Asking questions is a necessary talent for significant conversations, discovering your method, and getting solutions. Whether or not you intend on touring and wish to converse within the native language otherwise you’re trying to make new buddies from all over the world, understanding the phrases and methods to ask questions is crucial. There’s loads of overlap between easy methods to ask questions in French and in English that we’ll discover collectively!
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The right way to ask questions in French utilizing interrogatives
An interrogative is a phrase that’s used to ask a query. You could discover the similarity to the English phrase “interrogate.” There are eight key interrogative expressions to ask questions: who, what, when, the place, why, how, what number of, and which.
English and French query development have quite a bit in frequent, so will probably be straightforward to be taught French questions. Each languages put the interrogative in the beginning of the sentence. To ask a query in French, your voice will rise on the finish to point that it’s a query not a sentence. You possibly can ask each closed (sure/no) and open questions, and you’ll ask questions in each formal and casual methods.
2 variations between English and French interrogative phrases
The most important distinction between French questions and English ones is phrase order. As you’ll see beneath, the order of topics and verbs will be very completely different in French, and the position of prepositions additionally varies from the English format.
Placement of prepositions
You will have been taught to by no means finish a sentence with a preposition, however that’s now extra of a mode suggestion in most modern English guidelines. Formal French grammar guidelines, nonetheless, don’t allow that form of flexibility. It’s a tough and quick rule in formal French that prepositions can’t be positioned on the finish of a sentence. Most French questions will begin with an interrogative, however any prepositions will likely be positioned in entrance of the query phrase.
Avec qui est-ce qu’on kind ? = Who’re we going out with? (actually, With whom are we going out?)
À quel employé avez-vous parlé ? = Which worker did you converse to?
Gender
Many phrases in French require settlement in gender and quantity, corresponding to nouns, adjectives, and articles. Nevertheless, nearly all French query phrases are invariable, so that you normally don’t have to think about settlement if you ask a query.
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!
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.
Queis 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.
French
English
Stage of Formality
Quoi de neuf ?
What’s up?
informal
Qu’est-ce qui se passe ?
What’s happening?
impartial
Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
What are you doing?
informal
Que voulez-vous ?
What would you like?
formal
Tu parles de quoi ?
What are you speaking about?
informal
De quoi est-ce que tu parles ?
What are you speaking about?
informal
De quoi est-ce que vous parlez ?
What are you speaking about?
informal
De quoi parlez-vous ?
What are you speaking about?
formal
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.”
French
English
Stage of Formality
Remark ?
Pardon?
impartial
Remark ça va ?
How are you doing?/How is it going?
impartial
Remark vas-tu ?
How are you doing?
informal
Remark allez-vous ?
How are you doing?
formal
Remark dit-on _________ ?
How do you say _______?
impartial
Remark tu t’appelles ?
What’s your title?
informal
Remark vous appelez-vous ?
What’s your title?
formal
Remark tu trouves ce restaurant ?
What do you consider this restaurant?
informal
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.
French
English
Stage of Formality
Où est mon livre ?
The place is my e-book?
impartial
Où se trouvent les toilettes ?
The place is the restroom?
impartial
Où est-ce qu’on va ?
The place are we going?
informal
D’où est-ce que tu viens ?
The place are you from?
informal
D’où est-ce que vous venez ?
The place are you from?
informal
D’où venez-vous ?
The place are you from?
formal
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.
French
English
Stage of Formality
Quand est la prochaine réunion ?
When is the subsequent assembly?
impartial
Quand est-ce qu’on half ?
When are we leaving?
informal
Quand est-ce que le movie kind ?
When is the film popping out?
impartial
Quand est-ce que tu pars en vacances ?
When are you happening trip?
informal
Quand partez-vous en vacances ?
When are you happening trip?
formal
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.
French
English
Stage of Formality
Pourquoi est-ce que tu es content material aujourd’hui ?
Why are you content right now?
informal
Pourquoi est-ce qu’on va à ce magasin ?
Why are we going to this retailer?
informal
Pourquoi est-ce que le bus est en retard ?
Why is the bus late?
informal
Pourquoi voulez-vous ce transportable ?
Why would you like that cellular phone?
formal
Pourquoi est-ce que tu apprends le français ?
Why are you studying French?
informal
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 prepositiondeimmediately after combien.
French
English
Stage of Formality
Combien ça coûte ?
How a lot does that value?
impartial
Combien coûte ce livre ?
How a lot does this e-book value?
impartial
Il y a combien de croissants ?
What number of croissants are there?
informal
Ça fait combien ?
How a lot do these value? (referring to a number of gadgets)
informal
Combien de personnes sont dans le cours ?
How many individuals are within the class?
informal
Il y a combien de kilomèters entre Paris et Versailles ?
What number of kilometers is it between Paris and Versailles?
informal
Qui (who)
Quiis 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 withsomebody, make it possible for the preposition goes in entrance of qui.
French
English
Stage of Formality
Qui est le responsable ?
Who’s the supervisor?
impartial
Qui apporte les boissons ?
Who’s bringing the drinks?
impartial
Qui préfère le chocolat ?
Who prefers chocolate?
impartial
Qui va au cinéma ?
Who’s going to the flicks?
impartial
Tu parles de qui ?
Who’re you speaking about?
informal
De qui est-ce que tu parles ?
Who’re you speaking about?
informal
De qui parlez-vous ?
Who’re you speaking about?
formal
Avec qui est-ce que tu bavardes ?
Who’re you chatting with?
informal
À qui avez-vous parlé ?
Who did you converse to?
formal
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.
French
English
quel
which (masculine, singular)
quelle
which (female, singular)
quels
which (masculine, plural)
quelles
which (female, plural)
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.
French
English
lequel
which one (masculine, singular)
laquelle
which one (female, singular)
lesquels
which of them (masculine, plural)
lesquelles
which of them (female, plural)
Listed below are some extra examples of questions utilizing quel:
French
English
Stage of ritual
Quelle heure est-il ?
What time is it?
impartial
À quelle heure est-ce que le cours start ?
What time does the category begin?
impartial
Quel livre est-ce que tu préfères ?
Which e-book do you like?
informal
Quelle gown est la plus belle ?
Which gown is prettier?
impartial
Quels movies sont en français ?
Which motion pictures are in French?
impartial
Quelles chanteuses préférez-vous ?
Which (feminine) singers do you want greatest?
formal
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.
French
English
Stage of Formality
jusqu’où
how far/to what level
impartial
d’où
from the place
impartial
depuis quand
since when
impartial
non ?
No? (used to substantiate info that you just’re undecided is right.)
informal
n’est-ce pas ?
Isn’t it? (used to substantiate info you already know.)
formal
oui ?
Sure/proper? (used to substantiate info you already know.)
informal
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?
The right way to kind questions in French
Interrogative phrases are sometimes mixed with particular constructions to make a whole query. Subsequent, we’ll dive into how you need to use est-ce que, inversion, and extra.
Tags and inflection
In casual conditions, you’ll be able to ask a closed (sure/no) query simply by elevating the tone of your voice on the finish.
Paul aime le basket ? = Does Paul like basketball?
You can too use a query tag, like oui, non, or n’est-ce pas on the tip of a press release to kind a query.
Vous arrivez lundi, n’est-ce pas ? = You’re arriving on Monday, aren’t you?
Use est-ce que
For each formal and casual contexts, you’ll be able to simply kind closed questions with the expression est-ce que. Put it in the beginning of a press release and it turns the sentence right into a query.
Paul aime le basket. = Paul likes basketball.
Est-ce que Paul aime le basket ? = Does Paul like basketball?
Tu voudrais un sandwich. = You want to a sandwich.
Est-ce que tu voudrais un sandwich ? = Would you want a sandwich?
You can too use est-ce que for questions with an inventory of choices.
Est-ce que tu préfères un sandwich, de la pizza ou de la soupe ? = Would you like a sandwich, pizza, or soup?
Est-ce que tu reviens samedi ou dimanche ? = Are you coming again Saturday or Sunday?
You possibly can pair many query phrases with est-ce que to make open questions; simply put the query phrase in the beginning of the sentence.
Est-ce que tu voudrais manger ? = Would you wish to eat?
Quand est-ce que tu voudrais manger ? = When would you wish to eat?
À quelle heure est-ce que tu voudrais manger ? = At what time would you wish to eat?
Où est-ce que tu voudrais manger ? = The place would you wish to eat?
Inversion
A 3rd method to kind a query in French is by inversion, which is switching the order of the topic and the verb. English makes use of inversion as properly, however it’s sometimes restricted to the very formal register, like “To whom am I talking?”
In French, it’s thought of a proper method to ask a query, however native audio system use it of their every day speech and writing on a regular basis. You will have already seen inversions in questions like:
Remark allez-vous ? = How are you?
Remark t’appelles-tu ? = What’s your title?
Quel âge as-tu ? = How outdated are you?
To put in writing a query in its inversion kind, first consider it as a press release:
Tu joues au soccer demain. = You play soccer tomorrow.
Take the verb and the topic pronoun and reverse them, connecting them with a hyphen:
Joues-tu au soccer demain ? = Are you enjoying soccer tomorrow?
Inversions should happen with a pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they):
Vas-tu au parc ? = Are you going to the park?
Où allons-nous ? = The place are we going?
Que mangent-elles ? = What’s she consuming?
Quand va-t-il arriver ? = When is he going to reach?
Within the final instance, chances are you’ll be questioning the place that “t” got here from! French avoids having two vowel sounds subsequent to one another. To stop that in inversions, a “t” is added between the verb and pronoun to make the sounds circulation higher.
For those who should specify a noun, put in earlier than the inversion, however hold the pronoun after the verb:
Nathan joue-t-il au soccer demain ? = Is Nathan enjoying soccer tomorrow?
Learn to ask French questions for real-life conversations
Questions are key to having actual conversations with folks. You’ve realized easy methods to ask questions utilizing eight interrogative phrases in French and easy methods to organize the phrase order of a sentence to create an accurate query. However that is only the start. There’s a lot extra to study French dialog, and Rosetta Stone is right here to assist. We now have tutors, immersive studying, and AI-based pronunciation instruments that can assist you be taught French efficiently!
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