There are two main types of questions :yes /no questions ,to which it is possible to answer simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Aimez-vous la musique pop? Oui
Do you like pop music? Yes.
Est-ce que tu as fait tes devoirs? Non
Have you done your homework? No
and Information questions ,to which it is impossible to answer simply ’yes’ or ’no’, but which require a piece of information in response:
Quand partira Lola? Demain. | When will Lola leave ?Tomorrow.
Qui a-t-il rencontré? Chioma. | Who did he meet?Chioma.
Information questions involve the use of a question word or phrase like qui, que, quand, comment,où,pourquoi,pour quelle raison,avec quel ami,de quoi, and so on.
Yes /no Questions
Questions formation – Yes/no questions
There are three ways in which yes/no questions can be asked in French. Each is characteristic of a particular style of French ,ranging from the informal to the formal.
Yes/no questions formed with rising intonation.
Tu as quelque chose à dire? – Do you have anything to say?
Elle va rester ici? – Is she going to stay here?
Pierre est venu? – Has pierre come?
Je peux mettre mes photos au mur? – Can l put my photos on the wall?
This kind of yes/no question is very common in informal spoken French, but less common in more formal spoken French and not normally used in written French (unless direct speeh is being recorded ,or an informal style is being imitated.
Yes/no questions formed with est-ce que
Yes/no questions may also be formed by placing the question formula est-ce que at the beginning of a declarative sentence:
Est-ce que tu as quelque à dire ? – Do you have anything to say.
Est-ce qu’elle va rester ici? – Is she going to stay here?
Est-ce que Tobi est venu ?- Has Tobi come?
Yes/no questions formed with est-ce que can be used in all styles of French ,informal and formal ,spoken and written.
Yes/no questions formed by inverting the verb and subject.
Es-tu content?
Are you happy?
Est-ce le facteur ?
Is it the postman?
Avez-vous bien compris?
Have you really understood?
