Look at these questions:
A way to ask What [...]? in French is to use the expression Qu'est-ce que [...] ? followed by your statement in the normal order.
Note also that you use qu'est-ce que if it appears at the start but quoi at the end.
What?
To simply ask What? on its own, using Quoi ?, though correct, is actually considered a bit abrupt and rude. Instead,we consider it more polite to use Comment ?:
ATTENTION:
While qu'est-ce que means what ..., est-ce que introduces a YES or NO question (is it that...).
See Asking yes/no questions with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas
See Asking yes/no questions with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas
Que can be used at the start, but the statement will then be inverted (it's a more formal way of asking questions).
See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent (except il, elle, on forms)
See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent (except il, elle, on forms)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A
Ron
Kwiziq community member
4/10/17
Bonjour Patricia,
I am unable to locate the question in the kwiz that you are referring to; however, it is very possible that there is an incorrect question I know the team is quite appreciative to you for pointing this out as it helps them tremendously.
In the meantime, here are a couple of locutions with their respective translations:
qu'est-ce que --> that is what
qu'est-ce qui --> that is what
qui est-ce qui --> who is who
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
Chris
Kwiziq community member
17/10/17
"Qu'est-ce que s'est passé?" -- What happend.
"Qui est-ce que tu as rencontré" -- Whom did you meet?
Que = what. The final "e" gets nixed when followed by the "e" of "est".
Qui = who. The final "i" is impervious to the vowel that succeeds it.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Ron
Kwiziq community member
17/08/17
Bonjour Romni,
If possible, could you be more precise in your question.
Bonne chance
Cameron
Kwiziq community member
28 January 2017
2 replies
How to ask what?
I was taught that to ask 'what' when you didn't understand what was just said, you would say, 'comment?' Is this correct or should I say 'quoi?' instead?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
3/02/17
Bonjour Cameron !
This is indeed considered as more polite to use "Comment ?" rather than the blunter "Quoi ?" when asking "what?" in French.
However, this only applies to asking "What?", and in any other more developed questions, "comment" reverts to its actual meaning of "how".
I hope it's helpful!
À bientôt !
Ann
Kwiziq community member
7/01/18
I've been told both work.
Rob
Kwiziq community member
3 June 2018
2 replies
There is a typographical error in this lesson.
"Instead, we'll consider more polite to use "Comment ?":"Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
4 June 2018
4/06/18
Hi Rob,
What's the typo in that sentence ?
Sarah
Kwiziq community member
22 August 2018
22/08/18