Questions: marks and meaning
Write both question marks around a Spanish question: No English-style do/does is added. The normal subject omission still applies. A question can be a short choice:
| Question word | Question | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| who is it? | ||
| who is it? | ||
| where is it? | ||
| where is it? | ||
| what is your name? | ||
| what is your name? | ||
| how is it going? | ||
| how is it going? | ||
These question words have written accents in questions. Keep them even when the question is spoken casually. asks how someone knows; learn it as the complete phrase from the scene.
Ask for one: or
goes before a masculine singular noun; before a feminine singular noun. Compare and , or and . A coffee is masculine because is masculine, regardless of who orders it.
| Known noun | One / a | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a coffee | ||
| a coffee | ||
| a juice | ||
| a juice | ||
| a beer | ||
| a beer | ||
| a key | ||
| a key | ||
Articles do not change just because a noun is an object. and both use . A natural café order is simply . There is no need to invent a more complicated sentence.
Give a short reaction
means I like it here. names what you like; means I like it a lot. These are scene phrases for now. is a set meal-time wish; this is not the question word .
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Notice the question word
Tap the accented question word.
¿ ?
Where is the café?
¿ ?
What is your name?
¿ ?
Who is Clara?
Practice 2/5 · The right form
Choose the article
Choose the right word for the gap.
café, por favor.
A coffee, please.
cerveza, por favor.
A beer, please.
Tengo llave.
I have a key.
Quiero zumo.
I want a juice.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
What do you need to know?
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
¿ está mi llave?
Where is my key?
¿ es la nueva vecina?
Who is the new neighbour?
¿ te llamas?
What is your name?
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Build a useful question or order
Put the words in order.
Do you have my key?
Where is the café?
A beer, please.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
At the counter
Choose the right words for the situation.
You are at Clara’s café. You want one coffee.
You say:
A noun phrase with por favor is a natural order.
You are at Clara’s café. You want one coffee.
You say:
A noun phrase with por favor is a natural order.
You want to find the café; you already know who Clara is.
You say:
Ask for a location, not a person’s identity.
You want to find the café; you already know who Clara is.
You say:
Ask for a location, not a person’s identity.
Unit complete
