Asking Questions: Lesson One

Note: French is similar to English as any question finishes with a question mark.
" quel, quelle, quels, quelles? = which ? what ?
" qui? = who ?
" que? = what ?
" quoi ? = what ?
" pourquoi ? = why ?
" quand ? = when ?
" où = where ?
" comment ? = how ?
" combien ? = how many/much ?

quel, quelle, quels, quelles (which or what) are Interrogative adjectives
The interrogative adjective must agree in numbers and gender with the noun to which the question refers Ie if the noun is singular masculine then the adjective to also be singular and masculine.

Examples are:
singular masculine
Quel garçon joue de la guitare? = which boy plays the guitar?
singular feminine
Quelle fille joue du piano? = which girl plays the guitar?
plural masculine
Quels pays sont en Europe? = Which countries are in Europe?

qui (who or whom) is an Interrogative pronouns
qui : who, whom
When asking questions about people you must use qui? : who ? or whom ?

Examples
Qui est là? = Who is there?
À qui est cette voiture ? = To whom does this car belong?
Qui est Jacques Cousteau? = Who is Jacques Cousteau?

Que (what) is an Interrogative pronouns
que is used in direct questions referring to things.
que becomes qu' when used before a vowel or H

Examples
Que dit le journal? = What does the newspaper say?
Que veux-tu? = What do you want? (informal)
Que voulez-vous? = What do you want? (formal)

The above examples are used for formal French and can sound rather "pompous" when spoken, generally you would replace que? with qu'est-ce que, for example
Qu'est-ce que tu as dit? = What did you say?
Qu'est-ce que vous allez faire? = What will you do?
Qu'est-ce qu'ils ont chanté? = What did they sing?

We hope you enjoyed your French asking for directions lesson!

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