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Topic 10A1beginner⏱️ 20 min read

Question Words & Formation

Fragewörter und Fragebildung

🎯 What You'll Learn

✓Learn all essential German question words (Wer, Was, Wo, etc.)
✓Understand how to form yes/no questions
✓Master W-questions with proper word order
✓Practice asking questions in different contexts

📖 Introduction

Asking questions is essential for communication! German has specific question words (Fragewörter) and two types of questions: yes/no questions and W-questions (question word questions).

💡 Explanation

Two types of questions:

1. Yes/No Questions: Start with the verb - Kommst du? (Are you coming?) - Ist das richtig? (Is that correct?)

2. W-Questions: Start with a question word - Wer bist du? (Who are you?) - Was machst du? (What are you doing?)

📋 Key Rules

Essential Question Words

The main German question words you need to know

Examples:

• Wer? - Who?
• Was? - What?
• Wo? - Where?
• Wann? - When?
• Warum? - Why?
• Wie? - How?
• Welche(r/s)? - Which?

Yes/No Question Word Order

Verb comes FIRST, then subject. Invert the normal order.

Examples:

• Du kommst. → Kommst du?
• Das ist gut. → Ist das gut?
• Sie spricht Deutsch. → Spricht sie Deutsch?

W-Question Word Order

Question word + verb + subject + rest

Examples:

• Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
• Was isst du? (What are you eating?)
• Wann kommt der Zug? (When does the train come?)

📝 Examples in Context

🇩🇪 Wer bist du?

🇬🇧 Who are you?

💡 Asking about a person

Context: Wer (who) + verb + subject

🇩🇪 Was machst du?

🇬🇧 What are you doing?

💡 Asking about an action/thing

Context: Was (what) + verb + subject

🇩🇪 Wo wohnst du?

🇬🇧 Where do you live?

💡 Asking about location

Context: Wo (where) + verb + subject

🇩🇪 Kommst du mit?

🇬🇧 Are you coming along?

💡 Yes/no question

Context: Verb first, then subject

🇩🇪 Wie heißt du?

🇬🇧 What's your name?

💡 Literally: How are you called?

Context: Standard way to ask someone's name

🧠 Memory Tips

💡 Most question words start with 'W'

Wer, Was, Wo, Wann, Warum, Wie - they all start with W, just like English question words!

💡 Verb always comes second (or first)

In questions, the verb is either first (yes/no) or second (W-questions). Never third or later!

💡 Practice by converting statements

Take any statement and turn it into a question: 'Du kommst' → 'Kommst du?' or 'Wann kommst du?'

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌

Using English word order

✅

Don't say 'Du kommst?' with rising intonation. Invert to 'Kommst du?' for proper German.

❌

Forgetting to invert subject and verb

✅

'Wo du wohnst?' is wrong. Correct: 'Wo wohnst du?' (verb before subject)

❌

Confusing Wo (where) and Wer (who)

✅

Wo = where (location), Wer = who (person). 'Wo ist das?' = Where is that? 'Wer ist das?' = Who is that?

✏️ Practice Sentences

Woher kommst du?

Where are you from?

📚 Woher (from where) + kommst + du

Warum lernst du Deutsch?

Why are you learning German?

📚 Warum (why) + lernst + du + Deutsch

Wie viel kostet das?

How much does that cost?

📚 Wie viel (how much) + kostet + das

Sprichst du Englisch?

Do you speak English?

📚 Verb first for yes/no question