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SPANISH STUDY GUIDE

Forming Questions in Spanish

Las preguntas · three ways to ask anything

In Spanish there are three ways to turn a statement into a question, and a set of question words that let you ask for specific information. Once you know all three methods, you can ask anything.

Three methods Question words Study materials

Three ways to ask a question

You don't need a new verb or a new tense. You just rearrange or add to what you already have.

METHOD 1

Raise your voice

Say the exact same sentence but let your voice go up at the end. In writing, add ¿ at the start and ? at the end. Nothing else changes.

STATEMENT
Ustedes trabajan los sábados.
You work on Saturdays.
QUESTION
¿Ustedes trabajan los sábados?
Do you work on Saturdays?
STATEMENT
Miguel regresa a las seis.
Miguel returns at six.
QUESTION
¿Miguel regresa a las seis?
Does Miguel return at six?
METHOD 2

Invert subject and verb

Flip the verb and subject. The verb comes first, the subject comes after. The subject can also go at the very end.

STATEMENT
Ustedes trabajan los sábados.
You work on Saturdays.
QUESTION
¿Trabajan ustedes los sábados?
Do you work on Saturdays?
STATEMENT
Miguel regresa a las seis.
Miguel returns at six.
QUESTION
¿Regresa a las seis Miguel?
Does Miguel return at six?
METHOD 3

Add ¿no? or ¿verdad? at the end

Keep the statement exactly as it is, then add ¿no? or ¿verdad? at the end. This works like "right?" or "don't you?" in English. It expects the listener to agree.

STATEMENT
Ustedes trabajan los sábados.
WITH ¿NO?
Ustedes trabajan los sábados, ¿no?
You work Saturdays, don't you?
WITH ¿VERDAD?
Ustedes trabajan los sábados, ¿verdad?
You work Saturdays, right?
STATEMENT
Tú no tomas biología.
WITH ¿VERDAD?
Tú no tomas biología, ¿verdad?
You don't take biology, right?
WITH ¿NO?
La Facultad está por allá, ¿no?
The building is over there, right?
All three methods make a valid question. Method 1 is the most common in conversation. Method 2 is more formal. Method 3 is the easiest to remember because nothing about the statement changes.

Question words

These words open a question that needs more than a yes or no answer. Every one of them carries a written accent mark. Always.

Tap any card to flip it and see the meaning, an example, and how to use it.

Two things to remember. Question words always have a written accent mark, even when they look like non-question words (que vs. qué). And when a question uses one of these words, your voice falls at the end instead of rising.
PRACTICE ZONE

Study materials

Tap any card to check your answer.

1 · Which question word fits?

Read the answer, decide which question word the question must use, then tap to check.

2 · Turn it into a question

Convert each statement into a question using the method shown. Tap to check.

3 · Fill in the question word

Choose the correct question word for each sentence, then check your answers.

4 · Translate the question into Spanish

Say the full question in Spanish, then tap to check.

5 · Tips that make it click