INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

I.   To make a yes/no question:

a.  Add "est-ce que":  

Example:
Il est venu.=>Est-ce qu'il est venu.

b. If the subject is a pronoun, invert subject and pronoun:

Example:
Ils mangent=><Mangent-ils?
Il est venu.=>Est-il venu?

c. If the subject is a noun, invert the subject and the pronoun that replaces the noun and put both after the noun.

Example:
Pierrot fait l'idiot.  Pierrot fait-il l'idiot?
Pierre est-il venu?

d.  Add "n'est-ce pas" or raise the intonation at the end of the sentence.

Examples:
Pierre est venu, n'est-ce pas?
Pierre est| venu?

II. "Combien," "Comment," "Quand," "Où," "Pourquoi"

a.  If the subject is a pronoun, invert subject and verb and place after the interrogative pronoun.

Example:
Elle va à Montparnasse.=>Pourquoi va-t-elle à Montparnasse?
Nous allons à Rome.=>Où allons-nous?  Comment allons-nous à Rome?

b. If the subject is a noun, invert the subject and the pronoun that replaces the noun and put both after the noun.

Example:
Jean achète dix carnets.=>Combien de carnets Jean achète-t-il?
Mimi rentre tout à l'heure.=> Quand Mimi rentre-t-elle?

c.  After "Combien," "Comment," "Quand," and "Où" (but not "Pourquoi") the a noun subject and the verb can be inverted without using a pronoun, but only if the verb is simple (not compound).

Example:
Jacques part.=>Quand part Jacques?
Pierre se rend à Venise.=> Où se rend Pierre?

Exercises I

III.  "Quel," "Lequel"

a.  1. "Quel," "quelle," "quels," and "quelles" ("What" or   "Which") agree (m./f., s./pl.) with the noun they modify.   This noun  immediately follows them (except with the verb être):

Examples:
Quelle idée as-tu?
Quelle est ton idée?

2.  If the noun modified is the subject, do not invert:  Quel train arrive?
If the noun modified is the direct object, invert:  Quels problèmes résoudra-t-il?
If the noun modified is the object of a preposition,
place the preposition before "quel" and invert:  Avec quel professeur parlait-il?

b.  "Lequel," "laquelle," "lesquels," and "lesquelles" ("Which one") agree (m./f., s./pl.) with the noun they replace.    If the verb takes a preposition place the preposition before lequel.  If the preposition is "à" or "de" use "auquel," "à "laquelle," "auxquels," "auxquelles," "duquel," "de laquelle," "desquels," and "desquelles."  Use the same inversion rules as for "Quel."

Examples:
Lequel a-t-il pris?
Auxquels parlera-t-il?
Desquelles a-t-il besoin?
Laquelle arrive?

Exercises II

IV.   What?  Who(m)?

a.  If "Who(m)" or "What" refer to the subject of the sentence, use:
For a person:  "Qui," or "Qui est-ce qui"
For a thing:  "Qu'est-ce qui" 

Examples:
Qui arrive? ("Who")
Qui est-ce qui s'en va? ("Who")
Qu'est-ce qui se passe? ("What")

b.  If "What" or "Whom" are the direct object of the sentence, use:
For a person:  "Qui" +  inversion, or "Qui est-ce que"
For a thing:  "Que" + inversion, or "Qu'est-ce que"

Examples:
Qui a volé la voiture?  Qui est-ce qui a volé la voiture? ("Who")
Que fait-elle? ("What")
Que Janine pense-t-elle? ("What")
Qu'est-ce qu'elle dit ("What")

NOTE:  "Que" (like "Combien," "Comment," "Quand," and "Où") can be followed by the inversion of the verb and a noun (with no pronoun), but only if the verb is simple (not compound).

Example:
Simple tense, two possibilities:  1. Que pense Noel?  or 2. Que Noel pense-t-elle?
Compound tense, one possibility:  1. Not possible; 2. Que Noel a-t-elle pensé?

c.  If "What" or Whom" are the object of a preposition, use: 
For a person:  Preposition + "Qui" + inversion, or Preposition + "Qui" + "est-ce que"
For a thing:  Preposition + "Quoi" +  inversion, Preposition + "Quoi" + "est-ce  que"

Examples:
Sur qui compte-t-il?  Sur qui est-ce qu'il compte?
Avec quoi travaille-t-il?  Avec quoi est-ce qu'il travaille?

NOTE:  Distinguish the two translations of "what" + "is":  "Quel est" and "Qu'est-ce que c'est."
1.  Use "Qu'est-ce que c'est" for a definition or an identification.

Examples:
Qu'est-ce que c'est qu'un ardvark? (definition)
Qu'est-ce que c'est que cela? (identification)  

2. Use "Quel est" to distinguish between alternatives ("What" can be replaced with "Which"):

Example:
Quelle est la raison de ton départ? ("What" or "Which" is the reason you are leaving?")