Intonation in French Questions

In French, how you say something can change its meaning, especially when asking questions. This is called intonation. Here’s how it works in different situations:

1. Yes/No Questions:

   • To ask simple questions, raise your voice at the end of your sentence.
   • Examples:
     • Tu as un livre? (Do you have a book?)
     • Il fait beau? (Is it nice out?)

2. With Wh- Questions:

   • When you use words like qui (who), quoi (what), and où (where), you can still raise your voice at the end.
   • Examples:
     • Où est mon stylo? (Where is my pen?)
     • Qui a pris le gâteau? (Who took the cake?)

Key Grammar Points

• Present Tense Conjugation:

  • Regular verbs in French end with -er, -ir, or -re.
  • Example: parler (to speak) becomes je parle (I speak) and tu parles (you speak).

• Avoir and Être as Helping Verbs:

  • These are common in sentences about actions.
  • Examples: J'ai mangé (I ate) and Elle est allée (She went).

• Agreement of Adjectives:

  • Adjectives change depending on whether they describe a male or female noun and if they are singular or plural.
  • Example: un livre intéressant (an interesting book) for a book, and une fille intéressante (an interesting girl) for a girl.

• Negative Sentences with ne...pas:

  • To make a sentence negative, put ne before the verb and pas after.
  • Example: Je ne comprends pas (I do not understand).

• Question Formation:

  • Besides using intonation, you can switch the order of words for a more formal question.
  • Example: Avez-vous un crayon? (Do you have a pencil?)

By understanding these points, you can improve your French conversation skills!