Language/French/Grammar/Yes-no-Questions
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Yes-No questions in French are questions that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Understanding how to form these questions is fundamental for everyday conversation. This lesson will cover the different methods of creating yes-no questions in French.
1. Intonation[edit | edit source]
The simplest way to turn a statement into a yes-no question is by raising your intonation at the end of the sentence.
- Example: Tu viens ? (You're coming?)
2. Est-ce que[edit | edit source]
Another way to create a yes-no question is to use "est-ce que" at the beginning of a sentence.
- Example: Est-ce que tu aimes la pizza ? (Do you like pizza?)
3. Inversion[edit | edit source]
Inversion is a more formal method where the subject and the verb are inverted, with a hyphen connecting them.
- Example: Aimes-tu la pizza ? (Do you like pizza?)
4. N'est-ce pas[edit | edit source]
Sometimes, a question is actually a statement with "n'est-ce pas" at the end. This requests agreement from the listener.
- Example: Tu aimes la pizza, n'est-ce pas ? (You like pizza, don't you?)
5. Examples and Exercises[edit | edit source]
Examples[edit | edit source]
- Tu viens ce soir ? (Are you coming tonight?)
- Est-ce que tu es fatigué ? (Are you tired?)
Exercises[edit | edit source]
- Exercise 1: Convert the following statements into yes-no questions using intonation.
- Exercise 2: Rewrite the provided questions using "est-ce que" and inversion.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Mastering yes-no questions in French will enable you to engage in basic interactions and get straightforward answers from native speakers.