how to make questions?
hola...my question is if there is a specific rule for making or formation questions in spanish...gracias
2 Answers
Abdel, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you are wondering how to formulate a question in the Spanish language, when the question does not begin with an interrogative word like who, why, when, where, what, how, or how much.
It isn't long ago I wondered the same thing myself.
The answer I came up with is that a question in Spanish usually differs from its corresponding statement only in vocal intonation. And when you are asking for something, the question usually ends with por favor, or sometimes, more casually, porfa, for short.
Some examples:
When a sentence begins with a verb, change only vocal intonation to make it a question:
A shopkeeper might say, "We have apples." (There are apples.) - "Hay manzanas."
You might have asked, "Do you have any apples, please'" (Are there apples, please') - "¿Hay manzanas, por favor'"
Here are some more statements with their corresponding questions:
You have a cell phone number. - Tienes un número de celular.
Do you have a cell phone number, please? - ¿Tienes un número de celular, por favor?
I can speak with David. - Puedo hablar con David.
May I speak with David, please? - ¿Puedo hablar con David, por favor?
He's gone out. - Ha salido.
Has he gone out? - ¿Ha salido?
You know what time it is. - Sabes qué hora es.
Do you know what time it is, please? - ¿Sabes qué hora es, por favor?
It is three o'clock exactly. - Son las tres en punto.
Is it three o'clock already? - ¿Son las tres ya?
This is Mr. Garcia's house. - Es la casa del señor Garcia.
Is this Mr. Garcia's house? - ¿Es la casa del señor Garcia?
To make a statement or question negative, simply let the word, no, begin the sentence, followed by the verb:
This isn't Mr. Garcia's house. - No es la casa del señor Garcia.
Isn't this Mr. Garcia's house? - ¿No es la casa del señor Garcia?
When a statement begins with a noun, to make it a question either change only vocal intonation, or you can put the verb before the subject, since questions commonly begin with a verb. But again, it's up to you. In Spanish as in any language playing with word order can change emphasis.
Statement: Eva is at home. - Eva está en casa. Or - Eva en casa está. Or you can say - Está Eva en casa.
Each of these statements can become a question, simply by changing vocal intonation:
Question: Is Eva at home, please? - ¿Eva está en casa, por favor? ¿Eva en casa está, por favor? ¿Está Eva en casa, por favor?
Eva earns a lot of money. - Eva gana mucho dinero. Mucho dinero gana Eva. Gana Eva mucho dinero.
Does Eva earn a lot of money? - ¿Eva gana mucho dinero? ¿Mucho dinero gana Eva? ¿Gana Eva mucho dinero?
Juan is friendly. - Juan es amistoso. Es amistoso Juan. Amistoso es Juan.
Is Juan friendly? - ¿Juan es amistoso? ¿Es Juan amistoso? ¿Amistoso es Juan?
The dog needs a bigger water bowl.
El perro necesita un tazón del agua más grande.
Necesita el perro un tazón del agua más grande.
Un tazón del agua más grande necesita el perro.
Does the dog need a bigger water bowl?
¿El perro necesita un tazón del agua más grande?
¿Necesita el perro un tazón del agua más grande?
¿Un tazón del agua más grande necesita el perro?
Again, to make a statement or question negative, simply let the word, no, begin the sentence, followed by the verb:
The dog doesn't need a bigger water bowl. - No necesita el perro un tazón del agua más grande.
Doesn't the dog need a bigger water bowl? - ¿No necesita el perro un tazón del agua más grande?
Juan doesn't have any change. - Juan no tiene nada de cambio. No tiene Juan nada de cambio.
Doesn't Juan have any change? - ¿Juan no tiene nada de cambio? ¿No tiene Juan nada de cambio?
Others more fluent in Spanish than I may have more to say on this subject, but I hope this helps.
Hi abdel, thanks for asking, please read the FAQ, they will help you find the forum rules and many resources this site has to offer
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