Embedded Questions: The tu ara Tail
Embedded wh-questions (unchanged), yes/no questions with the post-verbal tu ara tail, and choice questions with tu.
I can report and embed questions of all three types.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
არ ვიცი, ნინო ხვალ მოვა თუ არა.
I don't know whether Nino will come tomorrow.
მკითხეს, ქართული მესმის თუ არა - ქართულადვე ვუპასუხე!
They asked me whether I understand Georgian - I answered in Georgian!
ჯერ არ გადამიწყვეტია, ზღვაზე წავიდე თუ მთაში.
I haven't yet decided whether to go to the sea or to the mountains.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Whether, Georgian style
Wh-questions embed unchanged: არ ვიცი, სად ცხოვრობს (I don't know where he lives). Yes/no questions grow the tail თუ არა AFTER the verb: მოვა თუ არა (whether he'll come). Choices put თუ between options. Don't confuse question-თუ with condition-თუ: position tells them apart.
English-style fronted if (*ar vitsi tu mova) - the tu ara tail belongs after the verb; and tu ara inside wh-questions.
Common Error Patterns
Dropping tu ara in embedded yes/no questions or fronting tu like English if
Relay drills: turn direct questions into embedded ones with the tu ara tail.
არ ვიცი, ნინო ხვალ მოვა თუ არა.
I don't know whether Nino will come tomorrow.
The whether-tail: verb + tu ara at the clause end - mova tu ara 'will come or not'.
მკითხეს, ქართული მესმის თუ არა - ქართულადვე ვუპასუხე!
They asked me whether I understand Georgian - I answered in Georgian!
Embedded yes/no questions after ask-verbs always take the tu ara tail.
ჯერ არ გადამიწყვეტია, ზღვაზე წავიდე თუ მთაში.
I haven't yet decided whether to go to the sea or to the mountains.
Choice questions put tu between alternatives: zghvaze... tu mtashi - Georgia's eternal dilemma.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises