Wh- questions
qui (who), que/quoi (what + verb), quel/quelle (which + noun, agrees), où (where), quand (when), comment (how), combien (how much), pourquoi (why).
Examples
- Qu'est-ce que c'est ?What is it?
- Où habites-tu ?Where do you live?
How it works
Wh-words ask for a specific piece of information:
quiwho (a person)
que / quoi what (a thing or action)
quel…which (always before a noun, agrees)
oùwhere
quandwhen
commenthow
combienhow much / how many
pourquoiwhy(answer with parce que, because)
Three constructions, exactly like yes/no questions:
word + est-ce que + statement
Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?What do you want?
word + inversion
Que veux-tu ?What do you want?
Où habites-tu ?Where do you live?
word at the end (casual)
Tu veux quoi ?What d'you want?
Tu habites où ?Where d'you live?
THE que / quoi / quel TRAP:
que= "what" before a verb, formal
Que veux-tu ?
quoi = "what" after the verb or standing alone, casual
Tu veux quoi ?
quel = "which", always before a NOUN, and it agrees with that noun in gender and number
Quel livre ?Which book?(m sg)
Quelle table ?Which table? (f sg)
Quels livres ?Which books? (m pl)
Fixed phrases worth memorising whole:
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?What is it?
Qui est-ce ?Who is it?
Comment ça va ?How are you?
Combien ça coûte ?How much is it?
What you'll practise
1. qui (who)
Ask about a person.
- Qui est-ce ?Who is it?
2. que / quoi (what + verb)
Ask about an action's object. Que before verb (formal); quoi after (casual).
- Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?What do you want?
- Tu veux quoi ?What do you want? (casual)
3. quel / quelle (which + noun)
Comes BEFORE a noun and agrees with it (quel/quelle/quels/quelles).
- Quel livre ?Which book?
4. où / quand (where / when)
Place or time.
- Où habites-tu ?Where do you live?
- Quand mangeons-nous ?When do we eat?
5. comment / combien (how / how much)
Manner or quantity.
- Comment vas-tu ?How are you?
- Combien ça coûte ?How much does it cost?
6. pourquoi (why)
Why questions. Answer with parce que.
- Pourquoi ?Why?
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 6 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.