Poser une question · huit règles
1 · Keep statement order in conversation
For a simple yes/no question, keep subject + verb and let your voice rise towards the end. This is common in everyday conversation.
Vous habitez ici ?Do you live here?
Tu as un stylo ?Have you got a pen?
2 · Start with est-ce que
Put est-ce que before a normal subject + verb sentence. It gives you a reliable spoken question pattern. Before a vowel, que becomes qu’.
Est-ce que vous habitez ici ?Do you live here?
Est-ce qu’elle travaille demain ?Is she working tomorrow?
3 · Invert a subject pronoun
Put the verb before tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils or elles, joined by a hyphen. This often sounds more formal. Add -t- with il, elle or on when needed between vowels; keep an existing final t.
Avez-vous une réservation ?Do you have a reservation?
Va-t-elle au marché ?Is she going to the market?
Veut-il venir ?Does he want to come?
4 · Ask where, when, how or why
Put a question word before est-ce que + subject + verb. In casual speech, you will also hear the question word at the end, as in Tu habites où ?.
| où | where |
| quand | when |
| comment | how |
| pourquoi | why |
Où est-ce que tu habites ?Where do you live?
Pourquoi est-ce qu’elle part ?Why is she leaving?
5 · Ask “what” with qu’est-ce que
Use qu’est-ce que before subject + verb when asking about the thing the action concerns. In casual conversation, quoi can go at the end. Use que with inversion.
Qu’est-ce que tu cherches ?What are you looking for?
Tu cherches quoi ?What are you looking for?
Que cherchez-vous ?What are you looking for?
6 · Use qui for a person
When qui is the subject, it goes straight before the verb. To ask which person someone is inviting or seeing, qui est-ce que + subject + verb makes the roles clear.
Qui habite ici ?Who lives here?
Qui est-ce que tu invites ?Who are you inviting?
7 · Match quel to the noun
For “which” or “what” + noun, choose quel, quelle, quels or quelles. The form agrees with the noun that follows.
Quel bus est-ce que tu prends ?Which bus are you taking?
À quelle heure est-ce que tu pars ?What time are you leaving?
Quelles chaussures préfères-tu ?Which shoes do you prefer?
8 · Ask how much or how many
Combien asks about an amount or price. Before a noun, use combien de, or combien d’ before a vowel.
Ça coûte combien ?How much does it cost?
Combien de frères est-ce que tu as ?How many brothers do you have?
Combien d’enfants viennent ?How many children are coming?