ли

daily used (#74)B1

1.
whether, if
good or bad, when only one ли , two или
2.
interrogative particle (placed after the first word in a sentence or phrase)
Do/does/did...? Is/are/was/were...?

Usage info

Ли always goes after the question/interrogative word. например: <<Я спросил отца, всю ли газету он прочитал>> I asked father whether he read the whole paper. For more info refer to topics titled Indirect Speech

Examples

Сего́дня ветрено, не так ли?
It is windy today, isn't it?
Есть ли разу́мная жизнь на други́х плане́тах?
Is there intelligent life on other planets?
Э́то Ли Ин.
This is Li Ying.
Мы едва ли мо́жем рассчи́тывать на его выздоровле́ние.
There is little if any hope for his recovery.
Ты ходи́л в парк вчера́, не так ли?
You went to the park yesterday, didn't you?
Не зна́ю, хорошо ли э́то.
I don't know if it is good.
Могу́ ли я говори́ть с отве́тственным лицо́м?
Can I speak to the person in charge?
Э́та компа́ния выпуска́ет свой журна́л, не пра́вда ли?
That company puts out a magazine, doesn't it?
Нет большо́й ра́зницы, будешь ли ты туда добира́ться на такси́ или пешком.
It will make little difference whether you go there by taxi or on foot.
Действительно ли ну́жен конте́кст, чтобы поня́ть сослагательное наклоне́ние?
Is context really necessary to understand the subjunctive?

Fixed expressions

вряд ли
hardly unlikely (adv)

Typical usagePRO

Neutral yes/no questions with ли
- Говори́те ли вы по-ру́сски
  
  Do you speak Russian?
- Прие́дет ли он сего́дня
  
  Will he come today?
- Есть ли у вас ...
  
  Do you have ...?
- Мо́жно ли здесь паркова́ться
  
  Is parking allowed here?
Focusing an element with ли
- Все ли понима́ют
  
  Does everyone understand?
- Всё ли поня́тно
  
  Is everything clear?
- У всех ли есть биле́ты
  
  Does everyone have tickets?
- Э́тот ли челове́к ...
  
  Is this the person ...
Polite requests and offers
- Не подска́жете ли ...
  
  Could you tell me ...
- Не ска́жете ли, где ...
  
  Could you tell me where ...
- Не жела́ете ли ...
  
  Would you like ...
- Не пора́ ли ...
  
  Isn't it time to ...

LockedUnlock typical usages

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Contributions

xenomurph edited translation 1 year ago.
xenomurph edited translation 1 year ago.
windsorpark edited usage info 3 years ago.
windsorpark edited usage info 3 years ago.

Other Sources (auto generated)

Wiktionary PONS bab.la Reverso

More about the translations

a after first if in interrogative or particle phrase placed sentence the whether word