Confidently Ask Questions in French With These 8 Interrogative Phrases

8 commonest phrases for asking questions in French 

There are eight core query phrases used to point you’re asking a query in French. You should use these phrases to ask questions in nearly each state of affairs. As you formulate your questions, don’t neglect your viewers! For those who’re chatting with a stranger, somebody older than you, or somebody able of authority, use the formal verb types and sentence constructions. We’ve famous formal and informal choices within the tables beneath! 

Quoi/qu’est-ce que/que (what)

There are a number of methods to say “what” in French. Quoi is the phrase to make use of if “what” is the thing of a sentence. You’ll normally use it for casual questions.

Que is the shape to make use of when “what” is the topic of the sentence, and it’s the shape you’ll see more often than not. Que is regularly mixed with est-ce que. Est-ce que is an interrogative expression that isn’t translated actually, and we’ll cowl it slightly later. For now, if you see it, you’ll be able to simply know that it implies that the sentence is a query.

In English, chances are you’ll say “what?” if you happen to didn’t hear or perceive somebody. Though it could be tempting in French to say Quoi ? in these situations, that may be seen as impolite. Remark ? is the proper expression to indicate you didn’t hear or perceive somebody in French.

Remark (how)

Remark means “how.” You should use it within the literal sense to ask easy methods to do one thing. You might also see it in fundamental French phrases whose English equivalents generally begin with “what.” The phrase for “what’s your title” in French is remark tu t’appelles, however the the literal translation is “how do you name your self.”

Où (the place)

Où means “the place.” You’ll use it in the entire similar contexts as in English. Ensure you take note of prepositions with où. For instance, when asking the place somebody or one thing is from, the preposition “from” (de) must go earlier than the query phrase.

Quand (when)

Quand means “when” and it may be used for the entire similar conditions as in English. When asking what 12 months, day, or date one thing is going on, and what time it’s taking place, quand works for all of it.

If you wish to particularly ask what time one thing is going on, it’s also possible to use à quelle heure? (“at what time?” or actually “at what hour?”) 

• Quand est la prochaine réunion ?  = When is the subsequent assembly?

This query may imply “what day is the assembly,” “what time is the assembly,” or each.

• À quelle heure est la prochaine réunion ? = At what time is the subsequent assembly?

For those who solely have to know at what time the assembly begins, this query is extra exact.

Pourquoi (why)

If you wish to ask why one thing is a sure what or why it occurred, you want pourquoi. Along with beginning interrogative expressions, pourquoi is a grammatically right query by itself, identical to in English.

The reply to pourquoi will typically begin with parce que (as a result of):

• Je veux visiter le musée du Louvre. = I wish to go to the Louvre.
• Pourquoi ? = Why?
• Parce que je veux voir la Joconde. = As a result of I wish to see the Mona Lisa.

Combien (how a lot, what number of)

How a lot does that value? What number of rooms are within the lodge? How many individuals are coming? To reply these questions, you’ll use combien, which implies “how a lot” or “what number of.” Like pourquoi, it may possibly stand by itself or begin a extra advanced query.

• Je voudrais des oranges. = I would love some oranges.
• Combien ? = What number of?

When asking how a lot of one thing, be certain that to incorporate the French preposition de immediately after combien.

Qui (who)

Qui is the French query phrase to make use of if you’re asking about folks. It means “who.” For those who’re asking a query that considerations something to, from, about, or with somebody, make it possible for the preposition goes in entrance of qui.

Quel (which)

Quel means “which,” and it’s the one query phrase in French that requires settlement. You’ll want to concentrate to the gender and variety of the noun you’re referring to so as to use the proper type of quel.

You can too use quel to say “which one.” Simply mix it with the proper particular article (le, la, or les) for the noun you’re referring to.

• Je voudrais un livre. = I would love a e-book.
• Lequel ? = Which one?
• Ce grand livre rouge. = That large crimson e-book.

Listed below are some extra examples of questions utilizing quel:

Different phrases and phrases to ask deeper questions in French

There are a selection of different expressions which may be utilized in questions, particularly if you wish to discover out very particular info. Listed below are some frequent phrases that you just may hear in a query, past the core eight interrogatives.

You should use these query phrases in French a wide range of methods to ask extra sophisticated questions like these:

• Jusqu’où as-tu lu manuel ? = How far did you learn within the handbook? / The place did you learn to within the handbook?
• Jusqu’où est-ce qu’elle a couru aujourd’hui ? = How far did she run right now?
• Depuis quand habitent-ils à Marseille ? = How lengthy have they lived in Marseille?
• D’où est-ce que tu viens ? = The place are you from?
• Le prepare half à midi, n’est-ce pas ? = The prepare leaves at midday, doesn’t it?
• Il va au supermarché aujourd’hui, oui ? = He’s going to the grocery store right now, proper?
• Tu aimes les brocolis, non ? = You want broccoli, don’t you?