Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn key French interrogative adverbs like où (where), pourquoi (why), combien (how many), and quand (when) to ask precise questions about place, reason, or time. Practice their use in sentences such as "Où habites-tu ?" and "Pourquoi habites-tu ici ?".
  1. The interrogative adverb can be followed by "est-ce que" for common questions.
Adverbe (Adverb)Exemples
(Where)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!

  1. In an interrogative sentence, the subject and the verb are inverted. Example: Où habites-tu?
  2. 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.

Show translation Show answers

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?)

Understanding French Interrogative Adverbs

This lesson explores the essential interrogative adverbs in French that are used to ask specific questions regarding place, reason, time, and quantity. These adverbs include (Where), Quand (When), Comment (How), Combien (How many/How much), and Pourquoi (Why).

Key Interrogative Adverbs and Examples

  • : Used to inquire about a location. Example: Où habites-tu ? (Where do you live?)
  • Quand: Refers to time-related questions. Example: Quand vas-tu venir ? (When will you come?)
  • Comment: Asks about a method or manner. Example: Comment faire un gâteau ? (How to make a cake?)
  • Combien: Used for quantity or amount. Example: Combien ai-je de cadeaux ? (How many gifts do I have?)
  • Pourquoi: Seeks a reason or cause. Example: Pourquoi habites-tu ici ? (Why do you live here?)

Forming Questions in French

Interrogative adverbs can be followed by est-ce que to form common questions. For example, Pourquoi est-ce que tu viens à l'école ? (Why are you coming to school?). In written or formal questions, you often invert the verb and the subject as in Où habites-tu ?

In informal situations, especially when expecting a “yes” answer, you can simply make a statement and raise your voice at the end to turn it into a question. For example, Vous aimez cuisiner? (You like cooking?).

Notes on Differences Between English and French Question Forms

Unlike English, where question words often start the sentence followed by an auxiliary verb (e.g., "Where do you live?"), French commonly inverts the subject and verb after the interrogative adverb (Où habites-tu ?). The optional est-ce que provides an easy, neutral way to ask questions without inversion, suitable for beginners.

English interrogative adverbs directly correspond to French ones but the sentence structure changes notably. Remember these key words for your practice:

  • Where =
  • When = Quand
  • How = Comment
  • How much/How many = Combien
  • Why = Pourquoi

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 03:57