Interrogative words: Do you, What do you

In French, interrogative words (les mots interrogatifs) are used to form questions and request specific information. They are crucial for asking questions about people, things, places, time, manner, and reasons. Here’s a detailed description of how to use them, focusing on “Do you” and “What do you” in French.

1. “Do You” in French

In French, “Do you” can be translated as “Tu” or “Vous” depending on the formality and number of people being addressed.

• “Tu” is used for informal situations and when speaking to one person.
• “Vous” is used for formal situations or when addressing more than one person.

In questions, you would generally use the verb in the appropriate tense and follow the standard methods of questioning (intonation, “est-ce que,” or inversion).

Examples

1. Using Intonation
   • Tu as un animal ?
     (Do you have a pet?)
     Here, the statement “Tu as un animal” becomes a question with rising intonation.
2. Using “Est-ce que”
   • Est-ce que tu as un animal ?
     (Do you have a pet?)
     Adding “est-ce que” makes it a formal question.
3. Using Inversion
   • As-tu un animal ?
     (Do you have a pet?)
     In this formal construction, the verb “as” is inverted with the subject pronoun “tu”.

2. “What Do You” in French

“What do you” translates to “Que fais-tu” or “Qu’est-ce que tu fais” when asking about what someone is doing.

Examples

1. Using Intonation
   • Que fais-tu ?
     (What are you doing?)
     This is a common and informal way to ask what someone is currently doing.
2. Using “Est-ce que”
   • Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
     (What are you doing?)
     This form is used to ask about someone’s current activity in a more structured way.
3. Using Inversion
   • Que fais-tu ?
     (What are you doing?)
     Here, “fais” (the verb “faire” meaning “to do/make”) is inverted with the subject pronoun “tu”.

Summary of Interrogative Words

• “Tu as un animal ?” (Do you have a pet? – informal)
• “Est-ce que tu as un animal ?” (Do you have a pet? – formal)
• “As-tu un animal ?” (Do you have a pet? – formal)
• “Que fais-tu ?” (What are you doing? – informal)
• “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” (What are you doing? – formal)

Examples in Context

1. Informal Context
   • A: Tu as un animal ?
     (Do you have a pet?)
   • B: Oui, j’ai un chien.
     (Yes, I have a dog.)
2. Formal Context
   • A: Est-ce que vous savez où est la bibliothèque ?
     (Do you know where the library is?)
   • B: Oui, elle est juste à côté de l’école.
     (Yes, it is right next to the school.)
3. Inquiring About Activities
   • A: Que fais-tu ce week-end ?
     (What are you doing this weekend?)
   • B: Je vais visiter ma famille.
     (I’m going to visit my family.)

Understanding these interrogative structures helps in forming clear and accurate questions in French, allowing for effective communication in various contexts.