Questions across registers — familiar / standard / formal

Questions across registers — familiar / standard / formal means “Three registers for questions: intonation (familiar), est-ce que (standard), inversion (formal)”. French has three ways to ask a question, matched to register. Formation: Tu viens ? / Est-ce que tu viens ? / Viens-tu ?

Three registers for questions: intonation (familiar), est-ce que (standard), inversion (formal)

A2

Formation

Tu viens ? / Est-ce que tu viens ? / Viens-tu ?

Explanation

French has three ways to ask a question, matched to register. Yes/no: Tu viens ? (rising intonation, familiar), Est-ce que tu viens ? (standard, neutral), Viens-tu ? (inversion, formal). The same three levels apply to wh-questions: Où tu vas ? / Où est-ce que tu vas ? / Où vas-tu ? Choose according to who you speak to and whether it is spoken or written.

Examples

Est-ce que tu viens à la fête ce soir ?
Are you coming to the party tonight?
Où vas-tu pendant les vacances ?
Where are you going during the holidays?

FAQ

Questions across registers — familiar / standard / formal — what does it mean and how is it used?

Three registers for questions: intonation (familiar), est-ce que (standard), inversion (formal). French has three ways to ask a question, matched to register. Yes/no: Tu viens ? (rising intonation, familiar), Est-ce que tu viens ? (standard, neutral), Viens-tu ? (inversion, formal). The same three levels apply to wh-questions: Où tu vas ? / Où est-ce que tu vas ? / Où vas-tu ? Choose according to who you speak to and whether it is spoken or written.

Questions across registers — familiar / standard / formal — how do you form it?

Tu viens ? / Est-ce que tu viens ? / Viens-tu ?

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