Hi, I have heard that the inversion is not used often, and rarely used among young people. Maybe it is used more often with an older generation? Which of the 3 forms is the most used in everyday conversational French? And my second question is: What is the tone or feeling behind each form? (casual, friendly, condescending, written versus conversation, unnatural, etc). Thank you in advance for your time and your answer! :)
You've already seen simple ways to ask Yes or No questions (Asking yes/no questions with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas), now look at this more elaborate and elegant way to ask questions in French:
Forming Simple Yes/No questions by inverting
Look at this example:
Tu parles français => Parles-tu français?
You speak French => Do you speak French?
To form inverted questions in French, you simply place the subject pronoun (je, tu, nous, vous, ils, elles) after the verb, and insert an hyphen in-between.
Here are some more examples:
A few common verbs have special forms. See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent, special cases: puis-je, ai-je, suis-je
More Complex Questions Using Question Words
This rule also applies to questions using question words (comment, où, quand, que...) :
See also these related lessons:
Questions with qui, que, quoi, quand, où, comment, pourquoi, combien
Questions: Que ... = What ... ?
ATTENTION:
Inverted questions with il/elle/on are a bit trickier: Forming inverted questions in Le Présent with il, elle, on
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 9 questions, 19 answers
Generally speaking, the inverted form is the most formal way to ask a question. Used in a familiar setting, where you'd normally use intonation only, it sounds stilted. However there are certain phrases where it is commonly used, even in a less formal context, e.g., comment vas-tu?
Asking with "est-ce que" or "qu'est-ce que" falls somewhere in the middle. But again, it depends and that rule should be taken only as a rough guideline.
Caroline asked:View original
Who / When to use inversion to form a question?
Hi, I have heard that the inversion is not used often, and rarely used among young people. Maybe it is used more often with an older generation? Which of the 3 forms is the most used in everyday conversational French? And my second question is: What is the tone or feeling behind each form? (casual, friendly, condescending, written versus conversation, unnatural, etc). Thank you in advance for your time and your answer! :)
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RobertKwiziq community member
Why is there not a question mark at the end??? Asia is surely it is a statement!!!!
Asked 9 months ago
Robert asked:View original
Why is there not a question mark at the end??? Asia is surely it is a statement!!!!
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TunmiKwiziq community member
Is this right: "plais-à je la reine? To mean Do I please the queen?
Asked 9 months ago
Hi Tunmi,
We tend to avoid using inversions with the first person singular, ‘je‘ as they can sound very awkward and highfalutin.
With your example I would say :
Est-ce que je plais à la reine?
Some you might hear -
Puis-je? = May I ?
Que sais- je ? = What do I know?
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MelanieKwiziq community member
What is the inverted question form for C’est LE professed de gestion?
Asked 11 months ago
Hi Melanie,
It would be -
‘Est-ce le professeur de gestion?’
‘Est-ce que c’est le professeur de gestion?
I prefer the second one personally....
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CynthiaKwiziq community member
Using "va-t-on" structure for questions
Pls why was this: Où va-t-on ce soir used for this sentence?
Asked 1 year ago
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Hi Cynthia,
the general rule says to start with the question word (où), vollowed by the verb (va) and then the subject (on). The "t" that's been inserted between va and on is there simply to ease pronounciation for lazy French tongues. ;)
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Cynthia asked:View original
Using "va-t-on" structure for questions
Pls why was this: Où va-t-on ce soir used for this sentence?
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PokimonKwiziq community member
Is pronoun only used in inversion type?
Hi ,,,Is pronoun only used in inversion type? Or can we use the noun instead of pronoun.... example Parle-t Michael francais? instead of Parle-t-il francais? Please clarify ... Thank you in advance
Asked 2 years ago
Hi Sivavathana,
As Chris rightly points out, in this case you have to use a pronoun as well as a name.
Michael, parle-t-il français?
If too much of a mouthful you can use "est-ce-que" and you won't need the additional pronoun.
Est-ce -que Michael parle français?
Hope this helps!
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
No, you would say "Michael parle-t-il français ?" So, yes,you would use the pronoun in the inverted question.
-- Chris (not a native speaker)
Pokimon asked:View original
Is pronoun only used in inversion type?
Hi ,,,Is pronoun only used in inversion type? Or can we use the noun instead of pronoun.... example Parle-t Michael francais? instead of Parle-t-il francais? Please clarify ... Thank you in advance
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MichaelKwiziq community member
There is still a 'va-t-on' example in the section - More Complex Questions Using Question Words.
Asked 2 years ago
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Michael,
I am unclear about your question regarding the use of «va-t-on» in the example in this lesson. If possible, would you please clarify your question or concern that you are experiencing with this locution?
J'espère que ma réponse vous aiderait.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière et qui a été utilisé par le monde français depuis l’époque d’Hugues Capet
MichaelKwiziq community member
Hi Ron, the title of the lesson excludes the il, elle an on forms of inverted questions in the present, but there is a va-t-on construction in the section More Complex Questions Using Question Words of the lesson. I think this should be removed. Regards, Michael
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Thanks for clarifying this. i thought that I had misunderstood the lesson. I do see your point, though.
Bonne journée. Ron
Michael asked:View original
There is still a 'va-t-on' example in the section - More Complex Questions Using Question Words.
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HéctorKwiziq community member
Ok, I just got wrong "Regardent elles la télé?" in my last quiz
because I miss an en dash (-). How important is the en dash in the inverted questions and why? : /
Asked 2 years ago
HéctorKwiziq community member
Im sorry, I mean hyphen. Im not sure which is more correct, en dash or hyphen because english is not my mother language.
Héctor asked:View original
Ok, I just got wrong "Regardent elles la télé?" in my last quiz
because I miss an en dash (-). How important is the en dash in the inverted questions and why? : /
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AurélieKwiziq team member
P. asked: Shouldn't there be a question-mark in the question statement ?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour P. !
Thanks for your useful question, that will also help other users with these specific questions.
Here we chose not to put any punctuation mark at the end of the statement not to give it away too easily.
However, the specific order of the words can only be used in a question.
You also probably noticed that all three answers HAVE punctuation marks, but this question is specifically about the word ordering.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
JenniferKwiziq community member
I also found this confusing. I chose the wrong answer (“do the dishes”) because I assumed that without a question mark it couldn’t be a question. I understand your explanation but fact that we haven’t covered the imperative yet led me to make the wrong choice because I knew the other two options were wrong.
BethKwiziq community member
the examples in the lesson all have question marks
test should follow that example regardless of "ease"
RobertKwiziq community member
I agree with the others . There should be a question mark or it is reasonable to assume that it should be imperative!
SarahKwiziq community member
I agree, this was confusing, as the sentence would always have a question mark.
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