/아요 ending, you simply raise your pitch at the end. It is like your voice is taking a tiny elevator ride up. The word order is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV), and it stays that way. You don't move the verb to the front. You don't add a "do." You just lift the tail of the sentence. It's like a grammar traffic light; a flat tone means "I am telling you something," and a rising tone means "I am asking you something."

1. 1Start with your base sentence. For example, 김치를 먹어요 (I eat kimchi).
2. 2Keep the word order. Don't move anything! The subject stays at the start, and the verb stays at the end.
3. 3Identify your politeness level. For most situations, you will use the -어/아요 ending.
4. 4Apply the rising intonation. Instead of saying it flat, make the 요 sound go up. 김치를 먹어요? (Do you eat kimchi?)
5. 5Add a question word if needed. Words like 뭐 (what), 어디 (where), or 누구 (who) usually go right before the verb or where the object would be. For example, 뭐 먹어요? (What do you eat?)

Use this anytime you need information! If you are ordering food at a busy restaurant in Seoul, you might ask, 이거 맛있어요? (Is this delicious?). If you are lost near a subway station, you’ll use it to ask, 역이 어디예요? (Where is the station?). It is perfect for job interviews too, though you might use a more formal ending there. Even in casual chats with friends, a simple 뭐 해요? (What are you doing?) is the bread and butter of daily life. It is the most versatile tool in your linguistic toolbox. Yes, even native speakers rely on this simple pitch shift for about 90% of their daily questions. It makes you sound natural and approachable.

Don't use the rising pitch if you are using the formal -습니까 ending. In that specific case, the grammar itself tells the listener it's a question because the ending changes from -습니다 (statement) to -습니까 (question). Also, try not to over-exaggerate the pitch. You aren't singing an opera; you're just asking a question. If you go too high, you might sound surprised rather than inquisitive. Also, avoid using informal endings (like just dropping the 요) with people you don't know well. It might feel "cool," but it can come across as rude. Stick to the polite 요 until you are best friends!

• The English Shuffle: Beginners often try to put the verb at the beginning. 먹어요 당신 밥? is a one-way ticket to a confused look from a local. Keep that verb at the end!
• Flat Lining: Forgetting the rising pitch. If you say 밥 먹어요. with a flat tone, you are telling someone you are eating, even if you meant to ask them. They might just nod and wait for you to finish your meal!
• Question Word Overload: Don't feel like you *must* have a question word like "what" or "how" to make it a question. In Korean, the context and the pitch are often enough.
• Forgetting the Question Mark: When writing, always use the ?. It's a universal signal, and Korean uses it just like English does.

In very formal settings, like news broadcasts or military speeches, you will hear -습니까?. It functions the same way but sounds much stiffer. Think of -어/아요? as a friendly conversation over coffee and -습니까? as a formal report to your boss. Then there is the informal -니? or -냐? which you’ll hear in K-dramas. These are only for close friends or people younger than you. If you use -냐? with your teacher, you're going to have a very awkward afternoon. Stick to the polite -요? for now—it's your safest and most useful bet.