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Quand ?

LESSON OBJECTIVES

• To learn to ask questions using quand (when).
• To learn various ways of asking questions (formal or informal).

ASKING QUESTIONS WITH: QUAND

• To form a question starting with quand, you can:
  • use the inversion method (verb+subject).
  • use est-ce que after the question word.
• These are the most common structures.
• In a question using the inversion method, the letter t is required in front of elle(s), il(s) or on when the verb ends with a vowel. This is to avoid a break, making the sentence sounds better.
• que becomes qu' in front of a vowel or an h.
• Another way to ask a question is to simply change the intonation of your voice, making it rise towards the end of the sentence. This is an informal way of asking questions.

EXAMPLES - PRESENT TENSE

• When does the show start?
  Quand commence le spectacle ?
  Quand est-ce que le spectacle commence ?
  Il commence quand, le spectacle ? (informal)
  Le spectacle, il commence quand ? (informal)
  Le spectacle commence quand ? (informal)

• When is she arriving at the station?
  Quand arrive-t-elle à la gare ?
  Quand est-ce qu'elle arrive à la gare ?
  Elle arrive quand à la gare ? (informal)

EXAMPLES - PAST (PASSÉ COMPOSÉ)

• When did she arrive at the station?
  Quand est-elle arrivée à la gare ?
  Quand est-ce qu'elle est arrivée à la gare ?
  Elle est arrivée quand à la gare ? (informal)