Questions and negative sentences

Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Read along, then try each line aloud.

Turn a statement into a question

In conversation, a question can use statement order with a rising voice: tu travailles demain ? Est-ce que provides another useful pattern: est-ce que tu travailles demain ?

Before a vowel sound, que becomes qu’: est-ce qu’elle travaille ? The phrase est-ce que introduces the question but does not change the main verb ending.

Put ne and pas around the verb

The standard written negative places ne before the conjugated verb and pas after it: je ne travaille pas. Ne becomes n’ before a vowel sound: je n’aime pas.

In everyday speech, people often omit ne. Learn to recognize je sais pas, but use the complete ne… pas pattern in these writing exercises. Keep the subject: je ne travaille pas, not ne travaille pas alone.

Ask for specific information

Où asks where, quand asks when, comment asks how, and pourquoi asks why. Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? is a common what question. Learn that phrase as a whole before analyzing every word.

Parce que introduces a reason. A short question and answer can form a useful exchange: pourquoi ? Parce que je travaille. Give one reason and let the conversation continue.

Lesson vocabulary

Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the French before looking.

Practice questions

Try every question, then check your answers. Capital letters and punctuation do not affect your score. Accents and ç do matter.

Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.

Independent practice

These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.