There is and there are
Say that something exists or is available, and ask whether it is nearby.
Existence forms
| Number | Affirmative | Negative | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | կա — ka | չկա — ch’ka | there is / there is not |
| plural | կան — kan | չկան — ch’kan | there are / there are not |
Place comes first naturally
A common frame is location + thing + կա (ka) or կան (kan). The noun does not need a definite article when you are introducing something new.
Statements and questions
| Armenian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| Այստեղ բանկ կա։ | Aystegh bank ka. | There is a bank here. |
| Այստեղ բանկ կա՞։ | Aystegh bank ka? | Is there a bank here? |
| Ազատ սենյակներ կան։ | Azat senyakner kan. | There are free rooms. |
| Ազատ սենյակներ կա՞ն։ | Azat senyakner kan? | Are there free rooms? |
Examples
Սեղանի վրա գիրք կա։Seghani vra girk’ ka.There is a book on the table.Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty; k’ is aspirated.
Այստեղ մարդիկ կան։Aystegh mardik kan.There are people here.Pronunciation: gh is voiced and throaty.
Սուրճ չկա։Surch ch’ka.There is no coffee.Pronunciation: ch is unaspirated; ch’ is aspirated.
Մոտակայքում բանկ կա՞։Motakayk’um bank ka?Is there a bank nearby?Pronunciation: k’ is aspirated.
Use it now
Not practised yet
Practice this lesson
Eight questions are drawn from this lesson and reshuffled every time.
Questions switch between recognition and recall, so you practise both meaning and the Armenian form.