Answering Questions
In English, you can only answer yes / no questions with variations on the themes of yes, no, and I don't know. French, however, has another possibility: yes in response to no. questions
Questions and Interrogatives
Questions et interrogatifs
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Lessons on asking and answering questions in French.
In English, you can only answer yes / no questions with variations on the themes of yes, no, and I don't know. French, however, has another possibility: yes in response to no. A1 - Beginning French • questions
Est-ce que
A1 - Beginning French • informalities • questions
Informal Questions
In addition to the "correct" ways to ask questions in French, there are several ways to ask them informally. Interrogative Adjectives
When asking someone to make a choice between two or more things, you need the interrogative adjective quel, meaning "which" or "what." A2 - Low-Intermediate French • adjectives • questions
Interrogative Adverbs
When, where, why, how? Use interrogative adverbs to ask these informational questions. A2 - Low-Intermediate French • adverbs • questions
Interrogative Pronouns
Who, what, which one? Use interrogative pronouns to ask these questions, which are a little more complicated in French than in English. A2 - Low-Intermediate French • pronouns • questions
N’est-ce pas
A1 - Beginning French • formalities • questions
Questions
Knowing how to ask questions in French is essential for making plans, shopping, traveling, getting to know people, and any other activity that requires obtaining information. There are two different types of questions, and different ways to ask each type. A1 - Beginning French • formalities • informalities • questions
Tag Questions
A really easy way to ask questions is by ending a regular statement with an interrogative word or phrase, known as a tag question. formalities • informalities • questions
Variable Subjunctive
Obviousness, knowledge, certainty, and hope are considered real - at least to the speaker - and therefore do not call for the subjunctive. Using these verbs and expressions in the negative or interrogative, however, indicates doubt: thus the subjunctive is required.