Monday, 31 August 2015

word choice - Asking a question with "da" and "datta"



We use "desu" and "deshita" to make the polite form and "ka" to make it a question, for example:


Tokyo ga suki desu ka? (Do you like Tokyo?)
Tokyo ga suki deshita ka? (Did you like Tokyo?)

How can I ask the same questions using the dictionary, casual forms of "desu" and "deshita" which are "da" and "datta"?


Should I add "ka" at the end of a sentence? Or just replace "desu" and "deshita" with "da" and "datta"?


P.S. I don't need a long explanation, but rather a simple answer. The information I've found so far is ambiguous.


P.S.2


How common and ok to use this in informal speech (without ka)?:


Tokyo ga suki da/datta?


Just yes or no.



Answer



All of desu, deshita, and datta appear normally before ka.


But da is an exception. In main clauses (like your examples), da is deleted before ka:


 desu    + ka   →   desu ka
deshita + ka → deshita ka
da + ka →   ka
datta + ka →  datta ka

In subordinate clauses (like [dare da ka] shiranai), da sometimes appears before ka.





Although you want a short answer, you should also consider alternate ways of forming questions, for example using rising intonation, omitting ka. In informal speech, people don't always use the textbook-style question with ka at the end.


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