4.3.9

Asking Questions

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Question Words

There are 12 key question words in Spanish. Here are six of them:

Illustrative background for ¿(A)dónde? - whereIllustrative background for ¿(A)dónde? - where ?? "content

¿(A)dónde? - where

  • '¿Dónde?' is used to refer to position and to going towards somewhere.
    • ¿Dónde vamos?
      • Where are we going?
    • ¿Dónde está el restaurante?
      • Where is the restaurant?
  • '¿Adónde?' is only used in the sense of going towards a place, similar to 'where to' in English.
    • ¿Adónde irás la semana que viene?
      • Where are you going next week?
Illustrative background for ¿Cómo? - how, whatIllustrative background for ¿Cómo? - how, what ?? "content

¿Cómo? - how, what

  • '¿Cómo?' is used to ask how something happens as well as to ask about someone's characteristics.
    • ¿Cómo funciona la aspiradora?
      • How does the hoover work?
    • ¿Cómo es su novia?
      • What is your girlfriend like?
Illustrative background for ¿Cuál(es)? - whichIllustrative background for ¿Cuál(es)? - which ?? "content

¿Cuál(es)? - which

  • '¿Cuál(es)?' is used to refer to people or objects.
    • ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono?
      • What is your telephone number?
  • '¿Cuál(es)?' is also used when asking about options between two specific nouns.
    • ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre el primer ministro y el rey?
      • What is the difference between the prime minister and the king?
Illustrative background for ¿Cuándo? - whenIllustrative background for ¿Cuándo? - when ?? "content

¿Cuándo? - when

  • ¿Cuándo llega el autobus?
    • When does the bus arrive?
  • ¿Cuándo es el examen?
    • When is the exam?
Illustrative background for ¿Cuánto(os,as)? - how muchIllustrative background for ¿Cuánto(os,as)? - how much ?? "content

¿Cuánto(os,as)? - how much

  • '¿Cuánto?' can be used as a pronoun or an adjective.
  • When 'cuánto' is used as an adjective, it agrees with the gender and person of the noun.
    • ¿Cuánto dinero cuesta la camiseta?
      • How much money does this t-shirt cost?
    • ¿Cuántas personas vienen hoy?
      • How many people are coming today?

Question Words 2

Here are the six other questions words:

Illustrative background for ¿De quién? - whoseIllustrative background for ¿De quién? - whose ?? "content

¿De quién? - whose

  • '¿De quién?' is the word 'quién' used with a proposition.
  • When used with a preposition the meaning slightly changes.
    • ¿De quién es el coche rojo?
      • Whose is the red car?
Illustrative background for ¿De dónde? - where fromIllustrative background for ¿De dónde? - where from ?? "content

¿De dónde? - where from

  • '¿De dónde?' is the word 'dónde' used with a proposition.
    • ¿De dónde eres?
      • Where are you from?
Illustrative background for ¿Por dónde? - through whereIllustrative background for ¿Por dónde? - through where ?? "content

¿Por dónde? - through where

  • '¿Por dónde?' is the word 'dónde' used with a preposition.
    • ¿Por dónde empezamos?
      • Where do we start?
Illustrative background for ¿Por qué? - whyIllustrative background for ¿Por qué? - why ?? "content

¿Por qué? - why

  • 'Por qué' is the main way of asking 'why' in Spanish.
    • ¿Por qué han comprado un gato?
      • Why have they bought a cat?
Illustrative background for ¿Qué? - whatIllustrative background for ¿Qué? - what ?? "content

¿Qué? - what

  • When used as a pronoun 'qué' refers to unknown nouns.
    • ¿Qué hay detrás de la puerta?
      • What is there behind the door?
  • When used as an adjective 'qué' can refer to people well as things.
    • ¿Qué significa 'decir'?
      • What does 'decir' mean?
Illustrative background for ¿Quién? - whoIllustrative background for ¿Quién? - who ?? "content

¿Quién? - who

  • 'Quién', 'quiénes' when plural, can only refer to people.
    • ¿Quién es tu professor?
      • Who is your teacher?
  • 'Quién' can be used with propositions.
    • ¿A quién no conozco?
      • Who don't I know?

Jump to other topics

1The Basics

2Current & Future Study & Employment

3Identity & Culture

3.1Me, My Family & Friends

3.2Me, My Family & Friends - Translations

3.3Technology in Everyday Life

3.4Technology in Everyday Life - Translations

3.5Free Time Activities

3.6Free Time Activities - Translations

3.7Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.8Customs & Festivals - Translations

4Areas of Interest

4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Translations

4.3Social Issues

4.4Social Issues - Translations

4.5Global Issues

4.6Global Issues - Translations

4.7Travel & Tourism

4.8Travel & Tourism - Translations

5Listening Practice

6Common Tenses

7Important Verbs

8Advanced Tenses

9Extra Grammar

9.1Articles

9.2Negatives

9.3Nouns

9.4Asking Questions

9.5Adjectives

9.6Adverbs

9.7Conjunctions

9.8Pronouns

9.9By, With, From, Of

9.10Verbs

9.11Comparisons

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