Voice out question words in French. Interrogative sentences. Features of interrogative sentences

Negative sentence

A negative sentence in French differs from an affirmative one only by the presence of negative particles that surround the verb, trying not to let other words get to him. The most common form of negation is the construction ne...pas, the first element of which usually comes before the verb, and the second - after the verb:

Je ne parle pas.

I don't talk.

But: Je prefère ne pas parler.

I prefer not to talk (talk).

Pas can be replaced by other negative words such as personne, rien, plus, point, guère, jamais, aucun, nulle part, ni...ni. These words can come before or after the verb:

Je ne vois personne.

I don't see anyone.

Je ne parle à personne.

I don't talk to anyone.

Person ne parle.

Nobody is talking.

Je ne vois rien.

I don't see anything.

Je ne pense à rien.

I don't think about anything.

Rien n'est arrive.

Nothing happened.

An interrogative sentence in French is constructed using intonation, inversion or interrogative phrases (est-ce que and others).

1. Using intonation(this form of question is very common in colloquial speech):

Tu vas à l’institut?

Is it est étudiant?

2. Using inversion(reverse word order, when the subject comes after the predicate):

Inversion can be simple or complex.

1. Simple inversion done in a sentence in which the subject is expressed by a pronoun.

In an interrogative sentence formed using simple inversion, the subject pronoun is placed after the verb:

Lis-tu ce livre?

Est-elle Russe?

If the verb is in the 3rd person singular. ends in a vowel “a” or “e”, the letter “t” is inserted between the verb and pronoun

Va-t-il à la gare?

Parle-t-elle à sa mère?

Habité-t-il Paris ?

1. By complex inversion an interrogative sentence is formed in which

the subject is expressed by a noun. In this case, the subject remains in its usual place before the verb, but is then repeated after the verb in the form of a third person personal pronoun, consistent in gender and number with the subject:

Michel travaille-t-il à la fabrique?

Les soeurs habitent-elles Paris?

When there are 2 or more subjects of different genders, the pronoun is used

masculine plural:

Pierre et Marie revisent-ils ces textes?

3. Using an interrogative phraseest-ce que

In interrogative sentences with turnover est-ce que The direct word order is preserved:

Est-ce qu’il regarde la télé?

Est-ce que Claire va à la pharmacie?

Question to the subject is constructed using the following question words and constructions:

Question for direct object (for animate objects) is built using: qui, qui est-ce que:

Qui attendez-vous? (inversion)

Qui est-ce que vous attendez?

Who are you expecting?

Question for direct object (inanimate) constructed using an interrogative pronoun Que? and turnover qu'est-ce que?- What? In question with qu'est-ce que direct word order is maintained, with que inversion is done.

Question for indirect object under construction:

for animate objects- using the construction preposition + qui:

A qui parlez-vous? (inversion)

A qui Est-ce que vous parlez?

Who are you talking to?

for inanimate objects- using the construction preposition + quoi:

De quoi parlez-vous? (inversion)

De quoi Est-ce que vous parlez?

What are you talking about?

IN interrogative sentence direct order words occur only in the following cases:

• if the question is expressed in intonation: Vous venez?
• if an interrogative sentence begins with qui (who) / qui est-ce qui (who)/ qu'est-ce qui (what) in the function of the subject or quel (what) in the function of determining the subject: Qui a dit cela?
• upon turnover est-ce que(usually not translated into Russian): Comment est-ce que vous lisez?
• if the question word is placed at the end of the sentence: Tu t’appelles comment?

In all other cases, the interrogative sentence is characterized by inversion, i.e. reverse word order. Inversion can be simple or complex.

Simple inversion done when the subject is expressed by a pronoun. In this case, the pronoun is placed after the verb through a dash. Rearrangement of the pronoun je is allowed only in some monosyllabic forms of verbs: ai-je? suis-je? dis-je? dois-je? vais-je? Puis-je?

The letter t is placed between the verb (if it does not end in t or d) and the 3rd person singular pronoun: Lit-il le journal? Pense- t-il à notre projet?

Complex inversion done if the subject is expressed by a noun or pronoun (other than the personal or indefinite on). In this case, the subject remains in its place and, in addition, is repeated after the predicate in the form of a personal unstressed pronoun of the 3rd person of the corresponding gender and number: Pierre est- ilétudiant? Les notres sont- ils venus?

NB! Direct word order: The subject comes first, followed by the predicate.

Inversion = reverse word order: The predicate comes first, followed by the subject.

General question (question for the entire sentence)

Can be set in three ways:

1) By changing intonation to an interrogative question. The order of words in a sentence does not change: Tu vas au cinéma? — Are you going to the cinema?

2) Using an interrogative phrase est-ce que while maintaining the direct word order after it: Est-ce que tu vas au cinéma? — Are you going to the cinema?

3) Using inversions: Vas-tu au cinema? — Are you going to the cinema?

The words “whether” and “isn’t” used in a general question in Russian are not translated into French:

Is he going to the cinema? = Is he going to the cinema? = Does he go to the cinema? = Est-ce qu’il va au cinéma?

Special question

Involves the use of special question words:

Where?	où...?	Où habits-tu? – Where do you live?
Where?		Où vas-tu? – Where are you going?
where?	d'où...?	D'où viens-tu? – Where are you coming from?
When?	quand...?	Quand reviens-tu? – When will you be back?
at what time?	à quelle heure...?	A quelle heure reviens-tu? – INoh so muchco You you'll be back?
How?	comment...?	Comment cet enfant lit-il? – How does this child read?
Why? For what?	pourquoi...?	Pourquoi est-ce que tu es en retard? - Why are you late?

There are three options for constructing phrases with question words:

Question to the subject

Question for direct object (object without preposition)

Question for an indirect object (object with a preposition)

Question for definition

		to the subject	to the supplement
Which?	quel (m.s. unit) quelle (g.r.ed.h.) quels (m. plural) quelles (plural)	+ direct word order Quel parc est beau? – Which park is beautiful?	Quel livre est-ce que tu lis? Quel livre lis-tu? – What book are you reading?
How many?	combien de...	+ direct word order Combien d'étudiants travaillent ici? – How many students study here?	1) + est-ce que + direct word order 2) + inversion Combien de livres est-ce que tu lis? Combien de livres lis-tu? – How many books You you're reading?

In this article, we will not teach you how to ask stupid questions, or questions in the style of neuro-linguistic programming in order to “bring the client to clean water,” or asking women about their age so that they do not get offended. But we will teach you how to ask the right questions to the French, so that they understand you.

So, in French there are such question words:

Qui- Who?

Que- What?

Quoi- what? (and with prepositions),

Pourquoi- Why?

Quel(-le, -s, -les) - which (-th, -ie)?

Comment- how?, what?, où - where?, where?

D'où- where from?, combien - how much?

Quand- When?

Pour qui- for whom?

А qui- whose?

De quoi- about what?

De quelle couleur- what color?

For example:

Qui dira cette parole correctement?- Who will say this word correctly?

Que voulez-vous lire?-What do you want to read?

De quoi parlent-ils?-What are they talking about?

Pourquoi aimes-tu la France?- Why do you love France? (

A qui cache-t-elle son journal?—Who is she hiding her diary from?

De quelle couleur est le drapeau français?— What color is the French flag?

Comment est ta chambre à coucher?-What is your bedroom like?

Comment pouvez-vous survivre dans ce pays?— How can you survive in this country?

Où est la mairie?—Where is the mayor's office?

D'où viens-tu?-Where are you coming from?

Combien d'argent avons-nous?- How much money do we have?

Quand arrive notre paquebot?— When does our ship arrive?

So in French there is three ways how to ask questions:

1. By using intonation;
2. By inversions- changing the places of the main members of the sentence;
3. Using the design est-ce que, followed by direct word order;

First way is most convenient for Russian speakers who prefer to simply raise the tone of intonation at the end of the question asked:

Comment ça va? - How are you?

Combien ça fait? - How much does it cost? (You can even say this: ça fait combien?)

Tu viens avec moi? -Are you coming with me?

Second way requires voltage of brain neurons and neutrons J. Therefore, we suggest that the lazy simply skip this paragraph. Although this way of asking questions in French is very popular. In some cases, it is simply necessary, especially when the sentence has a direct object (COD), which happens to be near the subject (sujet), expressed by a noun (nom). It should be remembered that if a verb in the third person singular (il, elle, on) ends in “ e" or " a”, then the letter “t” is placed between the verb and the subject pronoun (for euphony): a-t-il?, pleure-t-elle?, ira-t-il?, sera-t-elle?

Va-t-elleà Londres? —Is she going to London?

Cherches-tu quelque chose? -Are you looking for something?

Que font-ils à la leçon? — What do they do in class?

Que Pierre achète-t-il? — What does Pierre buy?

Comment vous appelez-vous? - What is your name?

Où habitent Marine et Blanche? —Where do Marina and Blanche live?

Où allez-vous? -Where are you going?

Où sont-ils allés? -Where did they go?

D'où êtes-vous venus? -Where did you come from?

Pourquoi es-tu en retard? - Why are you late?

Quel age as-tu? - How old are you?

And now about third way. If there is no question word in the sentence (see the first paragraph of this article), then it is necessary to use the construction est-ce que, and then direct word order. In the case of a question word you need:

1. Put the interrogative word at the beginning;
2. Turnover est-ce que;
3. Use direct word order (Objet Verbe Sujet).

Es ce-que tu ne le comprends pas? - Don't you understand this?

Pourquoi est ce-que l'agent de police se dirige vers le groupe d'adolescents? — Why is the policeman heading towards a group of teenagers?

Quand est ce-que la pop-star viendra à notre village? — When will the pop star come to our village?

With the first person singular (je) the construction is always used est-ce que. Some verbs are exceptions:

Est ce-que je demande quelque chose d’extraordinaire? - Am I asking for something unusual?

Est ce-que je pose trop de questions? - Am I asking too many questions?

Puis-je vous proposer quelque chose d’intéressant? -Can I offer you something interesting?

Suis-je parmi des amis ou des ennemis? — Am I among friends or enemies?

Ai-je raison? - Am I right?

But, if the question is asked to the subject (who? what? how many? which? whose? etc), then inversion is not needed. We use direct word order:

Combien d'ouvriers travaillent à l'usine? — How many workers work at the plant?

Qui doit corriger les fautes? - Who should correct the mistakes?

Quels grands magasins se trouvent au center de la ville? — What big stores are located in the city center?

Don't forget about verb conjugation when asking questions. For your convenience, below is a table of conjugations of verbs in interrogative and negative forms:

Conjugation of verbs in interrogative forms

Present	Future Simple	Passé composition
Est ce-que je parle?	aurai-je? (est ce-que je parlerai?)	ai-je parlé?
parles-tu?	auras-tu?	How-tu parlé?
parle-t-il? parle-t-elle?	aura-t-il? aura-t-elle?	a-t-il parlé? A-t-elle parlé?
parlons-nous?	aurons-nous?	Avons-nous parlé?
parlez-vous?	aurez-vous?	avez-vous parlé?
parlent-ils? parlent-elles?	auront-ils? auront-elles?	ont-ils parlé? Ont-elles parlé?

Conjugation of verbs in negative-interrogative forms

Present	Future Simple	Passé composition
Est ce-que je ne voyage pas?	Est ce-que je n’arriverai pas?	ne suis-je pas venu(e)?
ne voyages-tu pas?	n'arriveras-tu pas?	n'es-tu pas venu (e)?
ne voyage-t-il pas? ne voyage-t-elle pas?	n'arrivera-t-il pas? n'arrivera-t-elle pas?	n'est-il pas venu? N'est-t-elle pas venue?
ne voyageons-nous pas?	n'arriverons-nous pas?	ne sommes-nous pas venu(e)s?
ne voyagez-vous pas?	n'arriverez-vous pas?	n'ê tes-vous pas venu(e)s?
ne voyagent-ils pas? ne voyagent-elles pas?	n'arriveront-ils pas? n'arriveront-elles pas?	ne sont-ils pas venus? ne sont-elles pas venues?

That's all, we hope that now you can safely approach any Francophone and safely ask him a couple of tricky questions about his life and plans for the future.

Gradually the blog is filled with useful resources on various foreign languages. Today it’s French’s turn again - here’s a list of 100 basic phrases that will be useful to you in simple dialogue.

In addition to the simplest words, such as how to say I in French, hello, bye and how are you, you will learn ways to ask simple questions, respond to your interlocutor and carry on light conversation.

When repeating or memorizing phrases, do not forget to listen to the voice-over and repeat after the announcer. To reinforce the expressions, repeat them for several days, making small dialogues and sentences with them.

(Some words have feminine endings in brackets -e And plural -s, -es).

	phrase	translation
1.	What's new?	Quoi de neuf?
2.	Long time no see.	Ça fait longtemps.
3.	Nice to meet you.	Enchanté(e).
4.	Excuse me.	Excusez-moi.
5.	Bon appetit!	Bon appétit!
6.	I'm sorry. Sorry.	Je suis désolé(e).
7.	Thanks a lot.	Merci beaucoup.
8.	Welcome!	Bienvenue!
9.	My pleasure! (in response to gratitude)	De rien!
10.	Do you speak Russian?	Parlez-vous russe?
11.	Do you speak English?	Parlez-vous anglais?
12.	How would it be in French?	Comment dire ça en français?
13.	I don't know.	Je ne sais pas.
14.	I speak a little French.	Je parle français un petit peu.
15.	Please. (Request.)	S'il vous plaît.
16.	Can you hear me?	Vous m"entendez?
17.	What kind of music do you listen to?	Tu écoute quel style de music?
18.	Good evening!	Bonsoir!
19.	Good morning!	Bon matin!
20.	Hello!	Bonjour!
21.	Hello!	Salut.
22.	How are you doing?	Comment ça va?
23.	How are you doing?	Comment allez-vous?
24.	Everything is fine, thank you.	Ça va bien, merci.
25.	How is your family doing?	Comment ça va votre famille?
26.	I need to go.	Je dois y aller.
27.	Goodbye.	Au revoir.
28.	What do you do? (in life)	Que faites-vous?
29.	Can you write this down?	Est-ce que vous pouvez l'écrire?
30.	I don't understand.	Je ne comprends pas.
31.	Are you busy right now?	Vous êtes occupé maintenant?
32.	I like... / I love...	J"aime...
33.	What do you do in your free time?	Quoi fais-tu en temps libre?
34.	Don't worry.	Ne vous inquiétez pas!
35.	This is a good question.	C'est une bonne question.
36.	Can you speak slowly?	Pouvez-vous parler lentement?
37.	What time is it?	Quelle heure est-il?
38.	See you soon!	A tout à l"heure!
39.	See you later.	A plus tard.
40.	every day	tous les jours
41.	I'm not sure).	Je ne suis pas sûr.
42.	in short	en bref
43.	Exactly!	Exactement!
44.	No problem!	Pas de problem!
45.	Sometimes	parfois
46.	Yes	oui
47.	No	non
48.	Let's go!	Allons-y!
49.	What's your name?	Comment vous appelez-vous?
50.	What is your name?	Tu t "appelles comment?
51.	My name is...	Je m'appelle...
52.	Where are you from?	Vous etes d"où?
53.	Where are you from?	Tu es d"où?
54.	I'm from...	Je suis de...
55.	Where do you live?	Où habitez-vous?
56.	Where do you live?	Tu habits où?
57.	He lives in...	Il habite...
58.	I think that...	Je pense que...
59.	Do you understand?	Comprenez-vous?
60.	You understand?	Tu comprends?
61.	What's your favorite movie?	Quel est ton film préféré?
62.	Can you help me?	Pouvez-vous m"aider?
63.	How's the weather?	Quel temps fait-il?
64.	here, there, there	voilà
65.	Certainly	bien sûr
66.	Where is...?	Où est... ?
67.	there is, there is	il y a
68.	This is cool!	C'est bien!
69.	Look!	Regardez!
70.	Nothing happened.	Ça ne fait rien.
71.	Where is the metro?	Où est le metro?
72.	How much does it cost?	Combien ça coûte?
73.	By the way	à propos
74.	I have to say that...	Je dois dire que...
75.	We are hungry.	Nous avons faim.
76.	We're thirsty.	Nous avons soif.
77.	Are you hot?	Tu as chaud?
78.	Are you cold?	Tu as froid?
79.	I don't care.	Je m"en fiche.
80.	We forgot.	Nous avons oublié(e)s.
81.	Congratulations!	Felicitations!
82.	I have no idea.	Je n"ai aucune idee.
83.	What are you talking about?	Vous parlez de quoi?
84.	Tell me what you think.	Dites-moi ce que vous pensez.
85.	I hope that...	J"espere que...
86.	to tell the truth	à vrai dire
87.	I need information.	J'ai besoin de renseignements.
88.	I heard that...	J'ai entendu que...
89.	Where is the hotel located?	Où est l'hotel?
90.	in any case, nevertheless	quand meme
91.	I'd like some coffee.	Je voudrais du café.
92.	with pleasure	avec plaisir
93.	Can you tell me please?	Vous pouvez-me dire, s"il vous plait?
94.	in my opinion	à mon avis
95.	I'm afraid that...(+ verb infinitive)	Je cranes de...
96.	in general, on the whole	en general
97.	Firstly	premiere
98.	secondly	deuxièmement
99.	On the one side	d"un côte
100.	but on the other hand	mais d'un autre côté

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Regarding the types of sentences, they are divided into several categories, namely narrative (tu vas à l’institution 5 jours par semaine - you are visiting educational institution 5 days a week), interrogative (Vas-tu à l'université 5 jours par semaine? - do you attend an educational institution 5 days a week?) and incentives (va à l'université chaque jour! - attend an educational institution every day!) .

If we talk about interrogative sentences in French, they are formed through inversion (that is, the reverse order of the main members of the sentence, in particular the predicate, and then the subject) or using interrogative phrases.

There are two types of inversion, namely simple, if the subject of the sentence is represented by a pronoun (arrives-tu à la campagne? - are you coming to the village?) and complex, if the subject is represented by a noun, but in such a case, during the construction of the sentence, the subjects continue occupy unchanged positions, as it occupies in declarative sentence, but after the verb a pronoun is also used that defines the given subject - in the case of singular. numbers are the pronoun elle, il, in the case of plural numbers - ils, elles (Un animal, habite-t-il dans un bois? - Does the animal live in the forest?).

In view of the fact that French, both previously and today, is one of the most melodic languages ​​in the world, for greater melodiousness in French after verbs in the 3rd person with endings -a or -e, if it is followed by a pronoun, for the connective the letter t is used, for example: Dessine-t-il à la plume - Does he draw with a pen?

The interrogative phrase in French is est-ce que (direct word order is used, regardless of whether the subject is a pronoun or a noun), for example:

Est-ce qu'il aime promener le chien? – Does he like to walk the dog?

Est-ce que Victor aime promener le chien? – Does Victor like to walk the dog?

The use of this phrase is subject to mandatory use if the corresponding sentence contains verbs of the first or second, as well as some verbs of the third group in the first person singular, for example:

Est-ce que je lis trop? – Am I reading too much? or Am I reading too much?

But this rule does not apply to the verb pouvoir - to be able, to be able, faire - to do, dire - to say and a number of other verbs, since when they are used in interrogative sentences, it is in the first person singular. numbers can also be used in questions formed by inversion; as for the verb pouvoir, it has 2 forms - je peux - je puis.

If the question is asked to a direct object, then the question word is the pronoun qui (animate object) or the pronoun que (inanimate object), for example,

Que voit il? -What does he see?

Recently, the phrase est-ce que is most often used after these pronouns, thereby forming the form qu’est-ce que (inanimate object) and qui est-ce que (animate object). This phrase is also subject to mandatory use in the case of using a predicate in the 1st person singular, for example,

Qu'est-ce que je pense de ma sœur? – what do I think about my sister?

If the question is asked to an indirect object, which is inanimate object, the question uses quoi (interrogative pronoun) in combination with appropriate prepositions, and the complement, which is an animate object, uses qui with appropriate prepositions, for example.