How to ask questions in French?

Interested in knowing how to ask questions in French? We give examples below on how to use questions with what, where, when, how! Have fun and if you really want to pick up French, feel free to visit our website for more information on our French lessons in group classes or individual tuition.

Quand? (When?)

This question word is very useful when you want to ask about time. For example, you can use it to ask about appointments, events, and schedules.

• Quand est-ce que tu es disponible? (When are you available?)
• Quand est-ce que le film commence? (When does the movie start?)
• Quand est-ce que la réunion aura lieu? (When will the meeting take place?)
• Quand est-ce que je vais trouver mon prince charmant? (When am I going to find my Prince Charming?)

Où? (Where?)

This expression is used to ask about location. You can use it to ask for directions, find out where a place is, or ask about the location of something specific.

• Où est la gare? (Where is the train station?)
• Où se trouve le musée? (Where is the museum?)
• Où est-ce que je peux trouver un restaurant? (Where can I find a restaurant?)

Comment? (How?)

This versatile expression can be used to ask about the method or manner of doing something, or to ask about someone’s condition.

• Comment ça marche? (How does it work?)
• Comment tu te sens aujourd’hui? (How are you feeling today?)
• Comment est-ce qu’on fait une omelette? (How do you make an omelet?
• Comment est-ce que je peux apprendre le français en une semaine? (How can I learn French in one week?) (really? :)

Quoi? (What?)

This basic question word is used to ask for more information or clarification. You can use it to ask about a specific thing or to ask someone to repeat themselves.

• Quoi de neuf? (What’s new?)
• Qu’est-ce que tu as dit? (What did you say?)
• Quoi d’autre? (What else?)
• Quoi, tu n’as pas encore mangé de croissant? Mais comment est-ce possible? (What, you haven’t tried croissants yet? How is that possible?)

Pourquoi? (Why?)

This question word is used to ask about the reason behind something. You can use it to ask why someone did something, why something happened, or why something is the way it is.

• Pourquoi est-ce que tu as choisi cette université? (Why did you choose this university?)
• Pourquoi est-ce que le train est en retard? (Why is the train late?)
• Pourquoi est-ce que cette recette ne fonctionne pas? (Why isn’t this recipe working?)
• Pourquoi est-ce que les étoiles ne tombent jamais du ciel? (Why do stars never fall from the sky?)

By learning how to use the question words in French, you’ll be able to ask and answer basic questions in French and survive in Paris!