Interrogative Pronouns in French

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions in French. They serve as the subject or object of the question and help gather specific information. In this lesson, we'll explore the different interrogative pronouns in French and how to use them effectively in sentences.

1. Types of Interrogative Pronouns:

In French, there are several interrogative pronouns:

Qui: 

Used to inquire about people.

Qui est-ce? (Who is it?)

Que/Quoi: 

Used to inquire about things or objects.

Que fais-tu? (What are you doing?)

Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles:

Used to inquire about specific qualities or characteristics.

Quelle est ta couleur préférée? (What is your favorite color?)

Lequel/Laquelle/Lesquels/Lesquelles: 

Used to inquire about choices or options among specific nouns.

Lequel de ces livres préfères-tu? (Which of these books do you prefer?)

2. Agreement with Nouns:

Interrogative pronouns must agree in gender and number with the nouns they refer to:

• Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify.

• Lequel/Laquelle/Lesquels/Lesquelles also agree in gender and number with the nouns they refer to.

3. Position in Sentences:

Interrogative pronouns usually come at the beginning of questions, followed by the verb:

• Quand viens-tu? (When are you coming?)

• Pourquoi pleures-tu? (Why are you crying?)

4. Practice Sentences:

• Qui est-ce qui chante? (Who is singing?)

• Que manges-tu pour le petit déjeuner? (What do you eat for breakfast?)

• Quelle est ta matière préférée à l'école? (What is your favorite subject at school?)

• Lesquels de ces films as-tu aimés? (Which of these movies did you like?)

5. Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate interrogative pronoun:

1. ___________ est-ce qui a gagné le match? (Who won the game?)

2. ___________ fais-tu ce soir? (What are you doing tonight?)

3. ___________ est ton plat préféré? (Which is your favorite dish?)

4. ___________ chante cette chanson? (Who is singing this song?)

5. ___________ de ces livres préfères-tu? (Which of these books do you prefer?)

Answers:

1. Qui a gagné le match?

2. Que fais-tu ce soir?

3. Quel est ton plat préféré?

4. Qui chante cette chanson?

5. Lequel de ces livres préfères-tu?

Interrogative pronouns are essential for asking questions in French to gather specific information about people, things, qualities, or choices. Practice using them to enhance your language skills and effectively communicate in various situations.