Language/French/Grammar/Interrogation

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French → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Negation and Interrogation → Interrogation

In the previous lesson, we learned about negation in French and how to make negative statements and expressions. Now, it's time to focus on the interrogative form of French sentences. Interrogation is a fundamental aspect of language that allows us to ask questions and seek information. Mastering the interrogative form will greatly enhance your ability to communicate and understand French conversations. So, let's dive into the world of questions!

Forming Yes/No Questions

To form yes/no questions in French, we usually use a subject-verb inversion. This means that we invert the order of the subject and the verb. Let's take a look at some examples:

• Statement: Tu parles français. (You speak French.)
• Yes/No Question: Parles-tu français? (Do you speak French?)

In the example above, the subject "tu" (you) and the verb "parles" (speak) have been inverted to form the question. Notice the addition of the hyphen between the verb and the subject. This hyphen is necessary in written French, but in spoken French, it is often omitted.

Here are a few more examples:

• Statement: Il travaille ici. (He works here.)
• Yes/No Question: Travaille-t-il ici? (Does he work here?)

• Statement: Nous aimons le cinéma. (We like movies.)
• Yes/No Question: Aimons-nous le cinéma? (Do we like movies?)

• Statement: Elles parlent espagnol. (They speak Spanish.)
• Yes/No Question: Parlent-elles espagnol? (Do they speak Spanish?)

As you can see, the subject-verb inversion is a key element in forming yes/no questions in French. Practice this structure by creating your own examples and asking questions to your classmates or language partners.

Forming Information Questions

Information questions in French are formed using question words, also known as interrogative pronouns or adverbs. These question words help us seek specific information in a sentence. Let's take a look at some common question words and their usage:

• Qui (Who): Used to ask about a person or people.

 - Qui est-ce? (Who is it?)
 - Qui est ton professeur de français? (Who is your French teacher?)

• Qu'est-ce que (What): Used to ask about things or actions.

 - Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce soir? (What are you doing tonight?)
 - Qu'est-ce que c'est? (What is it?)

• Quand (When): Used to ask about time or duration.

 - Quand est ton anniversaire? (When is your birthday?)
 - Quand est-ce que tu pars en vacances? (When are you going on vacation?)

• Où (Where): Used to ask about places or locations.

 - Où habites-tu? (Where do you live?)
 - Où est la bibliothèque? (Where is the library?)

• Comment (How): Used to ask about manner or method.

 - Comment ça va? (How are you?)
 - Comment est-ce qu'on fait ça? (How do we do that?)

• Pourquoi (Why): Used to ask about reasons or motivations.

 - Pourquoi tu étudies le français? (Why do you study French?)
 - Pourquoi est-ce que tu as choisi ce restaurant? (Why did you choose this restaurant?)

• Combien (How much/many): Used to ask about quantity or number.

 - Combien ça coûte? (How much does it cost?)
 - Combien d'amis as-tu? (How many friends do you have?)

• Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles (Which): Used to ask about choice or selection.

 - Quel livre préfères-tu? (Which book do you prefer?)
 - Quelles langues parles-tu? (Which languages do you speak?)

These are just a few examples of question words in French. There are more question words that you will encounter as you progress in your language learning journey. Practice using these question words in conversations and try to build your own questions using them.

Tag Questions

Tag questions, also known as question tags, are short questions that are added at the end of a statement to seek confirmation or agreement. In French, tag questions are formed by using the following structure:

• Statement: Vous parlez anglais, n'est-ce pas? (You speak English, don't you?)
• Statement: Tu aimes les chats, n'est-ce pas? (You like cats, don't you?)

In the examples above, the tag question "n'est-ce pas?" is added at the end of the statement to seek confirmation. The structure of the tag question is inverted, meaning that the verb and subject are switched. Notice the use of a comma before the tag question in written French, but in spoken French, the intonation rises at the end to indicate a question.

Tag questions are a great way to engage in conversation and seek agreement or confirmation. Practice using tag questions in your conversations to improve your fluency and comprehension.

Intonation in Questions

In addition to the structure of the sentence, intonation plays a crucial role in indicating that a sentence is a question in spoken French. When asking a question, the pitch of your voice rises towards the end of the sentence. This rising intonation helps differentiate questions from statements in spoken French.

Let's take a look at an example:

• Statement: Tu parles français? (You speak French?)
• Question: Tu parles français? (Do you speak French?)

In the example above, the only difference between the statement and the question is the rising intonation at the end of the question. Practice using the correct intonation while asking questions in French to sound more natural and confident in your conversations.

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the basics of forming questions in French, it's time to put your knowledge into practice. Here are a few exercises to help you master the interrogative form:

1. Rewrite the following statements as yes/no questions:

• Elle parle anglais.
• Vous aimez le chocolat.
• Ils vont au cinéma.

2. Use the correct question word to complete the following questions:

• __________ est-ce que tu as faim?
• __________ est ton livre préféré?
• __________ tu aimes faire pendant ton temps libre?

3. Create your own questions using the question words we've learned. Ask your classmates or language partners to answer them.

Remember to pay attention to the subject-verb inversion, the use of question words, and the correct intonation while practicing these exercises.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now learned how to form questions in French using the interrogative form. By mastering this essential aspect of French grammar, you will be able to ask and answer questions with ease. Keep practicing and incorporating questions into your conversations to enhance your language skills. In the next lesson, we will explore the world of numbers and time in French. À bientôt!

Table of Contents - French Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• The French Alphabet
• French Vowels and Consonants
• French Accent Marks
• Introductions and Greetings

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Gender and Number of Nouns
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Partitive Articles

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Common Irregular Verbs
• Passé Composé
• Futur Proche

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Agreement of Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Formation and Use of Adverbs

  ---

Negation and Interrogation

• Negation
• Interrogation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
• Time and Dates

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Romantic Relationships

  ---

Food and Drink

• Food and Eating Habits
• Beverages and Drinking Habits

  ---

Hobbies and Interests

• Sports and Fitness Activities
• Music and Entertainment

  ---

Geography and Travel

• Regions and Cities in France
• Transportation and Accommodation

  ---

French Culture and Arts

• French Cuisine and Gastronomy
• French Cinema and Literature

  ---

French History and Society

• Major Events in French History
• French Society and Lifestyle

Sources

• Questions in French grammar
• 40 French Question Words + How to Ask Questions in French

Other Lessons

• Passé Composé
• ensuite VS puis
• Indirect and Direct Transitive Verbs
• Omission of the article in set phrases and verbal constructions
• Meaning of alors
• Futur Proche
• Subjunctive versus indicative in clauses dependent on a superlative adjective
• Choice of some time adverbs relative to the moment of speaking
• me, te, se, nous, vous as part of certain verbs but with no specific meaning

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Next Lesson — Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers ▶️