How to Form Questions in German
Yes/No Questions
Yes/no questions in German generally follow a simple structure where the finite verb precedes the subject.
For example, instead of saying, "Du hast das Buch" (You have the book), you would ask, "Hast du das Buch?" (Do you have the book?).
W-Questions
W-questions are used to obtain more detailed responses and begin with a question word.
Was?
What?
Wer?
Who?
Wann?
When?
Wo?
Where?
For instance, "Wer liest das Buch?" would mean "Who reads the book?" in English.
Question with Prepositions
Prepositions can be part of a question, placed either at the beginning or retained in the sentence.
Example: "Mit wem gehst du zur Party?" translates to "With whom are you going to the party?"
Indirect Questions
Indirect questions are embedded within statements or other questions and do not change the word order.
For instance, "Ich frage mich, wann er kommt" means "I wonder when he is coming."
Practice Makes Perfect
Try forming different types of questions based on these structures. Practicing with a native German speaker can help improve your proficiency!
Further Reading
- How to Ask Questions in German
Learn different types and structures for asking questions in German.
- German for Beginners: The Questions Lesson
An interactive lesson on forming questions in German from Deutsche Welle.
- 20 Logical Ways to Ask Questions in German
Explore two types of questions and example phrases to use them.