Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions
Key Words & Phrases
- Quand
- Qui
- Comment
- Combien
- Combien (de)
- Où
- Pourquoi
- Quel/quels/quelle/quels
- Pourquoi vas-tu à Bordeaux ?
- Je vais à Bordeaux parce que c’est une belle ville.
- Je vais à Bordeaux pour aider mon frère à déménager.
- Je vais à Bordeaux pour le beau temps.
Learn
Interrogative adverbs
Asking questions
“why” questions
“pourquoi” and “parce que”
two ways of saying “because”
Dummies: How to ask for specific information with French question words
Grammar Collins Dictionary: Question words
Kwiziq: “pour” + infinitive
French Spanish Online: “Parce que”
Watch
My French Story: How to ask questions (start at 02.40)
Celine’s Easy French: Asking questions (from 03.43)
Lingoni French: Interrogative pronouns
Learn French with Alexa: “where” questions
Learn French with Alexa: “who” questions
Learn French with Alexa: “when” questions
Read
The French Experiment: pronunciation of French question words
French Today: French question words
Lawless French: “pour”
French Language Blog: “parce que”
Practice
People.wku.edu: practice “pourquoi”, “parce que” and “pour”
To Learn French: practice question words
Français Lingolia: practice open and closed questions
Using one of the recommended resources to get writing feedback, respond to the prompt below.
- Your pen pal, Antoine, has sent you a message full of questions – try to answer them as best as you can, and then, write at least five questions with various question words, to send back to Antoine.
Salut !
Comment ça va ? Moi, ça va. Je déménage à Montpellier le mois prochain ! Je suis très content ! Et toi, tu habites où ? Quelle est ta ville préférée ?
Je commence à apprendre l’espagnol pour pouvoir aller en Espagne.
Est-ce que tu étudies d’autres langues ? Pourquoi étudies-tu le français ?
A bientôt !
Antoine
Using one of the platforms for finding a tutor or language exchange partner, practice the speaking activities below.
Partner Speaking Exercise:
- Ask your partner about their favorite shops, when they usually visit these shops, why they go there, what they buy, etc.
- Now, ask your partner questions about traveling: if they like traveling, their favorite country or city, when they usually go traveling, where they stay, what they eat, etc.
Remember: we have only learned the present tense so far, so keep to using the present tense in your questions!
Independent Speaking Exercise:
Imagine you are writing to someone you admire, or a long-lost friend. Write down 5 to 10 questions you would ask them – try to use as many question words as you can.
You can find instructions and a download link in our flashcards module.
Lesson Content
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