Kysymysmuoto

Kysymysmuoto is a term from Finnish grammar referring to the form a sentence takes when it is a question. It encompasses the main ways Finnish speakers turn statements into questions, including yes–no questions, content questions formed with question words, and, to some extent, alternative questions.

Yes–no questions are typically formed by adding the question particle -ko or -kö to the finite verb or another word in the clause. The choice of -ko versus -kö follows vowel harmony and the preceding syllable, and in everyday speech the intonation can also signal a question even without a clear particle. Examples include Oletkö tulossa? (Are you coming?) and Tuletko mukaan? (Will you come along?)

Content questions use interrogative words such as kuka (who), mikä (what), mitä (what), missä (where), milloin (when), miten (how), miksi (why). In Finnish these question words appear at the beginning of the clause, with the rest of the sentence maintaining a normal Finnish word order. Examples: Kuka hän on? (Who is he?) Missä asut? (Where do you live?) Miksi menit? (Why did you go?)

Alternative questions add options using vai (or). For example: Haluatko kahvia vai teetä? (Do you want coffee or tea?)

Punctuation in written Finnish uses a question mark after the interrogative construction. The concept of kysymysmuoto helps describe how Finnish differentiates questions from statements in morphology, syntax, and prosody.