Questions (la forme interrogative) Flashcards
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Is there a bank close by?
Est-ce qu’il y a une banque près d’ici?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
What are the ways to form a yes or no questions in French?
- By placing “est-ce que (est-ce qu’ before a vowel) at the beginning of the declarative sentence without changing its word order.
Est-ce que vous avez une voiture? - By using inversion
- simple inversion
Simple inversion is used when the subject is a personal pronoun or “ce”. The pronoun is placed after the verb (or after the auxiliary if the verb is in compound tense) and linked to it by a hyphen.
Avez-vous un chien?
When the third person is singular (il, elle, on) verb form ends in a vowel, the letter “t” must be inserted with two hyphens bewteen the verb (or auxiliary if the verb is in compound tense) and the pronoun.
Va-t-elle à la plage?
When the third person singular form of the verb ends in “-d”, it is pronounced [t] in the liason.
Prend-il? Vend-elle?
To form a negative question, one places “ne” before the inverted verb or auxiliary and “pas” after the subject pronoun. With pronominal verbs, “ne” precedes the reflexive pronoun.
N’êtes-vous pas fatigué?
When the subject is “je”, inversion can only be made with very few irregular verbs.
Ai-je raison?
Since all regular verbs and most irregular verbs do not allow inversion with “je”, “est-ce que” must be used instead.
Est-ce que je me trompe?
- complex inversion
When subject is a noun or a non-personal pronoun, simply inverting the subject and verb is not possible in French. Complex inversion is used. The noun (or non-personal pronoun) is placed at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb (or auxiliary if the verb is in a compound tense) and the corresponding subject pronoun (i.e, “il” for any masculine singular noun or pronoun, “elle” for every feminine singular noun or pronoun, etc.). There is a hyphen (or a hyphen + t + hyphen if the verb ends in a vowel) between the verb and the subject pronoun. Question using complex inversion are only used in formal spoken and written French.
Le professeur est-il malade?
Marie va-t-elle à l’école? - By intonation (i.e., raising one’s voice at the end of the declarative sentence)
Vous allez bien? - By placing “n’est-ce pas” at the end of the declarative sentence without changing its word order.
Vous avez un frère, n’est-ce pas?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did Chantal come?
Est-ce que Chantal est venue?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Does one ever know? (inversion)
Sait-on jamais?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Is that true? (inversion)
Est-ce vrai?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Can you do me a favor? (inversion)
Peux-tu me rendre un service?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did you have a good trip? (inversion)
Avez-vous fait un bon voyage?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did you have a good time? (inversion)
Vous êtes-vous amusés?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did he tell the truth? (inversion)
A-t-il dit la vérité?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Didn’t you follow my advice? (inversion)
N’as-tu pas suivi mon conseil?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Were they not bored? (inversion)
Ne sont-ils pas ennuyés?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Am I late? (inversion)
Suis-je en retard?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Must I do it?
Dois-je le faire?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
May I ask you a favor?
Puis-je vous demander une faveur (un service)?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Am I mistaken?
Est-ce que je me trompe?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Does Marry go to school? (inversion)
Marie va-t-elle à l’école?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Aren’t the students afraid of the exam? (inversion)
Les étudiants n’ont-ils pas peur de l’examen?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did the mailman come by already? (inversion)
Le facteur est-il déjà passé?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Does someone want to volunteer? (inversion)
Quelqu’un désire-t-il se porter volontaire?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
You don’t like your car? Is mine better? (inversion)
Tu n’aimes pas ta voiture? La mienne est-elle meilleure?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How is ot going?
Ça va?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Is that true?
C’est vrais?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Are you ready?
Vous êtes prêt?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did it go well?
Ça s’est bien passé?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Did you sleep well?
Vous avez bien dormi?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
May I?
Vous permettez?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Do you live in the United States?
Vous habitez aux États-Unis?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
You are tired, aren’t you?
Vous êtes fatigué, n’est-ce pas?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
They didn’t do their homework, did they?
Ils n’ont pas fait leurs devoirs, n’est-ce pas?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
I am hungry. Aren’t you?
J’ai faim. Pas vous?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
I am not staying. Are you? (How about you?)
Je ne reste pas. Et toi?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How the question using interrogative adverbs is formed?
The interrogative adverbs are placed at the beginning of the question and are followed either by an inverted subject and verb or by “est-ce que” and regular word order.
- When the subject of the sentence is a personal pronoun or “ce”
- one can either use simple inversion after these verbs
f.e. Quand rentrez-vous?
(The noun following “combien” is always preceded by “de”. If no noun follows “combien” there is no “de”.)
- one can insert “est-ce que” between the adverb and the pronoun to avoid inversion
f.e. Quand est-ce qu’il est parti?
(With common questions such as: “Comment allez-vous?” and “Comment vous appelez-vous?” “est-ce que” is not used.)
(When the subject pronoun is “je”, “est-ce que” must be used after the interrogative adverbs except with a few irregular verbs.)
f.e. Quand est-ce que j’arrive? - When the subject of the sentence is a noun.
- simple inversion is made after all interrogative adverbs (except after “pourquoi”) when the question is short (i.e., composed only of a noun subject, which is at the end of the sentence, and a verb in a simple tense).
f.e. Quand est votre anniversaire?
(In familiar French, “est-ce que” can be used, except in those questions which contain “quand + être, où + être, comment + être or aller, combien + avoir”).
- est-ce que or complex inversion (noun+verb+corresponding pronoun) must be used after interrogative adverbs when the question is longer (i.e., has a direct object, an adverbial complement and/or a verb in a compound tense), when the subject is a non-personal pronoun, and after “pourquoi”.
f.e. Quand votre ami va-t-il en Europe?
(In familiar French, the interrogative adverbs are often placed at the beginning and sometimes even at the end of the declarative statement, and rising intonation is used. Or the question is formed by “c’est + interrogative word (+noun)).
f.e. Comment tu t’appelles? or Tu t’appelles comment?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Where were you born?
Où êtes-vous né?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How should I say it (put it)?
Comment dirais-je
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How does one say “chair” in French?
Comment dit-on “chair” en français?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How is this possible?
Commment est-ce possible?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How many children do you have?
Combien d’enfants avez-vous?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Why did he not come?
Pourquoi n’est-il pas venu?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much money do you spend?
Combien d’argent dépenses-tu?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much do you spend?
Combien dépenses-tu?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Where does one pay?
Où est-ce qu’on paie?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much do I owe you?
Combien est-ce que je vous dois?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Why is she depressed?
Pourquoi est-ce qu’elle est déprimée?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Where do you come from?
D’où est-ce que vous venez?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
When does the next train leave?
Quand part le prochain train?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Where is the train station?
Où est la gare?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Where does your sister leave?
Où habite votre soeur?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How are your parents?
Comment vont vos parents?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How many cars does your brother have?
Combien de voitures a ton frère?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much does the CD cost?
Combien vaut (coûte) le CD?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
When does your friend go to Europe?
Quand votre ami va-t-il en Europe?
or
Quand est-ce que votre ami va en Europe?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much would that cost?
Combien cela coûterait-il?
or
Combien est-ce que cela coûterait?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Why is the door open?
Pourquoi la porte est-elle ouverte?
or
Pourquoi est-ce que la porte est ouverte?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How is that written?
Comment ça s’écrit?
or
Ça s’écrit comment?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Where are you going?
Où tu vas?
or
Tu vas où?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much do I owe you?
Combien je vous dois?
or
Je vous dois combien?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
How much does that cost?
Combien ça coûte?
or
Ça coûte combien?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
When do you leave?
Quand vous partez?
or Vous partez quand?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Why are you laughing?
Pourquoi tu ris?
or
Tu ris, pourquoi?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
When is your birthday?
C’est quand, ton anniversaire?
or
Ton anniversaire, c’est quand?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
What are the invariable interrogative pronouns?
The invariable interrogative pronouns exist in two forms, one long form and one short form.
For persons Short form Long form subject qui qui est-ce qui direct object qui (+inversion) qui est-ce que after preposition qui (+inversion) qui est-ce que For things Short form Long form subject --- qu'est-ce que direct object que (qu')(+inversion) qu'est- ce que after a preposition. quoi (+inversion) quoi est-ce que
- “Que” is elided to “ qu’ “ before a vowel or mute “h”:
Qu’avez-vous fait? - “Qui” is never elided: Qui a dit ça? Qui avez-vous vu?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
What is the short form of invariable interrogative pronouns and when is it used?
- The short form for persons is always “qui”. Inversion (simple with a personal pronoun, complex with a noun object) is required when “qui” is the object in the sentence.
- “Qui” is the subject
f.e. Qui est à l’appareil?
(When “qui” is the subject, it takes the third person singular verb form: Qui sait? BUT “être” can be plural after predicative “qui” (=qui+être+noun) when a plural noun follows: Qui sont ces gens?)
- “Qui” is a direct object
f.e. Qui cherchez-vous?
- “Qui” is the object of a preposition
f.e. À qui penses-tu?
(When “qui” is an object of a preposition and the question has a noun subject, simple inversion is possible under the same conditions as in questions using interrogative adverbs).
Avec qui sort Pierre? BUT Avec qui Pierre va-t-il à la soirée?
( In very informal French, “qui”(or: preposition + qui) is frequently placed at the beginning and sometimes even at the end of a declarative statement, and rising intonation is used.)
f.e. Qui c’est? (or: C’est qui?)
À qui tu penses? (or: Tu penses à qui)
- The short forms for things are “que” (direct object pronoun) and “quoi” (after preposition). Ther is no short subject from for things. Inversion is required after both “que” and “quoi”. “Que” is followed by simple inversion with a pronoun and with a noun subject. “Ouoi” is followed by simple inversion with a pronoun subject and by simple or complex inversion with a noun subject.
- “Que” is the direct object
f. e. Qu’attendez-vous?
- “Quoi” is the object of a preposition
f. e. De quoi as-tu besoin?
(In very informal French:
- preposition + quoi is frequently placed at the beginning and sometimes even at the end of a declarative statement, and rising intonation is used.
f.e. À quoi ça sert? or Ça sert à quoi?
À quoi il ressemble?
- “quoi” can be used instead of “que, qu’est-ce que” and even “quel(l)(e). It is then placed after the verb.
f.e. Tu fais quoi dans la vie? or Que fais-tu dans la vie?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
What expresses “à qui + être” in French?
possesion
f.e. À qui est cette montre?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Whose turn is it?
C’est à qui?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
What expresses “de qui+être” in French?
relationship
f.e. De qui êtes-vous le père?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Who (shall I say) is calling? (on the phone)
C’est de la part de qui?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
You are telling me!
À qui le dites-vous?
Questions (la forme interrogative) Who rang (the doorbell)?
Qui a sonné?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Who is this?
Qui est-ce?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Whom are you looking for?
Qui cherchez-vous?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Whom did John invite?
Qui Jean a-t-il invité?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Whom did you meet?
Qui avez-vous rencontré?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
Whoim is Mary afraid of?
De qui Marie a-t-elle peur?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
With whom did you speak?
Avec qui avez-vous parlé?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
With whom does he live?
Chez qui habite-il?
Questions (la forme interrogative)
What do you mean?
Que voulez-vous dire?