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Interrogatives


When asking a question in French, either an inversion (subject follows verb) or the form est-ce que (with no inversion) are used.

The invariable interrogative pronouns are qui, que, quoi ('short forms') or qui est-ce qui, qui est-ce que, qu'est-ce qui, qu'est-ce que ('long forms').

With the short forms, the choice of qui or que depends on whether the anticipated answer is a person (qui) or a thing (que).

In the long forms, the first qui/que is the interrogative pronoun determined by the choice of person/thing; the second qui/que is a relative pronoun determined by its grammatical function in the clause (subject or object).

The interrogative adjectives quel, quelle, quels, quelles qualify nouns and agree accordingly.

The interrogative pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles and their contracted forms auquel etc... duquel etc... replace nouns and agree accordingly.

In this exercise, fill in the blanks using the appropriate interrogative form (pronoun or adjective). For the invariable pronouns, always pay attention to the verb: when it is inverted (i.e. the subject follows the verb), the short form is used; when it is not inverted, the long form is used.

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Grammatical Notes


Ex. #1 - Vocab.?

cherches-tu? --Le bonheur.

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  • Ex. #2 - Vocab.?

    est-ce que tu ne peux pas vivre? --Sans amour.

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  • Ex. #3 - Vocab.?

    voudrait venir avec moi?

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  • 2 valid answers. Can you find them all?

  • Ex. #4 - Vocab.?

    fleurs vas-tu lui acheter?

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  • Ex. #5 - Vocab.?

    tu veux faire ce soir?

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  • Ex. #6 - Vocab.?

    il aimerait séduire? Julie ou Marie?

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  • Ex. #7 - Vocab.?

    De toute les pièces de Shakespeare, te semble la plus belle?

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  • Ex. #8 - Vocab.?

    habites-tu? Ta famille ou des amis?

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  • Ex. #9 - Vocab.?

    j'ai fait pour que tu sois si fâché?

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  • Ex. #10 - Vocab.?

    tu téléphones tous les jours?

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  • 1 valid answers

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    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing (short form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 1

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing (short form).


    When the anticipated answer is a thing, que is used. (eg: Que vois-tu? [Un arbre.]) Notice that the verb is inverted.

    Back to Ex. 1

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing (short form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 1

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    With a preposition, the preposition plus qui est-ce que is used for a person; the preposition plus quoi est-ce que is used for things. (eg: A qui est-ce que tu penses? [A mon ami]./A quoi est-ce que tu penses? [A mon travail]). Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Back to Ex. 2

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 2

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 2

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


    Plausible choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person (short form).


    When the anticipated answer is a person, qui is used (eg: Qui est là? [Mon frère.]) The verb is not inverted because the subject is precisely the point of the question. In this case, qui est-ce qui is used interchangeably with qui.

    Back to Ex. 3

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person (short form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 3

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    One plausible choice. Check other possibilities!


    Plausible choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person (short form).


    When the anticipated answer is a person, qui is used (eg: Qui est là? [Mon frère.]) The verb is not inverted because the subject is precisely the point of the question. In this case, qui est-ce qui is used interchangeably with qui.

    Back to Ex. 3

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative adjective (qualifies a noun).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 4

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative adjective (qualifies a noun).


    The interrogative adjectives quel, quelles etc... agree with the noun they qualify. (eg: Quelles chaussures vas-tu mettre/ est-ce que tu vas mettre ce soir? )

    Back to Ex. 4

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative adjective (qualifies a noun).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 4

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    When the anticipated answer is a thing, the long form qu'est-ce que can be used when it is the object of the sentence (eg: Qu'est-ce que tu aimes? [Le caviar]). Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Back to Ex. 5

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 5

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 5

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 6

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 6

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    When the anticipated answer is a person, the long form qui est-ce que can be used used when it is the object of the sentence (eg: Qui est-ce que tu aimes? [Ma mère.]) Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Back to Ex. 6

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun (replaces a noun).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 7

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun (replaces a noun).


    The interrogative pronouns lequel, laquelle etc... agree with the noun they replace. (eg: De toutes tes amies, laquelle est la plus gentille? )

    Back to Ex. 7

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun (replaces a noun).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 7

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (short form).


    With a preposition, the preposition plus qui is used for people whereas the preposition plus quoi is used for things. (eg: Avec qui manges-tu? [Avec mon ami.] /Avec quoi manges-tu? [Avec une fourchette.]) Notice that the verb is inverted.

    Back to Ex. 8

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (short form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 8

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (short form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 8

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 9

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 9

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    When the anticipated answer is a thing, the long form qu'est-ce que can be used when it is the object of the sentence (eg: Qu'est-ce que tu aimes? [Le caviar]). Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Back to Ex. 9

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 10

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Not a valid choice.


    Improper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    Try again.

    Explanations?

    Back to Ex. 10

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Correct!


    Proper choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    With a preposition, the preposition plus qui est-ce que is used for a person; the preposition plus quoi est-ce que is used for things. (eg: A qui est-ce que tu penses? [A mon ami]./A quoi est-ce que tu penses? [A mon travail]). Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Back to Ex. 10

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Grammatical notes for the exercises in this page.


    When asking a question in French, either an inversion (subject follows verb) or the form est-ce que (with no inversion) are used.

    The invariable interrogative pronouns are qui, que, quoi ('short forms') or qui est-ce qui, qui est-ce que, qu'est-ce qui, qu'est-ce que ('long forms').

    With the short forms, the choice of qui or que depends on whether the anticipated answer is a person (qui) or a thing (que).

    In the long forms, the first qui/que is the interrogative pronoun determined by the choice of person/thing; the second qui/que is a relative pronoun determined by its grammatical function in the clause (subject or object).

    The interrogative adjectives quel, quelle, quels, quelles qualify nouns and agree accordingly.

    The interrogative pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles and their contracted forms auquel etc... duquel etc... replace nouns and agree accordingly.

    In this exercise, fill in the blanks using the appropriate interrogative form (pronoun or adjective). For the invariable pronouns, always pay attention to the verb: when it is inverted (i.e. the subject follows the verb), the short form is used; when it is not inverted, the long form is used.

    The items covered are:


    1)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person (short form).


    When the anticipated answer is a person, qui is used (eg: Qui est là? [Mon frère.]) The verb is not inverted because the subject is precisely the point of the question. In this case, qui est-ce qui is used interchangeably with qui.

    Ex. 3


    2)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing (short form).


    When the anticipated answer is a thing, que is used. (eg: Que vois-tu? [Un arbre.]) Notice that the verb is inverted.

    Ex. 1


    3)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (short form).


    With a preposition, the preposition plus qui is used for people whereas the preposition plus quoi is used for things. (eg: Avec qui manges-tu? [Avec mon ami.] /Avec quoi manges-tu? [Avec une fourchette.]) Notice that the verb is inverted.

    Ex. 8


    4)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun with a person that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    When the anticipated answer is a person, the long form qui est-ce que can be used used when it is the object of the sentence (eg: Qui est-ce que tu aimes? [Ma mère.]) Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Ex. 6


    5)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun with a thing that is the direct object of the clause (long form).


    When the anticipated answer is a thing, the long form qu'est-ce que can be used when it is the object of the sentence (eg: Qu'est-ce que tu aimes? [Le caviar]). Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Ex. 5 Ex. 9


    6)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun with a preposition (long form).


    With a preposition, the preposition plus qui est-ce que is used for a person; the preposition plus quoi est-ce que is used for things. (eg: A qui est-ce que tu penses? [A mon ami]./A quoi est-ce que tu penses? [A mon travail]). Notice that the verb is not inverted.

    Ex. 2 Ex. 10


    7)- The choice of the interrogative adjective (qualifies a noun).


    The interrogative adjectives quel, quelles etc... agree with the noun they qualify. (eg: Quelles chaussures vas-tu mettre/ est-ce que tu vas mettre ce soir? )

    Ex. 4


    8)- The choice of the interrogative pronoun (replaces a noun).


    The interrogative pronouns lequel, laquelle etc... agree with the noun they replace. (eg: De toutes tes amies, laquelle est la plus gentille? )

    Ex. 7

    Back to Ex. 1

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    Vocabulary for Ex. #7 - Back to Exercise?


    Vocabulary for Ex. #8 - Back to Exercise?


    Vocabulary for Ex. #9 - Back to Exercise?


    Vocabulary for Ex. #10 - Back to Exercise?