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[[File:learn_french_questions.jpg|thumb]]
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In this article, we will dive into the fascinating world of French grammar and explore the various ways to ask questions in French. As a French language teacher with 20 years of experience, I encourage you to actively participate and directly edit this page if you think it can be improved. 📚
 
In French, there are several ways of asking a question, each with its own particularities, according to the "level of language" we use.


In French, there are several ways of asking a question, each with its own particularities, according to the "level of language" we use. Once you've mastered the art of asking questions, you might also be interested in learning about other aspects of French grammar, such as [[Language/French/Grammar/Demonstrative-pronouns|demonstrative pronouns]], the subtle differences between [[Language/French/Grammar/L’on-VS-on|L’on and on]], and the intriguing [[Language/French/Grammar/Ambiguity-of-reference-of-lui-and-leur|ambiguity of reference of lui and leur]]. 🇫🇷


So, let's embark on this exciting journey to improve your French language skills and become a confident French speaker! Bonne chance! 🌟
==Interrogative structures==
==Interrogative structures==


There are 4 types of interrogative structures:  
There are 4 types of interrogative structures:  


#direct questioning
- direct questioning
#reverse questioning
- reverse questioning
#questioning with "Est-ce que"
- questioning with "Est-ce que"
#direct question with particle at the end  
- direct question with particle at the end  
 
===Direct questioning===
===Direct questioning===


This is done simply by intonation, taking an affirmative phrase, and placing the end the question mark: "?"
This is done simply by intonation, taking an affirmative phrase, and placing the end the question mark: "?"


*Vous avez une chambre → Vous avez une chambre ? (You have a room → Do you have a room?)
 
Vous avez une chambre → Vous avez une chambre ?
You have a room → Do you have a room?


This form is normally used in the familiar language.
This form is normally used in the familiar language.
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It is generally used in formal language.
It is generally used in formal language.


*Vous avez une chambre →  Avez-vous une chambre? (You have a room → Do you have a room?)
Vous avez une chambre →  Avez-vous une chambre?
You have a room → Do you have a room?


For phrasal verbs, the order of the subject is inverted with the auxiliary.
For phrasal verbs, the order of the subject is inverted with the auxiliary.


*Tu as mangé des escargots. → As-tu mangé des escargots ? (You've eaten snails → Have you eaten your snails?)
Tu as mangé des escargots. → As-tu mangé des escargots?
You've eaten snails → Have you eaten your snails?




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2) In the 3rd person of singular, with "il", "elle", "on" (pronouns, starting with a vowel), if the verb ends in a vowel, we add a "-t" between verb and pronoun to make the pronunciation easier.
2) In the 3rd person of singular, with "il", "elle", "on" (pronouns, starting with a vowel), if the verb ends in a vowel, we add a "-t" between verb and pronoun to make the pronunciation easier.


*Il parle français → Parle-t-il français ? (He speaks French → Does he speak French?)
Il parle français → Parle-t-il français?


3) If the question does not begin with a personal pronoun, start with the subjet, the verb and the pronoun like in the example below:
3) If the question does not begin with a personal pronoun, start with the subjet, the verb and the pronoun like in the example below:


*Cette femme dit la vérité →  Cette femme dit-elle la vérité ? (The woman tells the truth → Does this woman tell the truth?)
Cette femme dit la vérité →  Cette femme dit-elle la vérité ?  
 
The woman tells the truth → Does this woman tell the truth?
===Questioning with "Est-ce que" ===
===Questioning with "Est-ce que" ===


To avoid inversion, we mainly use, in French, interrogation with "est-ce que", which is the most common form.
To avoid inversion, we mainly use, in French, interrogation with "est-ce que", which is the most common form.


*Vous avez une chambre → Est-ce que vous avez une chambre ?
- Vous avez une chambre → Est-ce que vous avez une chambre ?
*Tu as mangé des escargots. → Est-ce que tu as mangé des escargots ?  
- Tu as mangé des escargots. → Est-ce que tu as mangé des escargots ?  
*Il parle français → Est-ce qu’il parle français ?
- Il parle français → Est-ce qu’il parle français ?


The form "est-ce que" does not actually mean anything. It only serves to indicate that we are asking a question.  
The form "est-ce que" does not actually mean anything. It only serves to indicate that we are asking a question.  


The structure, therefore is:
The structure, therefore is:
<pre>"EST-CE QUE/QU’" + Subject + Verb  + Complement + "?"</pre>
"EST-CE QUE/QU’" + Subject + Verb  + Complement + "?"


This type of question is used in all situations. It is considered proper and formal. We must ALWAYS USE IT.
This type of question is used in all situations. It is considered proper and formal. We must ALWAYS USE IT.  


=== Direct question with particle at the end ===
== Direct question with particle at the end ==




In the affirmative sentence, it is only of special that we will put the interrogative particle at the end of the sentence, and not at the beginning, as we will see later in dealing with interrogative particles:
En la frase afirmativa, sólo tiene de especial que pondremos la partícula interrogativa al final de la frase, y no al principio, como veremos después al tratar las partículas interrogativas:


Place the particle at the end of the affirmative sentence :
Place the particle at the end of the affirmative sentence :
*Tu pars en vacances QUAND ? (When do you go on vacation?)
Tu pars en vacances QUAND ?     When do you go on vacation?


This form is normally used in the familiar language.
This form is normally used in the familiar language.
==Interrogative particles==
==Interrogative particles==


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Here is an example with the particle "OÙ" (where)
Here is an example with the particle "OÙ" (where)


*OÙ tu passes tes vacances ?
- OÙ tu passes tes vacances ?
*Tu passes tes vacances OÙ ?
- Tu passes tes vacances OÙ ?
*OÙ passes-tu tes vacances ?
- OÙ passes-tu tes vacances ?
*OÙ est-ce que tu passes tes vacances ?
- OÙ est-ce que tu passes tes vacances ?
(Where do you spend your vacation?)
(Where do you spend your vacation?)


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To inquire about a person (who?)
To inquire about a person (who?)
   
   
*Qui vient ce soir ?
- Qui vient ce soir ?.
*Qui est-ce qui vient ce soir ?  
- Qui est-ce qui vient ce soir ?
(Who is coming tonight?)
(Who is coming tonight?)
   
   
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To inquire about a thing (what?)
To inquire about a thing (what?)


*'''Que''' manges-tu ?
Que manges-tu ?
*'''Qu'''’est-ce que tu manges ?
Qu’est-ce que tu manges ?
(What are you eating?)
(What are you eating?)
   
   
NB: the particle becomes '''QUOI''' at the end of sentence and before preposition
NB: the particle becomes QUOI at the end of sentence and before preposition
*De '''quoi''' est-ce que tu parles ?.
De quoi est-ce que tu parles ?.
*Tu dis '''quoi''' ?
Tu dis quoi ?
(What are you saying?)
(What are you saying?)


===Où===
===Oú===
To inquire about a place (where?)
To inquire about a place (where?)


*'''Où''' allez-vous ?
Oú allez-vous ?
*'''Où''' est-ce que vous allez ?
Oú est-ce que vous allez ?
(Where are you going?)
(Where are you going?)
   
   
And also. "from where" : D’'''où''' ?
And also. "from where" : D’où?
 
===Quand===
===Quand===
To inquire about TIME (when?)  
To inquire about TIME (when?)  
*'''Quand''' arrivent-ils ?
Quand arrivent-ils ?
*'''Quand''' est-ce qu’ils arrivent ?
Quand est-ce qu’ils arrivent ?
(When do they arrive?)
(When do they arrive?)
 
===Comment===
===Comment===


To inquire about how to do something (how?)  
To inquire about how to do something (how?)  


*'''Comment''' vas-tu ?
Comment vas-tu ?
*'''Comment''' est-ce que tu vas ?
Comment est-ce que tu vas ?
(How are you doing?)
(How are you doing?)
 
===Combien===
===Combien===
To inquire about the quantity (how much?)  
To inquire about the quantity (how much?)  
*Combien as-tu payé ?
Combien as-tu payé ?
*Combien est-ce que tu as payé ?   
Combien est-ce que tu as payé ?   
(How much did you pay?)
(How much did you pay?)


*Combien de fois est-tu allé voir ce concert ? (How many times did you go to this concert?)
Combien de fois est-tu allé voir ce concert ?
(How many times did you go to this concert?)


*Combien d’heures faut-il pour aller à Paris ? (How many hours does it take to go to Paris?)
Combien d’heures faut-il pour aller à Paris ?
(How many hours does it take to go to Paris?)


===Pourquoi===
===Pourquoi===
To inquire about the reason for something (why?)  
To inquire about the reason for something (why?)  
*'''Pourquoi''' êtes-vous ici ?
Pourquoi êtes-vous ici ?
*'''Pourquoi''' est-ce que vous êtes ici ?
Pourquoi est-ce que vous êtes ici ?
(Why are you here?)
(Why are you here?)
==INTERROGATIVE WORDS & ADJECTIVES==
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |INTERROGATIVE WORDS
! colspan="3" |INTERROGATIVE WORDS
|-
|-
|'''WE ASK ABOUT'''
|'''WE ASK ABOUT'''
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|Place
|Place
|'''OÙ / WHERE'''
|'''OÙ / WHERE'''
|
|Tu vas où ? / Où tu vas ? / Où est-ce que tu vas ? / Où vas-tu ?
* Tu vas où ? / Où tu vas ? / Où est-ce que tu vas ? / Où vas-tu ?
Where are you going ?
''Where are you going ?''
|-
|-
|Time
|Time
|'''QUAND / WHEN'''
|'''QUAND / WHEN'''
|
|Quand vous partez ? / Vous partez quand ? / Quand est-ce que vous partez ? / Quand partez-vous ?
* Quand vous partez ? / Vous partez quand ? / Quand est-ce que vous partez ? / Quand partez-vous ?
When are you leaving ?
''When are you leaving?''
|-
|-
|How
|How
|'''COMMENT / HOW'''
|'''COMMENT / HOW'''
|
|Comment il s’appelle ? / Il s’appelle comment ? / Comment est-ce qu’il s’appelle ? / Comment s’appelle-t-il ?
* Comment il s’appelle ? / Il s’appelle comment ? / Comment est-ce qu’il s’appelle ? / Comment s’appelle-t-il ?
What's his name ?
''What's his name?''
|-
|-
|Cause
|Cause
|'''POURQUOI / WHY'''
|'''POURQUOI / WHY'''
|
|Pourquoi tu viens ? / tu viens pourquoi ? / Pourquoi est-ce que tu viens ? / Pourquoi viens-tu ?
* Pourquoi tu viens ? / tu viens pourquoi ? / Pourquoi est-ce que tu viens ? / Pourquoi viens-tu ?
Why do you come?
''Why do you come?''
|-
|-
|Quantity
|Quantity
|'''COMBIEN / HOW MUCH'''
|'''COMBIEN / HOW MUCH'''
|
|Combien tu veux ? / Tu veux combien ? / Combien est-ce que tu veux ? / Combien veux-tu ?
* Combien tu veux ? / Tu veux combien ? / Combien est-ce que tu veux ? / Combien veux-tu ?
How much do you want?
''How much do you want?''
|-
|-
|Person
|Person
|'''QUI / WHO'''
|'''QUI / WHO'''
|
|Tu invites qui ? / Qui tu invites ? / Qui est-ce que tu invites ? / Qui invites-tu? (Who do you invite?)
* Tu invites qui ? / Qui tu invites ? / Qui est-ce que tu invites ? / Qui invites-tu?  
''Who do you invite?''
|-
|-
|Object
|Object
|'''QUE – QUOI / WHAT'''
|'''QUE – QUOI / WHAT'''
|
|Vous étudiez quoi ? / Qu’est-ce que vous étudiez ? / Qu’étudiez-vous ?
* Vous étudiez quoi ? / Qu’est-ce que vous étudiez ? / Qu’étudiez-vous ?
What do you study?
''What do you study?''
|-
|-
|Aim
|Aim
|'''POURQUOI / WHY'''
|'''POURQUOI / WHY'''
|
|Pourquoi il n’est pas content ? / Il n’est pas content pourquoi ? / Pourquoi est-ce qu’il n’est pas content ? / Pourquoi n’est-il pas content ?
* Pourquoi il n’est pas content ? / Il n’est pas content pourquoi ? / Pourquoi est-ce qu’il n’est pas content ? / Pourquoi n’est-il pas content ?
Why insn't he happy?
''Why insn't he happy?''
|-
|-
! colspan="3" |INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES
! colspan="3" |INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES
|-
|-
! colspan="2" |'''QUEL – QUELLE – QUELS – QUELLES'''
! colspan="2" |'''QUEL – QUELLE – QUELS – QUELLES'''
|
|Quel cadeau tu préféres ? / Quelle glace tu aimes ? / Quels livres tu préfères ? / Quelles villes tu aimes ?
* Quel cadeau tu préféres ? / Quelle glace tu aimes ? / Quels livres tu préfères ? / Quelles villes tu aimes ?
What present do you prefer? / What icecream do you like? / What books do you prefer / What cities to you like?
''What present do you prefer? / What icecream do you like? / What books do you prefer?/ What cities to you like?''
|}
|}


==VIDEOS==
If you consider that this page can be improved, don't hesitate to edit it.
<youtube>o0tgXagvolU</youtube>
 
{{#seo:
|title=How to ask a question in French?
|keywords=quel, comment, ou, pourquoi,est-ce que, qui
|description=This lesson will teach you how to ask a question in French.
        |og:image=https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/images/2/20/Learn_french_questions.jpg
}}
[[Category: French/Beginner]]
[[Category: French/Grammar]]
 
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Punctuation|Punctuation]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Meaning-of-tout-à-l'heure|Meaning of tout à l'heure]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Changes-in-the-stem-form-of-some-—er-conjugation-verbs|Changes in the stem form of some —er conjugation verbs]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Function-of-adverbs|Function of adverbs]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-the-definite-article-with-titles|Use of the definite article with titles]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Talk-about-Prices|Talk about Prices]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Plurals-of-nouns-ending-in-–ou|Plurals of nouns ending in –ou]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-y|Use of y]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Adjective—adjective_compounds|Adjective—adjective compounds]]
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Differences-in-the-use-of-numbers-in-French-and-English-Ordinal-number-abbreviations|Differences in the use of numbers in French and English Ordinal number abbreviations]]
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