Forming Questions Using Interrogative Words
Ask a question in French:
Intonation: Tu habites en France?
Est-ce que: Est-ce que tu habites en France?
But what if you want more than a oui or non answer? Asking questions with interrogative words will make the answers you get much more interesting!
Watch my video lesson on French interrogative question words below, and you can download a PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
Interrogative Words:
Qui who
Quoi what (never at the beginning)
Que / Qu’ what (always at the beginning)
Quel + être what is
Quand when
Où where
Pourquoi why
Comment how
Placement of Interrogative Words:
Intonation: Jules va au magasin avec qui?
Who is Jules going to the store with?
Est-ce que: Avec qui est-ce que Jules va au magasin?
With whom is Jules going to the store?
Intonation: Les enfants vont à l’école comment?
How are the children going to school?
Est-ce que: Comment est-ce que les enfants vont à
l’école?
How are the children going to school?
How to ask “What?”
What are you buying at the store?
Intonation: Tu achètes quoi au magasin?
What are you buying at the store?
Est-ce que: Qu’est-ce que tu achètes au magasin?
What are you buying at the store?
Quel + Être = What is… ?
Quel est votre magasin préféré?
What is your favorite store?
“Quel” is an adjective:
“Quel” must agree in number and gender with the noun it modifies.
quel masculine / singular
quels masculine / plural
quelle feminine / singular
quelles feminine / plural
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