How to make questions in Spanish

To form questions in Spanish, you have to understand the use of the question mark. The question mark in Spanish is called the “signo de interrogación” and it is used at the beginning “¿” and end “?” of all questions in the language. In this article, I will teach you how to form questions in Spanish, the different types of question words, interrogative adverbs, and interrogative pronouns and the rules to ask for specific information. Let’s get started!

How to use the Question Mark in Spanish

One of the unique features of the Spanish language is the use of inverted question marks at the beginning of a question. This punctuation mark is used to signal the reader that a question is coming up. The inverted question mark looks like this: “¿“.

It is important to note that the use of the inverted question mark is mandatory in Spanish and failure to use it can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. The placement of the question mark at the end of a question signals the end of the question and allows the reader to move on to the next sentence.

What are the Question Words in Spanish

If you’re learning Spanish, it’s essential to know how to form questions correctly. In Spanish, there are several ways to ask questions, and it’s essential to understand the rules to communicate effectively. In this section, I’ll go over the different types of question words and how to use them.

Question words, also known as interrogative pronouns, are used to ask for specific information. In Spanish, the most common question words are:

Spanish	English
¿Qué?	What?
¿Quién?	Who?
¿Dónde?	Where?
¿Cuándo?	When?
¿Por qué?	Why?
¿Cómo?	How?
¿Cuál?	Which?
¿Cuánto? (M) / ¿Cuánta? (F)	How much?
¿Cuántos? (M) / ¿Cuántas? (F)	How many?

These words are used at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb and the rest of the sentence.

Interrogative Adverbs

Interrogative adverbs are used to ask for more specific information about the verb in the sentence. In Spanish, the most common interrogative adverbs are:

Spanish	English
¿Cómo?	How?
¿Dónde?	Where?
¿Cuándo?	When?
¿Por qué?	Why?

These words are used after the verb and before the subject.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask for more specific information about a noun in the sentence. In Spanish, the most common interrogative pronouns are:

Spanish	English
¿Quién?	Who?
¿Qué?	What?
¿Cuál?	Which?

These words are used to replace the noun in the sentence.

Spanish Intonation and Punctuation for Questions

Asking questions in Spanish requires not only proper grammar but also correct intonation and punctuation. In this section, I will show you the rules for Spanish intonation and punctuation when forming questions.

In spoken Spanish, intonation plays a crucial role in forming questions. To ask a question, you need to raise your voice at the end of the sentence. This rise in pitch signals to the listener that a question is being asked.

For example, let’s take the sentence “Carlos juega fútbol” which means “Carlos plays football”. To turn this into a question, you would raise your voice at the end and add an imaginary question mark. The resulting question would be “¿Carlos juega fútbol?” which means “Does Carlos play football?”

In written Spanish, questions are indicated by using an upside-down question mark at the beginning of the sentence and a regular question mark at the end. This is different from English, where only a single question mark is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.

For example, the sentence “¿Cómo te llamas?” means “What is your name?” The upside-down question mark at the beginning of the sentence signals to the reader that a question is being asked.

It is important to note that in Spanish, all direct questions must be written with this punctuation. Indirect questions, on the other hand, are not written with this punctuation.

What is the structure of Spanish Questions?

When it comes to asking questions in Spanish, the verb-subject structure is used to form questions that require a yes or no answer. In this structure, the verb comes before the subject. For example:

• Declarative sentence: El libro es interesante. (The book is interesting.)
• Interrogative sentence: ¿Es interesante el libro? (Is the book interesting?)

As you can see, the verb (es) comes before the subject (el libro) in the interrogative sentence.

It’s important to note that question words are used to ask for specific information such as: qué (what), cómo (how), cuándo (when), dónde (where), quién (who), or cuál (which). For example:

• ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)
• ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)
• ¿Cuándo vas a la fiesta? (When are you going to the party?)
• ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
• ¿Quién es tu amigo? (Who is your friend?)
• ¿Cuál es tu película favorita? (What is your favorite movie?)

What are the 3 ways to form a question in Spanish?

Asking questions is a fundamental part of communication in any language. In Spanish, there are three ways to form a question: tag questions, choice questions, and questions with question words.

What are Tag Questions called in Spanish?

Tag questions are called “coletillas interrogativas” in Spanish and they are a type of question that are added to the end of a statement to confirm or deny it. Typically, the statement reflects the questioner’s conviction in the truth and seeks confirmation from the person being questioned. This approach serves to prompt the other person to provide the desired response.

In Spanish, tag questions are formed by adding a tag question phrase such as “¿verdad?” (right?) or “¿no es cierto?” (isn’t it true?), “¿no?” (isn’t it / didn’t it) at the end of a statement. For example:

• “Hace frío hoy, ¿verdad?” (It’s cold today, right?)
• “Ustedes son de México, ¿no es cierto?” (You are from Mexico, isn’t it true?)
• “Tú estás aprendiendo español, ¿no?” (You are learning Spanish, aren’t you?)

Choice Questions

Choice questions are questions that require a choice between two or more options. In Spanish, choice questions are formed by using the word “o” (or) to separate the options. For example:

• “¿Quieres café o té?” (Do you want coffee or tea?)
• “¿Prefieres la playa o la montaña?” (Do you prefer the beach or the mountain?)

How to say I have a question in Spanish

When you want to ask a question in Spanish, it’s important to know how to say “I have a question”. The phrase is “Tengo una pregunta“. For example:

• “Tengo una pregunta. ¿Cómo se dice ‘hello’ en español?” (I have a question. How do you say ‘hello’ in Spanish?)

Questions in Spanish Practise

Exercise for Beginners

Exercise for Intermediate

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In the Spanish for Beginners Course I will teach you how to ask questions and much more! Join me here!

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