Often in Spanish if we want to ask a yes/no question, we simply raise the intonation of a statement at the end of the sentence, or else we invert the order of the subject and the verb of a sentence.
For example, in the following sentences the question is asked by inverting the subject/verb order or the subject/verb-predicate order:
BUT
Another example:
BUT
In Spanish we need to use the interrogation mark at the beginning of the sentence also; it is inverted:
When we're looking for confirmation to something we believe to be true, we can add ¿no? or ¿verdad? to the end of a statement:
If you want to ask a question that requires more than a yes/no answer, you will likely use one of the following words:
Palabras interrogativas / Question Words | |
¿Qué? | What? |
¿Quién(es)? | Who? |
¿De quién(es)? | Whose? |
¿Para quién(es)? | For whom? |
¿A quién(es)? | To whom? |
¿Cuál(es)? | Which? What? |
¿Dónde? | Where? |
¿Adónde? | To Where? |
¿De dónde? | Where from? |
¿Cuándo? | When? |
¿Cómo? | How? |
¿Cuánto/a? | How much? |
¿Cuántos/as? | How many? |
¿Por qué? | Why? (VERSUS porque - because) |
If you are asking about more than one person or thing, use the plural forms cuáles, quiénes, or cuántos/cuántas.
Remember that all the questions words in Spanish have an accent (tilde).
¿Cuál? is used in the sense of what when it precedes a form of ser in Spanish (except to ask for a definition). For example:
To ask for a definition, use ¿qué? with the verb ser. For example:
Listening |
In the following video you will find a very clear explanation on how to form questions in Spanish.
Aprender español: Cómo hacer preguntas (Tu escuela de español, YouTube)
In the following videos, you will hear more about the differences and different uses of qué and cuál.
Which vs. What: Don't Use Them As in English! (Easy Spanish, YouTube)
¿Qué? vs ¿Cuál? (Señor Jordan, YouTube)
Actividades de conversación |
With a partner, practice turning each statement below into a yes/no question. First raise the intonation of your voice at the end of the sentence to make it sound like a question. Then, practice inverting the order of the subject and the verb. Remember that both of these techniques are used in Spanish to form yes/no questions!
Complete each question with qué, cuál, or cuáles. Then take turns with a partner asking the questions and answering them in complete sentences.
Complete the conversation between Isabel and Gabriel by filling in the correct question words. Then, with a partner, take turns answering the questions using your own information.
Isabel: Buenos días, Gabriel. ¿________ estás?
Gabriel. Estoy bien, gracias. ¿_________ clases tienes hoy?
Isabel: Tengo historia y literatura.
Gabriel: ¿_________ de las clases te gusta más?
Isabel: Me gusta mucho la clase de literatura.
Gabriel: Ah, ¿sí? ¿__________?
Isabel: Porque la profesora es muy simpática.
Gabriel: ¿_________ es la profesora?
Isabel: Es la profesora Martínez.
Gabriel: ¿__________ es la clase?
Isabel: Es en McKnight.
Gabriel: Y los martes, ¿_________ clases tienes? ¿Tres?
Isabel: Los martes tengo dos clases también: biología y español.
Gabriel: Yo también tengo español los martes. ¿Es tu clase a las 2:00?
Isabel: ¡Sí! Nos vemos en clase…
Move around in the class and find students in your class that say yes to the following questions. Write their names and share the answers with the class.
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