Questions & question words
A1 Fragen & Fragewörter 12 / 52
In short
German has two question types. A W-question starts with a question word, then the verb in position 2, then the subject (Wo wohnst du?). A yes/no question puts the verb first (Wohnst du hier?) and is answered with ja, nein, or doch.
The rule
1. W-questions (open questions). Word order is: question word - verb (position 2) - subject - rest.
| Fragewort | Verb | Subjekt | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wo | wohnst | du | ? |
| Was | machst | du | heute? |
| Wann | kommt | der Zug | ? |
The verb still keeps position 2, exactly as in a statement - the question word simply fills position 1 (see Lesson 11).
2. Yes/no questions (closed questions). Move the conjugated verb to position 1; the subject follows. Nothing else changes.
| Verb | Subjekt | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Wohnst | du | hier? |
| Hast | du | Zeit? |
| Kommst | du | mit? |
3. Answering. Use ja to confirm and nein to deny. Use doch to contradict a negative question:
- Magst du das nicht? - Doch, ich mag es! (= yes, I do, against your assumption)
- Magst du das? - Ja, ich mag es. (normal positive question)
Forms & patterns
The question words / Die Fragewörter
| Fragewort | English | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|
| wer | who | Wer ist das? |
| was | what | Was kostet das? |
| wo | where (location) | Wo bist du? |
| wohin | where to | Wohin gehst du? |
| woher | where from | Woher kommst du? |
| wann | when | Wann beginnt der Film? |
| wie | how | Wie geht es dir? |
| warum / wieso | why | Warum lachst du? |
| wie viel | how much | Wie viel Geld hast du? |
| wie viele | how many | Wie viele Kinder hast du? |
| welch- | which | Welches Buch liest du? |
| was für (ein) | what kind of | Was für ein Auto ist das? |
wer declines for case (it points to a person):
| Case | Form | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | wer | Wer kommt? |
| Accusative | wen | Wen siehst du? |
| Dative | wem | Wem hilfst du? |
welch- declines like dieser (it agrees with the following noun in gender, number, case):
| maskulin | feminin | neutrum | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | welcher | welche | welches | welche |
| Akkusativ | welchen | welche | welches | welche |
| Dativ | welchem | welcher | welchem | welchen |
Welcher Mann? Welche Frau? Welches Kind? Welche Leute?
was für (ein) - the ein-part declines like the indefinite article for the noun’s case; für here is not a preposition and does not force the accusative:
- Was für ein Hund ist das? (nominative, masc.)
- Was für einen Wagen kaufst du? (accusative, masc.)
- Plural / uncountable: drop ein - Was für Bücher liest du?
Examples
| Deutsch | English |
|---|---|
| Wo wohnst du jetzt? | Where do you live now? |
| Was machst du am Wochenende? | What are you doing on the weekend? |
| Woher kommst du eigentlich? | Where are you from, actually? |
| Wen rufst du an? | Who(m) are you calling? |
| Welches Kleid gefällt dir? | Which dress do you like? |
| Hast du Zeit heute Abend? | Do you have time tonight? |
| Kommst du mit ins Kino? | Are you coming along to the cinema? |
| Magst du keinen Kaffee? - Doch, ich trinke ihn gern! | You don’t like coffee? - Yes, I do, I drink it gladly! |
Common mistakes
- Wo du wohnst? -> Wo wohnst du? - the verb must stay in position 2, before the subject.
- Du hast Zeit? (as a real question) -> Hast du Zeit? - a true yes/no question starts with the verb; subject-first only works as an intonation echo.
- Wer hilfst du? -> Wem hilfst du? - helfen takes the dative, so use wem, not wer.
- Welche Buch? -> Welches Buch? - welch- agrees with the noun; Buch is neuter -> welches.
- Magst du das nicht? - Ja! -> Doch! - after a negative question, confirming the positive needs doch, not ja.
Tips
- All the open question words start with W (the “W-questions”): wer, was, wo, wann, wie, warum…
- Test for a yes/no question: if “yes” or “no” can answer it, the verb goes first.
- Distinguish the three “where”: wo = static location, wohin = direction to, woher = origin (Wo? Wohin? Woher?).
- doch is your “yes, actually!” button - keep it ready whenever someone asks a negative question.