Learn how to use French interrogative adverbs like "Où", "Pourquoi", "Combien", and others to ask questions about place, time, reason, and quantity. Understand formation of questions with inversion and the phrase "est-ce que". Explore practical examples and differences from English question structures.
- The interrogative adverb can be followed by "est-ce que" for common questions.
| Adverbe (Adverb) | Exemples |
|---|---|
| Où (Where) | Où habites-tu ? (Where do you live?) |
| Quand (When ) | Quand vas-tu venir ? (When are you coming?) |
| Comment (How) | Comment faire un gâteau ? (How to make a cake?) |
| Combien (How many) | Combien ai-je de cadeaux ? (How many presents do I have?) |
| Pourquoi (Why) | Pourquoi habites-tu ici ? (Why do you live here ?) |
Exceptions!
- In an interrogative sentence, the subject and the verb are inverted. Example: Où habites-tu?
- In an informal situation, when you are expecting a "yes," you can ask the question by making a statement and raising your voice at the end. Example: "Vous aimez cuisiner?"
Exercise 1: Les adverbes interrogatifs: "Où", "Pourquoi", "Combien", etc...
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Quand, Comment, Pourquoi, Où, Combien
1.
Lieu :
... est-ce que tu habites ?
(Where do you live?)
2.
Moment :
... arrêtez-vous les études?
(When do you stop studying?)
3.
Raison :
... est-elle infirmière ?
(Why is she a nurse?)
4.
Moment :
... partez-vous en Espagne ?
(When are you leaving for Spain?)
5.
Nombre :
... d'avocats as-tu eu ?
(How many lawyers have you had?)
6.
Raison :
... mélangent-ils le sel et le poivre ?
(Why do they mix salt and pepper?)
7.
Lieu :
... est le professeur ?
(Where is the teacher?)
8.
Manière :
... as-tu fait le gâteau ?
(How did you make the cake?)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. ___ habites-tu ?
(___ do you live?)2. ___ est-ce que tu viens à l'école ?
(___ do you come to school?)3. ___ de questions est-ce que tu poses ?
(___ questions do you ask?)4. ___ demandes-tu de l'aide ?
(___ do you ask for help?)5. ___ réponds-tu aux questions ?
(___ do you answer questions?)6. ___ pose la question ?
(___ asks the question?)
