Grammaire : les questions (part 2) - the inversion.

First let’s review how to use “est-ce que” to ask a question. Remember ? You just add “est-ce que” before a sentence to make it into a question. Also remember that usually “est-ce que” questions can only be answered by OUI ou NON. It is the same for the inversion.

For example :

Vous voulez jouer au ballon = statement (You want to play ball)

Est-ce que vous voulez jouer au ballon ? = question. (Do you want to play ball)

Another way to ask a question is to switch the subject (pronoun) and the verb places and add a dash between the two.

For example :

Vous voulez jouer au ballon = statement (You want to play ball)

Voulez-vous jouer au ballon ? = question. (Do you want to play ball)

Attention ! There is a catch !

If the subject is NOT a pronoun (Je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles) You can’t just switch the verb and the subject, you have to add a pronoun and then use the verb+dash+pronoun form.

The statement form is : subject + verb + rest of the sentence.

The question form is : Subject + verb + dash + pronoun + rest of the sentence.

For example :

1) Emilie veut jouer. = statement. Emilie wants to play.

Emilie veut-elle jouer ? = question. Does Emilie want to play ?

2) Thomas est un garçon. = statement. Thomas is a boy.

Thomas est-il un garçon ? = question : Is Thomas a boy ?

Try it ! Transform the following sentences into questions :

1. Tu as un sac bleu. _______________________________________________________________

2. Il a une voiture rouge. _______________________________________________________________

3. Tu manges une pizza. _______________________________________________________________

4. Thomas achète du jus d’orange. _______________________________________________________________

5. Nous voulons de l’eau. _______________________________________________________________

6. Vous aimez avoir des amis. _______________________________________________________________

7. Emilie et Thomas vont en voiture au magasin. _______________________________________________________________

Exercise : translate the question, then answer them in French.

1. As-tu faim ?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Veux-tu manger une pizza ? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Ton père aime-t-il jouer au ballon ? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Avez-vous deux télévisions à la maison ?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Veux-tu boire du jus d’orange ? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Ta maman est-elle contente ? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Vois-tu une voiture ? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last, but not least, we have to add a “t” between the verb and the pronoun when the verb ends with a vowel and the pronoun begins with a vowel. This letter is just to ease pronunciation, but don’t forget to say it or you’re going to sound weird.

Examples :

Emilie aime-t-elle boire du lait ? (Does Emilie like to drink milk?)

Thomas mange-t-il un gâteau ? (Does Thomas eat a cake?)

La maman a-t-elle une voiture ? (Does the mom have a car?)

To be fair, let’s say that “est-ce que” is used much more than the inversion in everyday conversation. So if you have to remember only one way, remember “est-ce que” !

Voir aussi / See also:

Les questions part 1

Les questions part 3