Questions are slightly different in German but like in English there are different ways of asking the same question.
Interrogatives
When asking a question remember to keep the verb as the second idea in your sentence. Visit the Verb second Revision Bite to learn more.
In some cases this is the case in English but not always – look at the word-for-word English versions.
- Der Film beginnt but Wann beginnt der Film? When begins the film?
- Ich muß warten but Warum muß ich warten? Why must I wait?
- Das Schloss ist (hier) but Wo ist das Schloss? Where is the castle?
Useful vocabulary: interrogatives
| Interrogative | Translation |
|---|---|
| was | What |
| welch-er, -e, -es | Which |
| warum | Why |
| wo | Where |
| woher | Where from |
| wohin | Where to |
| wie | How |
| wie alt | How old |
| wie lange | How long |
| wie oft | How often |
| wieviel/wie viele | How much/many |
| wann | When |
| um wieviel Uhr | At what time |
| wer | Who |
| wen | Whom |
| wessen | Whose |
Asking questions without interrogatives
You can ask a question without an interrogative by placing the verb at the front.
Avoid interrogatives by placing verb at the front
| Verb in use | Verb at front | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Du kannst tanzen | Kannst du tanzen? | Can you dance? |
| Sie ist deine Freundin | Ist sie deine Freundin? | Is she your girlfriend? |
| Du hast einen Kuli | Hast du einen Kuli? | Have you a pen? |
| Er besucht seine Oma | Besucht er seine Oma? | Does he visit his granny? (Visits he his granny?) |
| Du gehst schwimmen | Gehst du schwimmen? | Do you go swimming? (Go you swimming?) |
Common mistakes made by English speakers
- Mixing up wo (where) and wer (who).
- Making questions with an over-complicated structure (like English).