The particle ғой is used very often in colloquial speech. It does not have a separate word. It functions to express the context of a sentence. It is used in the following situations:
It is used as a polite word instead of please, especially for young kids.
For example, Балам, дүкенге барып қайта ғой.=Son, can you go to the store, please. Бүгін сабақта не істедің? Айта ғой.=What did you do today at school? Tell me, please. Балалар, жата ғойыңдар енді, кеш болып кетті.=Kiddos, go to bed please. It is too late now.
In interrogative sentences it can be translated as a tag sentence
For example, Ceн өткенде мына телефонды осы жерден алдың ғой?=You bought this phone from here, didn’t you? Мама, ертең бәріміз бірге паркке барамыз ғой?=Mummy, we are going to park together tomorrow, aren’t we? Біз қазір Айнұрдың үйіне бара жатырмыз ғой?=We are going to Ainur’s house right now, aren’t we?
It may express a feeling of being right.
For example, Мен айттым ғой!=I told you! (You see, I was right.) Білдім ғой осылай боларын!=I knew it! (I had this feeling. But you did not listen to me. I was right.)
It may be used as saying didn’t you know that.
For example, Олар кеше келді ғой.=They arrived yesterday. (Didn’t you know about that. I thought you knew.) Ол менің ағам ғой.=He is my brother. (Didn’t you know about that. I thought you knew.)
It is used to highlight the verb in a sentence.
For example, Сені сағындым ғой! = I miss you so much! Білсең ғой қалай қиналғанымды!=If you only knew how much I suffered!
ғой expresses surprise or the moment when you realise something.
For example, Бүгін мейрам екен ғой!=Oh, I totally forgot, it is a holiday today. Ahh. Ооо! Мынау сенің үлкен қызың екен ғой! Өзіңнен аумай қалыпты!=Oh, this is your eldest daughter! She looks exactly like you. Сені кеше мектептен көрген екенмін ғой. Қайда көргенімді есіме түсіре алмай отыр едім.=Oh, I met you yesterday at school. I could not recall where I have seen you before.
Exercise 1. Make up your own 2 sentences for each situation and read it aloud to the class.
