Yes-or-No Questions

Level 1

A yes-or-no question keeps the word order of a statement.

How It Works

Take a statement and say it with a rising voice. In writing, add a question mark. Maria es aicí. becomes Maria es aicí? No helping verb like English "do" is needed: Parlas occitan? means "Do you speak Occitan?"

StatementQuestion
Avètz una sòrre.Avètz una sòrre?
Anam al mercat.Anam al mercat?
Maria es aicí.Maria es aicí?

Answer with òc (yes) or non (no). A short sentence makes the answer clearer: Òc, parli occitan. or Non, parli pas occitan.

Questions with qué, ont or quora ask for information, not for yes or no. A later entry shows Es que...? as another way to start a yes-or-no question.

Examples (4)

  1. Parlas occitan?

    Do you speak Occitan?

    The statement order with a question mark.

  2. Maria es aicí?

    Is Maria here?

    The subject stays before es.

  3. Anam al mercat?

    Are we going to the market?

    A rising voice asks for agreement.

  4. Avètz una sòrre?

    Do you have a sister?

    The verb avètz stays at the start.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Yes-or-No QuestionsLevel 1

Learn This First

A yes-or-no question is a statement said as a question, with òc or non as the answer, so a first verb and the answers come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.