How to Ask a Question
Spanish: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 11.4.1
Asking Questions Without Question Words
Asking 'yes' or 'no' questions in Spanish is very easy. If writing, you only need to put question marks around the phrase (¿ ?). If speaking, you just need to raise the pitch of your voice at the end of the question.
The upside down question mark
- When writing questions in Spanish, you need to use an upside down question mark at the start: ¿.
- This is the signal for the start of a question.
'Yes' or 'no' questions
- To ask a 'yes' or 'no' question in Spanish, all you need to do is put question marks around the phrase.
- ¿Hablas español?
- Do you speak Spanish?
- ¿Le gusta el chocolate?
- Does she like chocolate?
Question Words
There are 12 key question words in Spanish. Here are six of them:
¿(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?
¿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?
¿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?
¿Cuándo? - when
- ¿Cuándo llega el autobus?
- When does the bus arrive?
- ¿Cuándo es el examen?
- When is the exam?
¿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?
Test yourself on How to Ask a Question
How do you say 'do you like sport' in Spanish?
How do you say 'when' in Spanish?
¿Qué significa 'dónde' en inglés?