es que
Questions with Es Que
Es que can open a yes-or-no question.
How It Works
Es que marks a yes-or-no question. Take the statement and put es que in front of it.
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| Parlas occitan. | Es que parlas occitan? |
| Maria ven. | Es que Maria ven? |
| Sètz a l'ostal. | Es que sètz a l'ostal? |
The verb keeps its ending, and a named subject stays in front of the verb. English adds do or does, and Occitan adds nothing.
You do not need es que every time. A statement with a rising voice and a question mark is also a question: Parlas occitan? Both ways are correct. Do not write es que with a hyphen, and do not move the verb before the subject.
Examples (4)
- Es que parlas occitan?
Do you speak Occitan?
Es que opens the question.
- Es que Maria ven?
Is Maria coming?
The named subject stays before the verb.
- Es que sètz a l'ostal?
Are you at home?
The polite vos form stays sètz.
- Es que fa fred?
Is it cold?
Es que works with a weather verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Es que is another way to open a yes-or-no question, so the yes-or-no question comes first.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.