In Russian, if you want to ask about who owns something, you use the word "чей" (chey). It means "whose." This word helps you find out who something belongs to, whether it's an object, an animal, or even a person. Knowing how to use "чей" is important for having easy conversations in Russian.

How to Ask Questions with "чей"

1. Understanding "чей":
   The word "чей" changes depending on what you are talking about. Here’s how it works:

   • For one boy or man: чей (chey)
   • For one girl or woman: чья (ch'yah)
   • For things like books or letters: чьё (ch'yo)
   • For many things: чьи (ch'i)

2. Making Questions:
   Asking a question is easy:

   • (чей/чья/чьё/чьи) + noun + verb?

Examples of "чей" in Action

• One boy or man:
  • Чей это кот? (Chey eto kot?) - Whose cat is this?
• One girl or woman:
  • Чья это книга? (Ch'yah eto kniga?) - Whose book is this?
• Things:
  • Чьё это письмо? (Ch'yó eto pismo?) - Whose letter is this?
• Many things:
  • Чьи эти корзины? (Ch'i ety korziny?) - Whose baskets are these?

Asking Questions Out Loud

In Russian, when you ask a question, you don’t have to change your voice like in English. You usually keep a flat tone. But you can raise your voice a little at the end to show it’s a question. Here are some tips:

• When you use "чей," lift your voice slightly at the end of the sentence.
• Try saying the question first like it’s a statement, then change your voice to ask.

Practice with Examples

To get better, practice asking questions with different nouns:

• Choose a noun:
  • For example: "стол" (stol - table)
• Create a question:
  • Чей это стол? (Chey eto stol?) - Whose table is this?

You can do this with other nouns, using the right form of "чей":

• For a feminine noun:
  • Чья это фотка? (Ch'yah eto fotka?) - Whose photo is this?
• For neuter nouns:
  • Чьё это домашнее задание? (Ch'yó eto domashneye zadaniye?) - Whose homework is this?
• For plural nouns:
  • Чьи эти игрушки? (Ch'i ety igrooshki?) - Whose toys are these?

By practicing with "чей," you will get better at speaking in Russian and asking who owns what. With each practice, you’ll feel more confident and fluent!