How to Ask Questions in French: 5 Easy Patterns

Asking questions in French is easier than many learners expect. There are five clear patterns you can use, and three of them require almost no grammar changes at all.

Pattern 1: Rising intonation (easiest)

Say a normal sentence and raise your voice at the end. This works in casual conversation.

• Tu parles francais ? = Do you speak French?
• Elle est a la maison ? = Is she at home?
• Vous avez une table ? = Do you have a table?

Pattern 2: Est-ce que (most versatile)

Add Est-ce que at the start of a statement. The word order does not change.

• Est-ce que tu parles francais ?
• Est-ce que vous avez une chambre libre ?
• Est-ce qu’il est arrive ? (before a vowel)

Pattern 3: Inversion (formal)

Swap the subject pronoun and the verb. This is more formal and used in writing.

• Parles-tu francais ?
• Avez-vous une reservation ?
• Peut-il partir ?

Pattern 4: Question words

Use a question word at the start, then add est-ce que or use inversion.

• ou = where → Ou est-ce que tu habites ?
• quand = when → Quand est-ce qu’il arrive ?
• comment = how → Comment tu t’appelles ?
• pourquoi = why → Pourquoi tu ris ?
• qui = who → Qui est-ce ?
• quoi / que = what → Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
• combien = how much / many → Combien ca coute ?

Pattern 5: Qu’est-ce que c’est

This fixed phrase is the go-to way to ask “what is this?” or “what is that?”

• Qu’est-ce que c’est ? = What is it? What is this?
• Qu’est-ce que c’est qu’un croissant ? = What is a croissant?

Final tip

In daily spoken French, patterns 1 and 2 cover almost every question you will need. Save inversion for written French, emails, and formal situations. Start with est-ce que as your default and expand from there.