Question word + か

[Indefinite Pronouns from Question Words]

Connection: Question word + か

When the particle か is added directly to question words, they become indefinite pronouns meaning "some-" or "any-". These function as nouns/pronouns in sentences.

Formation:

• 何 (what) + か = 何か (something, anything)
• 誰 (who) + か = 誰か (someone, anyone)
• どこ (where) + か = どこか (somewhere, anywhere)
• いつ (when) + か = いつか (sometime, someday)
• どれ (which) + か = どれか (one of them, any one)

Usage Notes:

• These are different from embedded questions (疑問詞小句)
• Function as single pronoun units
• Often used with positive statements
• Particle placement: 何か + を/が (何かを食べる)

Comparison:

• 何か/誰か/どこか + affirmative: something/someone/somewhere
• 何も/誰も/どこも + negative: nothing/nobody/nowhere
  • 何も食べなかった (ate nothing)
  • 誰も来なかった (nobody came)

Examples: 何か食べたいですか。(Do you want to eat something?) 誰か来たようです。(It seems someone came.) いつか日本に行きたい。(I want to go to Japan someday.)