- Form yes/no questions - Use intonation to turn statements into questions
- Master question punctuation - Use inverted question marks ¿...? correctly
- Understand word order - Learn how Spanish maintains word order in questions
- Apply question mechanics - Transform statements into different question types
- Recognise question patterns - Identify formal vs informal question structures
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Question Formation: ¿...? and Intonation
What You'll Learn
Overview / Usage
Forming questions in Spanish is surprisingly straightforward! Unlike English, which requires complex word order changes and auxiliary verbs (do/does), Spanish keeps things simple. You'll learn the mechanics of how to transform any statement into a question.
🎯 The Golden Rule
Spanish questions use inverted punctuation marks: ¿...?
The opening ¿ tells readers a question is coming - how helpful!
Example: ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
This page focuses on HOW to form questions - the mechanics, punctuation, and word order rules. For learning WHICH question words to use (qué, quién, dónde, etc.), see our Interrogative Pronouns and Adverbs page.
Structure & Formation
🎯 The Mechanics of Spanish Questions
1. Yes/No Questions - Just Change Your Tone!
Unlike English, Spanish doesn't need auxiliary verbs (do/does) or word order changes. Simply add question marks and raise your intonation!
The Transformation
📝 Hablas español.
You speak Spanish. (statement)
❓ ¿Hablas español?
Do you speak Spanish? (question)
Notice: Same word order, just add ¿? and raise voice!
Compare with English
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| You speak → Do you speak? | Hablas → ¿Hablas? |
| She lives → Does she live? | Ella vive → ¿Ella vive? |
| Key: No auxiliary verbs needed in Spanish! | |
2. Information Questions - Word Order Patterns
When using question words, Spanish maintains its basic word order. The question word simply goes at the beginning:
The Pattern
¿Question Word + Subject (optional) + Verb + Rest?
| Question Word | Subject | Verb | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde | (tú) | vives? | - |
| ¿Qué | ella | quiere | comer? |
| ¿Cuándo | - | es | la fiesta? |
¿Dónde + (tú) + vives?
Where do you live?
Where do you live?
¿Qué + ella + quiere + comer?
What does she want to eat?
What does she want to eat?
¿Cuándo + es + la fiesta?
When is the party?
When is the party?
💡 Key Point: Unlike English, Spanish doesn't invert subject and verb in questions!
English (with inversion):
Where do you live?
What does she want?
Where do you live?
What does she want?
Spanish (no inversion):
¿Dónde vives?
¿Qué ella quiere?
¿Dónde vives?
¿Qué ella quiere?
📚 Learn the question words: Visit our Interrogative Pronouns and Adverbs page to master qué, quién, dónde, cuándo, cómo, cuánto and more.
3. Formal vs Informal Questions
The mechanics stay the same, but the verb form changes based on formality:
Informal (tú)
¿Hablas español?
Do you speak Spanish?
¿Dónde vives?
Where do you live?
¿Cómo te llamas?
What's your name?
Formal (usted)
¿Habla español?
Do you speak Spanish?
¿Dónde vive?
Where do you live?
¿Cómo se llama?
What's your name?
Note: The question formation mechanics remain identical - only the verb conjugation changes!
Examples
💬 Transforming Statements into Questions
Yes/No Question Transformations
Watch how statements become questions with just punctuation and intonation:
| Statement | Question |
|---|---|
| Ella trabaja aquí. She works here. | ¿Ella trabaja aquí? Does she work here? |
| Tienes tiempo. You have time. | ¿Tienes tiempo? Do you have time? |
| El tren llega pronto. The train arrives soon. | ¿El tren llega pronto? Does the train arrive soon? |
Information Question Patterns
See how question words fit at the beginning without changing word order:
| Statement Base | With Question Word |
|---|---|
| Vives [en Madrid]. You live [in Madrid]. | ¿Dónde vives? Where do you live? |
| Ella come [pizza]. She eats [pizza]. | ¿Qué come ella? What does she eat? |
| El autobús sale [a las ocho]. The bus leaves [at eight]. | ¿Cuándo sale el autobús? When does the bus leave? |
Pattern: Replace the information you want with the question word, then move it to the front!
Gotchas / Common Mistakes
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don't forget the inverted question mark!
Como estas? (missing ¿ and accent)
✓ ¿Cómo estás? (correct punctuation)
✓ ¿Cómo estás? (correct punctuation)
✅ The opening ¿ is MANDATORY in written Spanish - it's not optional!
⚡ Don't add 'do/does' like English
Wrong (English thinking):
¿Haces tú hablar español? ❌
Right (Spanish simplicity):
✓ ¿Hablas español? ✅
¿Haces tú hablar español? ❌
Right (Spanish simplicity):
✓ ¿Hablas español? ✅
Spanish doesn't use auxiliary verbs for questions - just add ¿? and raise your voice!
💡 Subject pronouns are often optional
The verb ending already tells us who we're talking about:
Both correct:
¿Tú hablas español? (with pronoun)
¿Hablas español? (without - more common)
The verb ending -as already means 'you'!
¿Tú hablas español? (with pronoun)
¿Hablas español? (without - more common)
The verb ending -as already means 'you'!
📝 Word order flexibility with question words
While word order stays mostly the same, Spanish allows some flexibility:
Both are correct:
¿Qué come María? (What does María eat?)
¿Qué María come? (less common but valid)
Most natural: Question word + verb + subject
¿Qué come María? (What does María eat?)
¿Qué María come? (less common but valid)
Most natural: Question word + verb + subject
Quick Test / Mini Quiz
📝 Test Your Question Formation Skills
Practice forming questions in Spanish!
1
How do you turn 'Ella trabaja' (She works) into a yes/no question?
2
Which punctuation is correct for Spanish questions?
3
What's the main difference between English and Spanish question formation?
4
To make 'El tren llega a las ocho' into 'When does the train arrive?':
5
Which is WRONG when forming Spanish questions?
6
For formal questions with 'usted', what changes?
7
Where does the question word typically go in Spanish?
8
What's optional in Spanish questions but required in English?
Useful Resources
Coming soon...