Vietnamese 'ai' Usage (Who)
'ai' is commonly used to mean "who" and is a fundamental Vietnamese structure for English speakers to learn first.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'ai' is commonly used to mean "who" and is a fundamental Vietnamese structure for English speakers to learn first.
English meanings
- who
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Ai gọi cho bạn?
Who called you?
2
Cô ấy là ai?
Who is she?
How to use it
'ai' means "who" and is used to ask about people. It usually occupies the position of a personal component in a sentence and can function as the subject, object, or the person being described.
- 'ai' can be the subject, e.g., Ai đến? (Who is coming?).
- To ask about identity, use the pattern ... là ai?.
- When asking about the object, 'ai' is placed in the object position.
Compared with English
Compared with English
In English, we say "Who is he?" or "He is who?" In Vietnamese, it depends on whether 'ai' asks about the subject or identity, with a common pattern being Người này là ai? (Who is this person?).
Common mistakes
Ai người này là?
Người này là ai?
When asking "Who is this person?", 'ai' should follow 'là' to indicate identity.
Ai bạn gặp hôm qua?
Bạn gặp ai hôm qua?
When asking about the object "who", 'ai' should come after the verb 'gặp', not at the beginning.
Commonly confused grammar
No closely confused forms are listed for this point.
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence naturally means "Who is this person?"
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence naturally means "Who is this person?"
- Người này là ai?
- Ai người này là?
- Người ai này là?
Answer: Người này là ai?
Explanation: 'ai' is placed after 'là' to indicate identity.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ gọi cho bạn?
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: ____ gọi cho bạn?
Answer: Ai gọi cho bạn?
Explanation: 'ai' can be the subject, e.g., Ai đến? (Who is coming?).
English to Vietnamese
Translate "Who called you?" into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "Who called you?" into Vietnamese.
Answer: Ai gọi cho bạn?
Explanation: Use ai in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Ai người này là?
Show answer
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Ai người này là?
Answer: False
Explanation: 'ai' should follow 'là' when asking identity.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Ai bạn gặp hôm qua?
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Ai bạn gặp hôm qua?
Answer: Bạn gặp ai hôm qua?
Explanation: 'ai' should come after the verb when asking about the object.