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)
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