Poser des Questions — the 3 ways to ask in French | French Grammar
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the 3 ways to ask — from casual to formal. This guide explains Poser des Questions in French with clear rules, real examples and practice for every CEFR level. For instance: « phrase + ton montant ↗ » — Tu viens ?.
Poser des Questions
the 3 ways to ask — from casual to formal
1. Les 3 façons (question oui / non) (same question, 3 registers)
| Registre | Structure | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Intonation | phrase + ton montant ↗ | Tu viens ? |
| Est-ce que | est-ce que + phrase | Est-ce que tu viens ? |
| Inversion | verbe-sujet | Viens-tu ? |
2. Avec un mot interrogatif
| Intonation (oral) | Est-ce que (neutre) | Inversion (formel) |
|---|---|---|
| Tu vas où ? | Où est-ce que tu vas ? | Où vas-tu ? |
| Il fait quoi ? | Qu’est-ce qu’il fait ? | Que fait-il ? |
| C’est quand ? | Quand est-ce que c’est ? | Quand est-ce ? |
3. Le -t- de l’inversion (euphonic t)
| Problème | Solution | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| 2 voyelles qui se suivent | on ajoute -t- | A-t-il fini ? |
| il / elle / on + voyelle | -t- entre tirets | Mange-t-elle ? |
| Va- | t-il ? | (aller → va-t-il) |
💡 Comment choisir
Est-ce que is your SAFE default — always correct, neutral, works with any question word. Learn it first!
In everyday speech, intonation is king: « Tu as faim ? » — just raise your voice at the end.
Inversion is more formal/written; add a -t- when the verb ends in a vowel and the subject starts with one: « Aime-t-il ? »
The question words: qui, que/quoi, quand, où, pourquoi, comment, combien, quel(le) — put them at the front.
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🔊 Example sentences
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safe all-purpose question opener = ___ (neutral register)
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est-ce que
Where do you go? (inversion) = Où ___-tu ? (verb-subject)
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vas
Has he finished? = A-___-il fini ? (euphonic t)
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t
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🎯 More practice — translation — put it into French
Translate into French: « Do you speak French? » (translation)
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Est-ce que tu parles français ?
Translate into French: « Where do you live? » (translation)
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Où est-ce que vous habitez ?
Translate into French: « How are you? » (translation)
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Comment vas-tu ?
Go further: Mots interrogatifs — qui, que, quand, où, pourquoi.
Poser des Questions in French — FAQ
How do you use Poser des Questions in French?
the 3 ways to ask — from casual to formal. Follow the rules and patterns in the lesson above, and practise with real sentences like « phrase + ton montant ↗ » (Tu viens ?).
Can you give an example of Poser des Questions in French?
Yes — « phrase + ton montant ↗ » means « Tu viens ? », and « est-ce que + phrase » means « Est-ce que tu viens ? ». The lesson above has many more examples with explanations.
What CEFR level is Poser des Questions?
This topic is introduced around A2 and refined at higher levels — pick your level from the links at the top of the page. You can also drill it with the interactive exercises and games below.
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🎬 The 20-second version
4 quick questions on « Poser des Questions » — guess before the reveal. Practise with the free games → Open this short as a page — transcript included →
🎬 All seven CEFR levels, end to end
Poser des questions from A1 to native — the rule, a real sentence and the native astuce at every CEFR level. Practise « poser des questions » with the free game →