questions

Total Questions in French (Yes/No Questions)

In French, "total questions" are those that ask for a simple yes or no answer. There are three main ways to structure these questions, ranging from casual to formal.

1. Intonation (Informal)

This is the simplest way to ask a question. You keep the sentence in its normal affirmative order (Subject + Verb) and simply raise the pitch of your voice at the end.

• Vous savez conduire ? (Do you know how to drive?)
• Tu as compris ce que j’ai dit ? (Did you understand what I said?)

To answer, you can use oui (yes) or non (no), or add emphasis with adverbs like tout à fait (absolutely) or absolument (definitely). If the answer is negative but nuanced, you might say non, pas très bien (no, not very well).

2. Est-ce que (Neutral/Standard)

This is the most common way to ask a question in daily life. You place the phrase est-ce que (literally "is it that") at the beginning of an affirmative sentence. The word order does not change. Note that est-ce que becomes est-ce qu’ before a vowel.

• Est-ce que vous savez conduire ? (Do you know how to drive?)
• Est-ce qu’on peut entrer ? (Can we come in?)

Important: Est-ce que always appears at the start of the question, never at the end.

3. Subject–Verb Inversion (Formal/Written)

In formal speech or literature, the subject pronoun and the verb are swapped. They are always linked by a hyphen.

• Avez-vous lu le dernier article ? (Have you read the latest article?)
• Peut-on tolérer la violence ? (Can we tolerate violence?)

Special Rules for Inversion:

• The -t- insertion: If the verb ends in a vowel and the subject is il, elle, or on, we insert -t- between them for easier pronunciation.
  • Y a-t-il quelqu’un ? (Is there someone?)
  • Quand arrive-t-elle ? (When is she arriving?)
• Noun Subjects: If the subject is a noun (not a pronoun), the noun stays at the beginning, and you add a matching pronoun after the verb for the inversion.
  • Cette table est-elle à vendre ? (Is this table for sale?)
  • Le directeur accepte-t-il le projet ? (Does the director accept the project?)
• Special Forms: Some verbs change form. For example, Je peux becomes Puis-je ? (Can I?).

The "Si" Rule (Interro-negative Questions)

When someone asks a negative question, the word for "yes" changes from oui to si. This is used to contradict the negative expectation.

• Vous n’avez pas d’enfants ? — Si, j’en ai deux. (You don't have children? — Yes, I have two.)
• Tu ne viens pas déjeuner ? — Si, j’arrive. (Aren't you coming to lunch? — Yes, I'm coming.)

Compare this to a positive question: Tu viens déjeuner ? — Oui, j’arrive. (Are you coming to lunch? — Yes, I'm coming.)