Questions with statement word order
In spoken French, you can ask a question using the exact same word order as a statement (Subject + Verb + Object). The only difference is that your voice must rise sharply on the final syllable.
How It Works
This is the most common way to ask questions in everyday, informal French. It is simple because it often requires no changes to the sentence structure.
1. Yes/No Questions:
For questions that can be answered with 'yes' or 'no', the structure is 100% identical to a declarative statement. The only difference is the intonation montante (rising intonation), where your pitch goes up significantly on the last word.
2. Information Questions:
When asking 'who', 'what', or 'where' informally, the question word often moves to the end of the sentence:
- Tu vas où ? (Where are you going?)
- C'est quoi ? (What is it?)
3. Important Exceptions:
- The Que to Quoi Rule: If you move the word 'que' (what) to the end, it must change to 'quoi'. You cannot say 'Tu fais que?'.
- Pourquoi: The word 'pourquoi' (why) is an exception; it almost always stays at the beginning of the sentence (Pourquoi tu ris ?).
- Qui as Subject: When 'qui' (who) is the subject of the verb, it must remain at the beginning.
4. When to use it:
Use this with friends and family. It is the 'default' for casual conversation but should be avoided in formal writing or professional situations where inversion or est-ce que are preferred.
Examples (6)
- Tu viens avec nous ?
Are you coming with us?
Word by Word: You come with us?
A simple yes/no question using the same order as a statement but with a rising tone.
- Vous avez déjà mangé ?
Have you already eaten?
Word by Word: You have already eaten?
This uses the passé composé in statement order to ask a question.
- Tu fais quoi ?
What are you doing?
Word by Word: You do what?
When 'que' (what) moves to the end, it must change to 'quoi'.
- Pourquoi tu pars ?
Why are you leaving?
Word by Word: Why you leave?
Unlike other question words, 'pourquoi' almost always stays at the beginning.
- Qui est là ?
Who is there?
Word by Word: Who is there?
When 'qui' is the subject of the sentence, it stays at the beginning.
- C'est prêt ?
Is it ready?
Word by Word: It is ready?
A very common short question using statement word order.
Common Mistakes
Using 'que' at the end of the sentence.
Tu fais que ?Tu fais quoi ?In this informal word order, the word for 'what' must change from 'que' to 'quoi' when it is placed at the end.
Moving 'pourquoi' to the end of the sentence.
Tu pars pourquoi ?Pourquoi tu pars ?While most question words can move to the end in casual French, 'pourquoi' (why) is an exception and usually stays at the start.
Using this pattern in formal writing.
Vous pouvez m'aider ?Est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider ?In a formal letter or professional email, statement word order is considered too casual. Use est-ce que or inversion instead.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To ask a question using rising intonation, you first need to know how to build a basic statement in French. This requires an understanding of standard word order (Subject-Verb-Object), how to use subject pronouns, and how to conjugate basic verbs in the present tense.
Related Patterns
- est-ce queYes-no Questions with Est-ce Que
The neutral alternative to rising intonation, used in both spoken and written French.
Level 1 - Questions formed by inversion
The formal counterpart to rising intonation questions.
Level 1 - Subject-verb-object order
This pattern relies on the standard subject-verb-object order used in declarative sentences.
Level 1 - n'est-ce pasTag Question with N'est-ce Pas
Another way to turn a statement into a question by adding a tag at the end.
Level 1 - où (interrogatif)Where with Ou
Often used at the end of a sentence in this informal question pattern.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Questions with statement word order in Bubblegum
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