Forming Questions with Verbs (W-Fragen and Ja/Nein-Fragen)
You learned the basics of question formation in the grammar course. Now, with your expanded knowledge of verb conjugation — regular verbs, stem-changing verbs, separable verbs, modal verbs, and reflexive verbs — it is time to practise forming questions with all these verb types. This lesson focuses on the specific patterns and challenges of asking questions with different kinds of verbs.
Review: The Two Question Types
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|
| Ja/Nein (Yes/No) | Verb in position 1 | Sprichst du Deutsch? |
| W-Frage (Information) | W-word + Verb in position 2 | Was sprichst du? |
Questions with Regular Verbs
Regular verbs are straightforward — just move the conjugated verb to the correct position:
Yes/No:
- Lernst du Deutsch? — Are you learning German?
- Wohnt er in Berlin? — Does he live in Berlin?
- Spielen Sie Fußball? — Do you play football? (formal)
W-Questions:
- Was lernst du? — What are you learning?
- Wo wohnst du? — Where do you live?
- Wann spielen wir? — When are we playing?
Questions with Stem-Changing Verbs
Remember that stem changes only affect du and er/sie/es forms. Questions use the same changed forms:
Yes/No:
- Fährst du morgen nach München? — Are you driving to Munich tomorrow? (fahren → fährst)
- Liest er viel? — Does he read a lot? (lesen → liest)
- Spricht sie Deutsch? — Does she speak German? (sprechen → spricht)
- Isst du gern Pizza? — Do you like to eat pizza? (essen → isst)
W-Questions:
- Was liest du gerade? — What are you reading right now?
- Wohin fährt der Zug? — Where is the train going?
- Was isst du zum Frühstück? — What do you eat for breakfast?
- Welche Sprachen sprichst du? — Which languages do you speak?
Questions with Separable Verbs
With separable verbs, the conjugated base verb moves to the question position and the prefix stays at the end:
Yes/No:
- Stehst du früh auf? — Do you get up early?
- Fängt der Film um acht an? — Does the film start at eight?
- Kommst du mit? — Are you coming along?
- Ruft er dich an? — Does he call you?
W-Questions:
- Wann stehst du auf? — When do you get up?
- Um wie viel Uhr fängt die Schule an? — At what time does school start?
- Wen lädt sie ein? — Whom is she inviting?
- Wo kaufst du ein? — Where do you shop?
Questions with Modal Verbs
The modal verb takes the question position (position 1 or 2). The main verb stays as infinitive at the end:
Yes/No:
- Kannst du schwimmen? — Can you swim?
- Muss ich das machen? — Do I have to do that?
- Darf ich hier sitzen? — May I sit here?
- Willst du mitkommen? — Do you want to come along?
- Möchten Sie bestellen? — Would you like to order?