Key points about question words
Like in English, German has a set of question words which help you find out key information.
Question words include what, where, when, and how.
When a question starts with one of these words the A word that describes an action or a state of being. In German, verbs change their endings to match the subject of the sentence. comes next, followed by the The person or thing doing the action in a sentence. In German the subject is shown by the nominative case and decides how the verb is formed.
The verb needs to agree with the subject - for example, Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.? (Where do you live?)
Question words
Question words in German include:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | What? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | When? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Who? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Where? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | How? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Where to? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Where from? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Why? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Why? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Which? (masculine/feminine/neuter) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | How much? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | How many? |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | What type/What sort? |
Remember:
The verb needs to agree with the subject. For example:
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.? - Where do you live?
Check your understanding
Get to know these question words before you start using them in sentences.
Question words and word order
When you ask a question with a question word, the verb comes straight after the question word and before the subject. The usual order is switched so it becomes:
question word – verb – subject – rest of the sentence
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. → Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
They work in a café → Where do they work?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. → Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
The book costs 20 Euros → How much does the book cost?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. → Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Frank lives in Switzerland → Where does Frank live?
Mini quiz
Choose the correct question word for this sentence:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
What do you normally do after school?
Choose the correct question word for this sentence:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
When is your birthday?
Quiz
Practise what you've learned about question words with this quiz.
