All lessons Lesson 23 of 30
Daily language

There is and there are

Say that something exists or is available, and ask whether it is nearby.

8 minute lesson

Existence forms

NumberAffirmativeNegativeEnglish
singularկա — kaչկա — ch’kathere is / there is not
pluralկան — kanչկան — ch’kanthere 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

ArmenianTransliterationEnglish
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.

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