Asking for Information with Partial Interrogatives

Common Partial Interrogative Words

French English Example
Où Where Où habites-tu ? (Where do you live?)
Structure of Partial Questions

[Question word] + [verb] + [subject] + ... ?

Examples:

  • Où vas-tu ? (Where are you going?)
  • Quand commence le cours ? (When does the class start?)
  • Pourquoi ris-tu ? (Why are you laughing?)
Special Cases

Qui - Can be subject or object:

  • Qui parle ? (Who is speaking?) - Subject
  • À qui parles-tu ? (Who are you talking to?) - Object

Que/Quoi - Position changes:

  • Que fais-tu ? (What are you doing?)
  • Tu fais quoi ? (What are you doing? - informal)

Exercises

1. Complete the questions

2. Transform statements into questions

3. Translate to French

4. Practice: Write Your Own Questions

Write 4-6 sentences using different interrogative words. Try to ask questions about someone's daily routine, preferences, or plans.