A1 Questions & Negation 14 min read Easy

French Questions with Rising Voice (Intonation)

Ask questions effortlessly by using normal sentence structure and raising your voice at the end.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Turn any statement into a question simply by raising your voice at the end of the sentence.

  • Keep the exact word order of a statement: 'Tu aimes le chocolat.'
  • Add a question mark in writing: 'Tu aimes le chocolat ?'
  • Raise your pitch on the final syllable when speaking: 'Tu aimes le chocolat ↗?'
Statement + ↗ (Rising Pitch) = Question

Overview

In French, forming a question often requires no change to the sentence's word order, relying instead on a rising vocal pitch, known as intonation. This method is linguistically efficient and represents the most common way native French speakers ask informal yes/no questions in daily conversation. It mirrors the phenomenon in English where a declarative statement, such as "You're hungry?" can become a question solely through vocal inflection.

For A1 learners, mastering intonation questions provides immediate access to natural, fluent-sounding French without grappling with complex grammatical transformations.

This intuitive approach stems from the inherent flexibility of spoken language. While more formal question structures exist, intonation questions are pivotal for understanding and engaging in spontaneous, everyday dialogue. They are friendly, direct, and pervasive in all informal communication settings, from casual chats to text messages.

Understanding when and how to employ this method is fundamental for integrating effectively into French speaking environments from the outset of your language journey.

How This Grammar Works

French, like many Romance languages, typically features a declarative word order (Subject-Verb-Object). A statement usually concludes with a falling intonation, signaling completion. For instance, Tu parles français (You speak French) ends on a lower pitch.
To transform this statement into a question using intonation, the underlying word order remains identical. The critical change occurs in the prosody of the sentence: the vocal pitch rises noticeably on the final word or syllable.
This rising pitch acts as the sole grammatical marker for the question. Without it, the listener would perceive a declarative statement. Consider the stark difference between Vous travaillez ici (You work here – statement, falling pitch) and Vous travaillez ici ? (Do you work here?
– question, rising pitch). The final syllable ici is pronounced with an upward inflection. This vocal gesture is sufficient to convey interrogation and is universally understood by native speakers.
It's a fundamental aspect of spoken French rhythm, allowing for conversational flow and directness.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of intonation questions is straightforward, requiring no alteration to the standard declarative sentence structure. This makes it an ideal starting point for A1 learners.
2
1. Basic Structure (Affirmative):
3
Start with any standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence. The word order remains precisely as it is for a statement. The question is signaled exclusively by the rising intonation in speech and a question mark in writing.
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| Component | Example | Translation |
5
| :-------- | :------ | :---------- |
6
| Subject | Tu | You |
7
| Verb | aimes | like |
8
| Object | le café | coffee |
9
To form the question: Tu aimes le café ? (Do you like coffee?). In speech, the pitch rises on café.
10
Vous comprenez ? (Do you understand?): The pitch rises on the final syllable of comprenez.
11
Elle est française ? (Is she French?): The pitch rises on française.
12
2. Negation:
13
Intonation questions can also be negated. The negative particles ne...pas (or just pas in very casual spoken French) maintain their usual position around the verb or auxiliary verb. The rising intonation still applies to the final element of the sentence.
14
| Form | Example (Formal) | Example (Informal) | Translation |
15
| :------------- | :---------------------- | :---------------------- | :---------- |
16
| ne + Verb + pas | Tu n'aimes pas le café ? | T'aimes pas le café ? | Don't you like coffee? |
17
Vous ne travaillez pas ici ? (Don't you work here?): The pitch rises on ici.
18
Il n'est pas étudiant ? (Isn't he a student?): The pitch rises on étudiant.
19
In highly informal contexts, particularly among younger speakers, ne is often omitted entirely. Tu viens pas ? (Aren't you coming?) is a very common example, with the intonation rising on pas.
20
3. Pronunciation & Liaison:
21
Pay close attention to the rising pitch on the last stressed syllable. French often emphasizes the final syllable of a word or phrase. When asking an intonation question, this natural stress is amplified upwards. For example, in C'est facile ? (Is it easy?), the pitch ascends on the ci of facile.
22
Also, remember liaison, where a normally silent consonant at the end of a word is pronounced before a word starting with a vowel or silent h. While not directly part of intonation, it contributes to the natural flow of spoken questions:
23
Vous-zêtes étudiant ? (Are you a student?) – the s of vous links with êtes.

When To Use It

Intonation questions are the cornerstone of informal spoken French and are highly prevalent in everyday exchanges. They convey a sense of directness and familiarity, making them suitable for a wide range of casual social contexts.
1. Informal Settings:
Use intonation questions with friends, family, classmates, colleagues you know well, and in relaxed social situations. This is the default question form you'll encounter in casual conversations.
  • Asking a friend about plans: Tu es libre ce soir ? (Are you free tonight?)
  • Confirming details with family: On mange à sept heures ? (Are we eating at seven o'clock?)
  • In a shop or café: Vous avez du pain au chocolat ? (Do you have pain au chocolat?)
2. Confirming Information:
This method is perfect for verifying something you already suspect or need to double-check quickly. It implies a degree of expectation regarding the answer.
  • Seeing a friend with a new bag: C'est nouveau ? (Is it new?)
  • If someone looks tired: Tu es fatigué ? (Are you tired?)
3. Quick Greetings and Check-ins:
Many common French greetings are, in fact, intonation questions based on simple statements.
  • Ça va ? (How are you? / Is it going well?)
  • Tout va bien ? (Is everything alright?)
4. Texting and Instant Messaging:
Due to their brevity and ease of typing (just add a ?), intonation questions are exceptionally common in digital informal communication. They maintain the same direct, casual tone as spoken intonation questions.
  • Tu arrives quand ? (When are you arriving?) – Often used with question words in informal texts.
  • On se voit demain ? (Shall we see each other tomorrow?)
Cultural Insight: The widespread use of intonation questions reflects a certain conversational directness in informal French. It signifies a comfortable relationship between speakers, where explicit politeness markers (est-ce que, inversion) are less necessary.

When Not To Use It

While versatile, intonation questions are inappropriate for certain contexts. Misusing them can lead to being perceived as overly familiar, disrespectful, or lacking in formality, particularly in situations where a more structured or polite form is expected.
1. Formal and Professional Contexts:
Avoid intonation questions in formal settings such as job interviews, business meetings, academic presentations, or when addressing figures of authority (e.g., a professor, a high-ranking official). In these situations, the est-ce que construction or inversion is mandatory to convey politeness and respect.
  • Instead of Vous parlez anglais ? in a job interview, use Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ? or Parlez-vous anglais ?
  • Addressing a stranger in a formal capacity: Vous pouvez m'aider ? might be perceived as abrupt. Prefer Est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?
2. Written Formal Communication:
In formal letters, official emails, or academic papers, always use est-ce que or inversion for questions. Intonation questions, even when written with a question mark, retain their informal nuance and are unsuitable for formal prose.
  • An email to a landlord: do not write Vous avez reçu le loyer ? Write Avez-vous reçu le loyer ? or Est-ce que vous avez reçu le loyer ?
3. When Clarity is Paramount (Sometimes):
While intonation is generally clear, in very complex or potentially ambiguous sentences, est-ce que can sometimes add an extra layer of clarity by explicitly marking the question. However, for A1 level questions, this is rarely an issue.
Cultural Nuance: Over-reliance on intonation questions in all situations, particularly with strangers or in formal interactions, can inadvertently create a perception of rudeness or over-familiarity. French culture places a strong emphasis on appropriate levels of formality and politeness in different social contexts. Always err on the side of using a more formal question structure if you are unsure of the appropriate level of familiarity.

Common Mistakes

Learners, especially at the A1 level, frequently make specific errors when attempting to use intonation questions. Recognizing and correcting these common pitfalls is crucial for effective communication.
1. Insufficient Pitch Rise:
The most common error is not raising the vocal pitch high enough on the final syllable. If the intonation remains flat or falls, the listener will interpret the utterance as a statement, not a question. This can lead to miscommunication or confusion.
  • Incorrect: Tu aimes la musique. (Sounds like: You like music. - statement)
  • Correct: Tu aimes la musique ? (Sounds like: Do you like music? - question, with rising pitch on musique)
2. Combining Intonation with Inversion:
Do not attempt to use both intonation and inversion (Verb-Subject) in the same question. These are two distinct question structures. Using Viens-tu ? (Are you coming?) with a rising intonation on tu is grammatically redundant and sounds unnatural.
  • Incorrect: Viens-tu ? (with exaggerated rising intonation) – The inversion already signals the question.
  • Correct (Intonation): Tu viens ?
  • Correct (Inversion): Viens-tu ?
3. Overuse in Formal Contexts:
As discussed, applying informal intonation questions in formal situations is a significant error in register. It demonstrates a lack of understanding of French social conventions and can be perceived as impolite.
  • Incorrect (Formal): Vous avez l'heure ? (to a stranger you've just met)
  • Correct (Formal): Excusez-moi, est-ce que vous avez l'heure, s'il vous plaît ?
4. Misapplication with Question Words:
While intonation questions can sometimes be used with question words in very casual spoken French (Tu vas où ?), A1 learners should generally stick to est-ce que or inversion for wh- questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) to ensure clarity and proper grammatical structure.
  • Better for A1: Où est-ce que tu vas ? or Où vas-tu ? rather than solely Tu vas où ? to prevent ambiguity and reinforce correct structure.
5. Pronunciation of ne...pas (Dropping ne):
While native speakers often drop ne in informal speech, learners should be aware of this as a stylistic choice. Retaining ne when speaking intonation questions is perfectly correct, but omitting it makes the speech sound more natural and casual.
  • Correct (with ne): Tu ne comprends pas ?
  • Correct (without ne, informal): Tu comprends pas ?

Real Conversations

Intonation questions are ubiquitous in authentic French dialogue. They are the workhorse of spontaneous communication, appearing in diverse contexts from casual banter to practical inquiries. Observing their use in real-life scenarios highlights their versatility and naturalness.

1. Everyday Exchanges:

- At a café: C'est pour manger ici ou à emporter ? (Is it for here or to go?)

- Between friends: On se retrouve devant le cinéma ? (Shall we meet in front of the cinema?)

- Confirming an action: Tu prends le bus ? (Are you taking the bus?)

2. Texting and Instant Messaging:

Given their brevity, intonation questions are perfect for quick digital communication. The question mark ? explicitly marks the query, replacing the need for vocal pitch.

- T'es déjà là ? (Are you already there?)

- Tu peux m'appeler ? (Can you call me?)

- D'accord pour 20h ? (Okay for 8 PM?)

3. Conversational Fillers and Check-ins:

Many common expressions used to maintain conversation or verify understanding are intonation questions.

- Ah oui ? (Oh really?)

- C'est vrai ? (Is that true?)

- Tu vois ? (You see?)

Dialogue Example:

A

A

Salut, ça va ? (Hi, how are you?)
B

B

Oui, ça va. Et toi, tu as passé un bon weekend ? (Yes, I'm good. And you, did you have a good weekend?)
A

A

Oui, super. On va au ciné ce soir ? (Yes, great. Are we going to the cinema tonight?)
B

B

Ah oui, bonne idée ! Quel film tu veux voir ? (Oh yes, good idea! What film do you want to see?)

Notice how A's ça va ? and tu as passé un bon weekend ? are both intonation questions, flowing naturally within the conversation. The phrase On va au ciné ce soir ? is also an intonation question, proposing an activity directly.

Progressive Practice

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Mastering intonation questions involves training both your ear and your voice. Consistent, targeted practice will help you internalize the pattern and use it instinctively.

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1. Active Listening:

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- Listen for the rise: Pay close attention to native speakers in films, podcasts, or conversations. Focus exclusively on the end of their sentences. Can you detect the upward pitch indicating a question? Tu es d'accord ? (Are you in agreement?) – listen for the rise on d'accord.

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- Distinguish statements from questions: Practice identifying whether an utterance is a statement or a question solely based on its intonation, particularly with identical word order.

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2. Repetition and Shadowing:

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- Mimic native speakers: Find short audio clips of intonation questions and repeat them exactly, trying to match the rhythm and pitch. This technique, called shadowing, is highly effective for pronunciation.

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- Record yourself: Use a voice recorder to say simple declarative sentences and then turn them into questions with rising intonation. Listen back and compare to native examples. Does your pitch rise sufficiently and naturally?

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3. Structured Drills:

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- Transform statements: Take a list of simple French statements and practice converting each one into an intonation question.

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- Statement: Il parle anglais. (He speaks English.)

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- Question: Il parle anglais ? (Does he speak English?)

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- Negated questions: Practice forming negative intonation questions, both with and without the explicit ne.

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- Statement: Tu ne veux pas de thé. (You don't want tea.)

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- Question: Tu ne veux pas de thé ? or Tu veux pas de thé ? (Don't you want tea?)

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4. Role-Playing and Conversation:

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- Simple dialogues: Engage in basic role-playing scenarios with a language partner or tutor, focusing on asking and answering questions using intonation. Start with common A1 situations like ordering food, asking for directions, or making introductions.

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- Focus on common phrases: Integrate frequently used intonation questions into your active vocabulary. A table of common questions can be useful:

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| French Question | English Translation |

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| :-------------- | :------------------ |

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| Ça va ? | How are you? |

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| C'est bon ? | Is it good? |

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| Tu es prêt ? | Are you ready? |

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| Vous comprenez ? | Do you understand? |

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| On y va ? | Shall we go? |

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| Il fait beau ? | Is the weather nice? |

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Start with short, simple questions and gradually increase the length and complexity of the sentences you turn into intonation questions.

Quick FAQ

  • Is using intonation questions ever considered rude?
No, it's not inherently rude. It's simply the most informal and direct way to ask a question. It signals comfort and familiarity.
However, using it in a context that demands formality (e.g., speaking to an elder stranger, a boss, or in an official setting) can be perceived as inappropriate or overly familiar, not rude in itself.
  • Can I use intonation with vous (the formal 'you')?
Yes, absolutely. Vous avez faim ? (Are you hungry?) is perfectly natural. The use of vous maintains the formality toward the person, while the intonation makes the question conversational rather than stiffly formal. It is common in service industries, for instance.
  • Does this work for every verb in French?
Yes, it works universally with any verb, in any tense, and with any subject pronoun or noun. There are no exceptions to the declarative word order for this question type. This makes it a very reliable and efficient question structure for learners.
  • What if I forget to raise my voice?
If your voice does not rise at the end, your utterance will be understood as a statement, not a question. The listener might respond as if you have stated a fact, which can lead to confusion or a missed opportunity for clarification. For example, Tu es étudiant will be heard as "You are a student," rather than "Are you a student?"
  • Is this method used in modern French media, like films or TV shows?
Yes, constantly. It is the dominant form of question-asking in casual, natural dialogue in French films, TV series, and everyday conversations. Listening for it is an excellent way to train your ear and confirm its prevalence.
  • Should I avoid intonation questions entirely in written French?
In informal written communication (texts, casual emails to friends), using intonation questions is perfectly fine. For any formal written context (academic work, professional emails, official letters), you must use est-ce que or inversion to maintain an appropriate level of formality.
  • How does this relate to est-ce que and inversion?
Intonation is the most informal. Est-ce que is standard and versatile, suitable for most situations, and explicitly signals a question. Inversion is generally the most formal and elegant, often found in written French or very formal spoken contexts.
As an A1 learner, begin with intonation for casual speech and learn est-ce que for broader applicability, leaving inversion for later as your confidence grows.

3. Formation of Intonation Questions

Statement Question (Intonation) Translation
Tu parles français
Tu parles français ?
Do you speak French?
Il est fatigué
Il est fatigué ?
Is he tired?
Vous avez fini
Vous avez fini ?
Have you finished?
Nous sommes prêts
Nous sommes prêts ?
Are we ready?
Ils aiment ça
Ils aiment ça ?
Do they like that?
Elle vient demain
Elle vient demain ?
Is she coming tomorrow?

Meanings

This is the most common way to ask informal questions in French by using intonation rather than changing word order.

1

Informal Yes/No Question

Asking for confirmation or a yes/no answer in casual settings.

“Tu as faim ?”

“Il est là ?”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Questions with Rising Voice (Intonation)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb + Object
Tu aimes le café.
Question (Intonation)
Subject + Verb + Object + ?
Tu aimes le café ?
Negative
Subject + ne + Verb + pas
Tu n'aimes pas le café.
Negative Question
Subject + ne + Verb + pas + ?
Tu n'aimes pas le café ?
Short Answer (Yes)
Oui + [Statement]
Oui, j'aime le café.
Short Answer (No)
Non + [Negative Statement]
Non, je n'aime pas le café.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Souhaitez-vous venir ?

Souhaitez-vous venir ? (Invitation)

Neutral
Est-ce que vous voulez venir ?

Est-ce que vous voulez venir ? (Invitation)

Informal
Tu veux venir ?

Tu veux venir ? (Invitation)

Slang
Tu viens ?

Tu viens ? (Invitation)

The Question Spectrum

Asking Questions

Informal

  • Intonation Rising pitch

Neutral

  • Est-ce que Standard marker

Formal

  • Inversion Verb-Subject swap
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Examples by Level

1

Tu manges ?

Are you eating?

2

Il est là ?

Is he there?

3

Vous avez faim ?

Are you hungry?

4

C'est fini ?

Is it finished?

1

Tu veux venir avec nous ?

Do you want to come with us?

2

Elle a ton numéro ?

Does she have your number?

3

Vous habitez à Paris ?

Do you live in Paris?

4

On part maintenant ?

Are we leaving now?

1

Tu penses qu'il va pleuvoir ?

Do you think it's going to rain?

2

Vous avez déjà vu ce film ?

Have you already seen this movie?

3

On peut se voir demain ?

Can we meet tomorrow?

4

Tu es sûr de ton choix ?

Are you sure about your choice?

1

Tu ne trouves pas que c'est un peu cher ?

Don't you think it's a bit expensive?

2

Vous seriez prêt à changer d'avis ?

Would you be ready to change your mind?

3

On pourrait essayer une autre approche ?

Could we try another approach?

4

Tu as bien reçu mon message ?

Did you receive my message well?

1

Tu ne penses pas que cette décision est prématurée ?

Don't you think this decision is premature?

2

Vous auriez pu me prévenir plus tôt ?

Could you have warned me earlier?

3

On ne devrait pas reconsidérer notre stratégie ?

Shouldn't we reconsider our strategy?

4

Tu es conscient des enjeux ?

Are you aware of the stakes?

1

Tu ne trouves pas cette perspective quelque peu réductrice ?

Don't you find this perspective somewhat reductive?

2

Vous seriez enclin à accepter ces conditions ?

Would you be inclined to accept these terms?

3

On ne pourrait pas envisager une alternative plus pérenne ?

Couldn't we consider a more sustainable alternative?

4

Tu as saisi la portée de ses propos ?

Did you grasp the significance of his remarks?

Easily Confused

French Questions with Rising Voice (Intonation) vs Est-ce que

Learners mix up the informal intonation with the neutral 'est-ce que'.

French Questions with Rising Voice (Intonation) vs Inversion

Learners think they must invert for all questions.

French Questions with Rising Voice (Intonation) vs Tag Questions

Learners add 'n'est-ce pas' to everything.

Common Mistakes

✗

Aimes-tu le café ?

✓

Tu aimes le café ?

Inversion is too formal for this context.
✗

Tu aimes le café

✓

Tu aimes le café ?

Missing the question mark in writing.
✗

Est-ce que tu aimes le café ?

✓

Tu aimes le café ?

Not a mistake, but 'est-ce que' is unnecessary for simple informal questions.
✗

Tu aimes le café ↘?

✓

Tu aimes le café ↗?

Falling pitch makes it sound like a statement, not a question.
✗

Tu viens ou quoi ?

✓

Tu viens ?

Adding 'ou quoi' is aggressive; keep it simple.
✗

Tu es fatigué, non ?

✓

Tu es fatigué ?

Tag questions are different from simple intonation questions.
✗

Tu as mangé le gâteau ?

✓

Tu as mangé le gâteau ?

Ensure the rise is on the final syllable.
✗

Viens-tu ?

✓

Tu viens ?

Inversion in informal speech sounds stiff.
✗

Est-ce que tu viens, n'est-ce pas ?

✓

Tu viens ?

Redundant structures.
✗

Tu peux venir ?

✓

Tu peux venir ?

Ensure the pitch doesn't drop.
✗

Viens-tu donc ?

✓

Tu viens ?

Archaic or overly formal.
✗

Est-ce que tu ne penses pas que...

✓

Tu ne penses pas que...

Too wordy.
✗

Tu viens, hein ?

✓

Tu viens ?

Overusing 'hein' can sound repetitive.

Sentence Patterns

Tu ___ ___ ?

Vous ___ ___ ?

On ___ ___ ?

Il ___ ___ ?

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Tu viens ?

Cafe very common

Un café, s'il vous plaît ?

Social Media very common

Tu as vu ça ?

Work Break common

Tu as fini ton rapport ?

Travel common

Le train part à quelle heure ?

Food Delivery occasional

C'est pour moi ?

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💡

Listen to the pros

Watch French YouTube videos and listen specifically for the pitch rise at the end of questions.
⚠️

Don't overdo it

If you raise your pitch too much, you might sound sarcastic or surprised.
🎯

Smile while speaking

Smiling naturally raises your pitch and makes you sound more friendly.
💬

Context is key

Only use this with people you know; use 'est-ce que' for strangers.

Smart Tips

Focus on the last word and lift your pitch.

Tu aimes le café. → Tu aimes le café ↗?

Always include the question mark.

Tu viens → Tu viens ?

Don't overthink the grammar; just use the statement order.

Est-ce que tu veux manger ? → Tu veux manger ?

Use 'est-ce que' to be safe.

Tu es prêt ? → Est-ce que vous êtes prêt ?

Pronunciation

Tu aimes le café ↗?

Rising Pitch

The pitch should rise significantly on the last stressed syllable of the sentence.

Yes/No Question

Tu viens ↗?

Signals a request for confirmation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a slide: start at the bottom and slide your voice up to the top at the end.

Visual Association

Imagine a cat jumping up at the end of a sentence. The sentence starts on the floor and ends in the air.

Rhyme

Keep the order, don't be shy, just raise your voice to reach the sky.

Story

Pierre is at a cafe. He wants to know if the coffee is hot. He doesn't want to sound like a textbook, so he looks at the waiter and says 'Le café est chaud ?' with a smile and a rising pitch. The waiter smiles back because he sounds like a local.

Word Web

intonationpitchquestioninformalrisingoral

Challenge

Record yourself asking 5 questions to your mirror using rising intonation. Listen back and ensure the pitch rise is clear.

Cultural Notes

In France, this is the most common way to ask questions among friends. It is seen as friendly and relaxed.

Quebecois French often uses 'tu' as a question marker at the end of sentences, which is a unique regional variation.

In many Francophone African countries, intonation is used similarly to France, but with a slightly different melodic contour.

Rising intonation is a universal human linguistic trait for signaling questions, which French adopted as its primary informal interrogative strategy.

Conversation Starters

“

Tu as faim ?

“

Tu aimes ce film ?

“

Tu es fatigué ?

“

Tu as compris ?

Journal Prompts

Write 5 questions you would ask a friend using only intonation.
Describe your day using 3 statements and 3 questions.
Write a dialogue between two friends at a cafe.
Reflect on a recent conversation; how did you ask for clarification?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Turn this statement into a question: 'Tu aimes le chocolat ___'

Tu aimes le chocolat ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ?
Questions require a question mark.
Which is the correct informal question? Multiple Choice

Which is the correct informal question?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu aimes le chocolat ?
Rising intonation keeps statement order.
Fix the sentence: 'Tu viens.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Tu viens.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu viens ?
Needs a question mark for an intonation question.
Transform into an intonation question: 'Il est content.' Sentence Transformation

Il est content.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est content ?
Keep the order, add the mark.
Complete the dialogue: 'A: Tu as faim ? B: ___' Dialogue Completion

A: Tu as faim ? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Oui, j'ai faim.
Respond to the question asked.
Build a question: 'tu / vouloir / un café' Sentence Building

tu / vouloir / un café

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu veux un café ?
Simple subject-verb-object order.
Sort by formality: 'Tu viens ?', 'Viens-tu ?', 'Est-ce que tu viens ?' Grammar Sorting

Sort by formality

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Informal, Formal, Neutral
Intonation is informal, inversion is formal, est-ce que is neutral.
Match the question to the context. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu viens ? - Friend
Intonation is for friends.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Turn this statement into a question: 'Tu aimes le chocolat ___'

Tu aimes le chocolat ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ?
Questions require a question mark.
Which is the correct informal question? Multiple Choice

Which is the correct informal question?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu aimes le chocolat ?
Rising intonation keeps statement order.
Fix the sentence: 'Tu viens.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Tu viens.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu viens ?
Needs a question mark for an intonation question.
Transform into an intonation question: 'Il est content.' Sentence Transformation

Il est content.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est content ?
Keep the order, add the mark.
Complete the dialogue: 'A: Tu as faim ? B: ___' Dialogue Completion

A: Tu as faim ? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Oui, j'ai faim.
Respond to the question asked.
Build a question: 'tu / vouloir / un café' Sentence Building

tu / vouloir / un café

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu veux un café ?
Simple subject-verb-object order.
Sort by formality: 'Tu viens ?', 'Viens-tu ?', 'Est-ce que tu viens ?' Grammar Sorting

Sort by formality

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Informal, Formal, Neutral
Intonation is informal, inversion is formal, est-ce que is neutral.
Match the question to the context. Match Pairs

Match the question to the context.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu viens ? - Friend
Intonation is for friends.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank for a casual question. Fill in the Blank

Elle ___ (speak) français ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: parle
Which sentence is a question purely through intonation? Multiple Choice

Pick the intonation question:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: On mange ?
Reorder the words to form a casual question. Sentence Reorder

livré / le / est / colis / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le colis est livré ?
Fix the word order for this casual question. Error Correction

Voulez-vous un café ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vous voulez un café ?
Translate 'Do you understand?' using intonation. Translation

Translate: Do you understand? (informal)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu comprends ?
Match the statement to its intonation question counterpart. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu es là. | Tu es là ?
How would you ask 'Is it free?' in a shop? Multiple Choice

Pick the natural casual way:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est gratuit ?
Complete the negative question. Fill in the Blank

Tu ___ viens pas ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ne
Ask 'Is the cat sleeping?' casually. Sentence Reorder

chat / dort / le / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le chat dort ?
Translate 'Are we going?' using 'on'. Translation

Translate: Are we going?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: On y va ?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, but only if it's a casual email to a friend. Avoid it in professional correspondence.

Yes, it works for every verb in French.

It's a grammatical requirement to signal the interrogative nature in writing.

Not at all! It is the most natural way to speak.

It will sound like a statement, which might confuse the listener.

No, 'pourquoi' questions usually have falling intonation.

Very similar, yes.

Only if you have a very close, informal relationship.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Intonation

Spanish allows more word order freedom than French.

German low

Verb-first

German changes word order; French does not.

Japanese low

Particle 'ka'

Japanese uses a particle; French uses pitch.

Arabic moderate

Intonation/Particle

Arabic has specific question particles.

Chinese low

Particle 'ma'

Chinese uses a particle; French uses pitch.

English partial

Do-support

English requires 'do' support; French does not.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Asking Questions with 'Est-ce que'

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