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

Э́ту кни́гу на удивле́ние легко чита́ть, не пра́вда ли?
This book is surprisingly easy to read, isn't it?
Неиспра́вность появля́ется регулярно или только эпизоди́чески? Можно ли воспроизвести́ возникнове́ние неиспра́вности?
Does the error occur regularly or sporadically? Is the error reproducible?
Мы не мо́жем точно сказа́ть, смо́жем ли мы прийти́.
It is doubtful whether we shall be able to come.
Я не зна́ю, пра́вда ли э́то.
I don't know if this is true.
Трудно ли говори́ть по-английски?
Is it hard to speak English?
Лу́чше ли будет, если нача́ть рано?
Would it be better to start early?
Верна́ ли э́та информа́ция?
Is this information correct?
Еди́те ли вы рис в вашей стране́?
Do you eat rice in your country?
Ясно ли моё объясне́ние?
Is my explanation clear?
Пока не зна́ю, срабо́тает ли э́тот план или нет.
It is yet to be seen whether this plan will succeed or not.

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 4 years ago.
windsorpark edited usage info 4 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