How to Ask Questions in French

The Three Main Ways to Ask a Question

For a simple yes or no question, French gives you three options. We can see all three using the sentence "You are coming" (Tu viens).

• Intonation: Simply raise your voice at the end of a statement. "Tu viens ?" (You're coming?)
• Est-ce que: Add "est-ce que" to the beginning of a statement. "Est-ce que tu viens ?" (Are you coming?)
• Inversion: Invert the verb and subject pronoun, joined by a hyphen. "Viens-tu ?" (Are you coming?)

Each of these is correct, but they are used in different contexts, which we will explore now.

1. Intonation: The Casual Approach

This is the most common way to ask questions in everyday, spoken French. You simply take a regular sentence and raise the pitch of your voice at the end. It's friendly, informal, and perfect for conversations with people you know well.

• "Il a un frère ?" (He has a brother?)
• "Vous avez fini ?" (You're finished?)
• "Elle est d'accord ?" (She agrees?)

Because it relies on your tone of voice, this form is almost exclusively used in speech. In writing, it can appear informal, like in a text message.

2. Using "Est-ce que": The Neutral Standard

Placing "est-ce que" (pronounced ess-kuh) at the beginning of a statement is a clear and reliable way to form a question. It literally means "is it that..." but functions as a simple question marker. This form is neutral, so it's appropriate in almost any situation, both spoken and written.

If the next word starts with a vowel, "est-ce que" becomes "est-ce qu'":

• "Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ?" (Do you speak English?)
• "Est-ce qu'il aime le fromage ?" (Does he like cheese?)
• "Est-ce qu'elles vont au cinéma ?" (Are they going to the cinema?)

3. Inversion: The Formal and Written Form

Inversion involves swapping the verb and the subject pronoun and connecting them with a hyphen. This structure is considered more elegant and formal. You'll encounter it frequently in literature, academic writing, formal speeches, and when showing politeness to a stranger.

• "Parlez-vous français ?" (Do you speak French?)
• "Avez-vous des questions ?" (Do you have any questions?)

When a verb ending in a vowel is followed by "il", "elle", or "on", a "-t-" is inserted between them to make pronunciation smoother. This is purely for sound.

• "A-t-il un stylo ?" (Does he have a pen?)
• "Parle-t-elle italien ?" (Does she speak Italian?)

For questions with a noun subject (like 'Marie' or 'the children'), you use complex inversion. State the noun first, then add the inverted verb and the corresponding subject pronoun.

• "Le professeur est-il là ?" (Is the teacher here?)
• "Anne et Sophie sont-elles prêtes ?" (Are Anne and Sophie ready?)

Asking with Question Words

To ask for specific information, you use question words, which can be combined with all three structures.

In casual speech, it is very common to place the question word at the end of the sentence: "Tu vas où ?" (Where are you going?), "Il arrive quand ?" (When is he arriving?).

What? Navigating Que, Quoi, Qu'est-ce que and Qu'est-ce qui

The English word "what" has a few translations in French, and using the right one is key.

• "Qu'est-ce que" / "Que": Use these when 'what' is the object of the verb. "Qu'est-ce que" is standard, while "Que" with inversion is formal. Example: "Qu'est-ce que tu manges ?" or "Que manges-tu ?" (What are you eating?).
• "Quoi": Use "quoi" at the end of a casual question or after a preposition. Example: "Tu manges quoi ?" (What are you eating?) or "À quoi penses-tu ?" (What are you thinking about?).
• "Qu'est-ce qui": Use this when 'what' is the subject of the verb (what is doing the action). Example: "Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?" (What is happening?).

Quel vs. Lequel

Both "quel" and "lequel" mean 'which' or 'what', but they are not interchangeable.

• "Quel" (quelle, quels, quelles) is an adjective. It must be followed by a noun and agrees with it in gender and number. "Quel film veux-tu voir ?" (Which movie do you want to see?).
• "Lequel" (laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles) is a pronoun. It replaces a noun, meaning 'which one'. "Il y a deux films. Lequel veux-tu voir ?" (There are two movies. Which one do you want to see?).

Common Mistakes and Special Cases

• Inversion with "je": Inverting the verb with "je" (I) is very rare in modern French. It sounds awkward for most verbs ("parle-je ?"). Stick to "est-ce que je..." or use intonation. A few exceptions exist, like "puis-je ?" (may I?).
• Double question forms: Avoid combining two question forms. For instance, `*Où est-ce que vas-tu ?` is incorrect. Choose one: "Où vas-tu ?", "Où est-ce que tu vas ?", or "Tu vas où ?".
• Answering a negative question: If someone asks a negative question like "Tu ne viens pas ?" (You aren't coming?), and you want to answer "Yes, I am", you must use "Si". Using "Oui" would be confusing. "Si, j'arrive !" (Yes, I am coming!).

Comparing Registers at a Glance

Quick self-check

1. How would you politely ask a stranger, 'Do you have the time?'

   Show answer

   Using formal inversion: "Avez-vous l'heure ?"

2. What is the difference between 'Qu'est-ce que tu vois ?' and 'Qu'est-ce qui est sur la table ?'

   Show answer

   In the first, 'what' is the object (What do you see?). In the second, 'what' is the subject (What is on the table?).

3. A friend asks, 'Tu n'aimes pas ce film ?' (You don't like this movie?). How do you reply 'Yes, I do'?

   Show answer

   You must use 'Si'. For example, 'Si, je l'aime beaucoup !' (Yes, I like it a lot!).

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