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Lesson 16

Questions

Objectifs de la leçon

Quand allez-vous en France et comment est-ce que vous allez voyager ?

  1. to learn how to ask questions
  2. to practise using interrogative adverbs: quand, où, comment, combien, pourquoi

Niveau

A2 - niveau usuel (elementary)

Former des questions en utilisant l'intonation

In French, you can form questions using rising intonation at the end of the sentence.

*In English, you know that you are asking a question because you use do or did, however in French we don’t have do or did, so don’t try to translate literally.

Intonation is mostly used in informal language.

Former des questions en utilisant « est-ce que »

You can also form questions using est-ce que. The sentence order does not change so it is quite simple to use.

Est-ce que is very commonly used in French so it is advisable to learn how to use it.

Please be aware that the que becomes qu' when followed by a vowel or an h.

Former des questions en utilisant l'inversion

You can also form questions using inversion. Invert the verb and subject and put a hyphen between the two.

Adverbes interrogatifs

The position of these adverbs can vary depending on how you ask the question.

Où ?

Where are you going?

Quand ?

When are you going to France?

Comment ?

How do you make pancakes?

Pourquoi ?

Why did you leave?

Please note that when using a passé composé in an inverted question, the order is as follows: auxiliary + sujet + past participle.

Combien ?

How much does it cost?

*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 and to make the sentence sound better.

Combien de ?

How many people are there in the room?

*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 and to make the sentence sound better.

Exceptions

Please note that inversion with je is not normally used in French.

So the question Mange-je avec toi à midi ? is not correct.

This question needs to be formed with est-ce que.

However, avoir (to have), être (to be), devoir (to have to/must) and pouvoir (to be able to/can) are the four verbs which can be inverted with je.

*Peux becomes puis when we invert the verb pouvoir.

Pratique

Translate the following four English sentences into French using est-ce que.

  1. Do you have a single room available?
  2. Where is he?
  3. Why are* you (sing.) wearing a pink dress today? (porter - to wear/carry)
  4. How did** they (masc.) go to school yesterday?

    *Remember to use a simple present tense when translating the English continuous tense. So you are wearing becomes you wear.
    **Remember to use a passé composé.

    Traduction de la phrase

    Réponses

    1. Est-ce que vous avez une chambre simple disponible ?
    2. Où est-ce qu’il est ?
    3. Pourquoi est-ce que tu portes une robe rose aujourd’hui ?
      Comment est-ce qu’ils sont allés à l’école hier ?