Essential French Grammar (2012)

How to Form Questions

Three Common Question Forms

There are several ways of turning simple statements into questions in French.

1. The simplest way is to place Est-ce que in front of the original sentence. (The que becomes qu’ if the next word begins with a vowel.) Study the following examples:

2. If the subject of the sentence is a second or third person pronoun—vous (you), il (he), elle (she), ils (they, MASC.), elles (they, FEM.)—the verb may be placed in front of the pronoun and joined to it by a hyphen.

3. However, if the verb ends in a vowel, a -t- must be inserted between the vowel and the third person singular pronouns (il and elle). This is done simply for ease of pronunciation.

4. A third common way of turning a simple statement into a question is by adding n‘est-ce pas? to the end of the statement. This corresponds to the English phrases “isn’t it?,” “don’t you?,” “aren’t we?,” “won’t you?,” etc.

Paris est une ville intéressante, n’est-ce pas?
Paris is an interesting city, isn’t it?

Vous resterez ici, n‘est-ce pas?
You will stay here, won’t you?

Interrogative Adjectives and Pronouns

The interrogative adjective “which” is translated by quel (MASC. SING.), quelle (FEM. SING.), quels (MASC. PL.) and quelles (FEM. PL.). The corresponding pronouns (which one, which ones) are lequel, laquelle, lesquels and lesquelles.

The form of the adjective or pronoun used depends on the gender and number of the noun concerned. For instance, in the first sentence below, le livre (the book) is a masculine singular noun, and the proper adjective and pronoun is, therefore, quel and lequel. This concept of agreement of adjective and pronouns with nouns is further discussed on page 24. See also the Glossary of Grammatical Terms on page 131.

Study the following explanations and examples of the other interrogative pronouns:

Qui translates both “ who” and “whom,” and may be used as subject or object, singular or plural, referring to persons:

Qui is also used after prepositions, when referring to persons. Note that à qui translates “whose” (possession) as well as “to whom.”

De qui parlez-vous?
Whom are you talking about?

À qui avez-vous donné la clé?
To whom did you give the key?

À qui est cette maison?
Whose house is this?

The interrogative “what” is translated as qu‘est-ce qui when it is the subject of the sentence:

Qu’est-ce qui se passe?
What is going on?

“What” is translated as que or qu‘est-ce que when it is an object:

Que désirez-vous? OR Qu’est-ce que vous désirez?
What do you wish?

Qu‘est-ce que c’est?
What is it?

When asking for an explanation or a definition, “what is” is translated as qu‘est-ce que c’est que:

Qu‘est-ce que c’est qu‘une république?
What is a republic?

Qu‘est-ce que c’est que ça?
What is that?

“What,” standing alone or when used as object of a preposition and not referring to persons, is quoi:

Useful Interrogative Phrases

Combien coûte ceci ?
How much does this cost?

Comment va-t-on en ville?
How does one go to town?

Quand est-ce que l’autobus arrive?
When does the bus arrive?

Où est la gare?
Where is the station?

Pourquoi êtes-vous fâché?
Why are you angry?