There are four principal ways to ask a question in French.
The first and simplest way to ask a question when speaking is to make a statement but with rising intonation. In writing, simply put a question mark at the end. This method is considered informal.
- Vous habitez à Bellevue? (With an upward inflection)
- Tu aimes le cours de français? (With an upward inflection)
A second way is to place the phrase “Est-ce que…” directly before a statement. This turns it into a question. If the next word begins with a vowel sound, use “Est-ce qu’ “. Questions with “Est-ce que” are somewhat formal.
- Est-ce que vous parlez française?
- Est-ce qu’il aime dessiner?
A third way is to end a statement with a tag question, such as “n’est-ce pas?” or “d’accord?”. This method can be formal or informal.
- Nous mangeons à midi, n’est-ce pas?
- On commence à deux heures, d’accord?
A fourth way is to invert the order of the subject pronoun and the verb and place a hyphen between them. If the verb ends in a vowel and the subject pronoun begins with one (e.g., il, elle, or on), insert “-t-” between the verb and the pronoun to make pronunciation easier. Inversion is considered more formal.
- Parlez-vous français?
- Mange-t-il à midi?
- Est-elle étudiante?
Expressing Negation
To make a sentence negative in French, place “ne” (n’ before a vowel sound) before the conjugated verb nd “pas” after it. In the construction [conjugated verb + infinitive] “ne” (n’) comes before the conjugated verb and “pas” after it.
- Je ne dessine pas bien.
- Elles n’étudient pas la chimie.
- Abdel n’aime pas dessiner.
- Vous ne détestez pas travailler?
In questions with inversion place “ne” before the inversion and “pas” after it.
Use “si” instead of “oui” to contradict a negative question.
- Parles-tu à Daniel ————–> Oui!
- Ne parles-tu pas à Daniel —-> Si!