Ի՞նչ ասացիք and թե ինչ ասացիք: the ՞ mark and a question inside a sentence
Two oddities at once: the question mark does not stand at the end, and a question inside a sentence is introduced by a special word. For example: “Ներողութիւն, ի՞նչ ասացիք, չլսեցի” — Excuse me, what did you say — I didn't catch it. A rule from the Western Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Two oddities at once: the question mark does not stand at the end, and a question inside a sentence is introduced by a special word.
The ՞ mark sits inside a word. Over the stressed vowel of the word being asked about: Inch՞ asatsik' — what did you say. The place of the mark changes the meaning: Tu՞ yes knum — is it YOU who is going?
There is no word for "whether" — the mark does the job. Jishd՞ hasgatsadz em — have I understood correctly. No particle exists: ՞ does the job alone.
A question inside a sentence — with թե (t'e). When the question becomes part of a message, t'e stands before the question word and the mark is removed. Չգիտեմ (chkidem), թե ինչ է (t'e inch e) — ch'kidem, t'e inch e nshanagum — I do not know what it means. A choice marks both halves: Taksi ganche՞m, t'e՞ vodk'ov yert'ank' — taxi or on foot?
Table
| What you need | How | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a direct question | the ՞ mark inside the word | Ի՞նչ ասացիք |
| "whether" | only the ՞ mark | Ճի՞շտ հասկացած եմ |
| to ask about another word | the mark moves | Դու գնո՞ւմ ես |
| an indirect question | թե, the mark is removed | չգիտեմ, թե ինչ է |
| an indirect "where" | թե որտեղ | հիշեցի, թե որտեղ ենք հանդիպիլ |
| a choice of two | the mark on both halves + թե՞ | Տաքսի կանչե՞մ, թե՞ ոտքով երթանք |
| a plain "or" | կամ, without the mark | թէյ կամ սուրճ |
| the end of a phrase | the mark "։", not a period | Չլսեցի։ |
By example
- Ներողութիւն, ի՞նչ ասացիք, չլսեցիneroghut'yun, inch asatsik', chlsetsiExcuse me, what did you say — I didn't catch it
- Չգիտեմ, թե այս բառը ինչ է նշանակումchkidem, t'e ays parrə inch e nshanagumI don't know what this word means
- Հիմա գա՞նք, թե՞ երեկոյեանhima kank', t'e yeregoyeanShall we come now or in the evening?
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Where does the question mark go?
Two oddities at once: the question mark does not stand at the end, and a question inside a sentence is introduced by a special word.
How to ask could you repeat that?
The ՞ mark sits inside a word. Over the stressed vowel of the word being asked about: Inch՞ asatsik' — what did you say. The place of the mark changes the meaning: Tu՞ yes knum — is it YOU who is going?
T e before indirect questions?
There is no word for "whether" — the mark does the job. Jishd՞ hasgatsadz em — have I understood correctly. No particle exists: ՞ does the job alone.
How to say i dont know what it means?
A question inside a sentence — with թե. When the question becomes part of a message, t'e stands before the question word and the mark is removed. Չգիտեմ, թե ինչ է — ch'kidem, t'e inch e nshanagum — I do not know what it means. A choice marks both halves: Taksi ganche՞m, t'e՞ vodk'ov yert'ank'…
Or questions marking both options?
A question inside a sentence — with թե. When the question becomes part of a message, t'e stands before the question word and the mark is removed. Չգիտեմ, թե ինչ է — ch'kidem, t'e inch e nshanagum — I do not know what it means. A choice marks both halves: Taksi ganche՞m, t'e՞ vodk'ov yert'ank'…
No question mark at the end of the sentence?
A question inside a sentence — with թե. When the question becomes part of a message, t'e stands before the question word and the mark is removed. Չգիտեմ, թե ինչ է — ch'kidem, t'e inch e nshanagum — I do not know what it means. A choice marks both halves: Taksi ganche՞m, t'e՞ vodk'ov yert'ank'…
What does it look like in an example sentence Western Armenian?
“Ներողութիւն, ի՞նչ ասացիք, չլսեցի” (neroghut'yun, inch asatsik', chlsetsi) — Excuse me, what did you say — I didn't catch it. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.