Does this following sentence mean " is the something to drink" - nani ka nomimono arimasu ka? And can you substitute the nomimono for tabemono to mean is there something to eat?

"nani ka nomimono arimasu ka?" see "arimasu"? The verb is aru and aru means to have. So when adding arimasu you're stating the existance of something. When adding ka after arimasu, you're asking the existance of an object. This object is "nomimono" which is a drink. nomi = nomu verb = to drink mono = thing tabemono = food (tabe \ taberu verb + mono \thing) So the literal translation is "is there something to drink?" Hope this helps!

[quo]*Quote from * K73SK "nani ka nomimono arimasu ka?" see "arimasu"? The verb is aru and aru means to have. So when adding arimasu you're stating the existance of something. When adding ka after arimasu, you're asking the existance of an object. This object is "nomimono" which is a drink. nomi = nomu verb = to drink mono = thing tabemono = food (tabe \ taberu verb + mono \thing) So the literal translation is "is there something to drink?" Hope this helps![/quo] If you wanted to get more technical about it (if not don't read my post as that's what I'm about to do xD): You forgot to analyze nani ka in your explanation nani in this situation as I recall is meaing more "Something" than "what" then ka is acting slightly like "of" in this context as well. As K73SK mentioned nomi (or nomu) is drink mono is thing so nomimono is like "drink thing" or "object (as of which) you drink" arimasu "Existence of preceding object" ka (makes the whole sentence a question). So like the sentence "nani ka nomimono arimasu." Would be translated as "So there is something to drink... (very interesting)" back to the ssentence with "ka" in it though. So far we have the following then: Something of drink thing existence ? Then we shove it into the "Since this sounds natural in japanese we make it sound natural in english" machine and it spits out: "Is there anything to drink?" Pretty much that is how I get the translation for that sentence. I tend to enjoy my "Since this sounds natural in Japanese we make it sound natural in English" machine... oh by the way the patent on it is pending xD... the name is so very obscure too. Ok yeah enough bad jokes for one day. じゃまたじかい！ デレック

So if im understanding this right, you do not need to use the nani ka in the sentence? So "nomimono ga arimasu ka?" means is there anything/something to drink?

[quo]*Quote from * Chris So if im understanding this right, you do not need to use the nani ka in the sentence? So "nomimono ga arimasu ka?" means is there anything/something to drink?[/quo] Depends on what your asking... nani ka is needed for if your asking "What (specific) types of drinks are there?" nani ka isn't needed if your asking "Are there any drinks (in general)?" Possibly there might be a formality issue too... I'd wait until Sayaka confirms or dispells our comments thus far before assuming anything is correct.

I would agree with Derek's last post. Nanika probably makes the sentence to ask "what are there---" instead of asking for the existance of an object. :]

nanika is more along the lines of "something/anything". Just like dareka is along the line of "someone/anyone". The particle "ka" is not always used at the end of a sentence.

Hello Minnasan! You are all on the spot with your answers! Sugoi desu. *Nanika nomimono arimasu ka?* is translated literally _"Something-drink-thing-is there?"_ and more naturally asks "Is there something to drink?". You can also omit *Nanika* and ask *Nominomo arimasu ka?* if you only need to ask "Are there drinks?" A question word followed by the particle *KA* (especially when it's at the beginning or middle of a sentence) the expression refers to an indefinite person, place, thing, time - etc. *Nani* = _"what"_ *Nani + ka* = _"something"_ *Doko* = _"where"_ *Doko + ka* = _"somewhere"_ *Itsu* = _"when"_ *Itsu + ka* = _"sometime"_ - Sayaka :lol:

[quo]*Quote from * Sayaka A question word followed by the particle *KA* (especially when it's at the beginning or middle of a sentence) the expression refers to an indefinite person, place, thing, time - etc. *Nani* = _"what"_ *Nani + ka* = _"something"_ *Doko* = _"where"_ *Doko + ka* = _"somewhere"_ *Itsu* = _"when"_ *Itsu + ka* = _"sometime"_ - Sayaka :lol:[/quo] こんにちはさやかさん！ どうもありがとうございました！(did I get all my う's this time?) Anyways, thanks for that clarification, I knew that nani could have something to do with "something" if used in a specific context but didn't know that ka was what distinguished it, and that it can be applied to the other question words... for that thanks a bunch! じゃまたね デレック

デレックさん、 どういたしまして。 :P