Here is some quick vocab before we begin:
Une Question = A question
Demander = To ask
There is no question about it, you will be asking questions in French if you intend to speak it or travel to a French place (like France). You will probably have to answer some questions as well. So here is a lesson on French questions.
Today I had another French lesson. I am learning French with a private tutor and now that my FBF is overseas I thought I would fill some of my spare time with some extra French lessons. I will not have 2 private lessons per week. In the first bunch of lessons I learned how to ask basic questions using “est-ce que” inserted into sentences (examples to follow). Now, as I am getting into more challenging topics, I am learning the art of inverted question asking (again, I will explain in a moment). These are two ways to ask questions but there is not only two ways to ask questions in French. There are three! The third way to to add a question mark at the end of a statement and raise your tone at the end of the sentence to imply a question. Following me so far?
Basic question asking words
Just as English had who, what, where, when, how and why questions, French does too.
Où = Where
Quoi = What
Qui = Who
Quand = When
Comment = How
Why = Pourquoi
Just structure the question with one of these words. It is easy!
- Où est mon stylo? Where is my pen?
“Est-ce que” Questions
One way to ask a question in French (probably the easiest way if you are just learning) is to insert “est-ce que” into a statement. Est-ce-que implies that you are asking a question and can be used whenever you ask a question.
- Qu’est-ce que c’est? What is this?
- Est-ce que tu veux à danser avec moi? Do you want to dance with me?
Inverted Questions
The verb and the subject are inverted to form a question.
Example. Est-ce que tu as veux à danser avec moi? ….”Est-ce que” is ommitted entirely and you are left with tu veux à danser avec moi (You want to dance with me). To make this a sentence invert the subject (tu) and the verb (veux)…Veux-tu à danser avec moi?…Do you want to dance with me?
Adding a question mark at the end of the sentence…?
Just take a statement and add a question mark at the end of it. Use this with discretion.
- C’est vrai? It is true?
- Nous mangerons à 8h? We will eat at 8 o’clock?
This was just a quick lesson, gor a more in depth look at forming French question, here is a link!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to demandez!
Mon Aventure Française! 